So, college essays are supposed to be off-hand and casual right? Can you use contractions, like “don’t,” “can’t,” “didn’t,” etc.? Or, do you have to conform to a “formal” writing style with “do not,” “cannot,” “did not,” etc.?
Input appreciated =D!
Cheers!
<p>Contractions are fine in a college essay! Just don't let it degenerate into: "So I was like dude, sup? bro - let's get ****faced"</p>
<p>(you get the point...)</p>
<p>I'd avoid them out of quotations, just to be on the safe side.</p>
<p>atreeyum: contractions are fine but heres a big NONO <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=1262%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=1262</a> <-- whatever you do, do not do what that person did..just a tip</p>
<p>Not sure of the correct answer. My dad says they are good my mom says they are bad. They are both lawyers with good educations so whichever way is probably fine. I guess if you wanted to save some words on an essay then you should use them.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help! Really appreciate all the input - you guys rock =). I'm going to use contractions for the sake of word length. </p>
<p>johnst: I read the comments before the last paragraph and couldn't help but giggle ^^;;. Just skimmed the last paragraph and am DEFINITELY no where close to doing that. Great tip, though! Haha</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>Hahahahaha. Hey guys, I'm gonna write my essay about how I prematurely ejaculated while masturbating to donkey porn!</p>
<p>WOW! great minds think alike!! I wrote my essay on the exact same thing... so w/e you do, don't apply to the same schools as me =)</p>