Summary
Naturally, we speak an informal language in our daily life. And it’s super easy to get carried away with the habit and use it in your academic writing. But colloquial language is often not acceptable in academic papers, so you need to avoid it so as not to lose precious points.
Informal language isn’t something evil, though. It’s good for expressing your emotions and thoughts easily, but when it comes to academic writing, it’s a different story.
Sometimes students don’t even realize it can harm their grades. When you delegate your papers to essay writers for hire, you will not see any informal expressions there. This is because there are certain rules to memorize. The reason why professional writers complete outstanding papers is that they know how to comply with formal standards.
So how to edit your essay properly to remove the informalities? Check these six easy ways to fix your text and submit an essay worth a high grade.
Avoid Using First and Second-Person Pronouns
When writing an essay, using first and second-person pronouns right away screams ‘informal.’ That’s why try to avoid using ‘I,’ ‘my, ’‘we,’ ‘our,’ ‘us,’ and ‘you’ in academic writing. Discuss it with your professor: if, in some cases, they allow focusing on personal experience, then it can be acceptable to use the ‘I’ pronoun.
When editing your essay, highlight the pronouns by using a shortcut on your keyboard and exchange them. Sometimes it takes time to rebuild the sentences, though, but it’s crucial to make your work sound more formal. For example, instead of using ‘I think,’ you could type ‘It is believed.’
Use Academic Vocabulary
You may lack the right words to make the essay sound formal, and it’s okay. Try to expand it by using a thesaurus. There are also specially designed apps to help you find more suitable words. While editing, seek the words that seem informal and try to exchange them with formal synonyms.
This step will make a huge difference. Remember that it’s essential to use academic vocabulary when expressing your ideas in an essay. Any reputable essay writing service pays close attention to what words they pick while writing. That’s why you should do the same when working on your assignment.
Remove Exclamation Marks
Exclamation marks are usually perceived as informal. Skim through your essay carefully. If you notice any exclamation marks, remove them and place a question mark or period instead.
Read Your Essay Out Loud
The best way to check if your text has any traces of informal language is to read it out loud. And yes, it can be hard and exhausting to read after you spend hours writing. However, there are still ways to make it work.
You could use the text reader extension on your computer right after you are done writing. It can offer many voice variations, accents, and speeds. Pick what’s more comfortable for you and listen as if it’s someone else’s paper.
Take notes in your physical diary or highlight the parts you are unsure about on the screen right away. It’s a good way to spot the informal language and replace it.
Avoid Using Slang
Slang words may seem like the usual language sometimes, but it’s inappropriate to use slang in academic writing. If you are asking, “How do I write my essay in a formal way?” rethink your slang usage. Reading more and trying to use less slang in informal conversations might help you break the habit.
Here are some ideas on how to stop placing slang in your paper:
- Try to use fewer idioms or avoid them altogether.
- Read some of the academic works before writing and copy their formal style and phrasing.
- Be mindful of your reader (Always remember that you write for your professor to check the text).
- Be specific when you try to convey your message.
- Make a list of formal vocabulary you would use in your homework today beforehand.
Send Your Essay to Professional Editors
Even when trying to refine the work by yourself, it can turn out with a lower grade than you expected. This happens because you still have limited knowledge and are so used to everyday slang. Getting a professional editor could be the best method to remove informal language.
They see more than you can notice, and they treat your work without personal bias. An expert can identify any remaining red flags in your paper and make it look flawless. They will provide valuable feedback too.
However, it’s on you to choose the best essay editing services by doing additional research. It’s crucial to put your essay in the right hands to meet academic writing standards.
Conclusion
Many essays end up overflowing with informal language. Nonetheless, you can remove it without spending hours on this task. Take the steps above and watch your essay become more formal and ready for submission.
I’m Sehar, and have been working as a Content Writer for The Different Languages. Moreover, I’m just an amateur writer who didn’t quit and believes that everything in life is writable about if you’ve the outgoing guts to do it!