Academic writing entails writing in formal language with carefully chosen words that clearly express your ideas in a well-structured manner.

To grab your reader’s attention, your paper should include:

• Formal phrases
• Precise wording and specific facts
• Clarity and conciseness
• Limited opinions and NO emotional or flowery phrases.

For writing a paper for a class, or a research paper or submitting a business proposal, particular words need to be avoided for maintaining a professional writing appearance.

1. Contractions

Contractions are shortened versions of spoken or written words or syllables. They’re find for informal writing, but not for academic writing.

Worse: doesn’t, we’ll
Better: Does not, we will

2. Clichés

Clichés are common phrases that are overused and casual that we use in everyday speech. They do not seize the reader’s attention and do not translate well into academic writing.

Worse: On the other hand (I see this commonly).
Better: By contrast (in general, this is what authors really mean anyway.)

3. Colloquialisms

Colloquialisms are employed during informal situations when communicating or conversing with others.

Worse: Going nuts .
Correct version: Being angry.

4. Absolutes

Try to limit the usage of absolute phrases such as ‘never’ or ‘always’ as there exists a continuum in most instances. They indicate an absolute situation, which is not acceptable in academic writing. This is especially the case for forms of the verb “to prove” (in the sense of demonstration, as opposed to testing).

5) Avoid Totalizing Words

Totalizing words generalize your results and add no surplus value to your writing. They sometimes turn a complicated situation into a controversial fact.

Worse: Industrial pollution has caused global climate change.
Better: Industrial pollution has contributed to global climate change.

6) Redundancy

Avoid redundancy. Use precise words to express your idea concisely than to fill up a page with unnecessary words.

Worse: Close proximity
Better: Proximity

7) Passive Voice

Active voice is prefered for writing academic papers. Passive voice makes the paper sound weak and uninteresting

Active voice: I read anatomy last night.
Passive voice: Anatomy was read last night.

Intensifiers

These modify verbs but are not required to make a point in academic writing. Intensifiers are adverbs such as very, extremely, literally, and highly.

Worse: PubMed is a very promising tool for biomedical research.
Better: PubMed is a promising tool for biomedical research.

Introductory phrases: These are clauses that do not have their own subject or verb.

Worse: It is important to note that
Better: Importantly

7. Verbosity

In academic writing, polish your writing skills by trying to be economical with words. Portray your knowledgeable tone in writing by cutting down on redundant words that diminish the power of your message.

Keep in mind, be precise and clear. Exclude cookie-cutter phrases and consider clear sentence structure. Enhance your formal vocabulary, use active voice, and convey your skills and strengths.

Do you need help eliminating unnecessary words? Email me at info@libertymedcom.com