2 Why Do I Need to be a Good Writer?

It is extremely important to know how to write and speak well, especially if you work in a corporate environment or own your own business. For instance, a person’s accent can get in the way of communicating well with others which can cause that person to feel inadequate or others to find them unqualified for a job. It doesn’t matter if you are from another country or another state in the US, it can be a stumbling block to communicate well. Some students whose first language is not English might have a difficult time expressing themselves through speaking and writing. While trying to master the complexity of the English language, some students have difficulties pronouncing certain words and would mix up the tenses in their writings.

Learning standard English grammar is essential to the flow and grace of both writing and speaking. Native Jamaicans, for example, may find this to be a challenge. Although their first language is English, Jamaican Patois (or Jamaican Creole or Patwa) is the most widely spoken. Being in the company of family or a fellow Jamaican unconsciously brings out the accent and the native Jamaican is no longer speaking with standard English patterns. For those for whom English is their second language, it can be time consuming to write in customary English because one is always second guessing if he or she is saying or writing the grammatically correct way according to the American English standards. However, if one can write well, then one should be able to speak even better. Regardless of background or education, it is essential to learn how to be a good writer by mastering the art of being a great English-speaking writer.

In addition to using writing to become a better speaker for emigrant English speakers, writing could be used as a tool to structure a speech or conversation. In everyday life, people must communicate to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. When writing these structures must be kept in mind (e.g., topic sentence, supporting details, and conclusion). This type of structure also applies when speaking.

It is so important to be a good writer and convey ideas in an organized way because this skill often translates to effective communication with others.

Express Ideas Clearly

Often, our writing is the only thing we could use to represent ourselves to others. This writing could be in the form of a resume, cover letter, or novel. The message we want to get to someone else needs to be clear and polished or it will otherwise create a bad image for ourselves.

The quality of writing really matters, especially when it becomes one of the only representations for the writer as a person.

Overall, the idea of writing can be intimidating, but if we allow ourselves to slow down and clear our thoughts, we’ll be able express our ideas and pour our sentiments into a computer or on paper. The more care we take with our work, the better it will be. One way to help map out our thoughts and organize them to prepare for quality writing, is to write it down in a journal. It can be a great tool to help delineate patterns and themes. A journal allows the writer to put thoughts down on paper and think them through. By using this technique, one can work out a difficult situation, make the right decision, or come up with innovative concepts. It can also help one to achieve goals and respond effectively to challenges in the future. With better decision-making skills and brainstorming techniques, one’s writing, and even life trajectory, will be that much clearer.  The video below by Dr. Jodie Salter demonstrates the difference between active and passive voice.