Competition is fierce in our digitized world. It doesn’t matter what business you run or what career path you follow. The best need to continuously improve. Writing is one of those skills that are needed—especially in our world dominated by artificial intelligence—to make it professionally. That’s why it is imperative that you improve your English writing skills starting today.
In the online business world, keep in mind that some sets of skills are a must for success. Of course, improving your English writing skills is mandatory, but you shouldn’t forget about other skills. Content marketing & social media skills cannot be ignored, and SEO remains a skill that anyone needs to conquer.
Studies have shown that children who develop early the habit of writing have more professional success. Also, even adults who practice their writing become, on average, more successful than their peers.
You might have heard that rich and successful people are avid readers. Nothing can be further from the truth. However, you should know that with the thirst for reading comes improvement in writing—another motivating and important reason to improve your English writing skills.
How can you improve your English writing skills? Well, by reading, of course. Reading, it can be said, is the engine of good writing. You can read literature books if you want to. Of course, philosophy, sociology, and other humanities books can also enhance your writing skills. Still, many times, it is better to start with the fundamentals—you should start with books on writing style, English grammar, and the like.
That’s why we at Thumos Writing want to recommend a couple of books that will help you write better English and help improve your skills.
The Best Books to Improve Your English Writing Skills
You may have heard of some of these books. No matter how familiarized you are with them, you should check them out. We recommend them for various reasons, but, in the end, we recommend them for you to improve your English writing skills.
I. The Elements of Style by E.B. White and W. Strunk Jr.
This is one of the classical style manuals that anybody who wants to improve his or her English writing skills must own. It has been used as a style guide in American universities for over a century, and every professional writer that we know highly recommends it.
Why? Because it is simple. If conciseness is a sign of quality writing, The Elements of Style wins first place. You can read this book in a day and take important pieces of advice from two classic American writers.
You are presented with thirteen rules of usage, eleven rules of composition, and twenty-one rules of style. If you need an essential guide on the essence of good writing, The Elements of Style is the book that you need to have on your desk.
Some writers recommend rereading this small, insightful book once per year. If you are dedicated to becoming a better writer and to improving your English writing skills, then you should read it at least once every year.
W. Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White have advocated for simplicity and brevity in writing. A piece should never contain more words than it needs to. That is the essence of good writing, and that’s what you will learn by reading and rereading this book.
II. On Writing Well by William Zinsser
If there is an author that anyone who is working on a small online business should know, that author is William Zinsser.
Simple as his writing was, William Zinsser has made a career as a nonfiction writer. You, as a business owner, will have to publish online content constantly, i.e., nonfiction, so Mr. Zinsser may have the advice and writing philosophy you are looking for to improve your English writing skills.
“If you would like to write better than everybody else, you have to want to write better than everybody else.” This is what Zinsser wrote in his book On Writing Well. We at Thumos Writing believe that change and business success start with the right attitude. That’s why an inner wish to become a better writer is the first step to becoming a better writer.
Like Strunk and White, Mr. Zinsser has always advised for simplicity and conciseness. After writing the first draft, Zinsser recommends spotting every piece of information that can be removed from the text without affecting the core message. He calls this “removing the clutter from your writing.” After you have done this, you can now develop a style of your own, an authentic self.
This is important. Why? Because people are more interested in what other people have to say. If you ponder, now, with the rise of artificial intelligence, we are in a position in which finding an authentic self has never been more important. In a world with a lot of writing generated with ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini, an authentic voice is a gold mine.
What do you say? Is having an authentic voice, as Zinsser recommends, worth it? We say that it is. This is how you stand out; this is how you grow your small online business. Also, this is how you improve your English writing skills: by developing your own, distinguishable voice. And you start with simplicity and clarity.
Zinsser’s On Writing Well is a must-read regardless of your writing goals. You may want to write better for business or for yourself. The fundamentals found in this book will help you improve your English writing skills.
III. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
This is a book for those interested in content marketing, marketing in general, and online writing. The author, a marketing expert, mirrors the writing needs of our times, and you can grasp all her ideas on what good writing is in this book. In fact, when it comes to online writing, Ann’s book is the best choice for those who wish to improve their English writing skills.
It is a practical, no-nonsense guide for anyone who creates content for the Internet—whether it’s marketing copy, blog posts, or social media updates. Ann Handley breaks down writing into approachable, actionable advice that helps you write clearly, persuasively, and with your unique voice.
The author presents various rules for writing well in the online sphere. As a small business owner, what you need to remember from Anna’s book is that you always need to write useful, original, and emphatic content. Always try and solve the reader’s issues or needs.
If you want to improve your English writing skills to connect better with your audience and boost your business or personal brand, this book offers essential tips and strategies to make every word count.
IV. The Chicago Manual of Style
Good writing comes with following the rules and conventions of the English language. That’s why someone probably recommended reading a style manual. All we can say is that, in a sense, the written language is a matter of convention. That’s why we recommend making use of such guides if you wish to improve your English writing skills.
There are many English writing guides available, but we want to recommend what we consider to be the most reliable one: The Chicago Style Manual.
The Manual is the ultimate reference for writers, editors, and publishers who want clarity and consistency in their work. Covering everything from grammar and punctuation to citation formats and manuscript preparation, it’s the gold standard in the publishing industry.
If you create professional content—whether books, articles, reports, or web copy—this guide ensures your writing meets the highest editorial standards. It’s not a quick read, but it’s the book you’ll turn to again and again for authoritative answers.
Our recommendation is to always have a copy of The Chicago Style Manual near you. Long-term, it will help improve your English writing skills.
V. The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker
Known for his work in cognitive science, Steven Pinker proves to be also knowledgeable in the craft of writing. We can say that Pinker’s Sense of Style is, as he puts it, a style guide for this century’s writer.
Like in the other books that we recommend, Steven Pinker tells the reader to choose simplicity and boldness, these being two signs of good writing. He advocates for what he calls the classical style. This entails that when you are writing, you imagine yourself sitting in front of a dear friend who wants to hear what you have to say. You explain the ideas to your friend in an intelligent, yet simple, manner, assuming that he has the intelligence to comprehend what you are saying.
It is worth noting that central to Pinker’s views on writing is his idea of writing as a window onto the world. This is Pinker’s idea of conciseness. You pick a topic, an angle, and a goal for your writing, and you take your reader through this journey.
This is relevant, especially if your writing is diffused. Writing well means writing with a purpose. You need to hit that destination goal so that the reader can have a better grasp of what you are writing. Writing is bold and clear in the author’s eyes.
Steven Pinker brings a modern, science-informed approach to the art of good writing. Instead of repeating old-fashioned rules, he explains why certain styles work—drawing on linguistics, psychology, and real-world examples. Pinker shows how to craft clear, engaging prose by understanding how readers process language, and he dismantles outdated myths that can make writing stiff or awkward.
Of course, it is best that you read the book yourself. That way you can see the knowledge treasure Pinker has to offer to you.
VI. Introduction to English Grammar by Gerald Nelson
Style is not everything. Yes, style can make your writing more persuasive and, and, in effect, more impactful on your small online business. However, to improve your English writing skills, you need to have a firm grasp of grammar.
Maybe, English grammar brings back memories of boring school lessons or even nightmares. The good news is that things can be different. English grammar can be simple if you have the right teacher. We believe that Mr. Gerald Nelson, the author of the Introduction to English Grammar, has made English grammar easily accessible to all.
His clear and simple ways of explaining difficult grammatical concepts will help you write better sentences and improve your English writing skills.
How does understanding English grammar help you become a better writer?
Having a firm grasp of grammar can help you in a couple of ways to improve your English writing skills.
There are many grammar errors present online. You can read about the most common grammatical errors on our blog. It is always a good idea to have a list of the most common of these errors and try to improve your English writing skills daily.
-> It gives you control over your writing. When you know how sentences are built, you can shape them deliberately for clarity, emphasis, and flow.
-> It reduces errors. Grammatical knowledge helps you spot and fix mistakes that could distract readers or weaken your credibility.
-> It improves precision. You can choose structures that convey exactly what you mean, avoiding ambiguity. (As we have discussed throughout this article, this is a very important part of good writing.)
-> It strengthens editing skills. Knowing grammar helps you revise more effectively—tightening sentences, improving rhythm, and varying style.
-> It builds confidence. You’re less hesitant and more fluent when you understand the mechanics behind your words.
Learning grammar is part of improving your English writing skills. That’s why we recommend Nelson’s Introduction to English Grammar as an easy and engaging way of understanding grammar better. You will be amazed at how simply the author explains complicated grammatical concepts.
A Dash of Style by Noah Lukeman
Related to grammar is punctuation. Like the former, punctuation is a must if you want to improve your English writing skills. But it is not just about blindly following some writing conventions. No, the punctuation signs that you use in your text can affect meaning and style. In other words, you must master punctuation if you want your content to be more engaging and popular with your public.
That’s why A Dash of Style by Noah Lukeman is an excellent addition to our list of books to improve your English writing skills. Lukeman dives into the craft of style—how punctuation, rhythm, word choice, and sentence structure impact the voice and flow of writing. If you want to include a book that focuses on the nuances and subtle choices that make writing shine, A Dash of Style is just what you need.
The book is perfect for readers who want to go beyond the basics and explore how small stylistic tweaks can elevate their work. The author will take your chapter-by-chapter through all the punctuation signs in the English language and will show you how meanings can be altered by using the wrong sign.
Sometimes, a comma placed wrongly can alter a message. You don’t want that to happen with your writing, especially if you find yourself in a highly competitive environment. That’s why Noah’s Dash of Style is a book that we recommend reading.
Mastering punctuation signs in a language shows that you have a firm grasp of the language. Knowing how to use these signs to make your writing better is proof that you have mastered the language.
Our Seven Recommendations for Improving Your English Writing Skills
These are seven books that will help you improve your English writing skills. We recommend them because we understand that writing isn’t just about words on a page; it is a craft. That’s why you need to understand punctuation, grammar, style, and communication aspects. Of course, there are different ways of improving your English writing skills, but reading books on writing is an important part of it.
You can continue reading interesting articles on language & grammar by following our blog on ThumosWriting.com. There you can find intriguing articles that will make you a better writer for your small online business.
If you have read any of these recommended books, let us know in the comment section. Tell us how these books helped you improve your English writing skills.
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