Meet Bob Enchilada

          Formal academic language was – like – intended to be used by students to – uh – effectively learn and achieve fluency in the language they’re writing in (yolo swag). Unlike conversational language, academic language demands caution, substance and clarity. However, perfect academic language can be difficult to achieve. Take Bob Enchilada for example. Mr. Enchilada is an average high school sophomore who aspires to be the perfect writer. However, Bob’s current half-hearted approach leads his writing to having empty qualifiers, careless errors and a lack of clarity. Consequently, Bob hands in sh**y assignments. Do not be Bob. Instead, provide what academic language demands: caution, substance and clarity. 

          Careless mistakes are almost inevitable to us as humans. The Great Gatsby had numerous spelling mistakes and War and Peace was filled with unnecessary words in original writing. However, it is still in your power to reduce potential mistakes. To separate your writing from the damned compositions of Bob Enchilada, write with caution. As you write, constantly be aware of your spelling, grammar and any potential errors. “'shakes so my single state of man that function*'” (Enchilada, Winter Journal). That unintended asterisk is a little baffling, considering how far the asterisk is from the comma or apostrophe on the keyboard. Enchilada fails because he does not pay attention to avoid mistakes. When finished, proofread. Mr. Enchilada has a firm habit of putting his work aside after finishing his last sentence. “She is an unpleasant character, disrespectful towards the people very people who provided that education for her” (Enchilada, Winter Journal). Apparently, these people are not mere people but are in fact very people people. It is important to read over again, even when writing cautiously because mistakes can go unnoticed at a glance. Reading out-loud may be useful too, as mistakes will stand out. 

          The very thing that annoys readers very much is the one-and-only: empty qualifier. When writing, it feels natural to use words such as ‘very’ and ‘quite’ in our sentences. However, it is frowned upon in academic writing since it does not provide new information to the passage. Enchilada’s writing is dotted with empty qualifiers. “Litcharts, when available, is very brief and convenient” (Enchilada, Winter). The word ‘very’ adds no meaning to the sentence. All the sentence communicates is that Litcharts is brief and convenient when available to use. “...there is a lot of pressure to succeed” (Enchilada, Winter). In this phrase, the word ‘a lot’ is used to describe the magnitude of ‘pressure’. In cases like these, the qualifier can be replaced by a more meaningful word. The sentence can be rewritten as, “the pressure to succeed is overtaxing.” The qualifier is now adds meaning to 'pressure' and is no longer cliché. Avoiding empty qualifiers to shorten your writing adds meaning to your writing and takes readers straight to the point. 

          All said and done, clarity is most important since it is a question of whether or not your point can come across. Looking at the Litchart quotation example again, ‘when available’ is unclear to the reader. Does it mean when the website is available to use online or when the website is available for students to use for an assignment? When uncertain, look at different ways to interpret a sentence. Then rewrite it so that its meaning is clear to the reader. If allowed for an assignment, ask for someone else to read it. Their interpretation could be different. “However, despite the broken English and unique style of writing…” (Enchilada, Winter). In this quote, Enchilada is shying away from calling the article bad. Although it is tempting for writers to sugarcoat, we cannot sacrifice clarity. Instead of beating around the bush, we need to be constructive. 

          Academic writing is different from blogs or journals because there is a level of respect between the reader and the writer. Being cautious, meaningful and clear is essential in academic writing because it allows the writer to show respect. A composition free of careless mistakes shows the writer’s care and diligence for their (his, her or their) work. Avoiding empty qualifiers shows formality and helps readers come to the point. Finally, clarity will show that the writer values their message being conveyed. Academic language standardizes writing, allowing for writers to improve. By strictly adhering to its rules, we can improve even further. So by all means, please, please do not be Bob.

^An example of a substandard writer