Don’t Do It: Contractions and Casuals in Academic Writing
On today’s menu are contractions and casual writing. In academic writing, there is a certain style that is expected: a formal style. A style that might feel like you are writing in a foreign language. If your writing reads like a textbook, chances are good you have the formal style down. However, if you are still struggling and the style is not natural for you, I have some tips.
Let us start with contractions!
Did you read that as “let’s start” or stumble over the wordy feeling “let us start”? That’s because contractions are natural in our daily speech and writing but frowned upon in academic writing.
1. Have a list of your most frequent offenders (don’t, isn’t, can’t, didn’t, haven’t, would’ve, etc.) and search for them in your paper. The search function in Word or whatever you are using to write is invaluable. Microsoft Word highlights each instance. Then you can edit the informal contractions.
· Don’t = do not
· Isn’t = is not
· Can’t = cannot
· Would’ve = would have
2. Watch out for possessive forms. Not all apostrophes are in contractions. For example, Sam’s car (a car that Sam owns, possessive form) versus Sam’s in the car (contraction of Sam is).
Next up, casuals.
What do I mean by that? Let’s look at some examples:
I learned stuff in this class.
One thing I learned in this course was . . .
She ran it by me.
He kicked the bucket.
You might write or say these phrases to friends all the time. In academic writing, these casual phrases are avoided. Formal writing rules. Let’s look at some options for fixing these informal examples.
I learned stuff = I learned many new concepts or I acquired knowledge in new areas
Same meaning, but now more formal
One thing I learned = One concept/idea/term/event etc.
Change out “thing” to be more specific. What is a noun for the category of information you are describing?
The author ran it by me = She explained or She detailed
He kicked the bucket = He died.
“Ran it by me” and “kicked the bucket” are casual phrases or slang. In formal writing, there are two reasons for this edit. 1. It’s a casual saying or phrase. 2. It’s wordy! “Ran it by me” is four words. Don’t use a phrase when you can write one word to convey the same meaning (More on wordiness in another post)
Happy Writing!
