PTE Essentials: Things to Remember When Writing in Formal English

Knowing when and how to use formal English is imperative to achieving your PTE Academic grade goals. Honing your formal writing skills, however, is not an easy task.

Even though formal writing is stricter when it comes to rules and structure, it’s seldom used in everyday conversation. Which means that, unless your academic or professional life requires you to use it regularly (e.g., you’re a teacher, researcher, lawyer, etc.), you’ll have to make an effort to learn and master it. If formal writing is not a part of your routine, don’t worry. This article can help you out.

Below is a list of the essentials of formal writing. Consider them during your PTE online review to enhance your writing skills.

1. Formal writing is clear and concise.

So, don’t go overboard with the adverbs and adjectives. Keep your prose simple and to the point. For example, instead of writing: “The activity that was discussed could be the answer to the problem,” you can write instead: “The activity may be the answer to the problem.”

2. Formal writing uses precise language.  

This means that taking the “write as you would speak” approach is off the table. You can’t ramble, use colloquial words and expressions, or jump from one topic to another freely. Make an effort to make your composition as objective, logical, and unambiguous as possible. Not sure how to write essays with these features? Enroll in a PTE review online course.

3. Structure is the key.

Always divide your essays into three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Establish the topic in the intro. Then discuss it in the body. Make sure you don’t go off-topic. Cover all the relevant points and signal idea transitions properly. Finally, tie everything together in the conclusion.

4. Using contractions is a no–no.

Contractions, such as “I’m,” “can’t,” and “don’t,” are only ideal for casual speech and informal compositions. So, avoid using them during formal writing. Always write the whole words or phrase, such as “I am,” “cannot,” and “do not.” Keep an eye out for contractions when you proofread your work.

5. Never use “like” when citing examples.

Use “such as.” Just like contractions, using “like” is only ideal for casual speech and informal writing. You can also introduce your examples explicitly with the phrase “for example.” Enroll in a PTE online review to learn more ways to present supporting details and samples in formal writing.

Keep these things in mind when you prepare for and take the high-stakes exam. Enroll in one of our PTE review online courses to learn more ways to enhance your writing skills.

References:

"9 Tips for Formal Writing Style." Prompt Writing Center. July 12, 2016. Accessed September 06, 2018. http://writingcenter.prompt.com/formal-writing-style/.

Patel, Krina. "How to Improve PTE Academic Writing Score—Quick Tips." PTE Tutorials. December 05, 2017. Accessed September 06, 2018. https://ptetutorials.com/blog/pte-a-writing-beware-of-these-mistakes-and-ensure-you-follow-these-quick-tips.

The Proofreading Pulse. Accessed September 06, 2018. https://proofreadingpal.com/proofreading-pulse/essays/8-tips-to-make-your-writing-sound-more-formal/.

"Tips for Academic Writing and Other Formal Writing." Glossary—Grayscale Images. Accessed September 06, 2018. https://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jbednar/writingtips.html.