Formal Writing Rules and Conventions

Audience in writing

The audience is the reader that the writing is directed to

When is it appropriate to use slang?

In informal writing and can only be used in academic writing in narrative writing, especially with dialogue

Conversations in writing

Uses second person pronouns (you, your, yours) and expects a response

Can use second person writing for this only:

Narrative writing (a conversation between your characters/dialogue), friendly letters, and emails where a response is required

Writing about your writing

Do not do it, it is unnecessary.

Ex. “I think that”; “What I mean is”; “I believe”

Why we don’t write about our writing?

We aren’t having a casual conversation with our reader, it makes our argument/statement seem weaker, and it is unnecessary and doesn’t provide information.

1st technique to avoiding the use of second person

• Replace “you” with “one” when referring to people in general

• Or use nouns that express who is being spoken about, like, people, etc

2nd technique to avoiding the use of second person

Replace “you” with the correct pronoun that agrees with the antecedent to avoid pronoun shifting

Avoid - First Person Pronouns

Don’t do: “I know this because”

An exception to using first person pronouns

When writing a PERSONAL ESSAY or narrative writing