Basic rules of writing (From “Writing Tips” Powerpoint):
1. Always avoid Vague Language:
a. NO: “She began publishing them in large numbers”
“Slavery impacted American society”
b. YES: “Angela Alvarez began publishing editorials in large numbers”
“Slavery negatively impacted American society”
2. Formal vs. Informal Writing: In writing a formal, academic essay, ALWAYS avoid:
a. First and second person: I, Us, Our, We
b. Dead words: overused or unsophisticated words (see list)
c. Contractions: we’re, I’m, they’re
3. Proper Word Usage: The error: using words that sound the same but can have different parts of speech and/or a very different meaning
a. Its vs. it’s
b. Their vs. there vs. they’re
c. accept vs. except
d. Affect vs. effect
e. then vs. than
4. Analysis vs. Summary: Use summary to provide context.
Always ask yourself:
a. “How is it important?”
b. “Why is it important?”
5. Using Evidence to Support an Assertion. Avoid weak evidence (3rd party sources)
a. Primary sources
b. Secondary sources
6. Format paper based on teacher requirements (MLA, APA, etc)
7. Passive vs. Active Voice
a. Passive Voice: The song was sung by the girl.
b. Active Voice: The girl sang the song.
8. Always cite evidence and include a Works Cited Guide (Check OWL Purdue)
9. Use commas correctly
a. “I did my homework, but I left it at home.”
b. I did my homework but left it at home.
10. Proper thesaurus use
a. over-using the thesaurus can confuse the meaning of a sentence.
b. Never use a “big word,” unless you’re absolutely positive what said word means, otherwise…..
Dead Words: Words to Avoid in Formal Writing
Contractions
Clichés
All slang
I think
I feel
I believe
Abbreviations
All of a sudden
A lot
After a while
Always
Bad
Best
Weird
Big
Cute
Dumb
Every
Everything
Fun
Funny
Get
Getting
Good
Got
Great
Interesting
Just
Later on
Like
Lots
Many
Mad
Sad
Neat
Never
Next
Nice
Numerous
Only
Pretty
Rather
Really
Said
Scary
So
Some
Stuff
Stupid
Strange
Suddenly
Super
Then
There
Thing
us, our, we
Very
Well
You, your, yours
Can you think of others? List them on this page:
Transistion Words for Formal Writing
Transition Words:A continuation
Above
Above all
Accordingly
Across from
Additionally
After
Afterwards
Again
Also
Although
Another
Around
As a result
As if
As long as
As soon as
As though
As well as
At length
At once
At the same time
Away from
Before
Beforehand
Below
Besides
Between
By comparison
Certainly
Compared with/to
Consequently
Despite this fact
Differing from
Down
Earlier
Either
Equally
Equally important
Even more
Even so
Even though
Farther
Final
Finally / Following
For
For example
For instance
For one thing
Formerly
Further
Furthermore
Hence
However
If
Immediately
In addition (to)
In any event
In comparison
In conclusion
In fact
In front of
In like manner
In order that
In other words
In spite of
In the middle
In the same manner
Indeed
Initially
Inside
Instead
Instead of
Last
Last of all
Lastly
Later
Least of all
Likewise
Meanwhile
Moreover
Most of all
Nearly
Neither
Nevertheless
Next
Next to last
Not
Not unlike
Notwithstanding
Now
On the contrary / On the other hand
Once
Once again
Once more
Otherwise
Over
Previously
Primarily
Provided that
Repeatedly
Similarly
Since
So that
Soon
Specifically
Still
Still yet
Subsequently
Then
Thereafter
Therefore
Third
This
Though
Thus
To begin with
To conclude
To continue
To illustrate
To exemplify
To express
To deconstruct
To emphasize
To repeat
To sum up
Toward
Underneath
Unfortunately
Unless
Until
When
Where
Whereas
While
Worst of all / Avoid Starting sentences with these words…
A
An
The
Next
First
Second(ly)
Third(ly)
Conjunction Words: For, And, Nor, But, So, Or, Yet
Avoid Passive Voice: Instead of “be” verbs use these…
Appears
Becomes
Continues
Remains
Grows
Looks
Exemplifies
Seems
Depicts
Illustrates
Evolves
Turns
Constructs
deconstructs