Formal or Informal?

6. Slang

Here are two examples of assignments going wrong because of slang:

The Versailles Treaty of 1919 imposed severe economic and military restrictions on Germany. The Germans had to make reparation payments to the victorious allies, and the size and nature of the armed forces permitted to Germany were limited. Many Germans felt that the Versailles Treaty really put them down.

or

There are particular problems involved in communicating with patients in geriatric care. Such patients are often confused and vulnerable, which makes them resistant to advice. It is important not to get worked up about this.

In both these examples, the writer has put in an expression which belongs to informal speech rather than an academic assignment. Things like 'put them down' and 'get worked up' are slang rather than formal language.

Other forms of slang include:

Swearing - Many Germans were pissed off about the Versailles Treaty.
Local or dialect expressions - The Allies said to the Germans, 'Youse lot are wrong.'
Words with a specialised meaning for young people - Modern improvements in geriatric care are wicked.

None of these forms of slang should appear in an academic assignment.