<p>When writing college application essays, should I say</p>
<p>It was raining outside, but I did not know, so I did not bring an umbrella.</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>It’s raining outside, but i didn’t know, so i didn’t bring an umbrella.
?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>I would do this:</p>
<p>“It was raining outside, but I didn’t know, so I failed to bring an umbrella.”</p>
<p>If you catch my drift…</p>
<p>i have a thread just like this too… “how to write a personal statement?” asking about contractions as well…</p>
<p>Contractions are fine, but that sentence is very awkward. I suggest:</p>
<p>I didn’t know it was raining outside, so I hadn’t brought my umbrella.</p>
<p>Sometimes not using contractions when they are almost always used in normal speech sounds more awkward than being formal.</p>