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10 Features of Academic Writing Style

Academic writing has 10 key features that make it formal and professional. These include using formal vocabulary and verbs, full verbs instead of contractions, formal grammar structures like clauses and noun phrases, impersonal language without "I" statements, precise and accurate statements supported by evidence and references, hedging language to qualify statements, and transition words to logically connect ideas. Academic writing aims to clearly communicate definite claims backed by data sources.

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80 views1 page

10 Features of Academic Writing Style

Academic writing has 10 key features that make it formal and professional. These include using formal vocabulary and verbs, full verbs instead of contractions, formal grammar structures like clauses and noun phrases, impersonal language without "I" statements, precise and accurate statements supported by evidence and references, hedging language to qualify statements, and transition words to logically connect ideas. Academic writing aims to clearly communicate definite claims backed by data sources.

Uploaded by

Elizabeth Galo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ACADEMIC WRITING

10 Features of Academic Writing Style

Academic writing is a formal style of writing. This means it is different to other types of writing, and
different from spoken English. There are 10 features you can apply to make your own writing more
formal and professional.
Feature What you need
to do
1. Use formal vocabulary Use formal language rather than every day common language. Start
by checking the Academic Word List. This is a list of the most
frequently used words in academic writing.

2. Use formal verbs Use formal verbs and avoid two-word verbs. For example, use ‘establish’
instead of ‘set up’, and ‘decrease’ instead of ‘go down’.

3. Use full verbs Use the full form of verbs and avoid using contractions. For example, use ‘
can not’ instead of ‘can’t’, and ‘will not’ instead of ‘won’t’.
Use formal structures/more complicated sentences such as clauses
4. Use formal
grammar structures and noun phrases not just short simple sentences. For example: “It is
important to consider all shareholders in this matter, they have the
final vote.” and “The internationalisation of the economy has created
growth opportunities.”
5. Use statements Make very clear and definite statements. Avoid using rhetorical questions
because they make the writing seem weak.
Use language such as ‘there is’ or ‘it is likely that’ rather than ‘I think’ or ‘I feel’.
6. Use impersonal language

7.Be precise Provide concise, clear, and accurate statements, avoid vague or
ambiguous statements. Use data wherever possible. For example, use
“The Coalition was formed in 1923, some 24 years ago, and have a
conservative ideology” rather than “The Coalition has been destroying the
country for about a century”
8. Use references and evidence Support your statements with evidence, and ensure you reference
these clearly. Check the Library referencing guide here:
https://libguides.jcu.edu.au/referencing

9. Use hedging statements Use hedging statements or tentative language such as ‘may’, ‘it
is possible that’, ‘appears to’ to qualify statements. This avoids
absolute statements, which may be in error: “It is possible that
the Liberal government is responsible for increased habitat
destruction and environmental degradation.”
Use transition words at the start of some sentences to connect ideas
10. Use transition words
together in an explicit and logical way. ‘Additionally’, ‘In contrast’,
‘For this reason’. Do not use ‘but’, ‘and’, ‘so’ at the start of a sentence.

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