The document provides examples of writing conventions to make academic writing more formal and impersonal. It shows how to replace contractions with full words, substitute informal or colloquial phrases with formal counterparts, and rephrase rhetorical questions as declarative statements instead of asking questions without expecting an answer. Following these conventions can help writing sound more suited for academic contexts.

2. This is used when you focus on
the receiver of the action than
on its doer, making your writing
sound impersonal.

3. ACTIVE
The formation of nation-states
subjected to either European
colonialism or pre-colonial patterns of
political power trapped the Muslim
communities on the wrong side.
PASSIVE
Muslim communities have been
trapped on the wrong side with the
formation of nationstates subjected to
either European colonialism or pre-
colonial patterns of political power.
(Solomon in Kinaadman, 2013)

4. LESS ACADEMIC
When Filipinos practice
discrimination and when
existing political institutions do
not provide enough
accommodation to the interests
of the minority, these
marginalized tribes defend
themselves through warfare.
WITH NOMINALIZATION
Armed resistance is the result
of discriminatory practices and
the inadequacy of existing
political institutions to provide
accommodation to minority
interests. (Solomon in
Kinaadman, 2013).

5. Contractions involve fusing two
words with the use of apostrophes.
Examples are don’t, can’t, they’ll,
and it’s. They make a statement
sound informal and should therefore
be replaced with the full words.

6. NON-ACADEMIC
It’s the right of
the people to
govern
themselves.
ACADEMIC
It is the right of
the people to
govern
themselves.

7. Colloquialisms are expressions
used in daily conversations which
must also be substituted with
their formal counterparts. Read
the examples below

9. NON-ACADEMIC
The Philippines’ thirteen
Moro ethno-linguistic
tribes that are called the
Bangsamoro people of
Mindanao came together
through Islam even when
they were from different
ethnic origins.
ACADEMIC
The Philippines’ thirteen
Moro ethno-linguistic
tribes that are called the
Bangsamoro people of
Mindanao came together
through Islam even when
they were from different
ethnic origins.

10. - are those that ask without expecting an
answer in return. This is often used to
introduce a topic or as an alternate to
subheadings in announcing the next
topic. However in academic writing,
rhetorical questions must be phrased as
declarative statements instead

11. RHETORICAL QUESTION
Is a political autonomy
responsive and effective in
addressing Moro-politics
and armed separatism
notwithstanding the fact
that the Bangsamoro
people of Mindanao are
invoking their own set of
value system, sentiments
and loyalties, and
REPHRASED AS A DECLARATIVE
SENTENCE
Now the issue to confront is how
responsive and effective political
autonomy is to address Moro-politics
and armed separatism
notwithstanding the fact that the
Bangsamoro people of Mindanao are
invoking their own set of value
system, sentiments and loyalties, and
institutions. (Solomon in Kinaadman,
2013).