Academic Style

Summary

This video offers 10 essential rules for writing in academic English, highlighting the differences between formal written style and everyday language. Key tips include using formal vocabulary, avoiding contractions, and employing complex sentence structures. It stresses the importance of citing sources, using precise language, and opting for tentative statements instead of absolutes. The video also advises avoiding personal pronouns, questions, and informal transitions, providing useful strategies to enhance academic writing skills. The video is designed to help students improve their writing for academic contexts.

Takeaways

• 📚 Academic writing has its own formal conventions, distinct from spoken or informal written English.
• 📝 Rule 1: Use formal vocabulary and avoid informal or idiomatic language, such as 'father' instead of 'dad'.
• 🔤 Rule 2: Replace multi-word verbs with single-word formal equivalents, like 'discuss' instead of 'talk about'.
• ❌ Rule 3: Avoid contractions in academic writing, using 'do not' instead of 'don't'.
• 📖 Rule 4: Use complex grammar structures and combine simple sentences to create more formal writing.
• ❓ Rule 5: Avoid using questions in academic writing; instead, make statements like 'There were four main reasons for the decline.'
• 👤 Rule 6: Use impersonal phrases and avoid personal pronouns like 'I' or 'we'. Instead, use passive voice.
• 🎯 Rule 7: Be precise in your language, using exact figures and avoiding vague terms like 'several' or 'things'.
• 📊 Rule 8: Always cite sources to back up claims, avoiding unsupported generalizations like 'everybody knows'.
• 🧐 Rule 9: Use tentative language like 'may', 'might', or 'appears' to avoid making absolute statements.
• 🔗 Rule 10: Use formal transition signals to link ideas, and avoid basic transitions or bullet points in most academic writing.

Q & A

What is the main difference between spoken and written academic English?

Written academic English follows a more formal style with specific conventions, making it different from spoken academic English, which is less formal and often includes idiomatic expressions.

Why is formal vocabulary preferred in academic writing?

Formal vocabulary is preferred because it is more precise and professional, avoiding informal or idiomatic terms that are more common in everyday speech.

What is a good rule regarding the use of numbers in academic writing?

In academic writing, numbers from 1 to 10 should be written in words, while numbers above 10 can be written using figures. However, exceptions exist, such as when dealing with measurements, where figures are used regardless of the number size.

What are some common formal equivalents for multi-word verbs?

Instead of multi-word verbs like 'go up,' 'talk about,' or 'get into,' formal alternatives such as 'increase,' 'discuss,' and 'enter' should be used.

Why should contractions be avoided in academic writing?

Contractions like 'don't' or 'can't' are informal, so it's better to use full forms like 'do not' or 'cannot' to maintain a formal tone in academic writing.

How can simple sentences be improved in academic writing?

Simple sentences should be combined using more complex grammar structures, such as nominalization or relative clauses, to make the writing more academic and sophisticated.

Why are personal pronouns generally avoided in academic writing?

Personal pronouns like 'I,' 'we,' or 'you' are avoided to maintain an objective and impersonal tone, which is more appropriate for academic contexts.

What is the importance of using precise language in academic writing?

Precise language helps convey clear and specific information, avoiding vague words like 'thing' or 'several.' For example, it's better to say 'three factors' instead of 'three things.'

Why is it important to cite sources in academic writing?

Citing sources strengthens arguments by providing evidence and avoiding vague claims, which enhances the credibility of the writing.

What is tentative language, and why is it important in academic writing?

Tentative language, such as 'may,' 'might,' or 'appears to,' allows for more cautious and accurate statements, avoiding absolute claims like 'always' or 'will,' which are often too definitive for academic discussion.