FORMAL WRITING

Multiple Choice

Which sentence makes use of complex sentence structures?

(1) In 2001, the bridge was built. This was good politically. Two countries united.

(2) The bridge was completed in 2001, which resulted in a positive political move uniting two countries.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence does not use contractions?

(1) When considering staffing in hospitals in the future, it's difficult not be concerned.

(2) When considering staffing in hospitals in the future, it is difficult not be concerned.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses objective language?

(1) I think/believe that the issue of healthcare staffing shortages will be the primary concern at the meeting.

(2) There is little doubt/It is clear that the issue of healthcare staffing shortages will be the primary concern at the meeting.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence does not use colloquialisms (language which is common to spoken English)

(1) Germs grow well in dirty and warm temperatures.

(2) Bacteria thrive in unhygienic and warm conditions.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence does not use colloquialisms (language which is common to spoken English)?

(1) Also, a lot of the findings are a little unreliable.

(2) Moreover, many of the findings are somewhat unreliable.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence avoids the use of phrasal verbs?

(1) The research assistant checked out the incident and got back to him the next day.

(2) The research assistant investigated the incident and reported to him the following day.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence makes use of the discipline specific vocabulary?

(1) Please figure out a way to deal with this mess and make it up to me.

(2) Please resolve this issue and compensate me by replacing the test tube for no extra charge.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence does not use rhetorical questions?

(1) The question surrounding the continued use of industrial sites, given their vast pollution production, still remains.

(2) Industrial sites cause vast amounts of environmental pollution, so why do we still use them?

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence is as specific as possible and avoids vague language?

(1) People have been interested in this thing for a long time.

(2) Researchers have been interested in this phenomenon for at least 10 years.

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​In formal academic writing opt for a rather impersonal tone!

This can be achieved by

•using the passive to avoid personal pronouns (e.g. 'It is argued that ...' rather than 'They argue that ...' )

•using 'things' rather than 'people' as subjects to avoid personal pronouns (e.g. 'This term paper begins by first providing' rather than 'In this term paper, I would first like to provide you ...')

•replacing the expression of personal views with references to the work carried out by experts (e.g. 'Studies show that ...' rather than 'I think that ...')

•not referring to the reader (e.g. 'The figures show that ...' rather than 'You can see from the figures that ...' )