Department of English FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING AE2 WRITING

By Thuong Nguyen

PRACTICE
(With answers – 40 points)
CHOICE OF WORDS

Avoid colloquialisms and idioms. (6 pts)

(1) Her paper made a tremendous contribution to the field.

Her paper made a major contribution to the field.
(2) The community managed to scratch a living from the poor soil.
The community managed to survive by farming the poor soil.
(3) The hit-and-miss performance of the financial markets is causing increasing concern.
The erratic performance of the financial markets is causing increasing concern.

Avoid using the verb “get”. (6 pts)

(1) The settlers got ill after drinking contaminated water.

The settlers became ill after drinking contaminated water.
(2) The study participants reported that they got better after the first course of treatment.
The study participants reported that their health improved after the first course of treatment.
(3) Doris Lessing got the Nobel Prize in 2007.
Doris Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2007.

Avoid two-word verbs. Use the single-word equivalent instead. (8 pts)

(1) The proposal for regional representation was turned down.

The proposal for regional representation was rejected.
(2) Scientists are looking into the production of biofuels using non-food crops.
Scientists are investigating the production of biofuels using non-food crops.
(3) Biofuels based on non-grain crops have the potential to bring food prices down.
Biofuels based on non-grain crops have the potential to reduce food prices.
(4) Most of the patients reported that they put on weight taking the medication.
Most of the patients reported that they gained weight taking the medication.

SECOND PERSON PRONOUN (5 pts – S1: 2 pts; S2: 3 pts)

(1) Neither qualitative interviews nor focus groups are likely to give you easily quantifiable, factual or
objective data.
Neither qualitative interviews nor focus groups are likely to provide easily quantifiable, factual or
objective data.

(2) As you can see from the data, two-thirds of the respondents are satisfied with the current provision.
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Department of English FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING AE2 WRITING
By Thuong Nguyen

As can be seen from the data, two-thirds of the respondents are satisfied with the current
provision.
The data show that two-thirds of the respondents are satisfied with the current provision.

“NOT + VERB” NEGATIVE FORM (5 pts)

(1) There isn’t any evidence in support of this claim.
There is no evidence in support of this claim.
(2) The new study doesn’t support many of the initial findings.
The new study supports few of the initial findings.
(3) There isn’t much research on this topic.
There is little research on this topic.
(4) Sales didn’t increase despite the introduction of new targets.
Sales did not increase despite the introduction of new targets.
(5) The conflict can’t be resolved without negotiation.
The conflict cannot be solved without negotiation.

NOMINALIZATION and CONCISENESS (10 pts)

(1) The government banned smoking in public places in 2007. Since then, few people have been
admitted to hospital for smoking-related diseases.
The ban on smoking in public places in 2007 has led to a fall in smoking-related diseases.
(2) In this paragraph is a demonstration of the use of good style in writing of a report.
This paragraph demonstrates good style in report writing (in reports).
(3) The point I wish to make is that the employees working at this company are in need of a better
manager of their money.
Employees at this company need a better money manager.
(4) It is widely known that the engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in Search and
Rescue operations in most years.
In recent years, the engineers at Sandia Labs have participated in Search and Rescue
operations.
(5) After reviewing the results of your previous research, and in the light of the information found within
the context of the study, there is an ample of evidence for making important, sufficient changes to
our operating procedure.
After reviewing the research, and within the context of the study, evidence is found to
support significant changes in the operating procedure of the current research.