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10 Academic Writing Rules You Shouldn’t Ignore

10 Academic Writing Rules

Academic writing is not that difficult if you take it a bit seriously. Unfortunately, students don’t pay attention to learning these skills and want someone else to assist them with homework tasks. People studying in different academic institutions should improve their writing because they won’t be able to write essays without having the required knowledge.

According to professionals of Essay48, every student needs to follow ten rules that are important for academic writing. If you make sure to use these tips, you will soon be able to write flawless papers and gain the ultimate success in your academics.

Let’s check them out without discussing anything further!

Focus on Formal Vocabulary

We all informally talk to each other, right? We use slang and words that may not sound appropriate in formal writing. The first thing you need to learn is using the right vocabulary. You are not supposed to use everyday words.

Did you know there’s an academic word list that you can refer to? Yes, you can use this particular list of words that you can easily find online. All academic words in all possible forms are mentioned in it. Whenever you get stuck and confused about word choice, consider checking this list.

Focus on Formal Verbs

Just like informal vocabulary spoils an academic write-up, the use of informal verbs can do the same mess. We use many two-word verbs in our everyday conversations. Don’t do that when you write a college or university assignment.

There are plenty of formal verbs that you can use instead of informal ones. For instance, you should ignore using verbs such as “go down”, “hand over”, “carry out”, and “give away”. A single-word verb makes your writing look professional and formal.

Use Proper Grammar

The use of proper grammar is crucial to make your academic writing effective. You are not supposed to make childish mistakes while writing a university or college document. Take care of the grammar structure especially while writing complicated sentences. Try not to write long sentences, but when you do, do it correctly. 

Unfortunately, a large number of students lack grammatical skills. They face problems while using punctuation marks in their write-ups. Things can be a lot easier if you start developing in-depth knowledge about the correct use of grammar.

Avoid Contractions 

Many bloggers indeed use contractions in their blogs just to make their posts look more conversational and friendly. However, a student shouldn’t follow the same practice. Contractions are not meant to be used in an assignment. If you do so, this is likely to make your document look informal which is not intended for better writing.

Some of the common examples of contractions include won’t, can’t, aren’t, etc. Try using the full form of verbs to make things simple for a person who does not know anything about contractions. Just assume as if you are writing for a kid studying in the 5th grade.

Use Clear Statements

Make sure to use clear statements if you want to write something worthwhile. Don’t go near writing something that sounds messy. As an academic writer, you should focus on following a precise approach. 

Those who use vague statements can’t score better marks. The main purpose of an academic assignment is to develop good research plus writing skills in students. If you still can’t learn to write clearly, you are probably wasting your time.

The goal here is not to impress the reader with complicated words, phrases, and sentences. The main objective is to deliver your message clearly so that readers can understand whatever you try to convey to them.

Use References 

Using solid evidence and references is crucial to make academic writing worthwhile. Those who don’t pay attention to citations and referencing seldom achieve great results. Follow a standard practice of writing references.

You should not have any problem finding the best example of citations and references. There are lots of academic writing samples available on the internet. You can use the one that looks as per your assignment requirements. 

Use Transitions Word

Transition words help join sentences and make writing easier to understand. However, it is important to make the best use of transition words. Use them logically without wasting your time on superfluous ideas. A well-connected sentence structure is considered ideal in academic writing. Use these words at places where you feel it is necessary. 

Follow Outline

Those who don’t have great experience in essay writing face difficulties. However, things can become a lot easier if you create an outline before starting your assignment. Just have the basic structure ready so that you can fill in using the required information under each section.

A standard essay is not hard to write. You just have to write an introduction at the beginning and then mention the thesis statement. The next phase is to write a body that can consist of up to five paragraphs depending upon the word count or length of your write-up. In the end, write a conclusion to nicely sum up everything you mentioned above.

Write in Active Voice

Academic writing doesn’t stop you from using passive voice. Of course, you can use them where it’s indispensable. However, restrict the use of passive sentences in your essay or any other homework task. Active voice sentences look modern and professional. They help in conveying the message straight without creating ambiguity. Another advantage of using active voice is that you can describe your opinion in fewer words.

Check and Make Corrections

Checking your document for potential errors and mistakes is necessary. Never submit an assignment without going over it. Read thoroughly and instantly fix errors if you spot any. You can also use grammar checking programs available online to make sure there’s nothing wrong with your document.

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