Did you ever lose marks for something that felt completely normal? It’s because of colloquial language

Think of this. A student spends hours on an assignment. The research is good. Everything is in place. But the feedback? “Too casual.” That’s the reason for the lost marks. Phrases like kinda instead of kind of or a bunch of were the problem.

This happens a lot. These words feel normal when you’re speaking. But in a paper, they don’t work. They make your tone seem unprofessional, even if your points are strong.

So what’s the colloquial meaning? It’s the language we use every day. Words like gonna or y’all instead of you all. Using such phrases is fine in informal conversation or chat. But not in academic writing like an essay. This blog breaks it down. You’ll see what to change, how to write with a better tone, and how to avoid these mistakes in your next assignment.

Colloquial vs Colloquialism: What’s the Difference?

The terms Colloquial and Colloquialism look almost the same. But believe me, they’re not. One is how something sounds. The other is the word that caused it.

Colloquial

This word isn’t about what you say. It’s about how it sounds. If someone reads your work and says it’s too casual, this is the word they’ll use. It means the tone feels more like talking than writing.

Example

“I was like, nope. Not doing that.”

That line might feel fine in your head. But it’s not the tone you want in an essay.

Colloquialism

Now we’re talking about the actual word or phrase. The informal thing that slips in without you noticing. These are the ones that show up in conversation, but not in formal writing.

Example

Gonna. Instead of going to, Y’all. Instead of you all, Kinda. Instead of kind of.

You’ve heard them. You’ve probably used them. But they don’t belong in a report or assignment. So, quick line between the two, colloquial is the tone. Colloquialism is the word that created it.

Dialects and Colloquialism Terms

A lot of the casual words we use come from the place we grew up in. The way people talk around us, shaped by their region or culture, starts to feel normal. We pick it up without even noticing. That’s what a dialect is.

It’s more than just how people sound. The words change too. What feels normal in one town might seem unusual somewhere else.

Example
In some southern states, people say “fixin’ to” instead of “about to.” In Pittsburgh, someone might say “yinz” for “you all.” These are just everyday ways of speaking in those places — and yes, they’re also colloquialisms.

Sometimes these slip into your writing. It’s not on purpose. It just happens. But in formal work, they stand out. A teacher reading your paper might not be from the same place. What sounds fine to you might seem too casual to them.

That’s why knowing where these words come from helps. You catch them before they cost you marks.

Colloquial Language and Academic Mistakes

Some words feel so normal when we talk that we don’t notice them slipping into essays. That’s where things go wrong. They don’t look wrong on the page, but they soften the tone, and that’s enough to cost marks.

You might be focused on your argument, everything sounds fine in your head, but then a casual phrase shows up in the middle of a paragraph. That’s enough to make your work feel less formal.

Example

“A bunch of studies show the same result.”

These lines seem fine in speech or chat, but in academic writing, they’re too off. Instead of this, we can use a more formal statement like: “ Several studies show the same result”. 

Another example

“The results were kind of unclear.”

That’s everyday talk. In an essay, it’s stronger to write: “The results were somewhat unclear.”

These slips don’t mean you lack knowledge. They just make the tone softer than it should be. Teachers notice. Small changes like this can shift how an essay is read.

When students want to be sure their tone is right, they sometimes ask for feedback. That’s where support from places like Scholarytic helps, both in terms of checking their tone and in terms of rewriting in an academic tone. So, if you’re one of them, you can step towards a writing agency like Scholarytic. 

Colloquial language works in stories, not in essays

Colloquial language can be powerful in the right place. It adds life to writing, but it doesn’t belong everywhere. Let’s look at how it helps writers and why it hurts students in essays.

Why writers use it

In stories or blogs, colloquial words make writing feel alive. A character who says ain’t or gonna sounds like a real person. Even in articles, a casual phrase can create a friendly voice and keep the reader engaged. Writers use it as a tool to connect, to make dialogue or tone feel closer to everyday speech.

Benefits for writers

• Makes characters sound real and believable
• Builds a friendly, conversational tone in blogs or articles
• Adds cultural or regional flavor to storytelling
• Helps readers connect on a personal level

Why students should avoid it

Essays work differently. In assignments, casual words weaken the point. A line like the results were kinda unclear doesn’t sound precise enough. Academic work needs sharp, formal language. That’s why what works in stories can cost marks in essays.

Cons for students

• Lowers the formality of essays and reports
• Makes arguments sound weak or unclear
• Can confuse readers who expect an academic tone
• Often, costs marks in grading rubrics

Common Colloquial Phrases That Slip Into Writing

While writing, even though we try to use as formal language as possible, sometimes a lot of casual words slip into our formal writing, like essays or theses. It is not because we don’t know them, but because we have built such a vocabulary from our cultural and geographical influences.

The words seem fine at first, but the work at the end sounds less formal. Here are some of the ones that show up most often — and what you can use instead.

Some Common Casual phrases to avoid

• a bunch of → write several or many
• kids → write children
• gonna → write going to
• sort of → write somewhat
• you guys → write students or people

Why this is a problem

These phrases don’t look wrong, and that’s why students use them. The issue is tone. In a chat or a text, they sound fine. In an essay, they make the work feel too relaxed. Swapping them out is a small step that makes the writing look sharper.

Colloquial Language for Learners vs Students

For new language learners, the colloquial words are not only okay to use but are encouraged to use them. Because they are a huge part of sounding natural. If you say what’s up? Instead of saying How are you? You would sound more native. Apps and courses often encourage this so learners can blend in with native speakers.

For students, it’s the opposite. The same words that help in conversation can weaken essays. Buddy instead of friend, or a bunch of instead of several, makes writing sound too relaxed. In assignments, clarity and formality always win.

So while colloquial language is great for speaking practice, students writing essays need to keep it in check. It’s not about avoiding the words forever — it’s about knowing where they fit.

Colloquial Language is Good for Language Learners

• Makes conversations feel more natural
• Locals usually respond better when you use the words they use
• Easier to follow casual chats instead of textbook talk
• Builds confidence in using English outside class

Why it Doesn’t Fit Students

• In essays, words like a bunch of or kids pull the tone down
• Makes an argument look softer, less serious
• Some phrases are too regional, not everyone will even get them
• Overall, it’s not a good look when you’re aiming for grades

Impact of Colloquial Language on Grades

Most of the time, students don’t lose marks because their ideas are wrong. It’s the way those ideas are written. Casual words can make a strong point feel weaker. Teachers often leave notes like “tone too informal.” A simple swap, a bunch of to several, can be the difference between full marks and losing a grade.

How to Spot and Fix Colloquial Language in Your Writing

So far, we have discussed what colloquial language is and why it’s not good in formal writing. But now let’s see how one can quickly check for such words or language in the writing and how to fix them before submission.

1. Read it out loud

If the line sounds like casual talk with a friend, it’s probably too relaxed for academic writing. And it is not a good fit for writing. 

2. Swap for a formal version

Change words like gonna or kids into going to or children. Small edits lift the tone immediately.

3. Replace unclear or vague phrases with clear ones

Expressions such as sort of true weaken clarity. Use precise terms like partly true or somewhat unclear instead.

4. Remove the region-specific words 

Local words like y’all or fixin’ to can confuse readers. Rather, you should use neutral English to keep it safe for all in essays.

5. Do the teacher test

Read it back as if you’re grading. Does it sound clear and formal? If not, rewrite the line.

Colloquial Sentences Rewritten for Essays

Colloquial lines often look fine at first, but in essays, they weaken your tone. Here’s a set of common ones with their stronger, formal rewrites.

Casual everyday phrases

Regional words

Shortened forms

Even small word swaps can shape how your work sounds. A clearer tone means stronger arguments, and that difference often decides the marks you get.

Bonus Tip:

How to Build a Formal Vocabulary

Avoiding casual words gets easier if you build a small bank of formal ones. You don’t need a dictionary every time. Just notice how textbooks or research papers phrase things. Start swapping your usual words with those. Keep a short list for yourself: like kids to children, gonna to be going to. Over time, it becomes natural.

Final Thoughts 

Good ideas can lose their power when the tone feels too casual. It’s not a writing flaw; this is something most students come across. If your teachers ask you, your writing is too casual or informal. Don’t take that personally to hurt you. Because you’re not, and the problem is flexible and manageable. 

The first step is noticing these everyday phrases. The next step is learning how to switch them out. Even better? Asking someone to take a second look.

Sometimes we miss things in our own writing. Getting a second opinion, even from tools or people like your teacher you trust, or a professional writing service provider like Scholarytic, makes a difference. You don’t have to write perfectly. You just need to know what to fix.