Expository Writing
GUIDELINES FOR ESSAYS
1. Essays may be handwritten in ink or typed on a computer. If handwritten, the
essay must be on white lined paper with no ragged edges. Write on every other
line and leave margins for comments. If typed, essays must be double-spaced.
Proofread the essay carefully for missing words, misspelling, and careless errors.
2. Give the essay a title, one that is precise, specific, and focused—not vague and
general. For example, “Mirth in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood” is more
accurate and exact as a title than Robin Hood.
3. Capitalize the first word and all the other important words in a title except articles
and conjunctions. For example:
The Fools and Villains in Hans Anderson’s Fairy Tales
4. Use quotes for short stories, poems, essays, and articles. Use italics or underlines
for titles of books, novels, and plays. For
example:
Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall,” Hans Andersen’s “The Emperor’s
New Clothes,” and Howard Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
are all classics.
5. Always write in complete sentences, not in fragments. For example:
The child is unafraid to say “The King is naked” whereas the adults believe
in the lies of the weavers.
(This is a complete sentence)
The child is unafraid to say “The king is naked”. Whereas the adults believe
in the lies of the weavers.
(This is a fragment: the second statement is not a complete sentence)
6. Prefer the active voice to the passive voice in the use of verbs. For example:
Hawthorne illustrates the wonder of ordinary things like food, flowers, and
water.
(This is the active voice; the subject of the sentence is the doer of the
action)
The wonder of everyday things like food, flowers, and wonder is
illustrated by Hawthorne.
(This is the passive voice; the subject of the sentence is being acted upon)
7. Avoid the use of the first person (“I” and “we”), and do not use the second person
(“you”) as an indefinite pronoun to refer to people in general. For example:
In these stories we see many heroes. (The use of “we” is redundant and adds
nothing to the sentence)
These stories present many heroes.
In children’s literature you learn that goodness is beautiful and evil is ugly.
(This is incorrect; do not use “you” as an indefinite pronoun to refer to people
in general)
In children’s literature one learns that goodness is beautiful and evil is ugly.
(This is correct)
8. Avoid contractions and informal, colloquial language in formal writing. For
example, say “does not” instead of “doesn’t”. Say “children” instead of “kids.”
Say “many” instead of “a lot of.” Say “man” instead of “guy.”
9. Separate two complete sentences (main clauses) joined by a coordinate
conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so ) by placing a comma before the
conjunction. For example:
Father Brown possesses great common sense, and he has a thorough
knowledge of human nature.
Huckleberry Finn is an American classic, for it portrays the great conflict of
good and evil in the nineteenth century.
10. If a coordinate conjunction joins two phrases (not two sentences) or connects
compound verbs, no comma is placed before the conjunction. For example:
In the snow and in the darkness the horse stopped and waited.
The gallant tailor fooled the giants and conquered them with his wits and
imagination.
11. Use a comma after an introductory adverbial (subordinate) clause introduced by
one of the subordinate conjunctions. Also set off a long introductory prepositional
phrase.
(if, since, because, when, although, while, after, whereas etc.). Also use a
comma after a long introductory prepositional phrase. For example:
Before Parson Adams arrived at Mr. Wilson’s cottage, he lost his way at
night.
After a long walk across the field near the garden, Adams found a home
with a light.
12. Use a semicolon to separate main clauses (complete sentences) not joined by a
coordinate conjunction, and use a semicolon to separate main clauses joined by
conjunctive adverbs or transitional expressions: hence, however, for example,
furthermore, in fact, otherwise, therefore, otherwise, thus. Use a semicolon to
set off two sentences (main clauses) not joined by one of the coordinate
conjunctions.
The work is not simple; however, it is rewarding.
Latin is an important language; in fact, it is the mother tongue for the romance
languages.
Children’s literature is imaginative and wondrous; it makes ordinary life seem
wonderful and adventurous.
13. Be sure that pronouns agree with their antecedents. The following indefinite
pronouns are singular: anyone, anybody, someone, somebody, everyone,
everybody, each, one. For example:
Everyone must do his best. (This is correct.)
Everyone must do their best (This is incorrect.)
When someone travels, he must be prepared for surprises. (This is correct.)
When someone travels, they must be prepared for surprises. (This is incorrect.)
14. Use the present tense for action in literature. Do not abruptly or illogically shift
from one tense to another:
Odysseus arrives in Ithaca, strings the bow, and slaughters the suitors.(This is
correct)
Odysseus arrived in Ithaca, strings the bow, and slaughtered the suitors. (This
is incorrect).