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Characteristics of Academic Writing
Characteristics of Academic Writing
Academic Writing
Although there are some differences between the types of writing used in various university disciplines (which
can be learnt through wide reading, listening to lecturers, etc), there are some characteristics of academic
writing which tend to be the same:
1. Tentative rather than categorical statements:
For example
There are some characteristics of academic writing which tend to be the same in all disciplines.
rather than
Some characteristics of academic writing are the same in all disciplines.
2. Full verb forms rather than contractions:
For example
do not
rather than
don’t
3. An impersonal style
For example
it is clear that, it seems that
rather than
I think, I feel
4. Nominalisations
Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 was the immediate cause of the Second World War.
For example
rather than
Germany invaded Poland in 1939. This was the immediate cause of the Second World War
breaking out.
However, do not forget that the best writing is always simple and clear.
PRACTICE: Rewrite the following in a more academic style:
1 Crime is increasing rapidly in New Zealand. This is causing a lot of
concern throughout our society.
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