<p>sooooooo - question: "i've" = "i have done" versus "i've done." the former seems better, but it also eats up word limits.</p>
<p>second question: parentheses. i...have a particular sentence where i go blahblah blah (blahblahblahblah) blahblahblahblah. while <em>i</em> like parentheses, i'm not sure whether that affinity for parenthesis would appear too informal/weird/whatareyoudoing<em>reject&laughsatyourtears</em></p>
<p>thanks in advance.</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA…that last sentence is the lawlz
well for your first question, i know when i went to a PS workshop i was told NO CONTRACTIONS. apparently thats too informal, so there you go.
and i had parenthesis in mine too, but when the workshop lady read it over she didn’t say anything about them.
SOYEAHGOODLUCK:]</p>
<p>1) Never use contractions, unless it is a quote.</p>
<p>2) Personally, I would avoid parentheses.</p>
<p>Avoid parentheses! Use a comma before and after instead.</p>
<p>sweet - thanks everyone.</p>
<p>Yea, I have to agree with Mitch. My English teachers in High school have told me that too. =)</p>
<p>Write whatever sounds best when it is read out loud. Grammar is important but the context deserves your greatest scrutiny. I had like 6 or 7 contractions in both my essays because, as you had stated, it saves words and I still managed to get into Cal and almost every other UC. Do what sounds best in reference to your individual essay and ignore these dumb rules.</p>