From handwriting a thank-you note for your American host family to crafting an email to your new boss, English writing practice is an essential part of learning the language. No matter what English learning level you’re at, things like spelling, punctuation, and sentence order are important to practice. If you study at an English-speaking school or work in an English-speaking country, you’ll also need to know more advanced writing skills (like writing essays or manuals). Choose practice exercises and resources that will help you advance from your current level to the next level of fluency.
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Beginner (basic) English writing practice
Beginner English writing practice includes basic skills like spelling, sentence structure, and essential English grammar rules. Can you write in the three main English verb tenses (past, present, and future)? Can you fill out the forms you need for school, work, and living in an English-speaking country? Practice writing in English every day to answer “yes” to these questions.
Your English writing skills can be organized by language fluency level. A beginner (CEFR A1-A2) English language learner can write:
- simple sentences with some conjunctions in English
- descriptions of familiar parts of daily life (like family, work, and habits)
- short notes and personal details (like name, nationality, and address)
- stories about imaginary people with simple sentences and details
- letters, emails, and texts with simple messages in casual and formal settings
How to practice beginner writing in English
Practicing the basics of each piece of English grammar will help you write full sentences. For example, in the sentence I study English, you need to know capitalization (I, not i) and verb conjugation (study, not studies).
Build your basic writing skills by doing exercises like these every day:
- Write notes in English on your calendar. Instead of writing your appointment information in your native language, write quick notes like Meet Dr. Brown at 3:00.
- Start a daily journal. Even if it’s only one sentence, write something about what you did that day, like I went to the park with my dog. You can do this on your computer, your phone, or a paper notebook.
- Create a social media profile and write your posts or replies in English. Follow accounts in English (which is also good reading practice) and reply to their posts.
- Play Mad Libs games to practice parts of speech in English and complete sentences. You can either print out a few official Mad Libs worksheets or download an app. The sentences you create might be silly, but that’s part of the fun.
- Write your own reviews of books you read, shows you watch, or games you play. For example, if you read the book Pippi Longstocking (in any language) and you liked it, you could write The book was good. Pippi made me laugh. I give it 4/5 stars.
- Worksheets can give you guided practice on all basic English topics. Sites like TPT have free and low-cost adult worksheets made by experts for capitalization, punctuation, verb tenses, and more.
Tools for beginners to practice writing in English
The best writing tools for beginners are tools that strengthen your vocabulary and grammar skills. If you have tools that you can reference as you write in English, you can build good habits while you practice..
- Use a bilingual dictionary that translates words between your native language and English (like inglés.com if your native language is Spanish, or anglais.com if your native language is French). If you’re translating to English from your native language when you write, this will help you choose the right words.
- Practice writing skills like word order and combining sentences using the quizzes on IXL English Foundations 1 and 2. You can also learn more about vocabulary and grammar.
- You can also play games on websites like Games to Learn English that help you make sentences, choose the right verb, and more. You can put sentences together quickly with Fast Phrases or use Questions to practice writing questions in English (and responding to them).
Writing by hand instead of on a computer or phone keyboard can also be helpful as a beginner (especially if you’re used to using a very different writing system).
- Use lined paper to practice writing the English alphabet. You can also get lined paper with letters to trace if you need extra help.
- There are also many apps for teaching handwriting that you can use to practice writing on your phone. These are helpful for all ages.
Beginner English writing prompts
The best English writing practice is to write in English. Write anything! To get started, use these prompts:
- Send a text to your friend. Invite them to dinner or a party for your birthday. For more practice, write the entire conversation between you and your friend.
- Give directions from your house to school, work, or another location. Include street names, distance, and method of transportation (like walking, driving a car, or riding a bike).
- Write your goals for the week. For example, you could describe your homework, your weekend plans, or how much you want to practice English every day.
- Write instructions for a recipe. Include a list of ingredients, how to prepare the ingredients, and how to cook the recipe.
- Send an email to your boss at work. Politely request a day off next week.
Intermediate (independent) English writing practice
At the intermediate level, you know the basics of writing in English, but you need more practice before you can write like a native English speaker. To get to the next level, focus on specific and longer writing exercises. Learn more precise grammar and vocabulary to communicate your thoughts clearly.
As an intermediate (CEFR B1-B2) English language learner, you can write:
- essays and reports with organized structures, analysis, and support for arguments
- clear summaries and reviews of stories (real and fictional) with detailed descriptions
- notes about information that you hear (such as lessons in class or meetings at work)
- dialogue between people with some variation in personality and speech
- letters, texts, and emails about detailed information (including questions and confirmations)
How to practice intermediate writing in English
Intermediate writing practice includes writing more than a few sentences or a paragraph. You were focused on the details of a sentence as a beginner. Now, you need to think about the entire piece of writing from start to finish. This next step is about improving your ability to connect thoughts for clear communication.
- Translate your own writing from your native language. If you wrote a long email to your friend in China, translate it into English for yourself. This will also help you identify what skills you need to learn if you find something you don’t know how to translate.
- Expand on book, show, or movie reviews you wrote as a beginner. Talk about what parts you liked, what you didn’t like, and any other thoughts you have on the topic.
- British Council has several free writing exercises for B1 and B2 that include lists of key vocabulary, tips, quizzes to check your knowledge, and reviews from other people learning how to write in English. This is also great practice for the IELTS test.
- If you want to work an English-speaking job, you’ll probably need to submit a job application. Use books or worksheets about how to write a resume (work history) to make a good first impression.
- Use tools like story dice to help you write a short story. These are like short prompts to give you something to write about. For example, if your setting is “park” and your object is “pearl,” you could write about how you found someone’s pearl earring under a bench and how you intend to get it back to its owner.
Tools for intermediate learners to practice writing in English
Refining your use of the English language is one of the skills you’ll need as an intermediate learner. Make sure you have reliable tools to help you expand your vocabulary and check your writing for errors.
Learning how to proofread (check your writing for errors) is one of the best ways to improve, and these tools will make it easier to do that:
- Start using a dictionary in English (like Dictionary.com) that includes example sentences for you to use as a reference when you write your own sentences. Reading the dictionary entries will also give you English reading practice, and you may learn some new words (which you can look up in the dictionary).
- Use a thesaurus (like Thesaurus.com) to help you write more precisely. A thesaurus is like a dictionary, but it gives you synonyms (words with similar meanings) for the word you look up.
- Use the quizzes on IXL English Intermediate 1 and 2 to practice editing and revising skills.
- Have someone proofread your writing and check it for mistakes (like English punctuation). Ask a friend or tutor to read your work and give you feedback, or use a computer program to check your spelling and grammar.
- If you can, find a program that uses minimal AI (like GrammarCheck). It helps to find one that can check different English dialects, too.
Advanced (proficient) English writing practice
Advanced English learners are ready to write like a native English speaker. That means your writing practice should include skills that native speakers use every day (at work and at home). If you write anything at all, you should practice writing it in English.
An English learner with advanced (CEFR C1-C2) proficiency has near-native fluency and can write:
- any method of written communication (from texts to formal invitations) with appropriate, clear language
- lengthy academic or technical papers on a variety of topics (including subjects that you don’t know well)
- notes that cover what someone said, in addition to your own thoughts and observations
- descriptive stories (both long and short, real and fictional) with matching dialogue and language that fit the story’s setting
- responses to emails and other messages in all situations, including personal, work, school, and official (such as government-related correspondence)
How to practice advanced writing in English
Advanced writing practice in English is about refining the skills you already have. You may need the input of another person to let you know what you need to work on. For example, if you’re preparing for an English language test like TOEFL, hire a tutor who can point out mistakes or areas where you could improve to get a better score. Think of feedback as an opportunity to practice rather than a mistake.
- If you plan on taking an English language test, try using their official resources for the writing sections. For example, the IELTS website has sample questions for each section, including writing. Also, consider asking someone to evaluate your work.
- For business writing practice, try out Write & Improve. In addition to general practice from Beginner to Advanced, you can write short responses (anywhere from 30 to 300 words) to prompts like project proposals and reports. Once you submit your writing, you’ll get immediate feedback on spelling, grammar, and how thorough your response was.
- Write a cover letter to go with your resume for job applications. Being authentic in your cover letter can grab a hiring manager’s attention, so writing your own cover letter from start to finish (instead of using a template) can make you stand out.
- Teach a beginner language learner how to learn English. Write an article or a blog about your experience, what tips were useful for you, and what you still want to learn.
- Try creative writing. Write short stories, poetry, or even fanfiction about your favorite book or video game. If you find something you enjoy writing about, you’ll want to write more.
Tools for advanced learners to practice writing in English
As an advanced English learner, you can use the same tools a native speaker does, and you can take advantage of bilingual resources.
- More in-depth dictionaries can give you a greater understanding of English vocabulary. Try Merriam-Webster (an American dictionary) or Cambridge Dictionary (a British dictionary, which includes over a dozen bilingual dictionaries).
- For academic writing, you’ll need to know how to develop and support arguments, write a strong thesis statement, and how to cite sources. The IXL English Advanced 1 and 2 writing sections can give you instruction and practice at the same time.
- If you’re working or studying in an English-speaking country, you might benefit from specialized vocabulary to help you write with precision. For example, if you work in the medical field, you could use a bilingual dictionary for medical terminology.
- Free, online English proofreading tools are widely available (a few of the most popular are Grammarly and ProWritingAid). If you use one, think about the suggestions it gives you. Their suggestions might change your intended meaning, or they might suggest incorrect grammar. Thinking critically as you write in English can be the best English writing practice of all.
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