<p>Hey all,</p>
<p>Would it be fine to shorten words like "that is" to "that's". "Cannot" to "can't" and the like.</p>
<p>For some sentences it seems more natural to use the shorter version. So I'm not sure if I should leave it that way.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Do not use contractions or funky grammar.</p>
<p>ADMITCOMs are unnerved by what they see an a radical decrease in the ability of students to write in appropriate styles as needed. </p>
<p>e-verbage is not acceptable at law firms or corporations, the target audience for colleges' graduates. College don't want to have to teach you to write. They want a pre-packaged product.</p>
<p>With all due respect to toadstool...he's wrong.</p>
<p>It depends on the use of apostrophes. Of course
he's not going to write an essay like a text message,
but college admission essays are informal, creative
writing. It resembles NOTHING like law firms or
corporations. We are not pre-packaged products, we
are PEOPLE. And adcoms don't want essays, they
want STORIES. </p>
<p>So follow your heart (and common sense) when you're
writing, and that's a better guide than anyone at CC
can give (other than one of the respected readers :P).</p>
<p>Most of the time writing with contractions helps promote voice in the essay, so that's what I did. Of course, if you don't actually use contractions while speaking (that is, if you're a robot) then don't use them when writing. Just my thoughts.</p>