WRIG_C10.qxd
10
6/22/07
14:11
Page 105
Academic writing style
How to adopt the appropriate language conventions Writing for academic purposes is a vital skill, yet the stylistic codes you need to follow are rarely comprehensively defined. This chapter will help you understand what it means to write in an academic style and outlines some forms of language to avoid. Key topics: ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
What is academic style? Being objective Appropriate use of tense Use of appropriate vocabulary Transforming non-academic to academic language
Key words Acronym Colloquial Idiom Noun Phrasal verb Pronoun Register Rhetorical question Verb
University assignments can take several forms, such as an essay, a report, a project portfolio, a case study or a dissertation. One thing that is common to all these types of writing is that they need to follow academic style. While it is possible to identify differences between ‘scientific’ and ‘humanities’ styles in the finer detail, this chapter covers the common features of all types of academic writing.
‘ What is academic style? Academic style involves the use of precise and objective language to express ideas. It must be grammatically correct, and is more formal than the style used in novels, newspapers, informal correspondence and everyday conversation. This should mean that the language is clear and simple. It does not imply that it is complex, pompous 10 Academic writing style 105