Wrting Tips

Grammar, punctuation, syntax:
● Make only one space after commas, periods, semi-colons and colons.
● Understand the meaning and use of the definite article (the) and the indefinite article (a, an).
● Do not use exclamation marks.
● Do not capitalize common nouns.
● Make sure all verbs agree with their subject in number (singular and plural).
● Make sure all prepositions agree with the verb (in English, most verbs have only one or two
prepositions that can be used (results in, not results to).
● Check all spellings.
● Check punctuation: do not leave out any commas.
● Check that all adverbs are in the right place (you cannot put an adverb inside an infinitive verb like
this: He tried to neatly write his name.)
● Use a hyphen for compound words such as stress-free.
Style:
● Avoid passive voice.

● Do not use first person (I, we, us).
● Do not use first person singular (I) or personal opinions, except in personal statement or admission
papers.
● Do not use meaningless words as transitions just for their own sake.
● Use the present tense. Never use the future tense (will be), unless you intend to suggest the future.
● Do not use the present continuous tense as the main tense of the paper (is writing, are thinking). Use
the present: writes, think.
● Avoid all forms of questions, including rhetorical questions.
● Do not use colloquial terms or expressions.
● Do not use empty adverbs such as basically, actually, really.
● Do not use hyperbole (great exaggeration) or hyperbolic words such as enormous, huge, magnificent,
glorious or other superlatives such as most obnoxious.
● Stay on topic, but avoid remaining one sided.
● Make your thesis obvious throughout.
● Do not start a sentence with a conjunction (and, but.)
● Do not write useless words to make sentences appear grander or more complicated.
● Use transitions.
● Make sure each sentence makes perfect, clear and logical sense.
● Write what you mean, mean what you write.
● Use straightforward language.
● Shorten your long sentences.
● Remove excessive qualifiers (e.g.: very many.)
● Do not repeat words frequently within the same paragraph. Use a pronoun or a synonym to vary the
syntax.
● Do not repeat the same concept, idea or thought. Avoid redundancy and repetition.
● Do not use gender-specific words for general meaning (man, mankind, men, manhood, gentleman.)
● Do not write lady when you mean woman. Be professional and diplomatic.
● Avoid imperative voice.
● Do not use Latin abbreviations such as etc., i.e., e.g.; use what they mean in English: and so forth,
that is, for example.
● When paraphrasing, make sure the "synonyms" you use mean exactly the same as the word you wish
to replace.
● Do not start a sentence with "As such."
● Never write "so as to" when you mean "to".
Structure:
● Make sure your essay has at least these: introduction, body part, conclusion.
● Make sure the thesis sentence appears in the first paragraph.
● Avoid more than one key thought per paragraph.
● Make sure your conclusion does not have new information.
● Avoid restating your introduction when writing conclusion.
● Avoid restating when writing your abstract.
● Have at least 3-4 sentences per paragraph.
● Do not make paragraphs
Formatting:
● Do not label paragraphs with Introduction, Conclusion or any other subtitle.

● Use the correct form and punctuation for in-text citations, according to the style choice.
● Write a new, original title of less than nine words for each essay.
● Write the lecturer's question on the coversheet. Center your new title on top of the essay.
● Do not justify the text. Align it to the left only.
● Do not identify any keywords.
● Make sure you understand how to write and format a reference list.
● Understand the difference between an author's first and last names.
● You must state date of retrieval from the Internet.
● Always remove hyperlinks from URLs.
● Support each fact with an in-text citation.
● "Number of sources" means number of books, online texts or articles you need to reference. A paper
always needs many more in-text citations from the sources than just two or three.

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Grammar, punctuation, syntax:

● Avoid passive voice.

● Do not label paragraphs with Introduction, Conclusion or any other subtitle.

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