The right writing style for an essay

The language used in an essay is serious and professional, but less formal than in a thesis.. You are allowed to be original in your wording, and even light-hearted. However, it is important that you stillclearly communicate your argument and that the reader can follow the common thread of your story. Use these tips to ensure that you use the right writing style in your essay.

For papers and theses, you use an academic writing style. For an essay, it is the same. Only there is a slight difference: essays do not have to be as formal as something like a thesis. For instance, in an essay, you are allowed to narrate from an 'I' perspective, whereas in theses this is unusual. After all, an essay is about your personal vision or statement.

How informal you may be in your writing style depends on your professor. Some professors will appreciate this style more than others. Thus, always stick to your professor's guidelines when deciding the writing style for your essay.

No matter how formal or informal your essay writing style is, your essay must be understandable. The reader should understand what your research statement is and how the arguments and rebuttals relate to that statement. Furthermore, do not use unnecessarily complicated language. The reader of your essay may have the necessary general knowledge, but assume that they are not as familiar with your chosen topic as you are. Therefore, avoid technical jargon.

These writing tips will also help you write clearly:

• Use signal words (such as 'because', 'moreover' or 'although') to structure your text. Always switch up the signal words you choose otherwise your text will be boring.
• Write actively as much as possible. Say 'The government is closely following developments' instead of 'The developments are closely followed by the government'.
• Don't make sentences too long. See if you can split long sentences into two separate ones. This makes your essay more pleasant to read..
• Divide your text into paragraphs. Do not make paragraphs too long or too short. Try to stick to a minimum of three sentences per paragraph.

Above your essay, put an appealing title. This has two functions: 1) inform the reader about the subject, 2) make the reader curious to read on. Choose your title carefully. It could, for instance, be an interrogative sentence, a quote, an observation, or a controversial statement. 

In addition, for longer essays (of six pages or more), sometimes the use of paragraph headings may be required. Match those to the content of the paragraph, so the reader can scan your essay based on those headings. Note that intermediate headings are not always necessary. Check your professor’s guidelines for this too.

As for other academic writing, it is also important to be specific in essays. Avoid vague words or sentences that are open to multiple interpretations.

For example, note the following:

• Give specific percentages or numbers where possible. Avoid vague indications such as 'the majority,' 'many people,' or 'a little'.
• Use examples to clarify an argument if necessary.
• Do you cite specific research? Where appropriate, highlight important information about how the research was conducted (e.g. sample size or research methodology).

Writing a good essay starts with a good writing plan, as well as knowing the right tips to get off to a flying start. So, be sure to read our tips for writing an essay. Discover what the structure of an essay looks like, find out how a sound argument is put together, and learn how to get your essay off to a good start with a catchy introduction.

This guidance will help you to write a strong text. Good luck!