ESL (English as a Second Language) Writing and Editing Support

What ESL is

ESL stands for English as a Second Language. This name is used for:

Students of English as a second or other language
People who know some English (a little or a lot), but not as their first language
Books, magazines, newspapers, and services for ESL students or people who know English as a second or other language

For some "ESL" people, English is actually their third or fourth language.

Who these ESL writing and editing services are for

My ESL support services are for two kinds of people: those who speak English as their first language, and those who know some English but not as their mother tongue.

If English is your first language

You may be losing some of your readers if your content is difficult for non-native English speakers to read. I can:

Simplify sentence structure
Replace difficult words with more basic vocabulary
Rewrite confusing idioms
Organize content to make it easier for native and non-native speakers to read
Write material for a global audience

If English is not your first language

About half of all Google searches are done in English. To reach the widest possible worldwide audience, a site must be in English — and maybe another language.

If you write in English for English speakers, I can:

Edit your work to correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes
Make sentence and paragraph organization work better for English speakers
Write what you need in English

Why ESL support can help you

Grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes make sentences harder to understand and reduce credibility. People who aren't fluent in English are at a disadvantage unless they have someone who can check and fix any mistakes.

Native English speakers who publish material for non-native English speakers can make content easier to use with simpler choices of grammar, vocabulary, and expressions. The writing doesn't need to be too simple; this site is an example of work written for an international audience. With over 14 years of experience teaching ESL students, I know how to use plainer language.

My ESL specialty

I've been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) since 1990 (part-time since 2001). I know the typical mistakes that non-native speakers make in English. I understand the differences in writing structure and style in different languages. I've seen how difficult it can be for non-native speakers to read in English.

My background also includes courses and experience in editing and publishing. This background helps me organize words to help native and non-native English speakers read faster and understand better.

Related pages at this site

Common ESL Writing Mistakes

The errors that non-native English speakers make in English depend on their first language.

Speakers of any other language

Wrong verb forms and tenses
Subject-verb non-agreement (e.g., "She like tennis;" "he don't like tennis")
Spelling mistakes
Punctuation mistakes
Use of the wrong preposition
Poorly translated words and word order
Writing styles that work in some languages but not in English (e.g., too direct or indirect, the ways sentences are organized together

Speakers of Asian languages

Not using articles where they're needed in English
Using the wrong article
Overuse of the passive voice
Difficulty with English paragraph structure

Speakers of Western languages

Confusion with pronouns and irregular plurals
Using articles where they aren't needed in English
Not using the subject because the subject and verb are one word in the writer's native language
Incorrect use of words that are similar in English and another language but don't have the same meaning