Wes H. answered 16d
Patient Writing & English Tutor | Essays, Analysis, and Fiction
That’s an important question, and you’re not alone — improving grammar can feel overwhelming at first because there seem to be so many rules and exceptions. The key is not to treat grammar like a giant rulebook to memorize, but like a set of high-impact patterns to practice. I recommend focusing first on the issues that most affect clarity: sentence boundaries (avoiding fragments and run-ons), subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tense, and core punctuation habits. Fixing those areas alone usually produces a noticeable jump in writing quality.
One resource I strongly suggest purchasing and studying is The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It’s concise, practical, and incredibly useful as a working reference — not something to read once and shelve, but to revisit while revising your own sentences. Use it actively: look up a principle, then apply it immediately in your writing. Combine that with careful reading of well-edited prose so you can see correct grammar functioning in real context.
Most importantly, build grammar into your revision process. Draft first for meaning, then edit for correctness and control. Read your sentences out loud, check one pattern at a time, and make targeted improvements instead of trying to fix everything at once. That focused approach builds confidence and accuracy much faster than trying to master every rule in one pass.