Words and Phrases to Avoid in Academic Writing

If you have been writing for a general audience, you will see academic writing very different and it will take time for you to be acclimated. Writing for academia has its own set of expectations that you should meet. There is proper diction and grammar rules to follow. In the midst of all this, there are always times when informal writing sneaks in and spoils your paper.

Almost everyone has been there, but with time, you will get the hang of it. Academic paper editing, and formatting can be able to pick out some of these informal words. To start you off, the following are some of the words and phrases that are overused or should not be used at all in academic writing. This tip is especially relevant regarding research projects within medical and healthcare, for example, a DNP capstone project. Avoiding shortenings and unexplained abbreviations is a must-have if you want to cope with such academic writing successfully.

1. Contractions

Contractions are shortened versions of spoken or written words, word groups, or syllables. Academic essays are usually in formal English. On the other hand, contractions are usually in written and informal speech.  The use of words such as doesn’t, we’ll, and won’t is highly discouraged because it adds informality in academic essays. Instead, write the full words.

2. Absolutes

Words such as ‘never’ or ‘always’ are also not encouraged in academic writing. This is because they imply absolute states which is rarely the case in most instances. As a matter of fact, things always exist in a continuum and not at the extremes.

3. In Conclusion

When coming to the end of a chapter or paper, many people tend to use the word ‘in conclusion’. This sounds very amateurish and does not bring out the maturity of language expected in academic papers. When you do your writing, the reader should automatically realize that you are at the point of building your conclusion. Your argument should show when you are nearing the end, therefore, making words such as ‘finally’ not necessary.

4. Passive Voice

Academic papers should be written in active voice where you begin with the object, then end with the subject. Passive voice makes sentences awkward and cranky.  As a matter of fact, they make the entire writing to be dull.

Most of the time passive sentences tend to be vague and do not clearly bring out the person responsible for the action. Academic writing most of the time looks at the differences between the ideas brought out by different researchers. When you have too many passive sentences, there can be a lot of confusion.

It has been discovered that some students use passive sentences intentionally to fill up research pages or to hide holes in their respective studies. When you send your work to a college paper writing service, they will ensure all passive sentences are weeded out and your paper is streamlined in active voice.

5. Impactful

This is a word that people have strong feelings concerning it and especially in academic circles. When editors come across it, they are often tempted to strike it with a red pen. The effect of using this word is not felt much and it is often overused by research students. If you can avoid it, go right ahead.

6. Informal Language

A dissertation is an academic document that is supposed to be written in a professional manner. It should highlight two important aspects: the formality of the process and your educational level. You cannot afford to write as you would a Facebook status or a simple blog page.

There are phrases such as ‘this chapter gives a summary’ or ‘I got these results from’ that should not be used. The use of colloquial phrases however tempting, is not formal. The right sentences should be ‘this chapter provides…’ or ‘these results were obtained…’. You should also avoid cliché because they make the paper boring.

7. Verbosity

In research writing, being economical with language can help portray a knowledgeable tone. Most people fall into the trap of using excessively longer words or lots of words to explain a simple statement of fact.  Filler words make your paper redundant and erodes the conciseness of your argument. If you are a true expert, prove it by using a few words to explain your concept.

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Using the right editing service and appreciating feedback can help you polish your writing skills. Always endeavor to improve.

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