Blog #3 of 7 in my 7 Blogs in 7 Days Challenge
Being able to write well is one of the most important skills. Whether its paper and ink or digital text, writing is still one of the best ways to communicate our ideas.
The trouble is I am not that good at it.
So I have set about trying to get better. The problem is that figuring out where to start has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. Prior to starting this blog, I knew nothing about writing or how to learn it.
However, here are 4 free tools I have found to be helpful. .
1. Grammarly
The Grammarly extension is a brilliant way to check for those spelling and grammar errors. Especially if, like me, you like to write your posts directly into WordPress. Writing directly in WordPress helps me reduce the friction in uploading.
2. Hemingway Editor
This website helps you write more clearly and succinctly. Just write in the editor directly or copy and paste in your text. The webpage will highlight areas of your text that are too long, complex, use too many adverbs or the passive voice style. It’s a great way to get immediate feedback on your writing.
3. Yoast SEO Plugin
Whilst Yoast primarily focuses on improving the SEO (search engine optimisation) of your posts, it does have a nice readability feature. It tells you where how readable your post is and gives you suggestions to improve it.
4. WordPress
Okay, this might seem obvious for anyone already writing online. But for those who aren’t writing publicly, this is one of the best ways to improve. This is because it forces you to clarify your ideas. In most instances, you’re trying to communicate to a stranger – so writing a blog helps you practice turning those ideas into comprehensible writing.