how do you practice writing? my writing is horrible, I already tried to write here on LingQ but I don’t know what to do with the feedback, I usually study it and write it all over again according to the feedback.
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To be honest, the writing exchange here is just a sort of practice that you do. I take it that way. You focus on what you can and you see some mistake here and there.
When you want to seriously practice writing you need to upgrade to something a bit different, like a tutor or something. Where you have a teacher that not only correct your text but also give you some feedback on why you did those mistakes.
The reason is that for really learning something from the exchange it would be useful to have some written feedback on the mistakes we make.
At least 1 feedback would be useful so that you can learn grammar and rules by every correction. But it’s done for free so it’s a blessing that people dedicate time for it.
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There are some platforms to improve your writing, you can even learn grammar rules.
For English you can use Grammarly https://www.grammarly.com
For German you can use the rechtschreibpruefung by Duden Rechtschreibprüfung online ✒️ Duden Textprüfung
For other languages you have to search.
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I’ve personally just been using it to try and get more output. I have no idea how others use it…
What I’m doing is I’ll think of something I want to write about…Maybe an interesting trip or day. I’ll TRY to write something in some form using words I know. If I don’t know the words or how to structure a sentence I’ll use deepl or google translate to help me come up with a sentence. If I’m not sure of the sentence I created (if I formed it wholly from my own knowledge) then I’ll put my native language form into deepl or google translate and see what it spits out and how it compares. I may then adjust what I wrote (or not).
So I work it out best I can. Then I post it on the exchange for feedback. That way one can see how a native or proficient speaker might formulate the sentence. In many languages there are special ways of saying things that may not really make sense in your own native language as a direct translation so it’s important to become acquainted with these phrases. Sometimes Deepl or google translate will get these correct, but sometimes not.
I don’t know if this is the best way to work on this, but I think it should help me get acquainted with words and phrases that I can use in my active vocabulary on topics that relate to ME. Ones that I might use if someone was asking me questions about my day, or a trip or something that has happened to me.
Now, if I just had more time to actually do this…
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I didn’t know the Duden’s one, thanks.
I use also these that are similar (and for different languages):
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The writing exchange is a tool that allows writers to share their work with others. It’s a great way to get feedback on your work and help you improve.
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Then I think you are using the writing exchange in the correct way. Well done. But like others have commented here, don’t make it your only way of practicing if you want to get good at writing.
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For me, essay writing is also quite a complicated and time-consuming process. And it doesn’t matter the type of paper I have to write, the theme and so on, I always have some troubles. And the advice, which is based on my own experience, is to read similar papers. You can find some samples online and it always helps me to complete my work. Hope this will help you too! A-Grade Essay Samples for Free - Assign Buster Good luck!
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Writing Exchange are great ways to improve your writing skills while connecting to like-minded writers. Depending on the platform you are using, you may have access to a library of resources to help you write better papers, collaborate with other essay writer https://essayshark.com/ in a chatroom, and even receive feedback from experienced editors. There is definitely value in leveraging these tools for those who are looking for guidance and support as they pursue better writing skills. Best of luck with your writing journey!
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That’s right, it really helps to improve your writing skills. For a long time I asked writers to write my essay for me WriteMyEssayOnline since I could not manage to write on my own. I also communicated with many writers and gained experience. Which has helped me a lot overall.
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At this point, ChatGPT is a better writing exchange partner.
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I practice writing by setting aside dedicated time each day to write. I find a quiet and comfortable space where I can focus and avoid distractions. I start by brainstorming ideas or outlining my thoughts before diving into the actual writing. I make sure to have a clear goal or purpose for each content creation, whether it’s to work on a specific project or simply to practice my skills. I also find it helpful to read and study the works of other writers to learn from their techniques and styles. Additionally, I seek feedback from trusted peers or mentors to improve my writing. Overall, consistent practice, discipline, and a commitment to learning and growth are key to honing my writing skills.
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Using a writing exchange effectively involves giving and receiving constructive feedback. Respectfully critique others’ work, highlighting strengths and suggesting improvements. Be open to receiving feedback on your writing, fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented environment for growth and skill enhancement. you can also hire a ghostwriter to enhance your manuscript.
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私もいろんなことに使用していますが、結局のところ一つのサイトで全てを賄うことはできないということですね。
その場合、どう考えるか。
色んなサイトやアプリを渡り歩くのが面倒で、一つに集約したいをしたくて、少し高いなと思いながら、このサブスクリプションを使用してますが、スティーブさんのようにそもそも居住や周りの環境が外国語に触れてきた方と、母国でいつかあそこに行きたいと思って学ぶ人とでは、やっぱりこの学習方法だけでは無理があるなと感じています。さらに今後15%の値上げともなると、結局今でも外部サイトを併用しているのに、意味あるのかなと私自身は感じています。1年契約なので、そこまでは沢山活用させていただいて、その後はこれからの変化を見ながらギリギリまで考えたいと思っています。
I also use various resources, but ultimately, it seems that relying on just one website for everything isn’t feasible. In such cases, what should one do? While it’s a bit expensive, I’m using this subscription because I want to consolidate everything and avoid the hassle of switching between multiple sites and apps. However, I feel like relying solely on this learning method is challenging, especially compared to someone like Steve, who has been exposed to foreign languages through residency or surrounding environments, or those who are learning with the goal of eventually visiting a foreign country. Additionally, with a 15% price increase looming, I question the value of continuing this subscription when I’m already using external sites. Since it’s a one-year contract, I plan to make the most of it until then and then carefully consider my options while monitoring future changes.
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So far, I haven’t found a better tool to practice writing, than ChatGPT. Even the free 3.5 version is doing quite good. I usually write a short text, and then ask ChatGPT to provide two corrections: a natural sounding and a minimal one. Then I go sentence by sentence, comparing the corrections with my original text, and from that decide what I need to learn more. Sometimes I also do translations. Then I also give ChatGPT the original text. That works pretty well, for it sticks to the way how I chose to translate the text, but provides suggestions for the vocabulary that is closer to the original.
Some other tools are doing equally good job, but since their results are very similar to ChatGPT and they are clearly AI based, I assume there is the same underlying model.
I’ve also tried tools that are meant for text correction, such as Language Tool and a couple of others, but their performance for the given task was way below ChatGPT’s. At least for German.
Also though I’ve never tried LingQ’s writing exchange, I’ve tried to ask for corrections on HiNative. The result I found quite random, as one would expect from people and not AI. Some users would change my texts completely sometimes even deviating from the original message I’ve tried to convey, some would only indicate the obvious mistakes, some would add very high-level vocabulary for my clear beginner texts. So in the end I found ChatGPT being more reliable.
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I agree. I’ll ask ChatGPT (4.0) to “Can you correct this German text I wrote and suggest if there are better ways to say things:”
It gives its version and then goes sentence by sentence explaining why it changed things. To your point, sometimes the corrections on Writing Exchange on Lingq can change want you are intending to say, so it’s not perfect, although in general the feedback is good. With ChatGPT though you can tell ChatGPT that you were trying to convey a certain mood, meaning, or intention here and it can make the correction to its own correction based on that feedback which is nice.
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I’ve been exactly where you are, and I know how frustrating it can feel. When my writing was at its worst, I realized that simply rewriting my work based on feedback wasn’t enough. What really made a difference was incorporating a few key strategies into my practice.
Firstly, I started journaling daily. This wasn’t just about practicing writing; it was about finding my voice and becoming comfortable expressing my thoughts on paper without the pressure of being correct.
Then, I focused on the feedback I received. Instead of just rewriting my work, I took the time to understand the patterns in my mistakes. Were they grammatical errors, issues with sentence structure, or problems with coherence? Understanding these patterns helped me target my weaknesses more effectively.
Additionally, I engaged in peer review with fellow learners. This mutual exchange of feedback provided fresh perspectives on my writing and taught me to critique constructively.
Lastly, I embraced reading as a part of my writing practice. Reading widely exposed me to different writing styles, vocabularies, and sentence structures, which I then tried to mimic in my own writing.
Remember, improving your writing is a journey. Be patient with yourself and celebrate the small victories along the way.
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Another recommendation for ChatGPT here.
I was worried about it giving me incorrect advice, and I’m sure it must occasionally. But I took one essay of maybe 1000 words and worked through revisions with ChatGPT. Then I read the same essay to 3 different native speakers (tutors) and ask for corrections to improve the essay. I left it very open ended—even stylistic feedback was welcome. They only came up with some minor suggestions. From that, I gather ChatGPT gives pretty solid writing advice.
At least it probably does for Spanish. I’m not sure how other languages fare.
I don’t want to speak ill of the language exchange feature here. I actually appreciate the elegance of its design, as a software developer. But I much prefer the immediate feedback, explanations, and consistency of ChatGPT.
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@Maniao_o I’ve added your answer to my previous post here: https://forum.lingq.com/t/how-would-i-improve-my-writing-skills-to-excellence-and-confidence/110159/
When you have time, I’d like to know more on the other thread, thanks.
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