You can also use proverbs in formal essays, but it’s best to do so only if you intend to challenge or complicate them in some way. Because proverbs are so general and drawn from the broader culture, they don’t fit in well with two of the main goals of formal writing: specificity and originality. But for the very same reason, challenging a proverb is a good way to give your argument teeth and show that there is a genuine question to be answered by your paper.
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You can also use proverbs in formal essays, but it’s best to do so only if you intend to challenge or complicate them in some way. Because proverbs are so general and drawn from the broader culture, they don’t fit in well with two of the main goals of formal writing: specificity and originality. But for the very same reason, challenging a proverb is a good way to give your argument teeth and show that there is a genuine question to be answered by your paper.