How to Avoid Colloquial Language

Hi, it's Lisa here from Capstone Editing.

In this video,

I'll explain how to improve
your academic

writing by avoiding

colloquial language.

Colloquial language is appropriate to

a characteristic of conversational speech

or informal writing.

Academic writing
requires a formal time characterized by

careful language choices to convey your
ideas to to readers as precisely

as possible.

Colloquial language, on the other hand,
doesn't satisfy this need

for exactness of expression.

In fact, on the other hand
is a great example.

It's perfectly acceptable for speech,
but if I saw it in a postgraduate thesis

I was editing, I would change it to a more
appropriate and formal term like

—'conversely.'"

Pam Peters, who wrote the Cambridge guide

to Australian English
usage, says that "'Colloquial language

undermines the serious effect you want
to have on the reader.'"

She advises
that your writing should not appear

casual, imprecise, or gloss over details.

So, to create the best impression when
writing academically, it's recommended to

find formal equivalents for any
colloquialisms you might be tempted to

use.

Okay, so what do you need to avoid?