10-Step Program to Better Grammar.

People have pet-peeves, and trust me I have plenty of them. However, my number one pet-peeve would be GRAMMAR! I cannot stand when someone uses bad grammar! So with the help of ehow.com, I have comprised a 10-step program to better grammar!

Step 1
Read as much as you can, and not the stuff you usually read. Go to the bookstore or library and pick out books or magazines that you normally wouldn't choose. Pick volumes that use language differently from your usual pleasure reading. So, if your usual fare is Redbook Magazine or Mademoiselle, pick out The Atlantic Monthly or The New Yorker. If you normally read USA Today, try the Wall Street Journal or the Christian Science Monitor. Read with an eye for studying sentence construction, otherwise known as syntax.

Step 2
Visit grammar websites online. There are a number of websites for this. A great one listed in the Resources section is The Slot, which was put together by a copy editor. This does not focus exclusively on grammar but broadly on English usage. Search the Web for sites where you can quiz yourself on your grammar skills online.

Step 3
Keep a book on English grammar in places where you may read for a few minutes--in your reading-during-your-commute reading pile, on a coffee table, even in the bathroom. Grammar books are best looked at in small bits, as reading one for long might put you to sleep. (Speaking of which, keep a grammar book on the bedside table.)

Step 4
Write a document trying out some new grammatical techniques. Then ask somebody you know who is a grammar expert to look at it and correct it for errors or questionable sections.

Step 5
Make a plan. Try to get an overview of English grammar from a text book or online resource. Note the grammar points you need to work on and plan to work on each for at least a few day.

Step 6
Identify common mistakes. People who speak the same language often make the same mistakes in English grammar. For example, many Russian speakers have trouble using "a" and "the" in English. Find out what grammar points are often difficult for speakers of your native language. Pay extra attention to learning those grammar points.

Step 7
Find some grammar exercises. To learn English grammar well, you'll need to practice each grammar point until you can use it easily. Look for a book of grammar exercises that also has answers. Online activities and quizzes can also help. Focus on just one grammar point each time you study.

Step 8
Pay close attention to grammar when you read English. When you're trying to learn correct English grammar, it's not enough to understand general idea of what you read. You'll need to understand exactly why each sentence is written that way. When you read a sentence, ask yourself if can make similar sentences. If you can't or you're not sure, find text book exercises for those grammar points and practice.

Step 9
Translate from your native language into English. When you write or speak your own thoughts, it's easy to avoid complicated grammar. When you translate, you have to work with whatever is on the page, even if the grammar is difficult. Start translating simple things like advertisments and then move to newpapers and magazine articles. Translating dialog in plays is another good way to practice.

Step 10
Ask native speakers for advice. If you know any native English speakers, ask if they could check some of your writing now and then. If there are no native English speakers near you, look online for language learning forums or language exchange sites. Just remember if the native speaker is not a teacher, he or she may not be able to explain grammar rules.