What Freelance Writers Need to Know About Grammar
61How to Be a Grammar Girl or Boy
You don't need to be a grammar expert to be a freelance writer. Everyone makes mistakes while writing, and even experienced writers can miss mistakes in their own writing. I spent three years proofreading other people's academic papers. Despite this, I still make frequent mistakes in my own writing. I still have to take a moment to think when I need to use either "effect" or "affect."
People often tell me they don't think they could freelance write because they are not proficient in grammar.You can learn to write grammatically correct. The secret is to have reliable resources handy. I still love the Scott Foresman Handbook I received my freshman year of college. Another solid resource is the web site, Grammar Girl. This web site has explanation and articles on most of the common grammar issues. The website also provides examples of when to use certain words, and when not to use them. If you have a question that isn't already answered on the website, you can submit your question, and it will be answered.
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That's awesome that you're a freelancer in your second langauge. I have a hard enough time writing in my native language. :-) Good Luck!
Thanks MJ. One thing I always struggle with is editing my own material. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself.
lifegate - absolutely! I think a lot of people are to hard on themselves.
I did not know about Grammar Girl ... thanks!
dennisamata 22 months ago
Wow, your hub is cool. This is really helpful. I'm also a freelance writer in the Philippines. As a Filipino, of course, I'm using English as my second language but I do most of writing in English. But still, English is not the language I learned first when I was young so I frequently commit mistakes especially in my grammar. Sometimes I get confused of the words on, in and at.