The Unwritten Rules of Formal Writing
Modified Notes
What is formal writing?
●Formal style is the preferred for academic writing.
●Comparatively, informal writing may resemble a conversation. Generally, it is not suggested to write as you would speak.
●When writing formal papers, it is important to do the following:
○-Be objective
○-Use words
○-Avoid slang
○-Construct fluent sentences
Informal / FormalIn a nutshell.. / To state it briefly...
Last but not least.. / A final and equally important issue is...
By the way... / Incidentally...
On top of that... / Additionally..
Rule # 1:I suggest that you avoid using first and second person
●Words to Avoid: "I" and "You"
●Phrases such as "I think that..." can be from a sentence. The reader already knows that the statement is the author's opinion.
●Phrases such as "You may think..." should also be omitted when writing formal papers. "One may think..." would correct the informality.
Rule # 2: Rhetorical questions? No, thanks.
●Why to Avoid Rhetorical Questions
○A rhetorical question is a question for which no is expected.
○Such questions are inappropriate for academic writing since they can easily be misinterpreted.
●How can this common mistake be corrected?
○The point being made could be more and clearly expressed as a statement.
Rule # 3: Don’t use contractions
●Why Contractions Aren't Recommended
○Contractions create a friendly, informal which may not be suitable in formal writing.
○Contractions are suitable in spoken , as they can speed up a conversation. However, speed of communication is not a concern in formal writing.
○The only acceptable contraction in formal writing is o'clock.
Contraction Conversion Chart
Informal / Formalaren’t / are not
could’ve / could have
what’s / what is
how’d / how did
can’t / cannot
Rule # 4: % vs. Percentage
●When is it appropriate to use the percentage symbol (%) as opposed to writing the word "percentage?"
○Only use the percentage symbol (%) if it is preceded by a .
●Percentage Example:
○The percentage of food waste in America has increased since 1974.
●% Example:
○Food waste in America has increased by 50% since 1974.
Rule # 5: Numerals: Eleven or 11?
●When to use out numbers
●Numbers 1-9
○It is recommended to drink eight glasses of water each day.
●Fractions
○One sixth of the United States population does not have health insurance.
●School Grades
○Mrs. Pumphrey is my first grade teacher.
●When to use .
●Numbers 10 and above
○There are approximately 27 oil spills every day in the waters of the world.
●Numbers that follow a chapter, example, or table
○Chapter 4 discusses how to properly format a title page.
●Large Numbers
○She won 8.5 million dollars by playing the lottery.
Rule # 6: No Stage Directions, Please
●It is recommended not to begin an essay by telling the reader what the paper will discuss
●The reader will the topic without being told directly
●Avoid phrases such as:
○“I am writing about..”
○“This paper will discuss…”
●Examples:
○Informal: This paper will discuss how the Great Pacific Garbage Patch,also known as the Pacific Garbage Vortex, negatively affects our environment.
○Formal: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific Garbage Vortex, negatively affects our environment in a number of ways.
Rule # 7: Redundancy is a no-no
●Why to Avoid Redundancy
○Minimum page requirements are implemented to ensure that you write a paper with the appropriate depth; however, it can sometimes encourage redundancy.
○Avoid writing the same in different ways in order to fill up space.
●How to Avoid Redundancy
○Once you have completed your paper, each paragraph to see if any sentences can be eliminated.
○Omit any repetitive or overwritten sentences/phrases.
Rule #8: FYI: Use Abbreviations Sparingly
●When to Use Abbreviations
○Use abbreviations exclusively after it for the first time.
■Example: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides environmental education grant opportunities. The EPA also offers grant opportunities for new businesses.
●Exceptions to this rule include the following:
Abbreviate the Following:
Titles Before Names / Mr., Mrs., Ms., Prof., Gen., Sen., Rep., Gov., Dr.Titles After Names / Jr., Sr., M.D., Ph.D., M.A., B.A.
Words with Numbers / 2:00 A.M., 1124 B.C.
Mathematical Units / 11 ft, 7 kg, 33 lb, 24 in.
Names of Familiar:
Institutions / UA, FBI, NASA
Countries / U.K., U.S.
Corporations / CNN, ABC, IBM
Famous People / JFK, MLK, FDR
Familiar Objects / TV, CD, MP3
Rule #9: Prepositions are not suggested to end sentences with.
●Why to Avoid Prepositions
○Ending sentences with prepositions can contribute to a , informal tone.
●How to Easily Fix This Problem
○Once you have finished writing, your paper. Look for any sentences which may end with a preposition.
○The best and easiest solution is to reword the sentence.
●The most commonly used prepositions which are incorrectly placed at the end of sentences include:
○about
○at
○in
○from
○with
○for
○of
○to
●Informal: The extinction of the Dodo bird is a repercussion humanity must live with.
●Formal: Humanity must live with the repercussions of attributing to the extinction of the Dodo bird.
Rule #10: Parenthetical Remarks (when to use them)
●How to Avoid Using Parentheses
○Parentheses can be reduced by 50% by simply the parentheses with commas.
■Informal: The quarterback for the Saints (Drew Brees) broke Dan Marino's single-season passing record.
■Formal: The quarterback for the Saints, Drew Brees, broke Dan Marino's single-season passing record.
●When It's Suggested to Use Parentheses
○When referring to an entity:
■Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN)
■Radio Corporation of America (RCA)
○When listing numbered information:
■a)
■1)