Three big rules for college-level assignments and written composition.

1.    Do not use “you,” “your” or “yours” in any writing assignment, except in quotes or when directly addressing or instructing a specific audience. 

2.   No contractions (don’t, isn’t, won’t, it’s, can’t, etc.) are allowed in academic writing, whether computer printed or handwritten, except in quotes or in situations where informal writing is customary, such as in e-mail communication.

3.    When referring to a person, use “who,” and not “that.”  For example, you might write about “a soldier who was killed in Iraq,” but never write about “a soldier that was killed in Iraq.”  If you use “that” for a person, you are calling him or her a thing, and thus disrespecting that person.

Guaranteed:  Try these three simple, easy secrets and watch your college-level writing improve to an amazing degree virtually overnight, even if you do not see yourself as a talented or gifted writer and even if you hate to write!

Note: In some creative writing, expressive composition, journalism and poetry classes these rules may not apply. Void where prohibited by the professor.

Instructions: Go back over all your written work before turning it in and re-check it to see that you have carefully applied each one of these three secrets to your writing.

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