FORMAL WRITING

Words to avoid when writing essays or other formal pieces of writing

Avoid Example Alternative

A bit The interviews were a bit The interviews were (difficult/somewhat

difficult to schedule difficult) to schedule

A lot of, a A lot of studies (Many/several/a great number of/eight) studies

couple of

/ America A researcher in America A researcher in (the United States/the US/the

USA)

contractions The sample isn’t The sample is not

Kind of, sort The findings were kind The findings were (somewhat
of of significant significant/significant to some degree)

Til, till From 2008 till 2012 From 2008 (until/to) 2012

You, your You can clearly see the One can clearly see the results
results
The results can clearly be seen

Bad A bad result A (poor/negative) result

Big A big sample A (large/sizable) sample

Get This model gets attention This model receives attention

Give This chapter gives an This chapter (provides/offers/presents) an

overview overview

Good A good example A (useful/prime) example

Show The below figure shows The below

figure (illustrates/demonstrates/reveals)

Stuff People are concerned People are concerned about

about their stuff their (belongings/possessions/personal effects)

Thing The report presents The report presents

many things many (details/findings/recommendations)

A long time, This topic has interested This topic has interested researchers for more
a while researchers for a long than 30 years
time