<p>My counselor said it was bad to use contractions (don't, hadn't, ect.) in my essays. But I feel that it is what I would say in real life. But my counselor said that essays are quasi formal so they should not include contractions.</p>
<p>What are your opinions on this??</p>
<p>your counselor is wrong imo</p>
<p>Appropriately used, contractions are fine. (This does not apply to "ain't" or other contractions not used in MLA.)</p>
<p>What you would say, or what you would write? Remember, it must feel natural, but you are also writing to people whom you do not know.</p>
<p>Is it okay to have a mix? Some contractions and some spelled out?</p>
<p>What I did was spell out contractions if they didn't affect the "flow" of the essay. If it would affect it, I just left it as it was. In the end, though, as it turned out, I spelled out most of my contractions.</p>