Day 105: Remove colloquialisms from formal writing.

Colloquialisms are words and phases that writers use to imitate informal, friendly talk. They are not appropriate in formal writing for three reasons.

 
  1. Colloquialisms are not formal, so the tone and style will be inappropriate.
  2. They don’t convey the literal meaning of the words and, therefore, are subject to misinterpretation.
  3. They are often specific to geographic regions or cultural groups. As such, others may not understand the message you are trying to communicate.

Here are some examples of colloquialisms and an option for a more formal way to express the intended message. Depending on how the term is being used, the formal option will change.

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walls between = barriers to

iron out = resolve

thorny [issues] = complicated [issues]

no brainer = simple

hang-up = animosity