by Sentenceworks
Writing Style
Formal writing is intended to be informative and thought-provoking, not entertaining. Because formal writing applies to many different disciplines, the rules are made so all situations are covered; some of the rules may seem archaic, as they have not changed since the first universities made rules about writing. For this reason, formal writing may sound a little stiff – even a little boring. However, as there is nothing to distract the reader from the information being imparted, formal writing is the best way to present information or demonstrate an argument.Styles Rarely Used In Academic Writing
Certain words and writing styles are not used in academic writing, because they do not lend a formal tone.
Case 1:
In academic writing, “due to”, “therefore”, and “so” are generally not used at the beginning of a sentence, because they generally refer to a cause-and-effect situation. They may be used in the middle of a sentence, to begin a second clause.
Incorrect: Due to a power failure, the cafeteria will not be open today.
Correct: The cafeteria will not be open today, due to a power failure.
Case 2:
In academic writing, “in spite of” may not be used to replace “despite”. Because it contains the word, “spite”, it may imply anger or vexation. “Despite” may mean “notwithstanding”.
Correct: The student published the controversial paper, despite the professor’s objections.
“Despite” implies the student published the paper even though the professor didn’t approve.
Correct: The student published the controversial paper, in spite of the professor.
“In spite of” implies the student published the paper to make the professor angry.
Case 3:
When used as an adverb at the end of a sentence, “though” should be replaced by “however” or “in any case”.
Incorrect: I appreciate art; I do not care to see doodles on the edges of the essay paper, though.
Correct: I appreciate art; I do not care to see doodles on the edges of the essay paper, however.
Correct: I appreciate art; I do not care to see doodles on the edges of the essay paper, in any case.
Case 4:
Anyways
The adverb, “anyways”, is extremely informal.
Incorrect: I never did understand numbers very well. Anyways, I’ve decided to move from financing into tech support.
Correct: As I have never understood numbers very well, I have decided to move from the financing department into the technical support department.
Anyway
Correct: Paris is expensive, but many people would like to vacation there, anyway.
This adverb is acceptable in formal writing, but intentions may be better expressed by the use of a variation of “in any case”.
Correct: Paris is expensive, but many people would like to vacation there, in any case.
Case 5:
After using the verb, “seems”, do not use the words, “to me”.
Formal or academic writing forbids the use of personal pronouns. Your writing obviously contains your opinions, so the use of phrases like “seems to me” is redundant; it also makes the tone less formal, which may it harder for the reader to be convinced of your opinion. As well, this rule applies to similar phrases, such as “appears to me”, or “looks to me”.
Incorrect: It seems to me the writer is attempting to prove his innocence, but failing.
Even when using a passive tone(as in this sentence) “to me” should be removed from this sentence, to conform to formal writing standards. The sentence should read: It seems the writer is attempting…
Incorrect: This author comes to what seems to me to be an indefinite conclusion regarding the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.
“To me” should be removed from this sentence, as it is redundant and it makes a wishy-washy sentence even more tenuous.
Use of Personal Pronouns
Avoid using personal pronouns, which are usually not acceptable in formal writing.
Formal writing should be impersonal, so personal pronouns – possessive or otherwise - are generally not used. Personal pronouns (i.e. I, you, we, my, mine, your, yours, our, ours) assume the information in your writing applies only to specific readers. By using impersonal pronouns (he, she, one, they, his, him, her, one’s, their), any reader may make their own personal connections to the information being discussed.
Hint: replace you, I and we with one, and replace my, mine, yours and ours with one’s.
Incorrect: When you add 3 and 4, you should get 7.
The personal pronoun, “you”, should not be used in formal writing. The sentence may be rephrased so it remains impersonal:
Correct: When 3 and 4 are added, the result should be 7.
Alternatively, “you” may be replaced with “one”:
Correct: When one adds 3 and 4, one should get 7.
Incorrect: I believe this point of view is correct.
When one is permitted to express and opinion (only in personal or opinion essays), the use of “I” is still considered too informal; it may be replaced with “this writer” or “this author”.
Correct: This writer believes this point of view is correct.