What Voice Should a Writer Use in an Essay?

What voice should a writer use in an essay? For many students, it's a question that makes them uncomfortable.

It's true, some writers do not follow a standard format. The majority of writing courses allow for different styles to be used within a particular topic group. However, a student who is not comfortable with using an entirely different style might feel as though their work is being unnecessarily copied.

The answer is that the writer's voice must be right for the topic, the essay, and the type of essay being written. It is not possible to use the same style across all three.

Many styles are just too wordy and boring for the essay that the writer is writing. The reason is that the essay topic, the style, and the tone of voice all go together.

A good style for an essay is one that can easily be understood and, more importantly, remembered. Some students end up using too much dialogue, or use too many details, or use too many precise punctuation marks. These are all areas that will detract from the essay and make it difficult to remember it when it is submitted.

If a student writes the essay in a monotone, it is unlikely that the reader will ever remember the essay. There is also the possibility that the student is writing to an audience rather than in the writer's own voice. This may not be as clear as one would like it to be.

Thus, what voice should a writer use in an essay? It's a question worth asking because it can help you improve your own writing and choose a style that suits your topic, your essay, and your writing style.

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