Grammer and Writing reports for work

[capbiker]

Hello

I am a civil servant and a part of my job is to write reports, on research that I have completed. I am actually very good on the research part, finding out the information that I need from different checks etc. But I am having major issues with the writing of the reports. This is one of the major parts of the job, my manager has been helping me with them. Because apart of the process within my unit is that our managers read our final reports. So my colleagues send there stuff through that their manager to be read before going out. Our managers, send their own reports to there managers to review.

The problem is that my manager have to spend a lot of time going through mine, correcting spelling, grammar etc and it can go between us 2 anything from 4 to 5 times up to 10+. This is really stressing me out alot and I am at my wit ends now because of it.

Last October I started an adult beginner Italians course because I have been to Italy a couple of times and wanted to learn to be able to speak it. From this, I have come to an major understanding about myself. I am stupid, I do not mind shouting it out, and there is a good reason why I feel that way.

When I was a child, I want to special needs school until I was 10 years old. Because of this, they was mainly working on my Dyspraxia side. Everything else, was just left to one side or not gone through property with me. So the basic spelling, and grammar that you would get at primary school. I never received, and it was only through the Italian course that I come to the truth. The teacher was talking about Verbs, Adjectives etc and I was like what the hell are they. To me Verbs, and Adjectives and just words, I do not know the meaning behind them and if you gave me some text and told me to highlight all Verbs. I know, that I cannot do it.

Because of this, I know that my spelling and grammar is lacking a lot. I am improving my spelling, but the grammar side of my knowledge is non existent. Over the years, I have been putting patches on top of patches trying to cope with my Dyspraxia, thinking that is the main problem. Not knowing that it was just my grammar knowledge that was having a major issue, with a lesser percentage due to the disability.

What I want to do is to get a sledge hammer, and smash up the foundations and patches that I have put into place and start again. The problem is, I do not know where to start from with my Grammar. Do I look for beginners class in English, one to one support with it, or go out and get the self training books that helps people to learn new skills, and knowledge.

Have anybody done anything like this before, going back and trying to relearn how to write in English after spending years to get by it? Can anybody recommend any good self teaching books or online courses to learn Grammar that helped them a lot?

cap

[kdt2402]

You could maybe try learn direct? They do an english course which you do at your own speed but it may be helpful. Its for people at any level too

Dont worry, you're not stupid, you just have weaknesses. Its called being human.

[Bacon]

I would get a few books on something that interests you, if you start to enjoy to reading your spelling and grammar should improve on its own. If that doesn't help then at least it might expand your vocabulary, new words are good words and they make you seem smarter.

[capbiker]

I would get a few books on something that interests you, if you start to enjoy to reading your spelling and grammar should improve on its own. If that doesn't help then at least it might expand your vocabulary, new words are good words and they make you seem smarter.

I do like reading, and I recently bought a Kindle. Only problem is that the books that I read is sci fi and reports that I write is on real stuff.

You could maybe try learn direct? They do an english course which you do at your own speed but it may be helpful. Its for people at any level too

Dont worry, you're not stupid, you just have weaknesses. Its called being human.

I know I am not stupid, it just feels that way at the moment. Have you or anybody done any learn direct courses, because it looks interesting and could be a good thing for me to do. But some aspects of the courses, I already know. So, I would prefer to dip in and out as required.

cap

[kdt2402]

I did it actually. You do a test to start with an then you focus more on the areas you're weaker on.

[Tim G]

I know you may feel like your stupid and i thank you for admiting that - a lot of people end up giving you a hard time about it but its good you say it.
I often feel like this (and mabie I achulie am) but achulie overall you are probably not stupid as you may think. - You seam like you have a good job that you can do but due to dyslexicia (verry often comes with dyspraxicia) that makes writing verry diffcult.

I am the same as you I can't tell a adjective from a verb its just and I have struggled with grammer and spelling. What I have found verry helpfull is Read and Write gold http://www.texthelp.com- its a softwere program desinged to dyslexics. It has a good spell checker, dictionary, it can read out the words to see if it makes sence and other usefull features etc. My advice would be to try and get a better understanding of grammer eather by talking to a dyslexicia tutor and / or getting you boss to pay for the softwere as this would massivley help you.
This is considering though that you have disclosed that you have a dysablitie to you employer and leagley they should make 'resonable agustments' to help - this would jsutifie getting the help you need.

[capbiker]

I have now done the test and waiting to hear from the tutor.

Tim, Yes my employers do know about my disability and they have made allowances already. I go workplace assessment done and was given Read and Write V9, as the latest version is not approved to run on our network. It helps me to a point, but I don't use it often because I am a touch typist (self taught) I find that it slows the machine down a lot and can lag. I only use it for when the report is finished being written up to check some of the common mistakes I make. Like using the wrong word, but the correct spelling of it. I have had some good laughs with it in the past.

cap

[Tom fod]

Hi there Cap

I've never been conscious of the meaning of nouns pronouns adjectives verbs adverbs etc. Not sure I was listening if they ever covered them when I learned English at school in the mid-late eighties/early nineties.

Firstly you need to give yourself a pat on the back for the things you are doing well. From reading your post I wonder if you're being over hard on yourself sometimes.

I often use an adjective to describe something I don't particularly like - bleeping thing. I'd suggest the Oxford Guide to Plain English but must admit I've not read it myself and I'd say don't try to force it it by trying to read it all at once. Do you have any learning packages or a colleague who could act as a mentor? Could the unit run a workshop as I bet there are plenty of others who would quite like a refresher on plain english/how your bosses would like reports to be written.

is it possible to insert your findings into some sort of template (or templates) with a standardised wording. This might make things easier and allow for greater consistency.

Maybe if you can come up with such a system you could revolutionise how things are done across the whole unit.

Obviously with standardised forms you have to take extra care that once results are inserted that the report is still factually correct, reads right and makes sense as it is can get so it is not as easy to spot errors when people have become used to reading a samey document time after time and thus become lulled into a full sense of security.

Another tip is to make sure you take a break and clear your mind before you do your first proof reading as often your brain will trick itself into reading what it wants to see which might not be right. Appreciate there’s probably a fair bit of pressure to get on with things including probably your own feelings of must get on must get on this needs to have been done by now!

Hope some of this helps

Tom