4 Ways To Avoid Colloquial Informal Writing

Reading widely is a great way to improve your vocabulary. Look for upper-level publications like The Atlantic or Foreign Affairs for articles with more advanced language. College-level books also have a wide selection of potential new words for you to learn. Consider signing up for a “word of the day” app or website. These resources help you learn at least 1 new word every day.

Some other common contractions are “can’t,” “won’t,” “isn’t,” and “aren’t. ” Replace these words with “cannot,” “will not,” “is not,” and “are not. ”

Some imprecise words or phrases are “a lot,” “very,” or “totally. ” Replace “a lot” with a more precise figure, like “12%. ” “Very” and “totally,” in most cases, can be eliminated entirely. Adverbs like “really” or “clearly” are usually filler words that don’t add much detail to your writing. Reduce your use of adverbs to eliminate unnecessary words.

For example, in the sentence “John put down the conclusions in last month’s study,” the phrasal verb “put down” makes the sentence sound informal. Writing “John dismissed the conclusions in last month’s study” instead makes the sentence more formal. This is a case where building your vocabulary is very helpful. With a larger vocabulary, you can quickly replace phrasal verbs with more formal alternatives. Use a thesaurus or dictionary if you need help coming up with different words to replace phrasal verbs.

One exception to this rule is in a cover letter or personal statement. In these documents, you should be writing about yourself specifically.

If you aren’t sure about using a particular phrase, consider if it’s something you often say when hanging out with your friends. If it is, then it’s probably an informal slang term. Replace it, just to be safe. For example, if you were writing a professional review of an amusement park, don’t use slang language like, “Everyone had a really cool time. " Instead, say “The group had an enjoyable experience at the park. " There are many more slang terms and phrases, and the list grows every year. Try searching for a phrase you’re considering using to see if it’s been added to a list of slang terms. [8] X Research source

In a job cover letter, for example, phrases like “I think I am qualified” are not appropriate. Instead, convey confidence by saying “I am qualified for this position. ” Don’t present yourself as arrogant, however. Saying “You have no choice but to agree with my conclusions” is inappropriate. Instead, write “I am confident in my conclusions. ” This shows your authority without seeming arrogant.

As an added bonus, using specific information helps you sound more confident. Whenever possible, use figures, statistics, and evidence to support your point. For example, writing that “Kids today spend too much time on the phone” is too general and doesn’t give your reader any evidence or statistics. Writing “In 2017, kids spent an average of 7 hours per day on their phones. The American Medical Association says that is an excessive amount,” provides a clear, precise statement that makes your point.

Determine if a sentence is in the active or passive voice by asking yourself, “Who or what is doing the action?” In, “The door was opened by Mike,” Mike is doing the action but the door is the subject. Switch it to, “Mike opened the door” to convert the sentence to the active voice.

Some common clichés are “raining cats and dogs,” “as strong as an ox,” “open the floodgates,” or “delicate as a rose. ” Avoid using statements like these. Proofread your writing and remove any cliches.

“Their” is now accepted for singular use to avoid assuming gender. Rather than writing “The student handed his test to the teacher,” it is correct to write “The student handed their test to the teacher. ” In a cover letter, don’t write “Dear Sir. ” Instead, write “To Whom It May Concern,” or “Dear Hiring Manager. ”

For example, “It was a heartbreaking scene” is an emotional phrase. Replace it with a more detached, informative statement. Note that this doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to express opinions in formal writing. But do it with factual statements and figures rather than emotional phrases.

As a general rule, never use exclamation points in formal writing. It looks unprofessional. Only use a colon if you are introducing a list. For example, “I will explain 3 issues with our current policy: . . . "

Start off with a clear thesis statement within the first paragraph. Tell readers the point of the piece and the idea you want to get across. [18] X Expert Source Tristen BonacciLicensed English Teacher Expert Interview. 21 December 2021. Make sure every paragraph after the introduction supports the thesis. Eliminate any information that is unrelated. Restate the thesis and wrap up the piece with a concise conclusion.

Check your writing and see if there are sections where you use several short or long sentences in a row. Break up these sections by altering the length on 1 or 2 of these sentences. Consider shortening long sentences by breaking them into 2 or even 3 separate sentences. Join 2 short sentences with a comma. However, make sure these 2 sentences are not both independent clauses or you might have a run-on sentence.

Try letting someone else read the essay as well. Sometimes you miss your own mistakes when you’ve been working on a piece for hours, and a fresh set of eyes sees things that you didn’t.