Want to Write Like a Native English Speaker? Here Are 10 Little Habits That Will Make a Big Difference

If you want to sound more like a native English speaker when you write, you don’t need to memorize hundreds of idioms or master every rule in Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Many times, it’s the small writing habits that make the biggest difference. Native speakers develop these habits naturally over time. But if English is your second (or third, or fourth) language, you can learn them too.

So let’s look at the 10 little habits that will help you write smoother, clearer, and more natural English.

1. Use contractions

Native speakers almost always use contractions in their speech, but the same holds true in ordinary, everyday writing. Compare these two sentences. Which one sounds more natural?
✅ I don’t know why you can’t work part-time and go to school.
❌ I do not know why you cannot work part-time and go to school.

Contractions make your writing sound more relaxed and fluent. However, use the full form in academic writing, legal writing, or very formal business communications.

Are you confused about when to use contractions and when to use the full form? You’re in luck—we have a whole article about it here!

2. Keep your sentences short and clear

Long, complex sentences with numerous clauses are harder for your readers to follow. Native speakers often break up long ideas into two or three shorter sentences.
✅ I finished cleaning my home office. Now I’ll set up my new printer.
❌ Having finished cleaning my home office, I shall proceed to install the printer which I recently acquired.

3. Start with your main idea

In English, the most important part of a sentence typically comes first. Don’t bury your key point in the middle or at the end.
✅ We need to reinstall the software.
❌ Due to several technical difficulties we have experienced in recent days, it is now necessary to reinstall the software.

4. Use phrasal verbs

The term “phrasal verbs” might sound like some scary, difficult, complicated thing that you’d learn in an advanced English class. But they’re just common expressions that native English speakers use on a regular basis. Some examples include “figure out”, “look into”, and “give up”.
✅ I’ll ask Lu from the IT department to look into this problem with your laptop.
❌ I will ask Lu from the IT department to investigate this problem with your laptop.

5. Avoid overusing the passive voice

The passive voice is common in academic, legal, and technical writing. However, native speakers usually prefer the active voice (or at least a mixture of the two) in emails, messages, and blog posts.
✅ Lu diagnosed the problem with my laptop.
❌ The problem with my laptop was diagnosed by Lu.

 

6. Watch your prepositions

Some of the trickiest words to learn in English involve prepositions like “to”, “in”, “at”, and “of”. Native speakers instinctively know they should say “interested in” rather than “interested at” or “interested to”. Unfortunately, non-native speakers will have to memorize the rules or find some trick to help them remember.

Pro Tip: Think of a line from a favorite book, song, or movie in English that includes the preposition that you’re struggling with. This will help you remember the correct form.

7. Use plain English

Using “fancy” words or a lot of unnecessary jargon can confuse your audience. Native speakers often prefer plain English because it is simple, clear, and easier to understand.
✅ Let’s start planning the training program tomorrow.
❌ Let us commence the process of strategizing the training program tomorrow.

8. Use “you” and “we”

Using personal pronouns gives your writing a more natural, conversational tone.
✅ If you have any questions, we are here to help you.
❌ The supervisors are available to answer any questions.

9. Know when to be informal

Native speakers adapt their tone according to the context. This blog article, for example, has a “business casual” tone, as do many of the emails we edit at TextRanch. However, we also work on research papers and legal texts, where formal English is required.

How do you know when it’s appropriate to use informal English? It may vary, depending on which English-speaking country you’re in (e.g., the USA and Canada tend to be more casual than the UK). It might also depend on the culture within your company or school, or on what kind of relationship you have with the person to whom you are writing/speaking.

When in doubt, find a colleague, classmate, or someone else at your school or workplace who can help you navigate the situation. You can also use the above infographic as a general guide.

10. Read out loud before you click “send”

Reading your own writing aloud helps you catch awkward phrasing and unnatural rhythms. If something sounds strange to you, it will probably sound strange to a native speaker.

Final Tip: Get feedback from real native English speakers

The best way to write like a native speaker is to learn from one! At TextRanch, someone from our team of human editors will review your writing and make sure you sound natural, clear, and confident.