Shifting to a formal style in writing

Summary

The video script offers a comprehensive guide on transitioning to a formal writing style, essential for academic purposes. It emphasizes the importance of using formal vocabulary, avoiding contractions and informal words, and employing proper grammatical structures. The script also highlights the role of punctuation in enhancing formality, particularly the strategic use of semicolons and commas. By adopting these techniques, writers can convey seriousness and clarity, ensuring their work is taken seriously in academic circles.

Takeaways

• 📘 Academic writing requires a formal style to convey seriousness and remove ambiguity.
• 👔 Shifting to a formal style involves changes in word use, avoiding informal words and phrasal verbs.
• 🚫 The use of contractions should be avoided to maintain a formal tone.
• 🙅‍♂️ Second person pronouns like 'you' or 'your' should be avoided as they can sound authoritative or directive.
• 📝 The first person 'I' is used for making general assertions or arguments, rather than personal statements.
• 🔍 Formal negative structures, such as 'no' instead of 'not any', should be used to enhance formality.
• 🔄 Changing negatives to affirmatives can provide a more assertive and formal tone.
• 📑 Adverbs should be placed before verbs to produce a more formal tone, even if it requires splitting infinitives.
• ❓ Direct questions can be informal; replacing them with declaratives can improve formality.
• 📐 The use of formal punctuation, such as semicolons and commas, is crucial for a formal writing style.
• 📚 The speaker provides examples of informal words and their formal alternatives to guide the transition to a formal style.

Q & A

Why is it important to use a formal style in academic writing?

Formal style in academic writing is crucial because it tells the reader to take the writer seriously, helps remove ambiguity, and is a standard practice in scholarly communication.

What changes are required in word use when shifting to a formal style?

Shifting to a formal style involves avoiding informal words, phrasal verbs, contractions, and the second person. Instead, one should use formal synonyms, the formal negative, and first person for personal assertions.

How does the use of informal words like 'a lot' affect the formality of writing?

Using informal words like 'a lot' can make writing sound casual and less authoritative. Replacing them with more precise terms such as 'many' or 'numerous' enhances the formality of the text.

What is the impact of using phrasal verbs in formal writing?

Phrasal verbs are generally considered informal and can detract from the seriousness of academic writing. Using single-word verbs or other formal constructions is preferred.

Why should contractions be avoided in academic writing?

Contractions are informal and can make writing seem less formal and authoritative. Removing contractions and using the full forms of words helps maintain the seriousness and formality of academic texts.

What is the role of the first person in formal writing?

The first person is used in formal writing to make general assertions or arguments, showing that the writer is personally making a claim or presenting an idea.

How can the use of the second person be problematic in formal writing?

Using the second person ('you', 'your') can sound authoritative and directive, as if ordering someone to do something, which is not suitable for the objective tone of academic writing.

What is the significance of using formal punctuation in creating a formal tone?

Formal punctuation, such as the semicolon, helps to join closely related complete sentences, indicating a formal and cohesive structure. It also aids in separating long pieces of text and enhancing readability.

Can you provide an example of how to change a negative statement into a more formal affirmative one?

Instead of saying 'This problem does not have many viable solutions', a formal affirmative statement would be 'This problem has few viable solutions', which is more direct and less ambiguous.

What is the purpose of placing adverbs before verbs in formal writing?

Placing adverbs before verbs in formal writing can produce a more formal tone and may require splitting infinitives, which is acceptable and can make the writing sound more sophisticated.

How should direct questions be handled in formal writing to maintain formality?

Direct questions can be informal; thus, they should be replaced with declarative statements. For example, instead of asking 'What can be done to lower costs?', a formal approach would be 'Considering how costs may be lowered is necessary.'

Outlines

00:00

📚 Shifting to Academic Formality

This paragraph discusses the importance of adopting a formal writing style in academic contexts, akin to dressing appropriately for school. It emphasizes that formal writing commands seriousness from the reader and reduces ambiguity. The speaker outlines specific changes in word use and grammatical structures necessary for formal writing, such as avoiding informal words and phrasal verbs, using the first person for personal assertions, and employing proper punctuation like semicolons. Examples are given to illustrate the transition from informal to formal language, highlighting the shift in tone and clarity.

05:03

🚫 Avoiding Informality in Writing

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of avoiding informal elements in writing. It advises against using phrasal verbs and informal words, suggesting more formal alternatives. The paragraph also explains the use of formal negatives instead of contractions and the avoidance of the second person to prevent a commanding tone. The speaker illustrates these points with examples, such as replacing 'did not yield' with 'yielded no' and 'the school cannot afford' with 'the school cannot afford,' to demonstrate the shift to a more formal and serious tone in academic writing.

10:04

📝 The Role of First Person and Grammatical Constructions

This paragraph focuses on the use of the first person in making general assertions and the importance of grammatical constructions in formal writing. It explains that the first person should be used only for personal assertions, and the shift from using 'the writer' to 'I' reflects a modern change in academic writing. The paragraph also discusses the placement of adverbs before verbs to create a more formal tone and the acceptance of splitting infinitives for this purpose. The speaker provides examples to demonstrate how these techniques can elevate the formality of the writing.

15:05

❗️ Formal Punctuation and Sentence Structure

The fourth paragraph discusses the role of punctuation in achieving a formal writing style. It highlights the use of semicolons to join closely connected sentences and to separate long pieces of text, suggesting that semicolons signal a close relationship between ideas. The paragraph also addresses the correct use of commas, especially after dependent clauses and when combining two complete thoughts. The speaker provides examples to illustrate the formal punctuation and sentence structure, emphasizing their importance in clear and formal communication.

20:05

🔚 Concluding the Importance of Formality in Writing

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker summarizes the significance of adopting a formal writing style, reiterating the need for different structures, words, and approaches. The paragraph reinforces the idea that formal writing is a distinct style that requires attention to detail in language use, punctuation, and grammatical construction to convey a serious and professional tone.

Keywords

💡Formal Style

Formal style refers to a mode of writing characterized by its seriousness, professionalism, and adherence to specific grammatical and lexical conventions. In the context of the video, formal style is essential for academic writing, where it signals to the reader that the author's claims should be taken seriously. The script provides examples of shifting from informal to formal language, such as replacing 'a lot of' with 'many' and 'like' with 'prefer', to demonstrate how formal style can remove ambiguity and convey a more authoritative tone.

💡Ambiguity

Ambiguity in writing refers to the presence of unclear or multiple meanings that can lead to misunderstanding. The video emphasizes the importance of removing ambiguity through the use of formal style. By choosing precise words and structures, writers can ensure that their message is conveyed with exactness. For instance, the script contrasts 'a lot of artifacts' with 'many artifacts' to illustrate how specificity reduces ambiguity.

💡Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs to form a single meaning, often considered informal. The script advises against using phrasal verbs in formal writing, suggesting alternatives like 'resembles' instead of 'looks like' to maintain a formal tone. This shift helps to avoid the casualness associated with phrasal verbs and contributes to the formality of academic writing.

💡Formal Negative

The formal negative in writing involves using constructions that are more direct and less colloquial than their informal counterparts. The video script illustrates this by recommending the use of 'no' instead of 'not any' and 'few' instead of 'not many'. This approach helps to convey a more assertive and unambiguous stance, which is crucial in academic writing.

💡Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms of words that combine a verb and a pronoun or auxiliary verb, often used in informal speech and writing. The script points out that contractions should be avoided in formal writing to maintain a professional tone. For example, 'the school can't afford' is replaced with 'the school cannot afford' to align with the expectations of academic writing.

💡Second Person

The second person in writing refers to the use of 'you' or 'your', which can come across as directive or authoritative. The video suggests avoiding the second person in formal writing to prevent sounding like one is ordering the reader. Instead, the script recommends using the third person or passive voice to maintain objectivity and formality.

💡First Person

The first person is used in writing to express personal thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. In the context of the video, the first person is appropriate in academic writing when making general assertions or arguments. The script contrasts the outdated use of 'the writer' with the modern 'I' to illustrate the shift towards a more personal and assertive writing style in academic contexts.

💡Grammatical Constructions

Grammatical constructions refer to the arrangement of words and phrases within a sentence. The video discusses how placing adverbs before verbs, splitting infinitives, and using declarative sentences instead of direct questions can contribute to a formal tone. These constructions help to convey a more precise and structured message, which is expected in academic writing.

💡Punctuation

Punctuation in writing serves to organize and clarify the structure of sentences. The script highlights the use of semicolons to join closely related sentences and to separate long pieces of text, as well as the strategic use of commas to indicate breaks in sentences. Proper punctuation is crucial for achieving formality and clarity in academic writing.

💡Assertion

An assertion in writing is a clear and confident statement of fact or belief. The video emphasizes the use of the first person to make assertions in academic writing, as it allows the writer to take ownership of their arguments. For example, 'I assert that using the mother tongue for basic education yields better results' is a strong assertion that aligns with the expectations of formal academic discourse.

💡Adverbs

Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often providing information about manner, place, time, or degree. The video script suggests placing adverbs before verbs to create a more formal tone, such as 'adequately meet' instead of 'meet adequately'. This placement can also involve splitting infinitives, which is acceptable in formal writing to maintain adverb placement.

Highlights

The importance of adopting a formal style in academic writing, akin to dressing appropriately for school.

Formal style communicates seriousness and helps remove ambiguity in writing.

Shifting to a formal style involves changes in word use and grammatical structures.

Avoiding informal words and using more formal alternatives to sound more serious.

Replacing contractions with their formal negative counterparts for a more academic tone.

Using the first person only for making personal assertions in academic writing.

Appropriate punctuation, such as semicolons, to elevate the formality of writing.

Avoiding phrasal verbs and using their single-word counterparts for formality.

The use of affirmative language instead of negative constructions to sound more formal and assertive.

Removing contractions to maintain the formality of academic writing.

Avoiding the second person to prevent a tone that sounds authoritative or directive.

Using the first person for general assertions to show personal involvement in the argument.

Adverbs placed before verbs to create a more formal tone in sentences.

Splitting infinitives to place adverbs correctly and maintain formality.

Replacing direct questions with declarative statements for a more formal writing style.

Using semicolons to connect closely related complete sentences, indicating a formal structure.

Commas used to indicate breaks in sentences and combine complete thoughts formally.

The conclusion emphasizing the necessity of different structures, words, and approaches in formal writing.

Transcripts

okay can somebody please

read what's on the screen

shifting to a formal style

okay so we're going to discuss now

shifting to a formal style

and when we write for the academe we

need to follow a formal style

okay in the same way that we do not go

to school

wearing beach attire

okay we we try to be more formal in our

writing because

it's academic writing okay

so when you use formal style

you tell the reader to take you

seriously formal style tells the reader

to take the writer

seriously formal style also helps remove

ambiguity okay

but formal style requires changes in

word use

and grammatical structures okay

so here today we will be discussing

shifting to a formal style

okay so shifting in into a formal style

involves changes in word use

and in doing so we need to avoid

informal words

we we try to avoid phrasal verbs

we use the formal negative to remove

contractions

we avoid the use of second person and we

use the first person only to show

that you are personally making an

assertion

and we use appropriate punctuation like

uh semicolons and comments

okay so you need to

avoid informal words a lot of is an

example of informal words

cultural museum has a lot of artifacts

that's informal

so you can change that to the cultural

museum has many artifacts

another one is likes the isolated people

group

likes to use rats instead of boats

you say instead of using like to say you

just prefer

the isolated people group prefer to use

rafts instead of boats which i don't

like to use prefer

and instead of maybe maybe adding more

details could strengthen the claim

if you replace the word maybe with

perhaps

perhaps adding more details could

strengthen the claim

so it's a lot formal to sound you're not

being informal

okay the area of the plastic island is

getting bigger

you say the area of the plastic island

is increasing

they avoid informal words you replace

them with more formal words

do you sound more formal you sound more

serious

here are other informal words

say no okay you reject you use reject

instead of saying no

instead of saying right you say correct

proper or appropriate

instead of saying throw away you use the

word discard

instead of using bad you use the word

negative

instead of using the word think about

you use the word consider on

instead of using come back use the word

return or go

inside of using go away you use leave or

even better

you can use the word depart okay

instead of saying speak to

use the word address and you don't use

the word

god it's very informal use the word

obtained instead as i said you can email

me if you want

a copy of this presentation you can

email me at

andy academic gmail.com

now and so forth and etc are actually

considered informal

okay so you don't use and so forth or

etc

instead okay use something else these

semiconductors can be used in robots

usb drives etc

instead of etc you can replace that with

these semiconductors can be used in

robots

usb drives and other electronic

devices so it's a lot more formal

okay pesticides

fertilizers and so forth are banned

that's informal you can replace that

with pesticides fertilizers and

other farm chemicals are bad

okay so remember and so forth and etc

are considered informal

you can replace that with something

that's related to your list

okay you also need to avoid

phrasal verbs

the mandala looks like a circle the

mandala

is a hindu symbol it's a hindu symbol

the mandala looks like a circle but

instead of using looks like

you say the mandala resembles a circle

because you're avoiding phrasal verbs

phrasal verbs tend to be

informal changing the code could get rid

of the problem

get rid of is a very informal

phrasal verb you read your face by

saying changing the code could remove

the problem

a country has lots of underutilized

graduates

lots of it's also a phrasal verb that's

phrasal verbs are informal okay so you

say

a country has many underutilized

graduates

okay now in shifting to form a formal

style

you also use the formal negative

instead of saying not any you have to

use no

so for example the analysis did not

yield any new results

you replace that with the analysis yield

that no

new results you see you see the word did

not

is quite uh informal

okay so instead of saying the analysis

did not give

any new results you say the analysis

yielded no new results

not much is replaced by

little the government did not

allocate much funding you simply say

the government allocated little funding

that's the formal

negatives okay

not many can be replaced by few this

problem does not have many viable

solutions

simply say yeah you replace it by saying

this problem has few valuable solutions

as i told you did not and does not

tend to be informal so you need to

replace does not and did not

put something more formal in this case

instead of saying this problem does not

have many viable solutions

you say this problem has few viable

solutions see

so you can also change the negative to

something affirmative

something that sounds affirmative

instead of saying not careful you say

careless instead of saying not the same

you will say different instead of saying

not

allow you use prevent so you have to try

to avoid the construction not not blank

not blue okay not notice could be

replaced by overlook

not many can be replaced by few not

often can be replaced by

rarely not stop can be contained by

continue

and not include could be replaced by

omit okay so you change

connect from negative to affirmative

you also so of course many of you know

this already

you need to remove contractions the stu

the school cannot the school can't

afford

to purchase an electron microscope you

say the school

cannot afford to purchase an electron

microscope

removing scaffolds won't solve the

problem

instead you say removing scaffolds will

not solve the problem

by the way more won't can be used in

editorial if you are

into journalism editorials

allow allowing of contractions like

vote okay but in academic writing

you have to replace that with will not

then you also avoid using second person

because when you use second person when

you use the word you

or your it sounds authoritative it's

like you're ordering somebody to do

something

so you try to avoid using second persons

you say for example

we warn you that this document may

contain explicit

and sensitive content instead you say

readers are warned that this document

may contain explicit and sensitive

you're not being direct okay

you're being you're using third person i

think as filipinos

we understand the importance of avoiding

the second person

by being indirect okay

the first person is used only for making

general assertions

okay when you are making assertions

when you are making arguments that's the

kind of

first only the first person for example

in this paper i assert that using the

mother tongue for basic education

yields better results i will provide

arguments supporting the value of

multilingual education

so you can use and you should use the

first person

for making general assertions as often

in the past instead of

using i people would say the writer

so in this paper the writer asserts that

using the mother tongue for basic

education

yields better results in the past that

was the norm but nowadays that has

changed

instead of writing it something this

writer or the writer

you use i already when you are the one

making the general assertion okay

so that has changed from from what what

our parents were using into what we are

using now

okay let's talk a little bit about

grammatical constructions in producing

a formal style okay grammatical

constructions also play a part in

producing

a formal tone

okay one way is to place adverbs

before verbs it produces a more formal

tone

okay for example actually very little is

known about

the general nature and prevalence of

scientific dishonesty

you put actually before the word known

that is more formal very little is

actually known about the general nature

and prevalence

of scientific dishonesty so instead

though

actually very little is known you say

very little

is actually known so you sound more

formal when you write that

the model was developed by crash and

originally

okay that sounds a little bit informal

you can make it more

for formal sounding by putting the

adverb before the verb

the model was originally developed by

crashing

okay so that sounds a little more formal

and yet placing adverbs before verbs may

require you to split

infinitives the school needs to

adequately meet the needs of those

enrolled in that program

okay now there are some grammar books

that forbid

forbid students or writers from

splitting infinitives

the two and the meat should not be

separated

the two and classify should not be

separated according to those grammar

books

but those actually have no basis for

saying so

it's actually more appropriate

if we split infinitives so that we could

put the adverb

before the birth so it's more formal to

say

the school needs to adequately meet the

needs of those

enrolled in the program neural networks

have the ability to correctly classify

new backgrounds

so it's a lot more it's it's for more

formal

it's okay to split infinitives

so that you can place adverbs before

verbs

okay now in many cases

using direct questions may be informal

here what can be done to lower costs

you replace that with ascend with the

declarative considering how cost may be

lowered is necessary

or you can say the institution now needs

to consider how cost

can be lowered okay

so using direct questions can be

informal it's like you're

talking okay when you're right you

should

should uh sound more formal so you

replace

direct questions with declaratives

okay we now go to the final part of

writing a formal shifting of formal

style

we we need to use formal punctuation

okay a semicolon

the dot on top and the comma below

has many important uses in formal

ranking

semicolons are like full stops they're

like periods that

join two closely connected complete

sentences

when those sentences are closely

connected

it would be more formal to use

semicolons it also

it also uh signals to your reader that

those two sentences are closely related

for example delays in production lowered

productivity

semicolon this decrease in productivity

affected profits

okay so the semicolon

shows us that those two sentences are

closely related

and you have produced something more

formal

semicolons can be used with sentence

connectors okay

note the comma after the connector in

the following

okay raw materials became more expensive

semicolon

however comma this was compensated for

by cheaper production processes

so when you when you use the semicolon

and the comma

it's as if it's what it's one

whole idea although it's composed of two

complete sentences that are supposed to

produce two complete ideas

because you use a semicolon it's it

makes it sound like it's

just one idea

okay so it's a lot uh it's more

formal now here's another use of

semicolons

semicolons can be used to separate long

pieces of text

if it's long instead of using comma

a comma you can use a semicolon for

example

some of the solutions so the air traffic

delay problem

include increasing the size of airports

that routinely experience

flight delays

overhauling the air tran traffic control

system so that more flights can be

safely handled

semicolon and increasing landing fees

which are currently based on the weight

of the aircraft during peak periods

so because it's longer the the

the piece of text is longer it's more

appropriate

to use semicolons instead of commas

okay so

also a comma helps readers identify

breaks in sentences

okay a comma must be present when a

sentence starts with a dependent clause

when you say dependent clause it means a

clause that does not contain a complete

thought

for example

you need to use a comma in this sentence

because governments believe that all

lands belong to the state

comma indigenous people's rights are

endangered now you need to put

a comma after the dependent clause that

starts with the word because

but if you start your sentence with

a complete with an independent clause

you should not want a comma

here's the example indigenous people's

rights are endangered because

governments believe that all lands

belong to the state

okay in the first example because you

started with the word because

you need to put a comma but in this

in the second example because you

started

with the complete sentence you should

not

with a complete clause or independent

clause you should not put a comma

okay so that's the difference in terms

of using a comma

okay commas help readers see a complete

thought when two sentences are combined

using coordinate conductions

for example presses pose a threat to

health that's one complete thought

fertilizers pose a threat to soil

chemistry

that's another complete stop now if you

combine them with the word

and when you put a comma before the word

and it helps

signal to the reader that you are

combining two complete

thoughts okay so you say pesticides pose

a threat to health comma

and fertilizers pose a threat to soil

chemistry

so that the comma there the small comma

helps the reader realize that you are

combining

two complete thoughts

okay so that's for

formal that's for the use of

punctuation for producing a formal style

we use a semicolon and we can use a

comma

to produce more of

more formal stuff in conclusion

formal writing is another style of

writing that requires the writer

to use different structures words and

approaches

thank you very much

you