Rosalina Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) I am writing an essay and I'm really not sure if "boyfriend" is suitable to use in an essay. I need to use this as the story I'm writing on has the main character in a dilemma of not being asked out to a dance. Also, how would I say "looking attractive so guys will ask her out" without making it sound awkward? :/ Thanks guys. Edited December 2, 2015 by Rosalina Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smaandy Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 I don't think that boyfriend is that informal since it is used without much of a replacement. There's also the word "partner" that could possibly used as a substitute. For your second part maybe you can break that one sentence into multiple sentences that make make the phrase more specific. Saying that they wanted to look attractive so that guys would ask them out would be a little too blatant, so I suggest that you make it descriptive over one or two sentences, somewhat hint at the fact that they want to look attractive for other guys. Also I wouldn't use the word "guy" because it's very casual. I hope this helps, I've never written an essay like that but I write stories so hopefully it's somewhat the same. Good luck on your essay! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanne Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 go for love interest maybe? Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosalina Posted December 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 I was brainstorming and I came up with this. Yet I find these...awkward? "The narrator wishes to look attractive to gain the attractions of her male peers" (She wants someone to ask her out) "The narrator is expected to look forward to the attentions of boys." (She is expected to like guys.) go for love interest maybe? Wouldn't the character be in "love" with said interest for that to qualify? I'm not sure myself about this. I don't think that boyfriend is that informal since it is used without much of a replacement. There's also the word "partner" that could possibly used as a substitute. For your second part maybe you can break that one sentence into multiple sentences that make make the phrase more specific. Saying that they wanted to look attractive so that guys would ask them out would be a little too blatant, so I suggest that you make it descriptive over one or two sentences, somewhat hint at the fact that they want to look attractive for other guys. Also I wouldn't use the word "guy" because it's very casual. I hope this helps, I've never written an essay like that but I write stories so hopefully it's somewhat the same. Good luck on your essay! I think that I'll have to use boyfriend because there's not much replacing I can do =/ Thank you for your help, susanne and smaandy! 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I think you are giving the impression of a more modern world when you say dance. In that case, I think boyfriend is suitable, as terms like "male lover" or "lover" may seem not of the more modern era. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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