Here Are Some Writing Myths You Should Watch Out For
Dear Student,
Writing is one of the most important skills impacting success throughout a student’s educational journey. This reality becomes even more obvious as you enter tertiary education, where long essays and research reports are extremely important.
As you try to grapple with writing at the tertiary level, you will get a lot of advice from different people. A lot of that advice is often wrong.
In this email, I’ll focus on five misleading myths you should look out for.
1 Good Students Always Know What to Write
It doesn’t matter how talented a student is. Writing is not always easy. This is because writing is not just a matter of putting down words but rather an exercise that involves explaining ideas and concepts. So, even good students sometimes struggle to write papers when they have not adequately mastered the subject or topic.
2 Simple Language is Dumb
Many students who speak English as a second language find themselves under pressure to use complicated vocabulary because they think it shows that they have mastered the language. Such students must realise that simple language is extremely effective at presenting ideas. It is not bombastic language that’s important but rather the sophistication of the ideas presented.
3 Academic Writing Is Always About Quoting Others
Even though quotes can support an essay, they should never be overused. Many students make the mistake of presenting a quote without explaining what it means in their own words.
When you write an essay, you need to read widely to understand the argument you want to advance. When you start making that argument, use quotes sparingly to show that credible scholars also agree or disagree with it.
4 Good Writers Don’t Need an Editor
Some students believe that editors are only needed by bad writers. The reality is that even university professors get their writing professionally edited. This is because, as a student, you are not a specialist in language use and conventions. Also, an editor can help you see things from a different perspective and ensure proper formatting.
5 First Person Voice Should Never Be Used in Academic Writing
Even though academic writing usually requires a third-person voice, the reality is that this is not always the case. Third-person writing is preferred when you want to show that you are objective. It shows that your writing is not merely what you think but facts supported by credible evidence.
On the other hand, you use first-person writing when you want to describe events from your own perspective. Indeed, there are instances in academic writing, such as when you write a reflective essay when first-person writing is required.
At Virtual English Teacher, we have assembled a group of editors who will proofread, paraphrase, or edit your paper and provide feedback. Want proof of our effectiveness and efficiency? Ask for a free, no-obligation sample of your text.
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