Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences
Idioms, Clichés, Jargon, and Euphemisms
Most people who write formal reports and essays avoid slang, which is usually an appropriate thing to do. In an analysis of post-Cold-War Russia, it would be inappropriate, for example, to talk about heavy-duty problems or describe the situation as the pits. Writing about the injuries of accident victims, you wouldn't say they grossed me out or that the paramedics' response was totally awesome, even though you might use expressions like these when talking to a friend.
Sometimes slang can be used in writing, however. In dialogue, it can quickly characterize a speaker. In a humorous piece, a slang word like freak (as in neatness freak) might work. Remember, though, that slang words lose their vigor and quickly become outdated—the cat's pajamas, keen, swell, hip, groovy, etc. As with all language, when you use slang, know what you are doing and why you are doing it.
