1. How to speak and write like a scholar
Formal Language
How to speak and write like a scholar

2. What is formal language?
Formal language is using Standard English in its most precise form.
It should be used in all academic and professional writing

3. Rules for Formal Writing
Leave out “YOU”
NO ANNOUNCEMENTS!...(This paper is about….I hope you have enjoyed my paper.)
Slang (cuz/all the sudden/nite/lite/bc)
NO abbreviations (even write out numbers of less than 100)
No contractions (Instead of writing don’t, write do not)
NO cute signs for the word “and”

4. Rules for Formal Writing
Avoid Clichés - A cliché is an analogy characterized by its overuse. It may be true (“fat as a pig”)…or no longer true (“work like a dog”)
Examples:
Music to my ears
From the horses mouth
Change of heart
Caught red-handed
Sick as a parrot
To get cold feet
It never rains on a golf course
Bug off

5. Dead Words The following words are informal. Do not use them.
a lot / a bunch / lots
Stuff
Kind of / sort of
Til
‘cause /cuz
Got
Ok / okay
Etc.
Mess (including mess up and mess around)
cool
All slang words and idioms (Idioms are expressions with meanings not predictable based on literal word definitions)

6. Dead Words
The following words are too general. Use more specific words instead.
Thing / things
Really
Very
Pretty (as in “pretty good)
Nice
Good
Is / was

7. Dead Words The following phrases are redundant. Leave them out.
In this paragraph, I am going to …
This paragraph is about …
In my opinion …
To me …
The reason why is because …
Being that …
Due to the fact that …

8. Dead Words The following are “Fluffy” fillers. Do not use them. Well …
The End
Like (as in “I was like in disbelief.”)
Rhetorical questions

9. Additional Information
Take a chance on bigger (multisyllabic) words. Misspellings are acceptable.
Write and think like a scholar. Think of yourself as communicating with educators and professionals, not your friends.
Be specific with details. Create mental images with your words.
Use action verbs. They are more exact.
Ex. General – The weather was amazing.
Specific - The sunshine warmed our bodies and our hearts.
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR IDEAS; THEY ARE WORTHWHILE!