Kulingana na mhariri, uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku.

According to the editor, good writing needs daily practice.

Breakdown of Kulingana na mhariri, uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku.

• kila: every
• siku: the day
• ya: of
• mzuri: good
• kuhitaji: to need
• zoezi: the practice
• uandishi: the writing
• kulingana na: according to
• mhariri: the editor

Questions & Answers about Kulingana na mhariri, uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku.

What does kulingana na literally mean, and how is it formed?

Kulingana na is a set expression meaning “according to”.
Literally:

• ku- = infinitive marker “to …”
• lingana = “to match, to correspond, to be equal”
• na = “with”

So kulingana na mhariri is literally “matching/according with the editor,” which idiomatically becomes “according to the editor.”

Is kulingana na the only way to say “according to,” or are there alternatives?

You can use several expressions:

• kulingana na mhariri – according to the editor
• kwa mujibu wa mhariri – according to the editor (slightly more formal)
• kwa maoni ya mhariri – in the editor’s opinion
• anasema kwamba … – “he/she says that …” (when you want to quote rather than attribute an opinion)

All of these are acceptable; kulingana na is very common and neutral.

What noun class is mhariri, and what is its plural?

Mhariri (editor) is in the M–WA (class 1/2) noun class for people.

• Singular: mhariri = an editor
• Plural: wahariri = editors

So you would say: Kulingana na wahariri, ... = “According to the editors, …”

What kind of noun is uandishi, and why does the verb start with u- (unahitaji)?

Uandishi is an abstract noun derived from the verb kuandika (to write). It means “writing” as an activity or skill.

Grammatically it belongs to a U- class (often class 11/14) of abstract nouns, and those nouns usually take the u- subject prefix on verbs.
So:

• Subject: uandishi (writing)
• Verb: u–na–hitaji → unahitaji (“needs/requires”)

That’s why it is unahitaji, not anahitaji or inahitaji.

Why is it uandishi mzuri and not uandishi nzuri?

Adjectives have to agree with the noun class.
For many u- abstract nouns like uandishi, the adjective often uses the m- agreement form (the same form you see with classes 1/3), so:

• uandishi mzuri – good writing

You will hear mzuri (not nzuri) with uandishi in normal usage. Agreement patterns with abstract u- nouns are a bit irregular, but uandishi mzuri is the natural, idiomatic form.

How is the verb unahitaji built, and what tense is it?

Unahitaji is in the simple present / habitual tense:

• u- = subject prefix agreeing with uandishi
• -na- = present tense marker (“is/does” in a general or habitual sense)
• -hitaji = verb stem “need/require”

So uandishi mzuri unahitaji … = “good writing requires … / needs …” as a general truth.

What is the difference between kuhitaji and kutaka (need vs want) in this sentence?

• kuhitaji = to need / require (something is necessary)
• kutaka = to want (desire or preference)

In uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku, using kuhitaji says daily practice is necessary for good writing, not just desirable. Using unataka here would sound wrong or childish, as if “good writing wants…” something.

What exactly is mazoezi grammatically—singular or plural?

Mazoezi (practice, exercises) is a ma- class (class 6) noun and is usually treated as plural.

• Singular form is zoezi = “an exercise”
• Plural: mazoezi = “exercises” or “practice” (often uncountable in meaning)

In this sentence, mazoezi is best understood as “practice” in a general sense.

How does ya kila siku work? Why ya, and what does kila do?

Ya is the genitive connector “of” that must agree with the noun class of mazoezi (class 6). For class 6, the connector is ya:

• mazoezi ya … = exercises/practice of …

Kila means “every/each” and does not change form with noun class.
Kila siku = “every day.”

So mazoezi ya kila siku = “practice of every day” → “daily practice.”

Could I say mazoezi kila siku instead of mazoezi ya kila siku? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say both, but there’s a nuance:

• mazoezi ya kila siku – “daily practice,” describing the type of practice (practice that is done every day)
• ninafanya mazoezi kila siku – “I do practice every day,” focusing more on the frequency of the action

In your sentence, uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku, the phrase is naming the kind of practice that is required: daily practice.

Can the word order of the sentence be changed?

Yes. The current order is:

• Kulingana na mhariri, uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku.

You could also say:

• Uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku, kulingana na mhariri.
• Kwa mujibu wa mhariri, uandishi mzuri unahitaji mazoezi ya kila siku.

The meaning stays the same; only the emphasis shifts slightly. Placing kulingana na mhariri first makes it clear right away that what follows is the editor’s view.

What is the difference between uandishi and something like andiko?

• uandishi = writing as an activity or skill (the act or craft of writing)
• andiko (pl. maandiko) = a specific written piece / writing(s), often used for texts, scriptures, or documents

So in this sentence, uandishi mzuri is about the skill of writing well, not about a specific text.