WORD TRASH

“WORD TRASH” –words, phrases and habits that should not find their way into your formal academic writing.

WORD TRASH

WORD TRASH

slang terms

Be careful! Even commonly usedwords such as “guy”

are too slangfor academic writing!

(It’s “man” or “character.”)

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

It’s OK to use shorthandsymbols in your notes,

but edit them out of your draft!

(You may use symbols IF theyare included in a direct quote.)

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

First person POV includesI, me, my, us, our, we, etc.

It’s perfectly fine to use fora personal essay or opinion

writing–but not OK in most academic writing.

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

Instead of first personpronouns, use something like

“readers” or “the reader.”

“The reader can see thatFitzgerald intended his

protagonist to appear…”

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

This is a COMMONproblem. Make sure to

edit this out of your writing.

“When you pick up abook by Fitzgerald,

you notice…”

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

Use something like“the reader” or “one” to fix it.

“When one picks upa book by Fitzgerald,

one notices…”

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

This habit makes yourwriting sound immature.

A related problem:“The following quote

will show…”

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

This habit makes yourwriting sound weak; itappears as if you arenot very confident.

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

You might be shocked tosee how many English

students let this habit slip into their academic papers!

2 ≠ to 4 ≠ for u ≠ you r ≠ are

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

Use descriptors that…youknow…describe. What

do you MEAN by “good” or “bad”?

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

“things”/ “stuff”

Use a specific,precise, descriptive noun.

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

“things”/ “stuff”

“big”

Do not use “big” (or “large”or “huge”) when you reallymean “important,” “key,”“influential,” or “main.”

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

“things”/ “stuff”

“big”

“majorly”

“Majorly” isa slang use that hasbecome common in

speech, but is not OKin formal writing.

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

“things”/ “stuff”

“big”

“majorly”

These are vague adverbs.Replace them with more

precise, descriptive words.

very hungry = famishedreally tired = exhausted

very honest = candid“very” / “really”

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

“things”/ “stuff”

“big”

“majorly”

“very” / “really”

etc.…Do not end a sentence

or list of items with etc. or an ellipsis (…).

WORD TRASH

slang terms

symbols instead of

words(ex: & or @)

first person POV(unless it’s a

personal essay)

“you”(second person POV)

talking about the paper IN the paper

(“This essay will show…”)

email & text jargon

lame, weak commentary(“In my opinion…”

“I think that…”)

vague descriptors(“good” “bad” etc.)

“things”/ “stuff”

“big”

“majorly”

“very” / “really”

etc.…