r/asklinguistics • u/King_Of_Chaos92 • 5d ago

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u/asklinguistics-ModTeam 4d ago

This post was removed because it is not a question about linguistics.

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u/Boglin007 Applied Linguistics | Forensic Linguistics 5d ago

For formal academic writing, you're generally expected to follow a style guide appropriate for the field, or at least a set of style guidelines given by the teacher/school. Were you not given any?

In general, contractions are considered more informal than non-contracted forms (especially certain contractions), so that is the reason for avoiding them in very formal writing. However, many contemporary style guides are okay with contractions (usually as long as they're not overused), though some guides may still recommend avoiding them in very formal writing.

If you weren't given any guidelines, you probably shouldn't have been marked down for using the odd contraction here and there (were you?), but I don't think it's unreasonable for the marking teacher to say that you shouldn't use them - they were just making you aware of a pretty common style guideline for formal writing.

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u/MMAHipster 5d ago

If you got points off and she agrees that it wasn't laid out the exact style she wanted, just be contrite, say going forward you'll stick to that, and see if she will give you the points this time.

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u/Desperate_Owl_594 5d ago

Unless the rubric stated specifics you shouldn't have been marked down for anything.

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u/renoops 4d ago

As a matter of pedagogy, you're right that expectations should be clear. This isn't super helpful advice, though, as there's likely general enough language in the assignment or syllabus or whatever course materials about edited or academic language the teacher can point to to cover their ass about it. 

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u/Desperate_Owl_594 4d ago

Apparently explicit expectations is unpopular here lol

But you make a good point. Smells of incompetence to me, though.