Grammar, spelling and punctuation Developing academic English
Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation are key in your written work for university.
- In your sentences, do your verbs agree with their subject?
- Have you used your verb tenses correctly?
- Have you used articles such as 'the' and 'a' correctly?
- Have you checked your spelling and punctuation?
English grammar reference is a useful guide from British Council 'Learn English' site, offering brief explanations of the more common areas of grammar, each with a relevant activity.
Skills you need aims to make you think about your writing – from grammar, spelling and punctuation and provides guides for specific pieces of writing whether it be for university or the workplace.
Using tenses and verbs
Sentence grammar: Past, present or future from the BBC Skillswise has lots of downloadable factsheets and activities.
The following activities from the University of Southampton explore the use of the gerund - the 'ing' form of a verb (for example, 'singing') - and the infinitive form ('to sing').
Use of articles : 'the' and 'a'
The following links from the British Council 'Learn English' site give a summary on when to use the definite article ('the') and the indefinite article ('a').
Use of single phrases to represent whole processes
Nominalisation is when verbs and adjectives are turned into nouns or noun phrases. The following advanced activity from the University of Southampton allows you to practise using noun phrases to develop a more concise and formal writing style.
Use of prepositions
Prepositions are connecting words that can be important for the clarity of your writing. This activity from the University of Southampton examines which preposition to choose after certain words or phrases.
Spelling and punctuation
Confusable words
These activities from the University of Southampton explore words that can be easily confused for a number of reasons.
