Can I use the word “don't” instead of “do not” in a formal essay? [on hold]
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My teacher (I'm in junior high) wants us to create formal essays, and because I am in an advanced English class, she expects us to have, quite literally, impeccable, well, everything. I am doing a bit of a last minute job, so if anyone could respond quickly, that'd be great.
meaning word-choice formality
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
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Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Let's stop villifying Iran, sumelic, Jeff Zeitlin, Skooba, Spencer Dec 13 at 17:05
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
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up vote
-1
down vote
favorite
My teacher (I'm in junior high) wants us to create formal essays, and because I am in an advanced English class, she expects us to have, quite literally, impeccable, well, everything. I am doing a bit of a last minute job, so if anyone could respond quickly, that'd be great.
meaning word-choice formality
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Let's stop villifying Iran, sumelic, Jeff Zeitlin, Skooba, Spencer Dec 13 at 17:05
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Are you using a style guide?
– Laurel
Dec 13 at 1:50
2
I've done literally hundreds of papers and essays from high school through grad school, and I never got marked off for contractions: but your teacher may have other ideas. So why not ask her if contractions will be countenanced? I'd be surprised if she wouldn't tell you what's OK and what isn't.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:18
This is a little bit of a last minute job... I don't think she'd be happy but I know my friends would say that it wouldn't be acceptable. The problem is that in the context, it sounds odd to say "do not".
– Emma Hong
Dec 13 at 2:24
1
Is your teacher a native speaker of English? Non-native English teachers seem to have strange idiosyncrasies in the "rules" they attempt to promulgate. But all else being equal, I'm guessing the question depends on the rest of your writing: if your mechanics and style are otherwise fine, and contractions are the only potential transgression, you should do all right. Worst case: you get a warning.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:37
2
If your teacher says not to, don't do it. If your teacher has no opinion on contractions, it's fine.
– SomethingDark
Dec 13 at 3:17
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show 1 more comment
up vote
-1
down vote
favorite
up vote
-1
down vote
favorite
My teacher (I'm in junior high) wants us to create formal essays, and because I am in an advanced English class, she expects us to have, quite literally, impeccable, well, everything. I am doing a bit of a last minute job, so if anyone could respond quickly, that'd be great.
meaning word-choice formality
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My teacher (I'm in junior high) wants us to create formal essays, and because I am in an advanced English class, she expects us to have, quite literally, impeccable, well, everything. I am doing a bit of a last minute job, so if anyone could respond quickly, that'd be great.
meaning word-choice formality
meaning word-choice formality
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
asked Dec 13 at 1:21
Emma Hong
1
1
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Emma Hong is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Let's stop villifying Iran, sumelic, Jeff Zeitlin, Skooba, Spencer Dec 13 at 17:05
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Let's stop villifying Iran, sumelic, Jeff Zeitlin, Skooba, Spencer Dec 13 at 17:05
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Are you using a style guide?
– Laurel
Dec 13 at 1:50
2
I've done literally hundreds of papers and essays from high school through grad school, and I never got marked off for contractions: but your teacher may have other ideas. So why not ask her if contractions will be countenanced? I'd be surprised if she wouldn't tell you what's OK and what isn't.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:18
This is a little bit of a last minute job... I don't think she'd be happy but I know my friends would say that it wouldn't be acceptable. The problem is that in the context, it sounds odd to say "do not".
– Emma Hong
Dec 13 at 2:24
1
Is your teacher a native speaker of English? Non-native English teachers seem to have strange idiosyncrasies in the "rules" they attempt to promulgate. But all else being equal, I'm guessing the question depends on the rest of your writing: if your mechanics and style are otherwise fine, and contractions are the only potential transgression, you should do all right. Worst case: you get a warning.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:37
2
If your teacher says not to, don't do it. If your teacher has no opinion on contractions, it's fine.
– SomethingDark
Dec 13 at 3:17
|
show 1 more comment
1
Are you using a style guide?
– Laurel
Dec 13 at 1:50
2
I've done literally hundreds of papers and essays from high school through grad school, and I never got marked off for contractions: but your teacher may have other ideas. So why not ask her if contractions will be countenanced? I'd be surprised if she wouldn't tell you what's OK and what isn't.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:18
This is a little bit of a last minute job... I don't think she'd be happy but I know my friends would say that it wouldn't be acceptable. The problem is that in the context, it sounds odd to say "do not".
– Emma Hong
Dec 13 at 2:24
1
Is your teacher a native speaker of English? Non-native English teachers seem to have strange idiosyncrasies in the "rules" they attempt to promulgate. But all else being equal, I'm guessing the question depends on the rest of your writing: if your mechanics and style are otherwise fine, and contractions are the only potential transgression, you should do all right. Worst case: you get a warning.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:37
2
If your teacher says not to, don't do it. If your teacher has no opinion on contractions, it's fine.
– SomethingDark
Dec 13 at 3:17
1
1
Are you using a style guide?
– Laurel
Dec 13 at 1:50
Are you using a style guide?
– Laurel
Dec 13 at 1:50
2
2
I've done literally hundreds of papers and essays from high school through grad school, and I never got marked off for contractions: but your teacher may have other ideas. So why not ask her if contractions will be countenanced? I'd be surprised if she wouldn't tell you what's OK and what isn't.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:18
I've done literally hundreds of papers and essays from high school through grad school, and I never got marked off for contractions: but your teacher may have other ideas. So why not ask her if contractions will be countenanced? I'd be surprised if she wouldn't tell you what's OK and what isn't.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:18
This is a little bit of a last minute job... I don't think she'd be happy but I know my friends would say that it wouldn't be acceptable. The problem is that in the context, it sounds odd to say "do not".
– Emma Hong
Dec 13 at 2:24
This is a little bit of a last minute job... I don't think she'd be happy but I know my friends would say that it wouldn't be acceptable. The problem is that in the context, it sounds odd to say "do not".
– Emma Hong
Dec 13 at 2:24
1
1
Is your teacher a native speaker of English? Non-native English teachers seem to have strange idiosyncrasies in the "rules" they attempt to promulgate. But all else being equal, I'm guessing the question depends on the rest of your writing: if your mechanics and style are otherwise fine, and contractions are the only potential transgression, you should do all right. Worst case: you get a warning.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:37
Is your teacher a native speaker of English? Non-native English teachers seem to have strange idiosyncrasies in the "rules" they attempt to promulgate. But all else being equal, I'm guessing the question depends on the rest of your writing: if your mechanics and style are otherwise fine, and contractions are the only potential transgression, you should do all right. Worst case: you get a warning.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:37
2
2
If your teacher says not to, don't do it. If your teacher has no opinion on contractions, it's fine.
– SomethingDark
Dec 13 at 3:17
If your teacher says not to, don't do it. If your teacher has no opinion on contractions, it's fine.
– SomethingDark
Dec 13 at 3:17
|
show 1 more comment
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1
Are you using a style guide?
– Laurel
Dec 13 at 1:50
2
I've done literally hundreds of papers and essays from high school through grad school, and I never got marked off for contractions: but your teacher may have other ideas. So why not ask her if contractions will be countenanced? I'd be surprised if she wouldn't tell you what's OK and what isn't.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:18
This is a little bit of a last minute job... I don't think she'd be happy but I know my friends would say that it wouldn't be acceptable. The problem is that in the context, it sounds odd to say "do not".
– Emma Hong
Dec 13 at 2:24
1
Is your teacher a native speaker of English? Non-native English teachers seem to have strange idiosyncrasies in the "rules" they attempt to promulgate. But all else being equal, I'm guessing the question depends on the rest of your writing: if your mechanics and style are otherwise fine, and contractions are the only potential transgression, you should do all right. Worst case: you get a warning.
– Robusto
Dec 13 at 2:37
2
If your teacher says not to, don't do it. If your teacher has no opinion on contractions, it's fine.
– SomethingDark
Dec 13 at 3:17