Use Style Guides
When writing English, style guides offer basic rules and norms for English usage. One example is the “English Style Guide” published by the European Commission Directorate-General for Translation. This guide is a handbook for authors and translators in the European Commission. While written for specific professional use, this resource offers important points on English usage for anyone wishing to have a better grasp of the language.
Another example of a style guide is the book “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. This is a guide to American English. Other sources of style guides include newspapers and magazines, i.e. The Telegraph
What will you find in these style guides? You will find advice and tips on diction, grammar, sentence construction, spelling, and syntax. You will also find advice on punctuation, using the active voice, how to omit needless words in your writing, and many other tips.
The key to using a style guide is to choose one appropriate to the region where you use your English most.
In addition, a style guide typically presents information on form in English. This includes using headings and sub-headings, as well as parentheses. It also includes information on how to present numbers, such as dates, in your writing, and how to present quotations and references properly.