Informal Language

Question 1

1. Contractions

Answer 1

Avoid shortened word forms. Write out the full words (e.g., use “do not” instead of “don’t”).

Question 2

2. Point of View (POV)

Answer 2

Avoid personal pronouns (1st/2nd person). Do not use: you, I, us, me, we.

Question 3

3. Vocabulary Choice

Answer 3

Avoid colloquialisms or slang. Use professional, academic language instead.

Question 4

4. Punctuation

Answer 4

Avoid exclamation marks. Let your word choice convey emphasis rather than punctuation.

Question 5

5. Filler Words

Answer 5

Avoid needless fillers that add no value. Examples: well, you know, like, kind of, sort of.

Question 6

6. Sentence Openers

Answer 6

Do not start sentences with FANBOYS (coordinating conjunctions): For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Question 7

7. Sentence Structure

Answer 7

Avoid short, choppy sentences. Use transitions and varied structures to improve flow.

Question 8

8. Shortenings & Acronyms

Answer 8

Avoid “phone” (use telephone), “appt.” (use appointment), or “FBI” (use Federal Bureau of Investigation).

Question 9

9. Absolute Terms

Answer 9

Avoid “all or nothing” language. Examples: always, everybody, never, nobody.

Question 10

10. Figurative Language

Answer 10

Avoid clichés and idioms. These are overused expressions that can make writing feel unoriginal.