BASIC RULES FOR WRITING FORMAL ESSAYS

(adapted from a document written by Sharron Lawn)

1. If handwriting your essay, write on white, lined, regular-sized paper. 2. If handwriting your essay, write in blue or black ink only. 3. If handwriting your essay, write only on the front of each pagenever on the back. 4. Center a title on the top line of the first page. 5. Capitalize the first, last, and important words in titles, including the second part of the hyphenated words. 6. MEMORIZE THIS RULE: The only words which are not capitalized in titles are: (1) article adjectives (a, an, and the), (2) short prepositions, and (3) coordinating conjunctions, unless they begin or end a title. 7. Do not put a period after a title which makes a complete statement. You should, however, use a question mark or exclamation point after appropriate titles. 8. Do not put quotation marks around or underline your own title. 9. Double-space your essay; if handwriting, skip every other line. 10. Indent the first line of each paragraph at least one inch (or one pre-set tab). 11. If handwriting your essay, keep your left margin even with the red line down the left side of your paper. 12. In the upper right corner of your paper, number all pages, beginning with page two. Use simple Arabic numerals (i.e., 2, 3, etc.) to number your pages. Do not use Roman numerals or put a number sign before numerals. Do not circle the numerals. Your title will indicate your first page. 13. Do not use unnecessary abbreviations. 14. Spell out contractions. 15. In your title and sentences spell out numbers less than one hundred. 16. Hyphenate spelled-out compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.

17. Do not use "you" (second person) in any form unless you are either quoting or writing a process paper. 18. Try not to end a sentence with a preposition. 19. Try not to split an infinitive. 20. If you must divide a word at the end of a line, divide it between syllables only. Use your dictionary to verify syllable divisions. A monosyllabic (one-syllable) word cannot be divided. You should never put a one-letter syllable on a separate line. 21. Remember that personal pronouns never use apostrophes to show possession. 22. Look up in your dictionary any word which you are not sure how to spell or whether to capitalize or hyphenate. 23. Capitalize words of family relationship used as names and not preceded by possessive pronouns. 24. Remember: Cannot is spelled as one word, not two. 25. Remember: The phrase a lot is made up of two words, not one, and, due to its frequent overuse, should be avoided whenever possible. 26. Never use this, that, these, or those without a clear antecedent. Rather than use any of these words as vague pronoun references, either follow them with a specific noun or replace them with a specific noun. 27. Avoid beginning sentences with there is and there are whenever possible. These words often add to wordiness and delay your subject. 28. Use active voice verbs to add interest to your writing. Using too many linking verbs (such as is, are, was, and were) or passive voice verbs makes very dull reading. 29. Use appropriate transitional devices for clarity, coherence, and smoothness of movement. Otherwise, your writing will be choppy and your ideas hard to follow. 30. Last, but not least, if handwriting your essays, write legibly and neatly. Make sure each letter looks exactly like the letter it should be. Dot all i's and cross all t's. Make sure that only the letters you want capitalized are capitalized. Be certain there are no stray marks which could be interpreted as punctuation marks you do not intend to use. You will be asked to recopylegiblyany paper which your instructor cannot read.