Words one should never use in a formal paper.

[Danapal]

Of course, internet slang, such as "lol" or "omg."  

[Keakealani]

"really"
"extremely"
"very"
"good"
"great"
"interesting"
"fantastic"
"wonderful"
"in other words"
"I think/believe/feel/argue"
"thing"
"stuff"
"it" (in excess)
"like" (unless you're using it for a legitimate comparison, and even so, stronger words like "as compared with" might be more appropriate anyway...basically, none of this "it was, like, twenty pounds" nonsense)
using Arabic numbers rather than spelling it out (unless it's a large number)  

[georgette_x]

I got marked off for using "tons" in a paper once. As in, "There was tons of garbage lying everywhere."  

[Dr. Elfy]

Don't use these too much!(as in you can use them occasionally):

Because
And
Then
Also
I (never use unless a story from 1-st person view!)

Try to change your "transition words" often!  

[Lissiwen]

I don’t know why, but my English teachers always seem to get rather angry when I use the word “hence” in a paper. I’ve always thought it was a perfectly good word and I tend to use it once every few assignments, but my last English teacher actually wrote in that I needed to use language from this century or I couldn’t be credible when talking about a modern concept.
So don't use the word hence... or thus.  

[Missy Wyvern]

Never use "this" without a noun after it. You have to elaborate what "this" is. Also, never use "you." Using generalities like this word (<-- see, a noun) will get points deducted from your paper.  

[fyrebrite]

Lissiwen

I don’t know why, but my English teachers always seem to get rather angry when I use the word “hence” in a paper. I’ve always thought it was a perfectly good word and I tend to use it once every few assignments, but my last English teacher actually wrote in that I needed to use language from this century or I couldn’t be credible when talking about a modern concept.
So don't use the word hence... or thus.

That just seems a bit stupid to me.

All of my english teachers say we should have our own voice when we right. Thus, it would make us a unique writer. So it would seem logically that you should be allowed to use "hence" and "thus."  

[Srgt effin Moo]

More then 2-3 descriptive words per sentence!  

[SoulDruidKazeko]

According to my critical listining professor, the word "slop" is not a good word to use.

... who would use the word Slop in a term paper? neutral  

[SoulDruidKazeko]

fyrebrite

Lissiwen

I don’t know why, but my English teachers always seem to get rather angry when I use the word “hence” in a paper. I’ve always thought it was a perfectly good word and I tend to use it once every few assignments, but my last English teacher actually wrote in that I needed to use language from this century or I couldn’t be credible when talking about a modern concept.
So don't use the word hence... or thus.

That just seems a bit stupid to me.

All of my english teachers say we should have our own voice when we right. Thus, it would make us a unique writer. So it would seem logically that you should be allowed to use "hence" and "thus."

Once you get to college (unless you are there already, in which case you already know), they don't want you to have your own voice in your paper. That is for creative and high-school writing only. One must only use standard English syntax. One should never use metaphor or allegory unless the propmt says to.

I really suck at it, though. Because metaphor is my best friend... cry

Oh, and in a formal paper, never use parenthasis. Becasue that just makes ya look indecisive. And never use words like "seems" for the same reason.

Never refer to yourself or to the reader. Never controdict the professor, even if he/she is wrong. Never use more semi-colons than you need- they are becoming obsolite. Never controdict the profesor, even if he/she is wrong. Even if he or she is wrong, never controdict the professor. ... gonk

And don't use repetative syntax. And don't use repetative syntax. And don't use repetative syntax... blaugh  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

More words not to use:

dude
babe
homey
homeboy
homegirl
ho  

[Katleene-chan]

when paraphrasing.. cite.. always cite when in doubt.  

[The Man who was Thursday]

A lot of people here seem to not be acknowledging the fact that this is for formal papers. Not stories, essays, or whatever.

WRT the original question, "could of".

georgette_x

I got marked off for using "tons" in a paper once. As in, "There was tons of garbage lying everywhere."

A) Should be "were" -- tons is plural.
B) You were probably marked off because it's an obvious hyperbole.


@ Lissiwen: It's entirely possible you're using it wrong. Or, your English teacher is just stupid. Here, there, and where and all their inflections are still very much in use.

@ SoulDruidKazeko: You can have your own voice without using metaphor or allegory.  

[Ocean_Skye]

My teacher busts us for these:

Good
Bad
Nice
Pretty
Ugly
You
Don't
Won't (Words like this. We have to spell out can not, or do not, and so on and so forth.)  

[Ocean_Skye]

SoulDruidKazeko

According to my critical listining professor, the word "slop" is not a good word to use.

... who would use the word Slop in a term paper? neutral

I have used the word slob...

What is slop?

Isn't that like, what pigs eat?