To write formally or to write casually? That is the question.

To write formally or to write casually? That is the question.

In addition to providing a glimpse into your life, your college essay serves as your writing sample. The essay is intended to be a demonstration of your skill in writing and formulating a narrative essay. In theory, this essay should be the crème de la crème of your formal writing.

Yet more and more students are shirking this trend and choosing to write conversationally. These casual essays are a gamble, but if done correctly, can be a nice, personal touch.

If you are going to choose to write conversationally there are some things to consider. Firstly, conversational writing will not excuse poor grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. You can have voice without breaking the rules.

(This blog should not be an example of proper conversational writing. I write informally on this blog. The style is far too casual for college essays).

Secondly, use the first person. Telling the story from your perspective will excuse the conversational tone. It demonstrates to the reader that it is purpousely conversational, and not a lack of formal writing ability.

Thirdly, make sure a conversational tone is appropriate to your topic. If you are writing about research you did with eels your junior year, you should probably not use an informal style. If you are writing about your collection of vintage hats, a casual style will help sell the essay.

Lastly, and take this with a grain of salt, don’t squander a chance to show your writing chops. If your SAT/ACT scores or English grades aren’t as nice as they could be, perhaps you should write a formal essay to demonstrate your academic writing potential. If you have flawless English grades and board scores, you can afford the gamble.