How to improve English writing, grammar, punctuation skills?
First off, it would be good to note that most “English” classes in the US are no longer exactly English grammar classes and are more literature classes than anything else. [I ought to know; I sat through eleven years’ worth of them.] For writing skills and a larger vocabulary, read voraciously and force yourself to use words other than the chat vocabulary. Learning another language is actually really great for learning your own language’s [in this case, English] grammar, particularly if the teacher/professor uses English equivalents to demonstrate grammar points in the other language. I’ve found that Latin is particularly helpful for this if not actually speaking the language, and higher-level language courses that cover more grammar are also helpful. I’m sure that if you asked your teachers for an extra grammar lesson here and there, they wouldn’t mind helping you out. Don’t trust Microsoft Word’s grammar check. Ever. A good grammar book is Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss, and
