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Every academic discipline
- from business to history to political science to literature to biology -
has its own style, phrasing, and jargon.
Consult your teacher, school or academic discipline to find the style that is appropriate.
There are, however, some general stylistic do's and don'ts.
These guidelines are general. As always, follow the guidelines from your teacher, school, and discipline.
Writing Styles to Avoid
Avoid:
Avoid "I", "we", and "you" - use "the reader," "the audience."
It is better to make statements without any reference to the narrator or the reader.
Try NOT to use simplistic sequencing phrases such as "Firstly," "Secondly," etc.
Academic essays are not lists of ideas and should not read like an in-class exam.
Use "To begin with" or "Another example which illustrates" instead.
Avoid overusing formal phrases such as "Moreover" and "Therefore" - they sound stiff and are often used awkwardly or incorrectly by people who are not native speakers of English.
Do not use conjunctions such as "don't," "doesn't" and "wouldn't."
Academic Phrasing
Tips
Writing a formal, informative paper takes practice but can be learned quickly and easily. Begin by writing in your own voice and words - then use the following ways to make it more sophisticated
Incorporate vocabulary words used by your teacher in class in handouts
Pay attention and learn the words used repeatedly in your readings
Do NOT use words that you do not understand or do not feel comfortable with
Do NOT use words just to sound sophisticated
Tools
Try to expand your vocabulary as a writer to add variety and precise meeting. Learn the words that are being used a lot in the appropriate discipline/subject area.
Use an on-line Thesaurus or App to find synonyms or new words for frequently used ones
Find lists of POWER WORDS or JARGON commonly used in the subject areas you are writing
Use an APP to type in your ordinary phrases into an academic phrasebank to find relevant academic phrasing
Increase your Vocabulary
Exams and Writing
Learn the Most Important Subject Area Words
Writing during an exam, it can be difficult to use academic words and phrasing. It is more important that you answer the question at hand.
Learn the new vocabulary for the subject area that will be expected to answer exam questions
Write in a natural but organized style using the standard rules of organizing paragraphs and essays.
Do not use flowery language, get straight to the point.
Home Assignments
Collect Subject Area Phrases
Writing at home one should use more sophisticated words and phrases without overdoing it or confusing the reader.
Write down new words used in the classroom by the teacher
Collect vocabulary and phrases while you research and read by making your own bank/list of words and phrases that are commonly used in that subject area and might be helpful
For instance, if you see words or phrases like sustainability, profit margin, subtext, narrative discourse, political discord, antiracism, and intersectionality, - write them down, look them up, and integrate them into your own writing.
Resources and Apps
Use Tools and Apps
There are online tools and apps that one can use to increase your vocabulary, to not sound repetitive, or to be more precise in your language. These tools are particularly helpful for people who are writing in a language other than their native one.
Use an online Thesaurus to improve and vary your writing
Find lists of jargon and phrases used in your subject area
Use an on-line generator of academic phrases
Use an on-line grammar corrector and style suggestion
Jargon
Each discipline or subject area tends to have its own JARGON or SUBSET of words and phrases that are commonly used, preferred and commonly understood.
Do not overload a paragraph, paper or argument with jargon.
Avoid using jargon from one discipline (ie. sociology) when writing in another discipline (ie. history). If you find the term very useful, be sure to define it at the beginning of your usage since the word might not be understood or imply something different in the other discipline.
TIPS to avoid when using new vocabulary, big words, and jargon:
Do not use words you are not comfortable with or whose meaning you do not fully understand because it will be obvious to the reader and to your professor.
Do not overload your paper with jargon. It will distract the reader and bury your ideas.
In some cases defining the term for the reader might be necessary.
There are lists by subject/discipline areas in academia from which to choose.
Here are sample lists of Power Words to improve your writing
Scroll to the bottom to find specific examples of phrases used in writing the different sections of your paper
Online Academic Phrasebanks
Another TOOL for shaping your writing into academic language - similar to a thesaurus - consists of phraseology lists, phrasebanks, and websites.
Ref-n-Write has an ACADEMIC PHRASEBANK that aids students in finding more ways to say things using academic language.
There is also an app which helps you to find the appropriate academic phrase by typing in your own phrase and receiving suggestions.
This is not plagiarism, however, you need to understand the phrases and use them correctly.
Like using a thesaurus, slowly you become familiar with your new vocabulary and will use it freely on your own.
There is a free and paid version of this tool.
Guidelines for Using Academic Phrases
Academic Phrases for the Introduction
ref-n-write.com-Academic Phrases for Writing Introduction Section of a Research Paper.pdfAcademic Phrases for the Literature Review Section:
ref-n-write.com-Academic Phrases for Writing Literature Review Section of a Research Paper.pdfPhrases for Conclusions
ref-n-write.com-Academic Phrases for Writing Conclusion Section of a Research Paper.pdfGoogle Sites
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