Hello everyone! I'm writing my college essay and I noticed that I tend to use contractions quite often. Is it considered informal or unprofessional to use contractions in a college essay? Should I rewrite the essay without them? Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi there! It's great to see that you're being meticulous about your essay. When it comes to using contractions, it's a matter of personal style and voice. Some writers feel that contractions give their writing a more conversational and relatable tone. In a college essay, it's important to be genuine and true to your voice, so if using contractions helps convey that, it can be perfectly suitable. However, it's also essential to strike a balance between being conversational and maintaining a professional tone.
You should read through your essay to determine if the contractions help or detract from the overall message. Removing contractions might make your essay sound more formal, but could also interrupt the natural flow of your writing.
Consider asking for feedback from a teacher, counselor, or someone who has experience with college essays. They can provide you with specific guidance regarding the use of contractions in your essay.
For more advice on how to make your essay stand out, I recommend checking out this CollegeVine blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/essay-writing-approach/. It has some useful tips on writing an engaging and memorable essay. Good luck with your essay, and I hope this helps!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.