Tips for Writing

Avoid

Replace with

The ampersand symbol: &

The word “and”

Yeah

Yes

Slang words and colloquialisms, such as “cool” and “dude” (see additional colloquialisms cheat sheet below)

More formal language

Contractions, e.g. “can’t,” “don’t,” “won’t,” etc.

The words’ full forms: “cannot” for “can’t,” “do not” for “don’t”

Personal pronouns: “You should sleep eight hours each night”; “I think Professor James is correct.”

Impersonal pronouns: “One should sleep eight hours each night”; “Professor James is correct.”

Starting a sentence with coordinating conjunctions (“and,” “so,” “but,” “or”)

Compound sentences or transitional adverbs, such as “additionally,” “therefore,” “alternatively,” and “nevertheless”

Clichés or overused phrases (“as strong as an ox,” “as pretty as a picture,” “bought for a song,” etc.)

Literal descriptions

Starting a letter or document by giving commands or telling what the paper will discuss (“This paper is going to talk about global warming.”)

An intro to your topic: “Global warming can now be described as a 21st century problem.”

Vague words, such as “a few,” “enough,” or “a little”

More specific descriptions. How many is a few, or how much is enough?

Colloquial Word/Phrase

More Formal Alternative

Anybody

Anyone

Because

As

Big

Large or great

Fellow

Person

For sure

With certainty

Get

Receive; understand (depending on usage)

Got

Have

Introduce

Present

Kind of/sort of

Type of

Let

Allow, permit

Ma’am

Madam

Most

Almost

On the other hand

Conversely, by contrast

So

Because, very (depending on usage)