You should now be aware of some of the common vocabularies in the English language and some of the more common mix-ups in grammar, but knowing doesn’t guarantee that you will always use the right word in the right context. The English language is constantly changing and, as each generation passes, meanings can change and new words appear.

The key is to make sure you are aware of the grammar rules and of the common mistakes, but also keep up with the language as it evolves. These tips will help to keep you on the right path:

Be an internet critic

English is the most common language used on the internet today and there are plenty of conversations and articles written by non-English speakers. This means that isn’t uncommon to find misused words. In fact, the internet is home to all sorts, from poorly constructed grammar to misspelled words to idioms that are completely out of place.

Not only that, anyone can publish their ideas or work on the internet and that means the quality is going to vary to some extremes. Just because you see something on the internet, it doesn’t make it right so be critical, whether you are posting in forums or just reading content online. And that leads nicely to the next tip.

Keep your dictionary to hand

If you are in any doubt, look words up in the dictionary. Make sure it is a good one, like Oxford or Macmillan, and don’t think that you need to carry a large book around with you – there are plenty of decent dictionary apps!

Use credible sources

Read books, articles and other works that are high quality and pay attention to the way words are used. Some publications, like the Washington Post or The Guardian, are good for news reports as they have dedicated editors.

Use tools when you write

Nobody is perfect. There will always be that word that you just can’t get right, but you don’t have to struggle through. Most word processing programs have built-in spelling and grammar checkers and you should make use of them all the time. Or you could use an external tool like Grammarly. If the same mistake is happening all the time, concentrate on trying to fix it.

List the words you misuse most frequently

You will learn to spot them as you spell check a few things you have written, so write them down and learn how to use them correctly. Do the same if you come across words that you are confused about when you read.

If you don’t spot these words and you try to correct them actively, you will not learn how to overcome them and use them correctly the next time. This is a list that will constantly grow and will help you to perfect your use of the English language.

In the last part of this series, we will be looking at some of the most commonly misused words and how to change the way you use them.