The best writing is courteous to the reader. Direct address is a familiarity which should be reserved for more personal correspondence. For the same reason, avoid direct commands - such as we are using in this booklet. In some circumstances, on the other hand, the nature of the research or commentary calls for a personal tone. Slang and Colloquialisms Slang and colloquial language are colourful, but sometimes offensive, usually imprecise, and not universally understood.
Every English word has a meaning slightly different from every other English word.
The current language is full of official-sounding fillers and meaningless vogue words. It is generally thought that if a writer has to emphasize a point with such devices, it is because he or she lacks sufficient control of logic and style. Aim for clarity and courtesy. Do not use them to indicate imprecise words, slang terms, or quotations which you yourself have invented. Parentheses and Dashes Information thrown into the text in parentheses or tacked on with dashes should either be included logically and grammatically, or omitted.