5 Tips for Writing in English When It’s Not Your First Language
Writing in a different language is about expressing yourself in a different way.
A year ago, while I was still studying to become a translator, a friend offered me to edit a science-fiction novel written by one of her boyfriend’s friends (not important). I was told the novel was supposed to be published but only needed some polishing, according to the publisher. I thought editing this novel would be a nice experience related to my studies since the novel was written in English by a francophone, and I’ve studied creative writing beforehand. I agreed to do it practically for free.
I soon received the 400-pages manuscript.
I couldn’t get past ten pages.
I was mortified.
The story had some potential; I’ll give it that. But I had to ask myself if the author had ever even read a book in English. Simply put, reading his novel was like reading English words in a French structure. It made sense to me because I know both languages well, but as a translator, I could only imagine the poor English native speaker trying to decipher this thing. There was no way around it: editing this text meant that I had to rewrite it. And there was no way I could tackle this thing for free while studying full-time and working part-time. I had to throw in the towel.
Oh, and that publishing thing? It was going to go on an online self-publishing platform for sci-fi writings. I read the notes left by the website’s editor, who had read part of the manuscript, and there was mention of a few grammar and syntax errors that had to be fixed before publishing. In my opinion, this was way too polite.
So I had to be the bad guy.
But here’s the moral of the story: writing in your second language is not that easy. It’s not only about switching words; it’s about expressing yourself in a whole different way. This is especially true for people who do not use their second language (or third, or fourth) frequently in their everyday life. As someone who fits this description, here are my tips for writing in English if it is not your first language and you don’t have to use it daily.
1. Read in English
Let’s get the obvious first step out of the way. Input is very important while learning a new language, and it remains important as you get more advanced and you feel ready to produce output for the whole world to see. Reading allows you to learn new vocabulary and get used to a language’s writing patterns. Quality content written in English is not that hard to come by — you can find it on this very platform! Kill two birds with one stone by reading about writing in English: you’ll learn a lot on two levels at the same time.
If you’re an auditory learner like me, I would also recommend listening to content in English. It might be even easier this way to find your own “English voice”.
2. Write in English
By that I mean do not translate your texts (though I don’t always follow my own advice), especially if you are not a professional translator. A reader might not be able to quite put the finger on it, but there’s a high possibility that he will feel something “off” with your text if you have translated it word for word from your native language. And don’t even get me started on using automatic translation!
I might sometimes plan my articles in French, but usually, my thought process for a text written in English will be entirely in English.
Your texts will feel much more natural if you have thought them out from start to finish in the language they will be written. It might not seem like it at first, but different languages call for different ways to express yourself. This is why the previous step, getting lots of input, is crucial. You need to be comfortable expressing yourself in English. Sure, you might have to look up some words every once in a while, but it shouldn’t hinder you from “going with the flow”. The entire process will not only feel smoother but will also actually be faster than having to write your text once in your native language, then translate it.
3. Research in English
This is an obvious translator trick. If you want to write articles on a specialized subject in English, you should do your research in English. You won’t need to “translate” the content you have found, which will accelerate your writing process, and you will also find ways to write about your subject. Not that you should plagiarize what you have found, though! It’s just another way to figure out how to express yourself correctly in English.
Chances are, you’re already doing it. It’s much easier to find information on some subjects in English while searching on the Internet.
4. Find the right resources and writing tools
If you’re relatively new at writing in English, it might be a good idea to have a trusted native English speaker — or at least someone who has mastered the language already — read and edit your texts. You probably had English classes in school at some point, so you’ve already been through this step in a way. This is also a great way to assess your writing level while getting feedback from a real reader. If possible, it might be even better to find someone who knows your native language to a certain degree. They will better understand what you are trying to communicate and why you used a certain way to do so, then help you improve your writing on that basis.
If you’re feeling a little more confident and you’re motivated to pursue writing in English, I can’t recommend enough using Grammarly Premium (not sponsored). Not only will it correct your typos and grammar mistakes, but it can also help you with style and readability, which is a great plus. You still need to trust your instincts when using this kind of software, but I find it’s a great safety net. It is also very user-friendly.
For francophones and francophiles everywhere, I also recommend using Antidote (again, not sponsored). It is a software that is similar to Grammarly but is available in French and English and contains dictionaries and guides to help you find synonyms, combinations and all types of information on spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. I’ve been using the bilingual version for a while now, and I wouldn’t want to go back to a life without it.
Of course, there are many other resources and tools out there that might help you write in English. Find the help that is best suited to your level.
5. Wash, rinse, repeat
You can’t expect practice to make perfect right away, but it can sure make better pretty quickly.
Keep reading, keep writing, keep editing.
And most importantly, remember that even native English writers look up writing tips and advice all the time. As someone who has a different first language in which you are used to writing, you might not be as prolific as a native English speaker, but you are still doing it. You still have interesting stories to tell, even if they might need more time to take form on that blank screen.
I’m right there with you, my friend.
