WRITING / Academic style
Academic Writing Style – key points

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Academic Style is…
… the conventions often associated this academic writing. Although there is much debate over ‘what exactly academic style is’, generally there is an agreement among ‘most’ Academic English tutors to the key elements that should or should not be included. The following is a list of the do’s and don’ts…
Key points of academic style writing
NO Idiomatic / colloquial (slang)
Kids / boss / gonna / stuff
NO Phrasal verbs
Go up / look up
NO Personal Pronouns
I, we, In my opinion (limit use)
NO Contractions
It’ll = it will / It’s = it is
NO Questions
So why did the project fail?
NO Personal adverbs
Surprisingly / fortunately
NO Repetition
Constant repeating same words
NO vague language
And so on.. / etc…
NO number / bullet points
NO basic language
Like – for example
Thing – factor
Lots of – significant amount
Little/ big – large
Get – obtain
Hard – difficult
Good / bad – positive / negative
Amazing / wonderful – important
YES Formal Linkers
(In addition, Moreover, Consequently…)
YES Academic Vocabulary
See A.W.L
YES Referencing systems
(Harvard / APA / Chicago…)
YES Passive structures
We analysed the data /
The data was analysed…
YES Complex Grammar structures
[Cohesive devices – independent + subordinator + dependent clause]
Although / Despite / since…
YES Nominalisation / noun forms
The data was analysed (passive)
An analysis of the data showed… (nominalised)
YES Noun phrases
adjective + noun / quantifier + noun / noun + noun structures
YES Caution / hedging – tentative language
Possibly / seems / appears / could / may
YES Accurate vocabulary
Difference between law / rule
YES Precise facts / figures
A few years ago / in 2014
Practice in Academic Style for writing essays
Example
(a) Another thing to think about is the chance of crime getting worse.
____________________________________________________________________
1. First highlight informal words / non-academic style:
(a) Another thing to think about is the chance of crime getting worse.
2. Use synonyms for informal words
Thing = area / aspect / feature / point
Think about = consider / note / understand / acknowledge /
chance = possibility / probability / situation /
getting = becoming /
3. Rewrite the sentence
Another aspect to consider is the possibility of crime becoming worse
4. Noun phrase / nominalisation structure
Another aspect of consideration is the possibility of crime becoming worse
# For more exercises – download this lesson for 50p (10 practice exercises)
Academic Style: 20 key features to writing 
This lesson brainstorms academic style / formality in writing. Teacher feedbacks using the visual highlighting and explaining the concepts and then there are 10x practice exercises from informal to formal. Time: 60mins Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]
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Academic Formality
How to write in formal way. Click here
Academic Words
Use academic vocabulary. Click here
Academic Phrases
Use key academic phrases. Click here
Academic Websites
Helpful writing websites. Click here