Use it or lose it!

My first approach to writing was probably when I was 7 years old. I had just learned how to write, I grabbed colourful pencils and a sheet of paper where I wrote all kinds of crazy stories with drawings included. Even though my spelling and handwriting were not the best, the stories were still readable. All the dialogues were related or similar to the books I had read; I used to write short tales about fairies, princesses with super powers, animals, etc., and how they managed to solve problems.

But I probably should have started this first entry of my grammar blog by explaining my roots; my cultural background. Well, since I was eleven years old, English has been my second language —a foreign language; therefore, I learned my first words in English when I was in fifth grade. It was strange the way English caught my attention; I just loved the different sounds, intonations, and new phrases.

It was in high school when I started writing micro-essays in English. Even though I was the best of my class, I ran into difficulties because it got very hard for me to develop my ideas, use proper grammar and mechanics (punctuation). I actually consider writing to be a very difficult activity; which requires a lot of study, work and concentration. In Spanish however, I do not required much of those elements, I only need to feel how words flow from my mind to my hand and then write them straight away. This happens because I like writing and also because Spanish is my mother tongue; a situation distant from the ability I possessed during my first years writing in English.

During my first two years of university in Chile, I had a very limited knowledge regarding punctuation usage. I was rather afraid of using punctuation marks in my compositions because I had no idea where and when a comma, semicolon, or colon had to be used. I had the opportunity to be part of a writing course that was extremely helpful as it gave me significant insights into the use of punctuation in written English.

Today, I feel confident when creating a text, as I understand most of the rules concerning subordination, coordination, parallelism and punctuation marks. This has, of course, increased my interest in both reading and writing; for I now have a wider understanding of the different components included within a piece of writing.

However, there are still some mistakes that I continue to make. One of those mistakes is using commas, commas, and more commas everywhere. When it comes to utilizing them I am clumsy, insecure, exaggerated. I am quite obsessed with semicolons because in Spanish we do not use them regularly, or at least I generally do not use them. I like connecting two independent clauses without using a period. In my humble opinion, it sounds more natural.

In the past, I used to feel insecure about my skills, but now, I feel optimistic about my future as a writer. Even more so I am sure it is just a matter of time before I start writing on a regular basis. As a future teacher I am conscious of the importance of being aware of one’s weaknesses and strengths; it is the first step in improving yourself and becoming a better writer.