def dumps(collection: BioCCollection, pretty_print: bool = True) -> str:
    """
    Serialize ``collection`` to a BioC formatted ``str``.

    Args:
        collection: the BioC collection
        pretty_print: enables formatted XML

    Returns:
        a BioC formatted ``str``
    """
    doc = etree.ElementTree(BioCXMLEncoder().encode(collection))
    s = etree.tostring(doc, pretty_print=pretty_print, encoding=collection.encoding,
                       standalone=collection.standalone)
    return s.decode(collection.encoding)