College Essays and Grammar

College Essays and Grammar March 22, 2012 Grammar is important. Its important when youre writing essays in sixth grade. Its important when youre writing essays in high school. Its important as you write your college essays. And its important when youre drafting emails or writing proposals during your career. The ability to write and write well is an important life skill. But in your college essays, realize that its okay to write in a colloquial tone. Its ok to include a fragment in your college essays or begin a sentence with but. If you read the sentences above, youll notice that we started a sentence with and and another with but. Your sixth grade English teacher may tell us that this isnt alright. Ignore your sixth grade English teacher as you write your college essays. Sometimes, breaking the rules of good grammar can be quite powerfulif done effectively. That doesnt mean that you should write completely ungrammatical sentences. Far from it! That would be silly. It would depict you as an applicant who doesnt have a firm command of the English language. And thats a really bad thing in college admissions! We simply want to emphasize to you that you shouldnt write like a textbook. Your distinct voice should be heard in your college essays. Your distinct writing style should be on display for college admissions counselors. So take a chance and be bold sometimes with your grammar in college essays. Not too bold. Dont write idiotic sentences that make no sense. But feel free to start a sentence with but. Feel free to write a fragment after a full sentence if it conveys a powerful message. Feel free to include a one sentence paragraph to close an essay. Feel free to be yourself and shine!