Academic writing is described as semi-formal. It differs from informal writing (e.g. everyday emails, journal writing, blogging) in several ways. Please review the differences between academic English and general English below or jump directly to the exercises.
Language-based Features of Academic English
No Contractions (isn't/doesn't/it's/they'll): Words that are shortened by using an apostrophe are not used. Instead, these words are written in their full form (= "is not/does not/it is/they will")
Avoid Idioms (idiomatic expressions) & Slang: Casual expressions that have an idiomatic (non-standard meaning) are not used in academic writing. For example:
- Informal: People need to know what's up. (idiom/slang (and contraction))
- Academic: People need to be aware of the current issues. (standard language)
- Informal: It's not their cup of tea. (idiom)
- Academic: They dislike it. (standard language)
- Informal: It was way too expensive. (way = informal word meaning very/far/much)
- Academic: It was much too expensive. (standard language)
- Informal: The fans went crazy. (go crazy = an idiom)
- Academic: The fans cheered enthusiastically. (standard language)
Avoid Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb, which gives the words a special meaning. For example: shut up, settle down, go over, look forward to all have meanings that are different from the literal meaning of the words they use. These words are generally avoided in academic writing. For example:
- Informal: The business was set up in 2010. (set up = phrasal verb)
- Academic: The business was founded/established in 2010. (standard language)
- Informal: The employees went over the document together. (go over = phrasal verb)
- Academic: The employees reviewed the document together. (standard language)
- Informal: Some of the rich look down on the poor. (look down on = phrasal verb)
- Academic: Some of the rich disapprove of the poor. (standard language)
Avoid Other Casual Phrases: Other casual phrases are avoided. These include the following words:
- a lot / lots (change to many)
- tonnes/tons of (change to many)
- way (change to much/very)
- everybody/anybody (change to everyone/anyone)
- super (change to very)
- totally (change to completely)
Also, indefinite/vague words such as "things" and "stuff" are not used. Instead use the precise word needed for that sentence. E.g.
- Informal: The survey revealed many things.
- Academic: The survey produced many results.
Style Differences in Academic Writing
Use Impersonal Language (it/people/they): Instead of using first- and second-person pronouns "I" or "You", use the third person. The third person is "he/she/it". For example:
- Too personal: I like how Shakespeare describes the scene.
- Academic: Shakespeare describes the scene beautifully. (deleted personal pronoun "I")
- Too personal: Nowadays, we all have mobile phones. (We = first personal plural)
- Academic: Nowadays, everyone has a mobile phone. (Everyone = third person)
- Too personal: Marketers try to convince you to buy their products. (you = second-person singular)
- Academic: Marketers try to convince people to buy their products. (people = third person perspective)
Use the Passive Voice to Focus on Topic: Academic writing usually focuses on ideas, not people. Therefore, it often uses the passive voice (which emphasizes the object of a verb) and not the active voice (which has a person as the subject). Compare:
- Not very academic: We surveyed 100 people. (personal pronoun, and active voice)
- Academic: 100 people were surveyed. (no personal pronoun, passive voice)
- Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in 1998. (Active voice - suitable if the topic of your writing is Larry and Sergey)
- Google was founded in 1998 (by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.) (Passive voice - suitable if the topic of your writing is Google itself, not the founders)
Avoid Asking Questions: Do not ask questions to your reader in academic writing. This is more common for high-school-level writing or speaking.
- Not academic: Why aren't more people becoming vegetarians? (question-form)
- Academic: One question that remains is why more people are not becoming vegetarians. (This is the same idea in sentence form.)
Proper Grammar: Write in complete sentences with punctuation.
More Vocabulary: Academic English uses approximately 20,000 words, while conversational English uses roughly 2,000 (Source: Engkent, Skillset with Grammar, 2nd ed.))
Varied Sentence Types: Academic writing uses a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
Transition signals: Essays and reports use transition signals (e.g. Therefore/As a result/Secondly/In conclusion) to help the reader understand the connection between ideas (This is known as 'cohesion'). Compare:
- Conversational: People like social networking sites. They can interact with friends. Share videos and pictures. Play games.
- Academic: There are several reasons why people like social networking sites. Firstly, they can interact with their friends. They can also share videos and photographs. Further, they can even play games online. (All of the underlined words help the reader understand how the ideas relate to each other)
Content-based Differences
Academic Writing is Organized: Ideas are organized linearly. Academic writing begins with an introduction that has a thesis statement that clearly announces the focus or main idea of the paper. This idea is then discussed in paragraphs that start with topic sentences. At the end, ideas are summarized in the conclusion.
Supported by Sources: Arguments/Ideas are supported by reliable sources. These sources are cited in-text and listed at the end of the paper.
Formatting Systems: Academic writing is formatted in a style, such as APA, MLA, depending on its academic area.
Terms (Jargon) are Explained: The writer should not assume the reader knows everything about the topic; terms are explained to make the writing clear.
Academic Style: Writing Exercises
Change the below conversational sentences to a more Academic style. Possible answers are provided.
1. If u lose your job you can't buy food.
Answer
Problems:
- personal (u)
- not proper punctuation (no comma after dependent clause)
- contraction (can't)
Correct: If people lose their job, they cannot buy food.
2. Russia has been kicked out of the Olympics.
Answer
Problem: Kicked out is a phrasal verb. Replace with a standard English verb such as 'banned/suspended/expelled from'.
3. Many people are fed up with political leaders.
Answer
Problem: Fed up is an idiom. Instead, use a standard word like 'frustrated/angry/upset'.
4. The characters disagreed on many things.
Answer
Problem: 'Things' is too vague of a word. Instead, use a specific word such as 'points/topics/subjects'.
5. Scientists have found that a healthy diet can increase lifespan by five years.
Answer
Problem: Which scientists? You need a citation/source; otherwise, there's no way to know if this idea is true. Using a referencing system such as APA is better:
- According to a 2012 study by Reimers, Knapp, and Reimers, exercise can increase lifespan by five years.
- According to scientists, exercise can increase lifespan by five years (Reimers, Knapp, & Reimers, 2012).
6. Many people are interested in buying electric vehicles. They are usually more expensive.
Answer
Problem: These sentences need a cohesive device (transition word) to show that they contrast. This will help the reader understand how the sentences relate better. Here's some examples:
- Many people are interested in buying electric vehicles, but they are usually more expensive. (Coordinating Conjunction)
- Although many people are interested in buying electric vehicles, they are usually more expensive. (Subordinate Conjunction)
- Many people are interested in buying electric vehicles. However, they are usually more expensive. (Conjunctive Adverb)
7. Social media can have a negative effect on our lives.
Answer
Problem: Remove 'our' and change to an impersonal word such as "people's".
- Social media can have a negative effect on people's/users lives.
8. What is customer service? It is providing people with quality assistance.
Answer
Problem: Don't ask questions to the audience. This is better:
- Customer service is providing people with quality assistance.
9. Eating too much salt is not good.
Answer
Problem: "Not good" is very simplistic English. Pick a more precise and accurate word. For example:
- Eating too much salt is unhealthy/harmful.
10. We interviewed thirty people about their tastes in music.
Answer
Problem: Use the passive voice when possible to make writing impersonal (avoid writing "We"). This is better:
- Thirty people were interviewed about their tastes in music.
I hope this page has been helpful for students who are studying at college or university. If you have a question or find a mistake, please leave a comment below.
- Created by Matthew Barton, creator of Englishcurrent.com (Copyright)
Very effective exercise.
Thank you, professor. This exercise is very helpful.
The exercises were really helpful. What was even more effective was the feedback process. Comparing the suggested answers with
the learners responses helped understand the points that were being made.
thanks
Thank you, professor, this exercise is very helpful, and the website is excellent! Thanks.
This is a very helpful exercise!
Thank you for the task, It is a great exercise to start the trimester.
It was easy to understand, so helpful for studying not only academic writing but for improving speaking or communication skills.
Class: 217
great exercises, that’s was very helpful.
Very helpful!
It is a good review of the notes, and the exercise helps to put academic English writing into practice again.
Very helpful and useful!
It was really helpful, I could remember with the examples. Thank you, professor.
Thank you professor for this wonderful exercise. It will helps us alot.
Thank you, professor!! Really helpful for my part :)
thank you.
class:217
Thank you.
ENGL102-06
Thanks, this was helpful.
ENG 102-06
thanks, its very useful and easy to understand.
ENG 102-06
Thank you, professor. This is really helpful.
Good Exercise!
ENGL 102-08
Thank you professor, it is very helpful exercise to learn.
Very helpful!
(ENGL 102-08)
Dipendra thapa (ENGL102-06)
Thanks professor very effective exercise.
ENGL102-06
Engl102-06
Thanks Professor
English 102-06
Thank you for this site. It is simple and easy to understand. It is something we can always use as reference.
(ENGL102-08)
ENGL102-08
A helpful assignment to start things off.
The task is very helpful. It provides clear explanations of what must be observed in Academic writing. Thank you so much.
helpful exercise
Thankyou Professor.
A very interesting kick-start activity to start the term.
Very helpful!
great tool!, People did not even notice when they have this mistakes writing.
Thank you prof. It was helpful.
Thank you professor,very helpful
Thank you professor. Helps me understand better.
Thank you Professor. It was really helpful.
Thank you professor. very helpful and good exercise !!
Great exercises for a fresh start. Thank you professor.
It was very helpful to review all the correct ways we can improve our Academic writing with examples and exercises.
Thank you Professor. ENGL102
Thank you Professor Matthew, 1st day of the class was very fruitful. ENGL102-08
A great way to help us retain what we learn. Thank you, professor. ENGL102-06
Appreciation