Conjunctions in the PS?

[thebillsfan]

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Is it ok to have a few words like didn't or couldn't in there?

 

[SusGob711]

I've always been told that conjunctions in any type of formal or academic writing is a no-no. Perhaps a medical school admissions committee member might have different insight but unless space is a serious issue I would avoid them. Best of luck to you.

 

[Dr Oops]

contractions? just use em you have limited characters to get your point across which is more important than have a few contractions.

 

[OhioDoc]

Is it ok to have a few words like didn't or couldn't in there?

I avoided using CONTRACTIONS such as I'm and doesn't. CONJUNCTIONS such as and/or/but/neither/nor are perfectly acceptable.

 

[thebillsfan]

Oh sorry--got the words mixed up. Contractions are what I was referring to. Thanks for your help!

 

[Longshanks]

Conjunction junction what's your function!?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i'm using contractions. that's how i talk.

 

[mdbound1987]

I've always been told that conjunctions in any type of formal or academic writing is a no-no. Perhaps a medical school admissions committee member might have different insight but unless space is a serious issue I would avoid them. Best of luck to you.

This is 100% true. In formal writing, you're not supposed to, but adcoms may not care. If you want to be safe you should probably adhere to the rule. I can't see them having an issue if you do use them, but you never know.

 

[Kimaris]

Conjunction junction what's your function!?

Hooking up words and phrases and clauses!

♪♫Conjunction Junction hows that function!?♫♪

 

[NickNaylor]

Contractions I used in my PS were immediately pointed out by a faculty member I had review it, and he said to remove them since it's considered a formal/professional piece of writing.

 

[apumic]

Don't use contractions. Conjunctions are very useful and should be used liberally but run-on sentences should be avoided. 😉

Short is sweet, btw. Using contractions just to get under the max number of characters is a poor idea. Use the limits to help focus your PS.

 

[werd]

i'm using contractions. that's how i talk.

a few contractions are okay, but don't just write the way you talk. that's my two cents...

 

[learnmdabc]

to quote one of my favorite authors on style:

"to my mind, a writer who never uses contractions is akin to someone whose outer seriousness has no inner humor under it. But the other side of the coin is equally true: a writer who constantly uses them is like someone whose outer humor has no inner seriousness under it."

you will not kill a kitten if you use a contraction!

 

[Bernoull]

I think contractions are only fine if it's used within a dialogue or quotations. If u're running out of space, gut out conjunctions in favor of punctuation marks...