![\"academic](\"https:\/\/domynetwork.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/academic-writing.jpg\")
Academic writing isn\u2019t simply writing on academic topics \u2013 it is a complex system with its own set of rules. Some of them may be self-evident, others not so much. Nevertheless, breaking or ignoring them will drastically decrease your prospects of getting a good grade and, consequently, doing well at college.<\/p>\n
There are a lot of tricks and peculiarities about academic writing \u2013 some will be simply frowned upon but will hardly be punished, while others may cost you trouble;<\/b> so let\u2019s talk about them.<\/p>\n1.\u00a0Colloquialisms<\/h2>\n
Colloquial speech is absolutely out of the question in academic writing. Although it is supposed to go without saying, you would be surprised to find out how many students introduce colloquial words, structures and sometimes even slang into their academic assignment and get really surprised when they find out that it is the reason why they got a poor grade.<\/p>\n
However, sometimes we use colloquial speech without fully realizing it \u2013 after all, it is the way we normally communicate with each other, and expressions of this kind can easily slip into our academic assignments. Which means that you should keep your eye skinned (which is, by the way, a turn of speech you certainly should never use in academic texts), carefully reread your writing and eliminate everything that seems to be even remotely out of place.<\/p>\n
This one is easy to follow, for it is purely technical. In everyday speech we usually place adverbs either at the beginning or end of sentences. In academic writing you should place them within verb groups, e.g., \u201cThe task may now be completed\u201d instead of \u201cNow the task may be completed\u201d. There is no real reason to do so, it is just the way things are done in academic writing, so remember it and check your sentences after writing.<\/p>\n
Contractions (can\u2019t, don\u2019t, wouldn\u2019t and the like) are another big \u201cno\u201d in academic writing. Perhaps they look and sound a little too much like normal everyday speech, but most authorities agree that they shouldn\u2019t be used in academic writing.<\/p>\n
A rhetorical question is an excellent way to relate directly to the reader, to attract his attention \u2013 unfortunately, academic writing doesn\u2019t hold them in great esteem. They are considered to be misleading and, therefore, harmful for understanding the intended meaning of the text. Most writing manuals suggest that you use clear and straightforward statements instead.<\/p>\n
Run-on expressions are \u2018and so on\u2019, \u2018and so forth\u2019, \u2018etc.\u2019, \u2018and the like\u2019\u2026 and so on. They are also considered a bad form in academic writing, so it is advisable to avoid them whenever possible. If the sentence cannot be completed elegantly without resorting to one of them, it is better to rephrase it entirely; however, if there is absolutely no way around, go ahead \u2013 just don\u2019t put them into every second sentence.<\/p>\n
These five rules are, of course, not all things you should remember when dealing with academic writing, but if you follow them you will already greatly increase your chances of success.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Academic writing isn’t simply writing on academic topics – it is a complex system with its own set of rules. Some of them may be self-evident, others not so much. Nevertheless, breaking or ignoring them will drastically decrease your prospects of getting a good grade and, consequently, doing well at college. There are a lot…