imae_Academic Writing Language & Structure

Which of these sentences demonstrates the correct use of grammar for an academic essay?

• There's currently no generally accepted theory to account for the microscopic motion of ions, but it's commonly agreed that the potential energy of two charges interacting plays an essential role.

• Currently, no generally accepted theory exists to account for the microscopic motion of ions, but it is commonly agreed that interactions described by Coulomb's Law play an essential role.

Answer explanation

You should avoid the use of contractions in academic writing (e.g. there's, it's, don't, can't, we'll, you're, she's). You should instead use the full form (e.g. there is, it is, do not, cannot, we will, you are, she is).

Likewise you should not use abbreviations, such as approx, info, intro, etc.

Which of these sentences best demonstrates the use of appropriate academic language?

• Although in his youth he missed out on the accolades awarded to contemporaries, ultimately critics reckoned that Borges was one of the finest Argentinian writers.

• Although in his youth he missed out on the accolades awarded to contemporaries, Borges was ultimately to be reckoned among the finest Argentinian writers.

Answer explanation

You should avoid using colloquial language or slang. In this example "reckoned" is used in the colloquial sense and would be better replaced with a word such as "recognised" or "acknowledged".

Which of these sentences has the most effective degree of explanation?

• Hesitation forms (such as "um", "er", or "ah") exist in almost all spoken languages and usually serve to fill pauses while the speaker searches for the appropriate word or phrase.

• Hesitation forms or pause fillers (such as "um", "er", or "ah") exist in almost all spoken languages and are usually heard within speech where a person is searching for a word or phrase; these "fillers" serve to fill the space where there would otherwise be a pause.

Answer explanation

You should aim to keep your writing concise by avoiding filler words or extraneous language.

Students often find it difficult to write concisely when they don't fully understand the concept. When struggling to express an idea they can begin to over-explain concepts rather than developing or linking them to the wider academic debate.

Which of these sentences demonstrates the best use of vocabulary within an academic essay?

• The demand for highly productive agricultural lands creates challenges for the preservation of natural habitats and native biodiversity.

• The demand for fecund pastures and arable lands creates challenges for the preservation of natural habitats and autochthonous biodiversity.

Answer explanation

Effective academic writing should first and foremost convey your understanding of the topic. A good essay will contain a varied use of language, but your aim should not be to impress the reader with your vocabulary. In this case we avoid the unnecessary flourish of "fecund pastures" which detracts from the point being made.

Likewise, the word "autochthonous" has a specific medical or geological meaning which would make its use in this context slightly inappropriate. As George Orwell (2013) said, “never use a long word where a short one will do.”

Which of these sentences best demonstrates the use of formal academic language?

• Despite numerous campaigns designed to raise awareness of childhood obesity, successive governments have struggled to get rid of the problem.

• Despite numerous campaigns designed to raise awareness of childhood obesity, successive governments have struggled to eliminate the problem.

Answer explanation

Which of these sentences is the most precise?

• There are many things that set the Sagrada Familia apart from other buildings that were constructed during the same period.

• There are many architectural features that set the Sagrada Familia apart from other buildings that were constructed during the same period.

Answer explanation

Good academic writing is always precise in meaning and avoids the use of vague words such as "things".

Which of these passages would be most the most effective way to present your ideas within an academic essay?

• In "Arcadia", Stoppard's celebrated play which dwells on the nature of chaos versus order, the character of Thomasina Coverly, whose precocious mathematical enquiries bring her to the edge of discovering the (at the time unformulated) second law of thermodynamics which deals with the concept of entropy or the gradual decline into disorder, has clear echoes of Ada Lovelace, the English mathematician, and daughter of Lord Byron (a constant, though unseen presence throughout the play), who worked on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

• In "Arcadia", Stoppard presents the character of Thomasina Coverly, a precocious mathematician who comes close to discovering the second law of thermodynamics at a time when the theory was still unformulated. This theory deals with entropy, or the gradual decline into disorder, and so is particularly apt for a play which deals with the nature of chaos versus order. The character has clear echoes of Ada Loveless, the English mathematician known for her work on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. This connection is particularly compelling given that Ada Lovelace was also the daughter of Lord Byron, a constant, though unseen presence within the play.

Answer explanation

This example is much easier for readers to follow.

You should avoid the overuse of brackets and parenthesis as they can lead to sentences that do not flow. Where you have a lot of information it can be better to separate ideas into multiple sentences. Likewise, where you are presenting distinct ideas it is better to begin a new paragraph.

Which of these sentences is written in the correct academic style?

• In this essay I will discuss the development of poetry during the Tang dynasty in relation to the contrasting styles of the period's two most noted poets, Li Po and Tu Fu.

• This essay will discuss the development of poetry during the Tang dynasty in relation to the contrasting styles of the period's two most noted poets, Li Po and Tu Fu.

Answer explanation

You should usually avoid use of the first person pronouns in academic writing (e.g. I, my, we, our). Writing in the third person can help strike a more objective tone.

Which of these sentences demonstrates the most effective way to present your opinion?

• Austerity measures introduced by the government may have contributed to the rise of far-right, populist movements.

• Austerity measures introduced by the government led directly to the rise of far-right, populist movements.

Answer explanation

When presenting an opinion or argument it is sometimes better to use cautious or tentative language, particularly if you are evaluating contradictory evidence or exploring a contentious topic. Without the use of cautious language it could appear that you are over-generalising, being excessively critical of other ideas, or presenting opinion as fact.

This type of cautious writing is sometimes called "hedging".

Which of the following sentences uses the correct language for an academic essay?

• Although the outcomes of the trial appear conclusive, you should note that sample group was extremely small.

• Although the outcomes of the trial appear conclusive, it should be noted that the sample group was extremely small.

Answer explanation

It is better to use passive verbs or impersonal subjects rather than addressing your reader directly.