Style and Tone Tips for Your College Essay 

The style of your college essay or personal statement refers to the way you use language to express your ideas in response to the prompt. This encompasses things like word choice, sentence structure, and rhetorical devices. Your tone is the attitude and feeling conveyed through your writing – it could be serious, humorous, reflective, optimistic, etc.

When crafting your college application essay or college admissions essay, it’s crucial to strike the right balance between style and tone to effectively communicate your message to the admissions officer. As you write and revise your essay for college admission, consider how your stylistic choices and overall tone work together to create a compelling narrative that stands out in the competitive college application process.

Here are some fundamental tips for employing a suitable style and tone in your college application essay:

Strike a balance between casual and formal

You want to sound like yourself but also show that you can express your ideas maturely and effectively in an academic context. Avoid overly casual language, such as slang, contractions, or informal sentence structures, as this can make your essay seem unprofessional. At the same time, don’t go overboard with formality to the point that your writing sounds stiff, pretentious, or unlike your natural voice.

Too casual	Too formal	Alternative
I’ve been through a lot of stuff in my life, and it’s made me a stronger person, you know?	The circumstances I have experienced throughout my existence have fortified my indomitable spirit and unequivocally augmented my resilience.	The challenges I have faced in my life have shaped me and made me a more resilient person.

Write with your authentic voice

Writing with your authentic voice means expressing yourself genuinely and naturally in your essay. It’s about sounding like you rather than trying to impress with an overly formal or scholarly tone. Admissions officers want to hear your actual voice shine through your writing.

Prioritize using the first-person singular

Using “I” statements helps make your essay more personal and direct. It emphasizes your ownership of your experiences and perspectives.

Bad example	Good example
This experience taught valuable lessons.	I learned so much from this experience.
The trip was life-changing for the author.	The trip changed my outlook on life.
One should always persevere through challenges.	I believe in persevering through challenges.

Write within your vocabulary range

Using language that you’re comfortable with helps your writing sound more natural and authentic. Don’t feel pressured to use overly complex vocabulary just to impress. At the same time, avoid language that’s too simplistic or vague. Aim for clear, specific word choices.

Too simplistic	Too complex	Alternative
I like many things about my school.	I hold in high esteem the multiple virtues and attributes that my educational institution manifests.	I appreciate my school’s strong academics, vibrant community, and supportive teachers.

Use clichés and idioms with discretion

While an occasional well-placed cliché or idiom can add personality to your writing, overusing them can make your essay sound trite and unoriginal. Use them sparingly and only when they genuinely suit your voice and topic.

Bad example	Good example
I’ve poured my blood, sweat, and tears into tennis, striving to be the best of the best and prove that hard work pays off in the end.	Dedicating myself to tennis has taught me discipline, perseverance, and the rewards of hard work.

Maintain a fast pace

Maintaining a fast pace in your college essay is about keeping your reader engaged and conveying your ideas efficiently, whether you’re writing a “Why this college” essay or responding to other common application prompts. When you write a college application essay, it’s less formal than other kinds of academic writing, so aim to write in a conversational yet respectful tone.

You want your writing to be dynamic and easy to follow rather than feeling dense or sluggish. The tone of your college essay should reflect your personality while staying on topic and within the word count. 

As you navigate the storytelling process, the essay maintains a quick pace throughout, helping to hold the reader’s attention. Don’t write in an overly formal style or overuse a thesaurus; instead, use first-person “I” statements and let your authentic voice shine through.

An essay coach might advise you that it’s better to focus on crafting a compelling narrative with proper punctuation than to worry about sounding too academic. Remember, your college application essay shouldn’t read like a traditional academic paper – it’s your chance to stand out in the applying to college process.

Write concisely

Be direct in your language and avoid unnecessary wordiness. Make your points clearly and avoid repeating yourself. Concision makes your writing more impactful.

Wordy	Concise
I came to the realization that I possessed a deep-seated passion for scientific inquiry.	I realized I had a deep passion for scientific inquiry.

Don’t provide definitions just to sound smart

Only define terms if doing so is necessary for your reader to understand your point. Don’t include definitions just to show off your vocabulary knowledge, as this can distract from your main ideas and disrupt the pace of your essay.

Poor pacing	Better pacing
As an arachnophile, which means a lover of arachnids, a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals that includes spiders, I find tarantulas fascinating.	As an arachnophile, I find tarantulas fascinating. Their unique anatomy and behaviors captivate me.

Prioritize the active voice to maintain a lively tone

In active voice, the subject performs the verb’s action, which creates a more engaging tone. In passive voice, the subject receives the verb’s action, which can sound duller. While the passive voice is sometimes appropriate, aim to primarily use the active voice.

Passive voice	Active voice
The decision to pursue medicine was made by me after shadowing Dr. Gupta.	I decided to pursue medicine after shadowing Dr. Gupta.

Bend language rules for stylistic reasons

Bending language rules for stylistic reasons can add flair and personality to your college essay when done intentionally and judiciously. 

Sentence fragments

While complete sentences are the standard in formal writing, an occasional sentence fragment can be used for emphasis or stylistic effect. Just be sure the fragment still conveys a clear idea.

Standard sentences	Sentence fragment for style
I was nervous as I stepped onto the stage. The auditorium was packed. My heart raced as I approached the microphone.	I stepped onto the stage. A packed auditorium. Heart racing, I approached the microphone.

Non-standard capitalization

Intentionally breaking capitalization conventions, like using all lowercase or capitalizing words for emphasis, can add visual style to your essay. However, it’s a technique that can easily be overused and become gimmicky, so apply it with caution.

Standard capitalization	Non-standard capitalization for style
When I finally reached the summit of Mount Washington, the feeling was indescribable. The sun broke through the clouds and lit the snow-capped peaks for miles.	when i finally reached the summit of Mount Washington, the feeling was Indescribable. the Sun broke through the clouds and lit up the Snow-Capped peaks for Miles.

Use American English in Your College Essay

When writing your college essay for American schools, it’s essential to consistently use American English conventions. This means being mindful of spelling differences (like “color” instead of “colour”), vocabulary distinctions (like “elevator” instead of “lift”), and grammatical patterns (like treating collective nouns as singular). While these differences between American and British English may seem minor, inconsistency can distract your readers. 

Demonstrating command of American English shows you’ve put thought and care into your writing. However, if you’re an international student, don’t feel pressured to eliminate all traces of your native English – the occasional non-American phrase can add personality to your essay. Aim for consistency in language while letting your unique voice shine through.

What style and tone should I use for a college application essay?

• Style: When you write a college essay, the style should be personal and reflective, as it’s a chance to tell your story. The essay topic you choose should allow you to use a conversational yet respectful voice. The goal is to show your writing skills while maintaining clarity throughout the storytelling process. Though the college application essay is less formal than an academic essay, it should still demonstrate thoughtful language rules. You can occasionally bend these rules if your stylistic choices add value to your story, but avoid mistakes that could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors. Overall, the essay requires you to reflect on experiences not found elsewhere in your application.
• Tone: The appropriate tone is authentic and sincere. Don’t worry about sounding like you used a thesaurus — admissions officers appreciate essays that sound like you. The tone should be positive and optimistic, especially if you’re writing on a more serious college essay topic. This is important to ensure that your essay maintains clarity and that your storytelling process is engaging.

What is the best tone for a college essay?

The best tone is conversational but respectful, allowing your personal essay to flow naturally. When you write your essay, maintain a quick pace throughout to keep it engaging, but also reflect on key moments. Use your authentic voice to make the essay more relatable to admissions officers, and ensure the tone doesn’t become too casual. The college admissions process is competitive, and a strong college essay can help you stand out if it strikes the right balance between conversational tone and professionalism. Remember, your essay shouldn’t feel like a generic writing sample but should reflect your personality.

What tone is appropriate for college writing?

For college essay writing, the tone should reflect your storytelling skills but still be appropriate for the setting. Avoid using overly formal language, like in an academic essay. Instead, you should aim for a conversational tone that connects with the admissions office while being respectful. The tone you choose should reflect your overall narrative and highlight how your experiences add depth to the college entrance process. Whether answering a why this college prompt or discussing a passion, tell your story in a way that engages the reader and provides insight into who you are.

How do you choose a tone for an essay?

Choosing a tone depends on the essay prompts you’re responding to. For example, in a why this college essay, the tone could be enthusiastic and focused, showcasing why the specific college is a great fit for you. If the essay is about overcoming challenges, a hopeful and resilient tone works best. To find the right tone, reflect on your college essay topic and ensure that the tone complements the content. You don’t want the tone to feel too formal or too casual. Your essay maintains clarity when you balance casual tone with respect. This tone should work well with the overall narrative you’re crafting.

How do you pick the right tone for your essay?

To pick the right tone for your app essay, consider the story you’re telling. A more reflective tone is appropriate if you’re sharing a personal challenge, while an enthusiastic tone works if you’re explaining your passion for a topic. Make sure your tone in your college essay is consistent throughout — a casual tone might be fine for some parts, but it’s best to go through several rounds of revisions to ensure it doesn’t become too informal. The tone should feel natural and help you stand out in the college admissions process while still staying true to your overall narrative.