How to Tackle Academic Writing

Whether you need to write a paper, an essay, a dissertation or a thesis, they all need to be written in academic English. This style of writing can be very different from the English you use when you write an email, a news article or a letter.

Rules for academic writing

• In academic texts you often make use of abbreviations and acronyms, and it’s important to use them correctly. Avoid contractions, and always introduce acronyms the first time you use them.
• There are various rules for writing numbers and measurements. It’s important to be consistent.
• Quotes should be introduced and cited correctly. You might also need to deal with language mistakes in quotes.
• British English and American English have some differences in spelling and grammar. Choose one style and follow its rules consistently.
• Always use verb tenses correctly and consistently. If in doubt, you can follow our guidelines to decide which tense is most appropriate in each section of a paper or thesis.
• Some words and phrases are considered too informal for academic texts. Avoid vague, exaggerated and overly subjective language.
• Make sure you know which pronouns are appropriate in your field. Always avoid the second person (“you”) in academic writing.

Common mistakes

You’re a step ahead if you can recognize common mistakes and learn how to avoid them. Have a look at these articles:

• English mistakes commonly made in a dissertation
• Punctuation in academic writing: common pitfalls
• Common errors in sentence construction, word choice and clarity and logic