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Using contractions is generally frowned upon in formal essays. That is why is perfectly formal, but may not be the best choice: For this reason may be better.


We examined various formal phrases that you can use to express your opinion in an essay. Reading through the next section you will learn how to express your opinion if you have already substantiated it. To make the text structured and logical, it is important to first give arguments and evidence, and then express your point of view. Below you will find phrases with which you can do it.

Making your writing more formal by avoiding contractions is easy: just find the contractions and replace them with the non-contracted versions of the words.

The remaining features are the same for both formats:

Colloquial diction is informal language used in everyday speech and includes such words as "guys," "yeah," "stuff," "kind of," "okay," and "big deal." Highly informal diction, such as "freak out" and "dissing," falls into the category of "slang." While slang words often are vivid and expressive, slang comes and goes quickly, another reason why slang should be avoided in formal writing. Both colloquialism and slang expressions convey an informal tone and should be avoided in formal writing.

Knowledge of formal expressions is useful not only when writing academic essays and passing exams, but also in many other life situations. After all, sometimes simple phrases and a vulgar style are unacceptable, and their use can spoil the opinion about you.

The writers of formal documents may feel that they undermine the authority and dignity of their words. But the interactive quality that contractions lend to a style is these days often sought, in business and elsewhere. They facilitate reading by reducing the space taken up by predictable elements of the verb phrase, and help to establish the underlying rhythms of prose.

As you avoid informal language, be careful not to use words that suggests ideas that you may not intend. "The gentleman was convicted of robbing a liquor store" would probably leave readers wondering why the man who robbed the store is considered to be a "gentleman." Likewise, "the lady was convicted of robbing a liquor store" would probably cause readers to wonder why a woman who robs a liquor store is considered to be a "lady."


"I'm", "it's" are forbidden in formal essays.

Essays are such kind of writing which debates a definite topic by presenting a thesis and supporting arguments. Basically, it seems too difficult to define the word “essay” when it is common sense that there exist different types of essays today. There are essays dedicated to their authors’ memories and experiences; there are essays which stand near to poetry, and there are free deliberations and reflections on an interesting subject.

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Formal essays can be defined by the latter definition: they deal with a problem or difficulty (poverty, faith, abortion, war, climate change, education reform, and many others) with a view to finding a solution to it. This does not mean that there can be only one solution. For example, abortion by itself is not a problem; it becomes a problem when contrasted with a religious belief or a given set of moral standards.

[Continue reading to learn about formal essay writing]

The most important thing is to know that writing a formal essay requires from you to reflect very strictly upon the topic and to formulate a strong thesis. Here it is not allowed to write freely and without a well-defined topic.

Thanks for the share. Really simple and easy to understand.

Your best guide is to follow the practice of other essays published in the medium for which you are writing and addressed to the audience whom you are addressing. Use the language which others in that speech community use.

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You can find such an essay, for instance, in thinkers and writers like Montaigne, J. Locke, S. Zweig, T. Mann, F. Nietzsche. Recently, it has become very popular to read books which combine philosophical reflections with literary narratives (Kahlil Gibran, Jorge Bucay, etc.). The advantage of formal essays is that you are relatively free to reflect upon the subject, and you have only to adhere to the principles of writing such an essay - logical structure, internal coherence, thesis, etc. Philosophical treaties are very hard to read and they are not quite suitable for the wide audience.

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: while reading, you can write down some useful quotations. These quotes will help you at a later stage when you are to write a formal essay. Do not forget to keep track of them; always note the bibliographical data (author, title, years of publication, page). If possible, also find the original text of citations translated from another language (e.x.: German, Spanish, etc.).