College Essay Style

Tips
Making your writing better one tip at a
time

Tip #1: Wordiness and

Repetition

Tip #2: Vague and Imprecise

Language

Tip #3: Avoid Clichs

Tip #4: Overuse of I in

First Person Narratives

Tip #5: Excessive

Digression

Tip #6: Overuse of Flowery

Language

Tip #7: Weak Verbs

Tip #8: Avoid Passive Voice

Tip #9: Avoid Too Many

Expletive Constructions

Examples of
expletives
There were ten students in Mrs. Robinsons class.
(Ten students were in Mrs. Robinsons class.)
It was obvious that the students were cheating on the
exam.
(The students were obviously cheating on
the exam.)
There were ten students in Mrs. Robinsons class who
were obviously cheating on the exam.
(Ten students in Mrs. Robinsons class
were obviously cheating on the exam.)
There arethat and it is that are two of the
most common offenses and can almost always be
eliminated.

Expletive construction
occurs
when the words there and it are followed by a
to be verb such as is, was or were
when extra baggage to added to sentences. It is
best to avoid expletive constructions in academic
writing whenever possible.