How to make your English writing sound natural: 12 fixes for non-native writers
By ESL Humanizer editorial teamUpdated 10 min read
Short answer
Non-native writing usually sounds unnatural because of a small set of repeated patterns: missing or extra articles, direct translations of prepositions and idioms, over-formal vocabulary, repeated sentence openers and stacked nouns. Fixing those twelve patterns makes most writing read as fluent without changing what you say.
Most non-native writing is perfectly understandable. What makes it sound “translated” is usually not big grammar mistakes, but a handful of small patterns that repeat across every paragraph. Fix these twelve and your writing will read as fluent — without changing a single idea.
Each fix below has a before-and-after example. The “after” versions are deliberately simple: natural English is usually plainer than learners expect.
1. Articles: a, an and the
Many languages — including Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean — have no articles, so they are the most common source of unnatural English. Rough rules: use a/an for one non-specific countable thing, the when the reader knows which one you mean, and no article for general plural or uncountable nouns.
BeforeThe education is important for the development of country.
AfterEducation is important for a country's development.
“Education” in general takes no article; “country” is countable and needs one.
2. Prepositions
Prepositions rarely translate one-to-one. Learn them as part of the phrase, not separately.
BeforeI am interested about this topic and I will discuss about it in the next section.
AfterI am interested in this topic and will discuss it in the next section.
“Interested in”; “discuss” takes no preposition.
BeforeShe is good in mathematics.
AfterShe is good at mathematics.
3. Make vs. do (and other collocations)
Collocations are words that naturally go together. Using the “wrong” but logical verb is a strong sign of translation.
BeforeWe did a mistake and made our homework late.
AfterWe made a mistake and did our homework late.
Others to learn as pairs: take a decision (UK) / make a decision (US), pay attention, conduct research, raise a question, heavy rain (not “strong rain”).
4. Uncountable nouns
Words like information, advice, research, evidence, feedback, equipment and knowledge are uncountable in English — no plural “s” and no “a”.
BeforeThe researchers gave us many useful informations and an advice.
AfterThe researchers gave us a lot of useful information and some advice.
5. Continuous tenses where simple is needed
Use the simple present for facts, habits and general truths. The continuous form (-ing) is for actions happening now or temporarily.
BeforeIn my country, the education system is giving more importance to memorizing.
AfterIn my country, the education system gives more importance to memorizing.
BeforeI am agree with this idea.
AfterI agree with this idea.
6. Redundant phrases
Some phrases say the same thing twice. Cut the extra words.
BeforeBecause of this reason, we returned back to the first step.
AfterBecause of this, we returned to the first step.
Other common ones: “final conclusion” → conclusion, “each and every” → every, “in my personal opinion” → in my opinion.
7. Over-formal or old-fashioned vocabulary
Dictionaries and textbooks often suggest formal words that sound stiff in modern English. Prefer the plain word unless the context really is formal.
BeforeI would like to commence by elucidating the aforementioned problem.
AfterI will start by explaining this problem.
8. Repeated sentence openers
Starting sentence after sentence with the same word — Also, …, And, …, In addition, … — makes writing sound mechanical. Vary the structure or combine sentences.
BeforeAlso, the city is cheap. Also, it has good universities. Also, people are friendly.
AfterThe city is affordable, has good universities, and its people are friendly.
9. Stacked nouns and “of” chains
Long chains of nouns or repeated “of” phrases are hard to read. Turn one of the nouns into a verb.
BeforeThe improvement of the quality of the education of students is the aim of this project.
AfterThis project aims to improve the quality of students' education.
10. Word order
English follows subject–verb–object closely, and adverbs of frequency usually come before the main verb. Questions inside sentences keep normal word order.
BeforeI don't know what is the reason. We go always to the library on Fridays.
AfterI don't know what the reason is. We always go to the library on Fridays.
11. Translated idioms and fixed phrases
Idioms translated word for word are usually confusing. If you are unsure whether an expression exists in English, say it plainly instead.
BeforeThis job was a piece of bread for him. At the end of the day he opened his eyes.
AfterThis job was easy for him. Eventually, he realized what was happening.
The English idiom is “a piece of cake” — but plain words are always safe.
12. Connectors (linking words)
Words like moreover, furthermore and nevertheless are correct but heavy. Overusing them — especially at the start of every sentence — sounds unnatural. Use simple linkers (but, so, also, however) and let the logic of your sentences carry the connection.
BeforeMoreover, the results were positive. Furthermore, the cost was low. Nevertheless, we stopped.
AfterThe results were positive and the cost was low, but we still stopped.
A 60-second checklist before you submit
- Check every singular countable noun has an article (a/an/the) or a determiner.
- Check the preposition after adjectives and verbs you are unsure about.
- Search for “informations”, “advices”, “researches”, “evidences”.
- Replace continuous tenses used for facts and opinions with simple tenses.
- Delete redundant words: “back”, “final”, “reason” after “because of this”.
- Read the first word of each sentence — vary any that repeat.
- Split any sentence longer than about 30 words.
Want these fixes applied to your paragraph?
ESL Humanizer fixes these patterns in your own text, keeps your meaning, and highlights each change so you learn from it.