Characteristics to Avoid In Formal Writing

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Characteristics to Avoid In Formal Writing

Formal writing requires you to follow specific guidelines so as to meet the professor’s requirements.

When writing formal papers, it is vital to avoid certain characteristics to demonstrate professionalism, convince the professor, and ensure content clarity. For instance, an academic writer must avoid slang and wordy sentences to keep their work clear and concise.

Should we avoid lengthy descriptions, opinion statements, complex sentences, or scholarly language when engaging in formal writing?

Characteristics to Avoid In Formal Writing
Characteristics to Avoid In Formal Writing

What are key guidelines for effective formal writing? Well, here are some key characteristics to avoid if you are a student:

Colloquial Expressions: Slang, jargon, or overly casual expressions are likely to make your writing less formal. To maintain content formality, ensure you use standard, scholarly/professional language.


Also Read: Pat Mora Purpose for Writing Her Essay


Opinion Statements: Typically, this type of writing focuses on objectivity and evidence-based analysis. There should be no personal anecdotes and jokes in formal writing. Avoid adding personal opinions unless your professor requires you to do so. For instance, you can use opinion statements or paragraphs relevant to the context if you are writing a reflective essay.

Complex Sentences: Complex sentences comprise two simple sentences and are appropriate when used in some contexts when providing information, creating a vivid picture, making comparisons, and showing multifaceted connections of ideas.

If a paper has too many complicated or convoluted sentences, it can confuse readers. Always use clear and concise sentences to make your content easier to read, grasp, remember, and comprehend.

Lengthy Descriptions: Although detailed descriptions are needed when writing academic essays and projects, extremely wordy explanations make reading tedious. Polish your work and ensure each word has a purpose and provide coherent and relevant descriptions to succinctly relay information in a professional setting.

Avoid Friendly Tone: Avoid a familiar or friendly style to convey your ideas clearly and quickly, suiting the needs of professional world readers.

Phrasal verbs: Minimize the use of phrasal verbs like put off, bring up, and come up with to improve writing formality and clarity.

Phrasal VerbsPrecise/formal alternative
Come up withCreate
Put offPostpone
Find outDiscover
Bring upRaise
Phrasal Verbs and Formal Alternatives

Generally, most phrasal verbs are considered more conversational. However, some of them are acceptable in some contexts if they fit better than other alternative words.

In conclusion, you can use scholarly language in professional and academic writing. Characteristics to avoid include complex sentences, opinion statements, and lengthy descriptions.

To comply with academic writing standards and communicate skillfully, you should always use professional language, avoid wordiness, create sections with simple sentences, and utilize factual information to highlight your claims.

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