Little-Known Writing Facts

Well, now that you are settling into 2018, it's back to the classroom with more about basic essay writing.

Below is a list of little-known scholarly writing facts...

• Respond to questions in essay form.
• Translation: Prior to responding to a question, rewrite it as a statement as you provide the answer.

• Don't use contractions when writing research papers.
• Translation: Instead of "don't," use "do not;" instead of you're, use "you are."

• Write the way you would speak in an interview.
• Translation: Adhere to the rules of the English language and you can't go wrong.

• Never use slang when writing your essay.
• Translation: Language or jargon specific only to, and spoken by a specific group, a language which only the group understands -- that which is not a universal language -- Avoid. 

• Only use words with, which you are familiar.
• Translation: Avoid selecting words that are not part of your normal vocabulary, in order to give the impression that you are "super-intelligent." Those words will 'jump-out' at your professor like a 'sore thumb,' and sound as if they have been 'transplanted' into your paper. Use your normal vocabulary. When writing, don't try to impress your reader with your vocabulary. Engage your reader with the content. Be natural.

• Avoid ending a sentence with a preposition.
• Translation: Prepositions should be contained within the middle of your phrases. A few of those words are: "with" "for" "at" "of"  -- Examples: 
• Incorrect: "Only use words you are familiar with."
• Correct: "Only use words with, which you are familiar."
• Incorrect: "Where are you at?"
• Correct: "Where are you?" 

• Within essay titles, all words are capitalized except words with four letters or less.
• Translation: The House on the Hill -- The highlighted words within the title are two and three letters respectively, which should be lower-case. (APA)

• Avoid writing words in all caps.
• Translation: Writing a word in all capital letters conveys to the reader that you are SHOUTING! This is a very rude practice, and could be a 'turn-off.'