Yup.
You can also use “I”. Or sentence fragments (like this one). And lots of other things you’ve maybe been told you’re not allowed to do.
We’ll explore a bunch of myths about college essays below, so you can understand how to build a more authentic voice into your essay.
Oh, and just in case: In this post, we’re talking about college application essays. If you’re wondering about guidelines for writing, say, a research paper in college, head to our college writing center. (The short answer is: Essays in college will tend to be a bit more formal than application essays. Sometimes much more formal.)
Let’s dive in.
Can you use contractions in college essays?
Yes! Contractions are perfectly acceptable in college essays. In fact, they’re often “better”, in that they can make your writing sound more natural and conversational, which is exactly what admissions officers want to read.
Here’s why: Your college essay isn't a formal research paper—it's a personal narrative meant to convey your authentic voice. You’re trying to give a reader a sense of who you are, what you value, and what you bring to their college and community, so they can build an argument for why you should be admitted.
(Side note: That’s what admissions officers are actually doing—building a case for why you should be admitted, not looking for things to “ding” your application for.)
Related resource: How to write a college essay, step-by-step
Are contractions "informal"?
Not necessarily. While contractions were once considered too casual for formal writing, that perspective is outdated. Even scholarly publications now regularly include contractions. The reality is that contractions exist on a spectrum of formality rather than being categorically "formal" or "informal."
Consider these examples:
"ain't" or "gonna" might still be considered too casual for college essays
but "I'll" and "you're" are totally fine
and standard contractions like "don't," "can't," and "we're" allow for easier flow in your writing (and tend to sound more authentic)
Contractions and flow/voice
Contractions significantly impact how your writing sounds to readers. They can:
Create a more conversational tone that builds connection with readers (great for college essays)
Improve reading flow by preventing stiff, overly formal language (also great for college essays)
Help your authentic voice shine through (also great)
Save precious word count when you're tight on space (also great)
(Side note to point 4: for different techniques for cutting word count, head here)
Your college essay should sound like you—not like a legal document or academic treatise. If you naturally use contractions when speaking (and we’d be super surprised if you didn’t), including them in your essay helps maintain your authentic voice.
Other rules (and things people mistakenly think are rules) it's ok to break with college essays
Using "I"
The myth (and it’s definitely a myth) that you can't use "I" in essays is especially problematic for college applications.
Why?
Because your personal statement is supposed to be personal. Using first-person pronouns isn't just acceptable—it's essential for telling your story effectively.
The admissions committee wants to hear your unique perspective and experiences. It’s pretty hard to imagine how you could write an essay without “I”. Or at least do so and not sound a little bizarre…
Avoiding "I" creates awkward constructions like "One feels that..." or "This student believes..." that create unnecessary distance between you and your reader. Which is the opposite of what you want to do—you’re sharing parts of yourself and your story that let them feel closer to you.
(For more on what colleges are looking for in students, head here.)
Starting sentences with conjunctions
But wait—can you really start sentences with coordinating conjunctions like "and," "but," or "so"?
Absolutely.
This "rule" against starting sentences with conjunctions isn’t actually (and never has been) a grammatical rule. It’s a simplistic guideline taught to young students to prevent sentence fragments (we’ll talk about those in just a minute). For college-level writers, starting sentences with conjunctions can:
Create emphasis effectively
Provide smooth transitions
Add rhythm to your writing
Sound more like natural speech
To clarify that first bullet point: You should avoid beginning too many sentences with a conjunction—it’s a great tool for emphasizing contrast (with “But” or “Yet”) or connection (with “And”) for example, but if you use it all over the place, you dilute the strength of that tool.
One sentence paragraphs
Like this one.
Single-sentence paragraphs can be incredibly effective. They create emphasis, provide breathing space for readers, and can deliver powerful moments in your narrative.
While you wouldn't want an entire essay of one-sentence paragraphs, strategically placing them can dramatically improve your essay's impact.
In particular, think about using this for particular moments of insight, or shifts in the story, or sentences that set up the thematic thread of a montage.
Sentence fragments
Sometimes, perfect grammar isn't perfect communication. Intentional fragments can create emphasis, develop voice, and make important points stand out. Powerful. Memorable. Effective.
So sometimes it’s totally fine to have something like
Running down the street.
Because I was lost.
The old book.
As intentional sentence fragments, to play with flow and emphasis.
Just be sure your fragments are clearly intentional and not accidental grammatical errors.
The most important guideline for college essays is clear communication that authentically represents you. These stylistic choices—when used purposefully—can help your essay stand out from the pile of formulaic applications that admissions officers read daily.
Remember that these techniques are tools, not requirements. Use the writing style that best conveys your unique story and voice, whether that includes contractions, fragments, or traditional structures.
The CEG Common App style guide
If you have more questions on style, grammar, and mechanics, like the difference between em dashes and en dashes, or how to deal with dangling or misplaced modifiers, or dozens of other things that can pop up in the essay drafting process, head to our Style Guide.
Dive in, and happy writing.
Andrew Simpson, CEG’s Editorial Director, has worked as an educator, consultant, and curriculum writer for the past 20 years, and earned degrees from Stanford in Political Science and Drama. He feels most at home on mountain tops and in oceans.
Top Values: Insight/Growth | Truth | Integrity
