Mastering Academic Writing: Key Principles and Guidelines

Academic writing is an essential skill for university assignments and research projects. Different disciplines and subject areas may have specific requirements, but there are fundamental principles that apply across the board. This guide will help you adopt a strong academic writing style and elevate the quality of your written work.

What is Academic Style?

There is no single definition of "academic" writing, but you can develop an academic style by focusing on several key qualities. These include formality, objectivity, caution, succinctness, and an impersonal tone. Let’s explore each of these principles in detail.

1. Be Formal

In academic writing, it's essential to maintain a formal tone. Avoid casual or colloquial language such as:

Words like “stuff,” “really,” and “things.”
Phrases like “a bit” or “sort of.”
Sentence fragments and contractions (e.g., “isn’t,” “didn’t,” “couldn’t”).
The abbreviation “etc.” – instead, use “for example…”

For example, instead of writing "It’s a bit of a problem," use “This presents a challenge.”

2. Be Objective

Academic writing must be objective and neutral. Avoid expressing personal opinions unless specifically required. Here’s how to maintain objectivity:

Critique your own work as well as others’.
Avoid using “I” or personal pronouns.
Present differing viewpoints, especially if they challenge your arguments.

For example, rather than saying "I think this argument is flawed," you could say "The argument appears to have significant flaws in its reasoning."

3. Be Cautious

Academic work is often cautious because it addresses complex ideas and ongoing debates. Avoid overly definitive language, as academic writing requires you to present different perspectives and acknowledge uncertainty. Words like “should,” “ought,” and “must” can imply a level of certainty that may not be appropriate.

Instead, use cautious phrases such as:

“It seems that…”
“This may suggest…”
“It is likely that…”

For instance, “The data probably supports the hypothesis” is more cautious than “The data proves the hypothesis.”

4. Be Succinct

Clarity is key in academic writing. You should strive to be as precise and concise as possible. Avoid unnecessary words, and focus on delivering clear and direct arguments. When revising your work, actively decide what to include and what to cut, ensuring every word serves a purpose.

5. Be Impersonal

Academic writing often calls for an impersonal style. This means avoiding personal pronouns such as "I" or "we." For instance, instead of saying "I believe this theory is useful," you could write "This theory appears to be useful."

However, reflective assignments and portfolios may allow a more personal style, as you’ll be evaluating your own experiences.

Examples of Colloquial vs. Academic Writing

Colloquial Writing: There’s a lot of arguing about the Spinnaker. Because it’s so tall you can see it from all around, but does this mean it’s a good thing for the economy? It’s really late. It was meant to be ready for the Millennium, and it’s not going to employ as many people as lost their jobs in the dockyard over the years. And it’ll take ages for them to get back the cost from people who go up it.

Academic Writing: Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower is controversial in financial terms. At 170 meters (The Spinnaker Tower, 2014), it dominates the city’s harborside and was expected to have a positive impact on the local economy. However, income from visitors to the tower, and the expected boost to the local economy from increased tourism and employment, was lost due to delays (Dyckhoff, 2005, p. 14). It may take twenty-five years for income from visitors to equal the cost of construction (Dyckhoff, 2005, p. 15), and the local economy will probably be unable to recoup the lost income.

Conclusion

Mastering academic writing requires attention to style, structure, and language. By adopting the principles of formality, objectivity, caution, succinctness, and an impersonal tone, you will improve the quality and credibility of your academic assignments. Always remember to check the specific writing conventions of your discipline for the best results.