My professor marked me down for using contractions. Are contractions in writing always wrong for academic work?

[Goben]

I just got a paper back and my professor circled every contraction and wrote 'informal' in the margin. I lost points for this. I'm honestly confused because I thought are contractions in writing acceptable in college essays. I see contractions in published books and articles all the time. Is this a universal rule or just my professor's preference?

From what I've read, APA Style and most academic guides recommend avoiding contractions to maintain a formal, professional tone . But some style guides for government and web content actually encourage them for readability and accessibility .

My professor is pretty strict about formality, so I'll probably avoid them in her class. But I'm curious—does every professor feel this way? How do you know when it's okay to use them and when it's not?

 

[William]

Hey Goben!

Great question. Short answer: it depends on the discipline and professor. Humanities profs are often stricter about formal tone. Sciences? Honestly they care more about clarity than contractions. My biology prof actively encourages plain language. Your best bet is to check the assignment guidelines or ask directly. "Do you prefer a formal academic tone or is natural readability okay?" Shows you're paying attention and saves you points later.