Essays, assignments, admissions—these terms encapsulate the struggles faced by students worldwide, wouldn’t you agree? They seem akin to a sinister serpent hissing, “You shall not passss!”
Many students harbor a strong dislike for essay writing due to its arduous, time-consuming, and challenging nature. Crafting a stellar essay involves incorporating essential elements such as a thesis, arguments, references, and a conclusion. However, the true distinction lies in the words employed to persuade readers. Words serve as a potent weapon, showcasing critical thinking and a deep understanding of the subject. They enable you to stand out amid a sea of students tackling similar topics.
Yet, a challenge arises:
Not all words prove beneficial. Some are cumbersome and redundant, while others render your writing incoherent. Certain words are employed for the sake of word count rather than conveying meaning, resulting in essays that sound complex yet lack substance.
For writing that is both concise and meaningful, make a concerted effort to steer clear of the following words and phrases in your admission essays:
- Contractions: Avoid abbreviations like “don’t,” “can’t,” and “won’t.” Academic works necessitate the use of complete words, so opt for them over contractions.
- Idioms: While set phrases may enrich language, reserve them for personal narratives, blog posts, or fiction. An admission essay assesses formal writing skills, not the ability to entertain or impress with extravagant vocabulary. Maintain clarity and conciseness. 3-5) “So on,” “etc,” “and so forth”: These run-on expressions reveal a lack of proficiency in handling arguments, details, and examples. They convey an inability to delve deeper into the subject matter. Steer clear of them in your essays.
- Clichés: Phrases like “it’s an open secret” or “sleep like a baby” have lost relevance through overuse. While an attempt to appear clever, such words ring hollow. 7-11) “Thing,” “stuff,” “good,” “bad,” “big”: The issue with these words lies in their colloquial and vague nature, unsuitable for academic language. While acceptable in casual conversation, they sound elementary in essays, reflecting poorly on your vocabulary. Hone paraphrasing and synonymization skills for deploying more sophisticated terms.
- Slang, jargon, teen speak: Consider your audience—admission officers. While they may read Buzzfeed articles casually, they are unlikely to appreciate such writing styles in formal essays. Reserve slang for appropriate contexts.
- Rhetorical questions: Assuming readers know the answers without providing value or explanations is inappropriate in academic writing. Clearly state your points in essays. 14-17) “In terms of,” “needless to say,” “in conclusion,” “it goes without saying”: Parenthetic expressions add no value to your writing. While suitable as transitional phrases in informal works, they become redundant in academic essays.
- Quotes: While quoting and referencing are essential, avoid starting your essay with a quote from a well-known figure. This overused tactic may irritate professors who want to hear your voice, not that of Hemingway, Musk, or Obama. 19-26) “Very,” “quite,” “really,” “totally,” “already,” “fairly,” “actually,” “just”: These are weak modifiers or redundant -ly adverbs with no meaningful impact. In a 2,000-word essay, resist the urge to insert them, as they contribute nothing of value to your statements.
- Passive voice: Educators advise against passive voice, as it weakens writing and lacks explicit reference to the actor. Opt for active voice to ensure clarity in your statements.
In your essay writing journey, let words be your allies. Utilize powerful words to convey your message to admission officers and surpass your peers. Embrace conciseness, enrich your vocabulary, prioritize active verbs and clear sentence structures, and refrain from plagiarizing ideas or texts. Showcase your skills and highlight strengths in your academic writings.
