The first example provides no detail, the second example is still only hypothetical, but the final example evokes a vivid image of something that actually happened, thus placing the reader in the experience of the applicant. Don t Get Too Conversational . Slang terms, clich s, contractions, and an excessively casual tone should be eliminated from all but the most informal essays. Well, I get steamed when I hear about my friends throwing away their right to vote. Voting is part of what makes this country great.
Some kids believe that their vote doesn t count.
Well, I think they re wrong. In an essay like this one, in which you must show that you take things seriously, your language should also take itself seriously. Only non-traditional essays, such as ones in the form of narrative or dialogue, should rely on conversational elements. Write informally only when you are consciously trying to achieve an effect that conveys your meaning. The trick is to change around the words without changing the meaning.