DISTINGUISH

FEATURES OF
ACADEMIC WRITING
Sir Vincent S. Niez
T-I
 ACADEMIC WRITING
◦ A formal style of writing that exhibits information to represent
a clear understanding of a specific subject.
◦ Also called scholarly writing, it is nonfiction produced as part
of academic work, including reports in research.
◦ It is linear, which means it has one central point or theme with
every part contributing to the main line of argument, without
digressions or repetitions.
 FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING
1. Formality
Academic writing is relatively formal, it should avoid colloquial words and expressions.
Example:
colloquial words: “stuff”, “a lot of”, “thing”, “sort of”
abbreviated forms: “can’t”, “doesn’t”
two word verbs: “put off”, “bring up”

2. Complexity
Academic writing additionally features more linguistic variations. It has longer words, lexically more dense and has
more varied vocabulary.
Example:
Informal: “Terrorism has changed once peaceful US cities.”
Academic: “The cities in the US had once been peaceful, but they altered when people became brutal.”
3. Objectivity
Academic writing emphasizes on the information that the writer wants to give and the arguments he
wants to make.
Example:
Don’t write: “In my opinion, this is a very interesting study.”
Write: “This is a very interesting study.”
4. Hedging
In academic writing, you have to inform decisions about your posture on a specific subject, or the
strength of the arguments you are using.
Example:
To qualify statements, use tentative language such as “may”, “it is possible that”,
“appears to”.
5. Precision
In academic writing, facts and figures are given precisely.
Example:
Don’t write: “The Coalition has been destroying the country for about a century”.
Write: “The Coalition was formed in 1923, some 24 years ago, and have a conservative
ideology”.
6. Accuracy
Academic writing uses vocabulary accurately.
Example:
You have to pick or use words depending on its purpose – “money”, “cash”, “currency”,
“capital” or “funds”
7. Responsibility
In academic writing, facts and figures are given precisely.
Example:
Don’t write: “The Coalition has been destroying the country for about a century”.
Write: “The Coalition was formed in 1923, some 24 years ago, and have a conservative
ideology”.
8. Planning
Academic writing is well planned. It usually takes place after research and evaluation, according to
a specific purpose and plan
Example:
Read the question, think about the subject, go to the library, find the books, make notes,
record details, organize, write, revise, proofread, produce the final draft and check everything.
 Activity 1 (Double Trouble)
DIRECTIONS: Rewrite the sentences, replacing the informal two word verb with more
formal equivalent that are found in the box below.
1. A primary education system was set up throughout Ireland as early as 1831.
2. This will cut down the amount of drug required and so the cost of treatment.
3. The material amenities of life have gone up in the Western society.
4. Thus, he should have looked into how the patient has coped previously.
 Activity 1 (Double Trouble)
DIRECTIONS: Rewrite the sentences, replacing the informal two word verb with more
formal equivalent that are found in the box below.
5. The aggregate of outstanding balances went up and down quite violently.
6. They did not easily accept or put up with differences in others.
7. Dieters often feel that they should totally get rid of high-flat and high-sugar foods.
8. The press reflected the living culture of the people; it could influence opinion and
reinforce existing attitudes but it did not come up with new forms of entertainment.
 Activity 1 (Double Trouble)
DIRECTIONS: Rewrite the sentences, replacing the informal two word verb with more
formal equivalent that are found in the box below.
9. Discussion of the outcome of the experiments that have used this method will be put
off until Chapter 7.
10. My high-school friend signed up for three years with the army so he could put away
enough money to go to university and study law.
 Options

Postponed Create
Reduce Investigated
Established Save
Fluctuated Tolerate
Eliminate Increased