Formal language

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Formal language

Slide 1 - Diapositive

Formal Language

When writing your essay you want to use formal (formele) language.

Slide 2 - Diapositive

Formal Language

What I don't want to see in your essay:

I, me, myself, my

you, your, yours

We, our, ours

This essay

Slide 3 - Diapositive

Formal Language

In formal writing you want to refer to yourself as little as possible, maybe once or twice.

Which thesis statement sounds stronger?

I think school uniforms should not be used in The Netherlands.

School uniforms should not be used in The Netherlands.

You don't need to tell the reader it is just your opinion. It saves you words to leave that part out (and you don't have that many words to begin with).

Slide 4 - Diapositive

Formal Language

You never want to mention your audience.

"You wouldn't have to wonder what to wear to school in the morning anymore."

You don't know who is reading. So a sentence like the one above would not make any sense if the reader isn't a student.

"Students don't have to wonder what to wear to school in the morning anymore."

Slide 5 - Diapositive

Formal Language

"In this essay I am going to talk about why school uniforms should not be used in The Netherlands."

Maybe you have something like this in your essay, but ask yourself: is it really necessary to mention that this is an essay? If you've written a proper introduction you don't need a sentence like this. You can just use your thesis statement and save yourself some very valuable (waardevolle) words.

" School uniforms should not be used in The Netherlands."

Slide 6 - Diapositive

Formal Language

In formal writing you never want to use contractions (samentrekkingen). So the simple solution is to pull them apart and write them as two words.

Don't --> Do not

They've --> They have

Exception (uitzondering) Alert: Can't is not two words but one word.

Can't --> Cannot

Slide 7 - Diapositive

Formal Language

What I absolutely do not want to see in your essay: ewwwwwww

Gonna

Wanna

Gotta

Dunno

Kinda

u / U

Slide 8 - Diapositive

Formal Language

Formal language also means proper punctuation (leestekens).

Are any of these in your essay?

! !! !!! !? :)*

Remove them and replace them with a full stop (.) or question mark (?).

*Smileys don't have an alternative. There is no way to make them formal, so don't use them.

Slide 9 - Diapositive

Being fancy with formal language.

Slide 10 - Diapositive

What is fancy language?

Kids --> Children

Say sorry --> Apologize

Bad/Good --> Negative/Positive

Smart --> Intelligent

Etc.

It basically means using a more difficult version of some words wherever you can, to show off what you know. This also makes your essay more formal, so give it a try.

Are there any words in your essay that could use an upgrade?

Use this link for inspiration.

Slide 11 - Diapositive

Common Mistakes

What lots of students do wrong and you will now always do correctly.

Slide 12 - Diapositive

Spelling

Can you spot the spelling mistakes in the next couple of pictures

AND

give the correct spelling?