Field Notes
Style
Formal or Informal? Choosing the Right Register
"Write it formally" says one teacher; "sound like yourself" says another — how to pick the right register
StyleContractions in Formal Writing: Is "Don't" Ever OK?
"Don't" comes back ringed in red on a history essay — when contractions actually work in formal writing
StyleSlang, Emoji, Ellipses & Dashes: When They Earn Their Place
One emoji, one dash, one ellipsis... knowing when they land and when they just look sloppy
StyleAcademic & Professional Style: Credible Without Stiff
Blank page, renewable energy essay due — how to sound credible without sounding like a robot
StyleImpersonal Tone, Hedging & Cautious Claims
It could be argued or I think when hedging sounds sharp not shifty
StyleNominalisation: When Verbs-Turned-Nouns Help (and Bury)
Two sentences, same idea, one buries it — spotting when a noun swallows a verb
StyleProfessional Writing: Emails, Reports & Workplace Tone
It's 4:52 on a Friday and that email won't write itself — getting the tone right
StyleClarity & Concision: More With Fewer Words
You've read your own draft back and it just sags — trimming until it holds
StyleCutting Wordiness & Redundancy: Edit Like You Mean It
"It is very important to note that" — the six words your sentence doesn't need
StyleAvoiding Ambiguity: Making Sure They Get What You Mean
"I only told Mum yesterday" lands wrong — fixing sentences that mean two things at once
StyleSingular "They": Clear, Correct and Respectful
A student left their bag behind — whose "their" is it, and is it even wrong
StyleGender-Neutral Job Titles & Roles
"The firemen rushed in" — why that word snags, and what actually replaces it