Table of Contents
What words should you avoid when writing an essay?
For concise and meaningful writing, do your best to avoid these words and phrases in your admission essays.
- 1) Contractions.
- 2) Idioms.
- 3-5) “So on,” “etc,” “and so forth“
- 6) Clichés.
- 7-11) “Thing,” “stuff,” “good,” “bad,” “big“
- 12) Slang, jargon, teen speak.
- 13) Rhetorical questions.
What should be avoided in formal writing?
Formal Writing Voice
- Do not use first-person pronouns (“I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” “us,” etc.).
- Avoid addressing readers as “you.”
- Avoid the use of contractions.
- Avoid colloquialism and slang expressions.
- Avoid nonstandard diction.
- Avoid abbreviated versions of words.
- Avoid the overuse of short and simple sentences.
How do you avoid butt writing?
“Yet” can often replace “but” in a sentence without changing anything else, as both are coordinating conjunctions that can introduce a contrast. Alternatively, you could use one of these subordinating conjunctions: Although (e.g., I like Brian May, although I find his hair ridiculous.)
How do you avoid in an essay?
Replace instances of “you” in your essay either by using “individual” or “one” to refer to a single hypothetical person and using “people” to refer to a large group to whom something you’re saying applies. Replace instances of “your” in your essay by using the possessive forms of “individual,” “one,” and “people.”
How do you not start an essay?
Here are five ways not to open your essay, in other words, what’s more likely to lose a reader’s interest.
- An introduction to your story. Imagine you were telling a friend a story about life as a pitcher on the baseball team.
- A famous quote.
- A definition.
- What the heck?
- Anything that would show up on Google.
How do you avoid using you in an essay?
How do you say butt in formal?
backside
- behind.
- bottom.
- butt.
- buttocks.
- derriere.
- fanny.
- posterior.
- rear.
How can I start a sentence without saying I?
The Quick Fix
- Start with a prepositional phrase. A propositional phrase lets us know where the subject of the sentence is in time or space, or what the relationship is between two entities.
- Swap the clauses.
- Cut out unnecessary actions.
- Avoid filter phrases (I thought, I saw, I heard).
How do I get rid of I writing?
Instead of starting your sentence with I, just push it somewhere down in some sentences. That way, you avoid the pattern of I as the first word of every sentence.
What words should you not use in your writing?
“Just” is another word similar to “really” and, for the most part, should be deleted. In general, beginning authors use too many of this word in their writing. Even old pros often search this word during the editing process to delete those that are unnecessary.
How do you avoid awkward writing in an essay?
One of the best ways to avoid awkward writing is to take out every unnecessary word, phrase, and sentence. As writers, we like to use words. But when we’re trying to explain something, less really is more.
Why do we avoid using the word “very”?
“So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys—to woo women—and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do.
Is it bad to use the word “thing”?
However, the word “thing” is a shortcut and a sign of vague, watered-down writing. If you see it in your writing, think hard about what you’re really trying to say. A good way to flag how often you use the word “thing” is the search and find tool.