AD | Did you know that while academic writing spans from essays to theses, there are a few basic rules that apply to everything in this category? Unfortunately though, most students aren’t specifically taught how academic writing differs from other forms of writing, nor what rules to follow. Here are some of the main dos and don’ts of academic writing you need to know to achieve the best practice in your research papers.
What Is Academic Writing?
Academic writing conveys information or knowledge, usually in the form of an essay. The main goal is to share new findings, information, ideas, and arguments in an objective manner with other scholars, and the general public. Papers are typically lengthy and complex works that require extensive research, whether that’s carried out in the classroom or by studying online.
#01 Misconceptions Regarding Academic Writing
The main misconception regarding academic writing is that it has to be rigid, with no room for creativity, which is why many students find it very boring. This is also one of the reasons why students end up searching for “paperwriter“ when they have to submit a paper, particularly if the topic in question is also challenging. In fact though, it’s quite the reverse: academic writing is about making your ideas as clear as possible, and backing them up with credible references and sources.
#02 Use of Informal Language
A key thing to remember is that informal language doesn’t belong in academic writing, and writing casually sounds inappropriate in an academic setting. Here are some specific points to note:
- Contractions. For example, instead of using won’t and can’t, replace them with ‘will not’ and ‘cannot.’
- Conversational opening phrases – such as so, well, or you see. These are fine in spoken English, but they don’t belong in academic writing.
- ‘I think’… You’re already trying to convince the reader of your argument so there’s no need to state it outright.
- Personal pronouns are also traditionally avoided in academic writing. However, these days, there’s more of a shift toward accepting them.
The best thing to do is check with your professor and find out what they would like to see. Getting clear about their expectations will help you write a paper without stressing out about any unnecessary mistakes.
#03 Including Slang, Colloquialisms, and Jargon
Other examples of informal language include slang and colloquialisms, which can get in the way of clarity. So, slang, colloquialisms, and overly-used cliches are best avoided in academic writing.
Jargon, on the other hand, often refers to terminology that’s relevant to and understood by the people in the specific discipline. When writing academic papers, students often include jargon to simplify the writing when it’s also appropriate to the subject.
However, this ultimately depends on the audience you’re writing for. If you’re publishing a research paper for a wider audience, then they might not understand or connect with specific terminology. Whereas if you’re submitting a paper just for the eyes of your professor, then it might be suitable to include jargon that relates to your subject.
Tip: when you’re in the writing flow, it’s easy for jargon and slang to creep in, so you should always proofread your paper to check what’s appropriate before submitting it.
#04 Using Intensifiers
In academic writing, it’s also best to avoid using intensifiers, which often dilute the copy and might even be perceived as ‘lazy writing.’ We often tend to use intensifiers in conversations to emphasise a point – for example, words such as totally, completely, very, and extremely. However, such words can diminish the strength of your paper’s arguments, so it’s better to refer to a thesaurus for the right word that encapsulates what you want to convey.
#05 About Generalisations
Generalisations are another example of ‘lazy thinking.’ These are broad statements that are often very easy to disprove. You should focus on using precise language when offering arguments, and also provide counterarguments to strengthen your paper’s theories.
#06 Making Assumptions and Opinions
You should also avoid assumptions and opinions when writing an academic paper unless you can back them up with facts or evidence. A great way to spot assumptions in your paper is by doing a CRAAP test.
Consider if the statement is:
- Current
- Relevant
- Accurate
- Authoritative
- Has a Purpose
If your statement doesn’t offer clear answers to these points, then it might not be relevant to your paper.
#07 About Repetition
Another aspect many students sometimes struggle with is the repetitive nature of academic writing where you have a thesis statement, which the rest of the paper revolves around. Some students repeat the same ideas in order to meet the word count but, once again, this can be deemed as lazy writing by the reader.
Try different sentence structures to avoid the sense of repetition. You can read through different forms of academic papers or other forms of writing to familiarise yourself with different writing styles.
And use different transitions when connecting paragraphs to make the writing sound less repetitive. This is something you can quite easily do when proofreading your academic paper.
#08 Rhetorical Questions
Rhetorical questions are widely used by students in introductory paragraphs. For instance, you might open your essay with a rhetorical question – such as, “What is success”? However, this can make your writing more informal and even reduce its impact.
Lastly, it’s never a good idea to ask a rhetorical question as a thesis statement, which needs to clearly state the subject and include your main argument.
As you can see, paying attention to these details will make your academic writing more powerful and authoritative. Over time, and with practice, you’ll be able to create academic papers that address all these points, while presenting clear and cohesive arguments that your reader(s) will find invaluable.
* This is a collaborative post – please see my Disclaimer.
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