How to Make Your Writing More Academic
Study the rules in the first column and match them up with an example or explanation in the
second column
Useful Rules to Remember
1. Do not use informal vocabulary
2. Be as precise as possible when dealing with
facts and figures
3. Avoid absolute statements such as 'education
reduces crime'
4. Do not contract (shorten) verb forms
5. Do not use 'thing'
6. Do not use 'lots of'
7. Do not use 'get better/worse'
8. Words such as 'good' and 'bad' are too
simplistic
9. Do not use question forms
10. Avoid using 'etc.' and 'so on'
11. Avoid two word verbs such as 'go on' and
'bring up'
12. Avoid personal pronouns such as 'I', 'you'
'we'
13. Avoid repetition of vocabulary
14. Avoid idioms such as 'every coin has 2 sides' n. 'own / possess' – 'obtain', 'occur'
or 'a double edged sword'
15. Avoid 'more and more'
16. Avoid 'not enough'
17. Avoid informal verbs 'have/get /do/ happen'
18. Avoid using the word 'people'
Adapted from: Bailey, S 2006, Academic writing: a handbook for international students, 2nd ed,
Routledge, London
Examples / explanations
a. Write 'do not' or 'cannot'
b. 'factor' / issue / topic'
c. Use 'improve / deteriorate'
d. Avoid phrases such as 'about a hundred years
ago' – if necessary, estimate numbers using
'approximately' rather than 'about'
e. Instead use statements
f. Give specific examples
g. be specific
use the passive
use a noun phrase
h. replace 'kids' with 'children' / 'traffic jam' with
'congestion'
i Use a formal single verb
j. Use cautious language – 'may reduce crime' or
'tends to reduce crime'
k. Use a 'significant / considerable number'
l. Use 'positive / negative' etc.
m. Use 'inadequate + noun'
'lack + verb'
'lack of + noun'
o. Use a synonym, a pronoun or 'this / these +
summary word'
p. Convey the meaning in a more formal way –
e.g. 'there as been considerable debate...'
q. Use 'an increasing amount / number of''
'increasingly + adjective'
r. be specific
Use 'the + adjective' e.g.'the poor'
Use the passive
Use a noun phrase
Adapted from: Bailey, S 2006, Academic writing: a handbook for international students, 2nd ed,
Routledge, London