Avoid These 10 Words in Formal Writing

Purists may tell you that many of the words in the list below arent really words at all, but thats misleading at best. A few of the words are simply misspellings, and the rest are informal expressions or slang phrases that frequently appear in everyday speech (or vernacular). Nevertheless, according to the conventions of Standard English, all 10 of the following words should be avoided in reports, essays, research papers, and all other types of formal writing. alotAlot (one word) is a common misspelling of a lot (two words). [W]e all may write alot one day, says The American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage (2005), but for now keep in mind that alot is still considered an error in print.  and etc.Because the abbreviation etc. (from the Latin et cetera) means and so on, and etc. is redundant. In any case, avoid using etc. in your essays: often it gives the impression that you simply cant think of anything else to add to a list.  anywheresHuck Finn can get away with saying, There warnt a sound anywheres, but on formal occasions drop the terminal s. If anywheres appears anywhere in your dictionary, its probably labeled nonstandard or dialectal.could ofDont confuse this nonstandard form with the contraction couldve. Could of (along with should of and would of) can and should be replaced by could have (and should have and would have). As for coulda, shoulda, woulda, avoid dwelling on them—both in writing and in life.hisselfThis a lternative form of the reflexive pronoun himself is commonly heard in certain dialects, but in formal writing steer clear of hisself (and theirself as well—though both were regarded as good usage in Middle and Early-Modern English).furtherestThe comparative form of far is farther or further. The superlative form is farthest or furthest. Nothings gained by combining the two forms.  irregardlessThis double negative (ir- at the beginning and -less at the end) may not deserve Bryan Garners label of semiliterate . . . barbarism, but hes probably right that in print it should have been stamped out long ago (Garners Modern American Usage, 2009). Use regardless instead.itsIts is a possessive pronoun (like his or her). Its is a contraction of it is or it has. That leaves nothing for its to do—so toss it.  lets usLets us means let us us. To avoid the repetition, write lets (She lets us play in her yard) or lets (Lets play in her yard) or let us (Let us pray).  nohowIf you have the know-how to write, you dont need to be told to avoid nohow. Instead, use in no way or not at all.