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If you’re looking for the best sites to practice English grammar online, I’ve got you covered. As a trained proofreader and someone qualified to teach English as a second language, I know a good grammar site when I see one.
I’ve spent many hours researching websites to find the best ones for you. These sites offer opportunities not just to learn (or relearn) grammar but to put it into practice with exercises, quizzes, and tests.
Whether you’re a beginner ELL (English language learner), someone whose grammar game has gotten rusty, or an aspiring proofreader, I have recommendations for you.
Om Proofreading Picks for Best Sites to Practice Grammar
Here are my selections for the best sites to practice grammar according to various criteria. Since my site caters to aspiring proofreaders, I’ve included my top choice for those wishing to work on error patrol. 😉
Pick (The Best Site for . . .) | Reason |
---|---|
All levels: Grammar Monster | caters to learners of all levels; engaging content (fun tests and games!) |
ELLs of all levels: British Council LearnEnglish | grammar content is organized by English level so you can find exactly what you need |
Beginner ELLs: EnglishClub | lots of content for beginners; 24-hour English Help Desk to answer your questions |
ELLs preparing for an English language exam: Exam English | practice tests for several international ESL exams; provides info about specific exams |
Native English speakers: GrammarBook.com | numerous quizzes; two comprehensive grammar tests to assess your knowledge |
College students: University of Bristol (Grammar and Punctuation) | geared toward university students; clear and concise explanations, visually appealing |
Proofreaders and aspiring proofreaders: CMOS Shop Talk | over 75 “workouts” that test your knowledge of a specific style guide (CMOS) |
Who Can Benefit from These Sites?
Who Can Benefit and Why
Who? | Why? |
---|---|
English language learners | the simple explanations and practice activities will speed up your acquisition of English |
Students | a good grammar game translates into higher grades |
Job seekers | good grammar in your résumé, CV, or cover letter boosts your chances of getting a job |
Professionals | solid grammar helps you gain trust and maintain your authority |
Proofreaders and aspiring proofreaders | better grammar means increased efficiency while proofreading |
Criteria for Websites
To be included in this post, a site had to meet the following criteria:
- have exercises, quizzes, tests, or some way to practice English grammar
- be a reputable site with accurate information
- be easy to navigate
- have grammar content available for free
- not require registration to access the content
How These Sites Are Organized
I’ve organized these sites according to their suitability for various levels of grammar learners.
Three websites are suitable for multiple levels, so I’ve listed those sites first.
Then, they’re in order, starting with sites for ELLs and ending with sites for advanced learners.
How I Define the Levels
Level | What It Means |
---|---|
ELL | English is not your first language |
Beginner | below-average understanding of grammar (you’ve forgotten a lot!) |
Intermediate | your knowledge is on par with most people |
Advanced | you have an above-average understanding of grammar |
The Best Sites to Practice English Grammar Online
Let’s look at top-notch websites where you can practice English grammar in a meaningful way.
1) Grammar Monster
Grammar Monster has been one of my favorite sites for years. Why? It’s a ton of fun! If you have any reservations about learning grammar, hop on over to this site.
Despite the name, I promise it won’t scare you. 😉 On this website, learning grammar becomes more like a fun game and less like a tedious bore of a chore.
Grammar Monster does an exceptional job of incorporating infographics into its content. And who doesn’t love a well-designed infographic to help explain concepts?
Launch Date: 1999
Who Created It? Craig Shrives—a former soldier and author of several grammar books
English Dialect: US
Level: Suitable for all levels (ELLs and beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners)
Main Content:
- grammar games and tests
- comprehensive alphabetical list of grammatical terms (some with explainer videos)
- thorough list of easily confused words (some with explainer videos)
The site also has content about punctuation.
What I Like Most: I love the many engaging tests and games that let you discover your weaknesses. The tests are neither too long nor too short, and the games are entertaining.
For example, you can practice identifying parts of speech with the whack a mole and fish games.
I enjoy the tests so much that I mention them in my article about proofreading tests and quizzes.
Grammar Monster has also spruced up its site design. Looking good, Grammar Monster!
But what I like the most is the form that invites you to tell Grammar Monster the words you plan to use for a tattoo you’re getting.
They say they’ll check the wording to make sure it’s correct. Hahaha! What a fantastic service to humanity, no? 😊
2) Daily Grammar
Launch Date: 1996
Who Created It? Pete Peterson and Bill Johanson
English Dialect: US
Level: Suitable for all levels (ELLs and beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners)
Main Content: Here are the ways the grammar content is presented:
- lessons
- quizzes
- glossary
- FAQ
Daily Grammar also has content covering punctuation and capitalization.
What I Like Most: This site’s lesson archive is my favorite part. The archive makes it super simple to find what you need quickly. The lessons are indexed by number and subject. Over 400 bite-size lessons are available!
Here’s a look at part of the lesson archive:
3) GrammarBook.com
Launch Date: Unknown
Who Created It? Jane Straus
English Dialect: US
Level: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners
Main Content:
- in-depth info about English grammar rules and confusing words
- quizzes to check your knowledge of English rules
- grammar blog (some posts have pop quizzes at the end)
- English usage videos (most videos feature Jane Straus)
It also contains content covering capitalization, punctuation, and writing numbers.
What I Like Most: I think the variety of fun quizzes is the best part of this site. I’ve taken many of them and thoroughly enjoyed them. They cover a lot of material, and explanations are given for each quiz question.
You can also find grammar and punctuation tests (four total) that are more comprehensive than the quizzes. These are excellent for testing overall grammar and punctuation know-how.
4) EnglishClub
Launch Date: 1997
Who Created It? Josef Essberger
English Dialect: UK (primarily)
Level: ELLs (lots of content for beginner ELLs)
Main Content: Here are some of the ways the grammar content is presented:
- lessons
- quizzes
- games
- articles
- discussions
The site also includes info about these topics:
- vocabulary
- pronunciation
- speaking, listening, reading, and writing
What I Like Most: EnglishClub has a 24-hour English Help Desk with teachers available to answer your questions about grammar or other ELL-related topics. What a valuable and generous feature!
The English Help Desk has a specific forum for grammar-related questions (called Grammar Help).
It’s still going strong, and a reply is given for every question someone posts.
ELLs can also participate in these EnglishClub forums:
- Help Each Other with English
This forum is for questions about all aspects of learning English (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, word usage, etc.).
- Learning Tips
Here you’ll find suggestions and strategies for learning English.
- English Language FAQ
This discussion covers commonly asked questions about the English language.
The site contains a wide variety of content presented in a multitude of ways. If you’re learning English as a second language, I hope you enjoy exploring all this site offers.
5) UsingEnglish.com
Launch Date: 2002
Who Created It? Richard Flynn and Adam King
English Dialect: UK
Level: ELLs
Main Content: Here are some examples of the site’s resources for learning grammar:
- articles
- exercises
- worksheets
- quizzes
- tests (you need to complete the free registration to access the tests)
- an extensive glossary of grammar terms
The site also features content on other topics, including vocabulary, writing, reading comprehension, and test taking. You can also find numerous articles about learning English.
What I Like Most: I love that this site hosts online discussion forums for learning English grammar. English teachers and experts volunteer to answer students’ questions 24/7. That’s such a nice feature!
The many active forums fall under one of three categories:
- learning English
- analyzing language
- ESL (English as a Second Language) questions
Below, you can see that the Learning English forum is quite active!
UsingEnglish.com also has a ton of free resources for ESL teachers. Bonus!
6) Perfect English Grammar
Launch Date: 2007
Who Created It? Seonaid
English Dialect: UK
Level: ELLs
Main Content: Here are a few examples of what this site covers:
- verbs (verb tenses, phrasal verbs, modal verbs, etc.)
- prepositions
- adjectives
- adverbs
- questions
- conditionals
- reported speech
What I Like Most: This site includes in-depth info about verb tenses—a challenging topic for most ELLs.
I like the simple verb tense explanations, and the accompanying infographics provide an easy-to-understand overview of the tenses.
Both the explanations and infographics are available as PDFs so you can easily print them out and have a hard copy to study if you prefer.
7) Exam English
Launch Date: 2004 (according to Crunchbase)
Who Created It? Unknown, but Stephen Chadwick manages it
English Dialect: UK
Although the site is written in UK English, the dialect will vary when taking the site’s practice tests. For example, the TOEFL evaluates US English, but the IELTS tests UK English.
Level: ELLs
Main Content: The site is designed to help those studying for an English language exam.
It features free practice tests for the following English language tests:
- the TOEFL®
- the TOEIC®
- the IELTS
- the Cambridge English exams (e.g., A2 Key [KET], B1 Preliminary [PET], B2 First [FCE], and C1 Advanced [CAE])
What I Like Most: The best part of this site is its comprehensiveness: it provides practice tests for a wide variety of international ESL exams.
I also like how Exam English gives you the following details about specific tests:
- how a test is organized
- when and where you can take it
- how much it costs
8) British Council LearnEnglish
Launch Date: 2000
Who Created It? The British Council—the UK’s international organization for educational opportunities and building relationships with other countries
English Dialect: UK
Level: ELLs and beginners
This site has content specifically for ESL students at the following levels:
- A1 (elementary) and A2 (pre-intermediate)
- B1 (intermediate) and B2 (upper intermediate)
- C1 (advanced)
Main Content: This site contains grammar lessons and tests on various topics. Here are some of the subjects you can explore:
- adjectives
- prepositions
- countable and uncountable nouns
- verbs
- conjunctions
- adverbs
- pronouns
- conditionals
- reported speech
The website also includes other resources for learning English, like a comprehensive vocabulary section featuring a variety of exercises. The vocabulary material is organized by level.
The site also has activities to help ELLs master the four primary skills involved in language learning: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
What I Like Most: I love how the material is organized by level (A1–C1) so learners can access content appropriate for their level.
I also appreciate how LearnEnglish features video, audio, magazine, and story “zones” that allow students to practice their listening and reading skills.
These zones are in addition to the activities for practicing all four language learning skills.
9) Purdue OWL (Grammar Exercises Section)
Launch Date: 1994 (when Purdue’s Online Writing Lab [OWL] was launched)
Who Created It? Dr. Muriel Harris, David Taylor, and Stuart Blythe
English Dialect: US
Level: ELLs and beginners (other content on the site appeals to all levels)
Main Content:
The grammar exercises cover the following topics:
- adjectives and adverbs
- appositives
- articles
- count and noncount nouns
- prepositions
- tense consistency
What I Like Most: I like the count and noncount exercises for ELLs since this is an important concept to grasp.
Although the site only has a few grammar-related exercises, the practice is excellent.
Other OWL exercises cover the following topics:
- punctuation
- spelling
- sentence structure
- sentence style
- writing numbers
- paraphrasing
- nominalizations and subject position
I learned about Purdue OWL in college when several professors recommended it as an excellent resource for writing assignments. It provides valuable information about citing sources in research papers.
10) English Grammar.org
Launch Date: Unknown
Who Created It? Unknown, but Jennifer Frost maintains the site
English Dialect: US
Level: Beginner and intermediate learners
Main Content:
- downloadable grammar lessons
- online grammar exercises
- grammar rules
- a grammar checker
- writing guides
The site also touches on other topics, including punctuation, spelling, proofreading, commonly confused words, idioms, various types of writing, vocabulary, and basic conversational topics.
What I Like Most: I love the abundance of English grammar lessons on this site. Most “lessons” are exercises that let you practice your skills. You can download the exercises as a PDF if you wish.
Another nice feature of this site is that new grammar lessons are added frequently.
If you’re a beginner or intermediate grammar student who’s always looking for new content, this site is perfect for you.
11) University of Bristol (Grammar and Punctuation)
Launch Date: 2003
Who Created It? Neville Morley
English Dialect: UK
Level: Intermediate and advanced learners
Main Content: This site covers grammar and punctuation in two formats:
- explanations with examples (examples are tailored to the writing of formal academic essays)
- quizzes
What I Like Most: I like how the content on this site is geared toward a specific audience: college students. If you’re a university student, this helpful, easy-to-navigate resource can guide you through your grammar conundrums.
Although my college days are a few years behind me (or a few more than a few years 😉), I still enjoy learning from this website.
The explanations are clear and concise, and the formatting of the information and quizzes is visually appealing.
I wish I had known about this resource when I was in college!
12) Grammar Bytes
Launch Date: 1997
Who Created It? Robin L. Simmons—a professor of English and humanities at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida
English Dialect: US
Level: Intermediate and advanced learners
Main Content:
- list of grammatical terms (some with explainer videos)
- interactive grammar exercises
- handouts
- lessons about grammar rules
- PowerPoint presentations about grammar topics
What I Like Most: The interactive grammar exercises are entertaining and unique. They provide answers to the questions you find on the handouts.
If you select the correct answer, you win a cool cyber prize. And when you choose the wrong answer, you get a prize—but it’s nothing you would hope for. 😉
The interactive exercises include sound effects, so make sure to turn up the volume. The sounds for some of the incorrect answers made me laugh out loud.
Robin has a great sense of humor!
13) CMOS Shop Talk
Relevant Section of Website: Chicago Style Workouts
Launch Date: Unknown; however, the first edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) was published in 1906. That goes way back!
Who Created It? The editors and staff of CMOS
English Dialect: US
Level: Advanced learners
Main Content: The Chicago Style workouts are 10-question quizzes that evaluate your knowledge of CMOS. Here are a few examples of the content these workouts cover:
- grammar
- word usage
- punctuation
- spelling
- writing numbers
- proofreading
- editing
What I Like Most: I love that the content adheres to the rules set forth by CMOS—the style guide I use most frequently for proofreading work.
I went through all the exercises (“workouts”) while learning to become a proofreader.
Below, you can see the intro for one of the workouts.
Since then, numerous workouts have been added. This site is an invaluable resource that is continually becoming more comprehensive.
5 Tips for Learning Grammar Easily
Here are a few tried-and-true tips for getting the most out of these grammar websites.
1) Study a little bit each day.
Consistency is the key. Studying for a short time each day will improve your retention of the material and prevent burnout.
2) Build a solid foundation.
Lots of grammar concepts build on one another, so make sure to master basic concepts before trying to grapple with more advanced ideas.
For example, identifying direct and indirect objects won’t be possible until you understand how to locate subjects and verbs.
3) Keep a dedicated notebook to practice English grammar.
Putting things in writing helps to reinforce what you’re learning. You can also jot down any questions you have while studying.
You can try to find answers to your questions on these grammar sites (sometimes through forums).
If you can’t find your answer on these sites, Google, Quora, and Reddit are good sources to consult.
4) Use a variety of mediums for learning grammar.
Learning through a variety of mediums helps keep things interesting.
Reading lessons, watching videos, listening to audio transcripts, responding to writing prompts, playing games, and taking quizzes and tests are all great ways to boost your grammar game.
Taking advantage of different forms of learning means you’ll be taking in information visually, auditorily, and through reading and writing.
The more senses you involve, the better your retention will be.
And if you know your learning style, you can focus on the types of content that work best for you!
5) Use tests and quizzes to assess your progress.
The sites on this list are chock-full of engaging tests and quizzes. Taking them is a fun way to know what you understand and where you need more practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I improve my English grammar online for free?
The best way to improve your grammar online is to visit websites like the ones listed above and work on the areas of your grammar game that aren’t up to par. If you aren’t sure about the gaps in your grammar know-how, you can take a test or quiz to reveal them.
If English isn’t your first language, I’d recommend starting with these grammar quizzes on EnglishClub.
The first group of quizzes focuses on grammar in general; the other quizzes are grouped by part of speech.
The grammar rules quizzes are a great place to start if you’d like to test your knowledge of basic grammar rules!
For native English speakers, I recommend starting with the Grammar Practice Test on GrammarBook.com.
It’s a comprehensive 50-question exam that checks your knowledge across various areas of grammar.
Then, after you’ve brushed up on your skills, you can take GrammarBook.com’s 50-question Grammar Mastery Test to see how far you’ve come.
What is the best site for learning English grammar?
The best site for learning English grammar depends on your grammar level. For example, EnglishClub would be an ideal site if you’re a beginner ELL. However, GrammarBook.com makes more sense if you’re a native English speaker who wants to brush up on the basics or expand your grammar know-how.
You can use the table at the top of this article to determine which site best meets your needs.
What is the best way to practice English grammar?
Grammar websites like the ones mentioned in this article are excellent places to practice English grammar. You can also acquire good grammar by reading books, studying grammar manuals, and doing exercises in workbooks. You can find relevant books, manuals, and workbooks on Amazon.
You can also create a notebook where you write down grammar rules and sentences illustrating those rules. Generating your own example sentences deepens your understanding and helps you improve your recall.
I wrote an article about advice for improving your grammar if you’d like some other solid strategies.
How can I check my grammar mistakes online for free?
To check your grammar mistakes online for free, I recommend using Grammarly’s free online grammar checker. You can copy and paste your writing into the space provided, and the checker will detect basic grammar errors.
Another option I like is LanguageTool’s online grammar checker. The advantage of LanguageTool is that it can check writing in various languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Dutch.
Just remember that these grammar checkers are far from perfect. And if you don’t carefully review all their suggestions, they’ll occasionally introduce errors into your document.
I hope this article highlighting the best places to practice English grammar online helps you immensely.
Best wishes to you!
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