How is academic writing different from other writings?

Writing for academia is different from other types of writing in a few key ways. Learn about the expectations, conventions, and purposes of academic writing

How is academic writing different from other writings?

Academic writing is generally quite formal, objective (impersonal) and technical. It is formal by avoiding casual or conversational language, such as contractions or informal vocabulary. It is impersonal and objective by avoiding direct reference to people or feelings and instead emphasizing objects, facts and ideas.

Academic writing

should use formal language that minimizes the use of contractions and colloquialisms and avoids jargon terminology whenever possible.

Casual language should only be used for emphasis.

Academic writing is

used in research projects, conference papers, essays, abstracts, reports, etc. Academic writing contains citations and references, while non-academic writing does not usually contain citations and references. In addition, the main purpose of a non-academic piece of writing is to inform, entertain or persuade readers.

To write in the academic style, it's important that you do a lot of research or reflection on your writing before you start. Academic writing can sometimes encompass complex and difficult to understand material, so it is important to make clear to the reader the meaning behind the information presented. To reiterate, other types of writing, although they also require some structure, may not have such strict rules compared to academic writing. There is a clear difference between academic and non-academic writing in its format, audience, purpose and tone.

Another difference is that with general writing (content, blogs and copywriting, for example) the topics addressed can deal more with practical and concrete concepts, while academic writing is more concerned with abstract ideas. Already in middle school, students are taught to write essays, which is a form of academic writing. In academic writing, the writer is expected to support his argument by citing evidence from other sources. Whether academic or business writing is the most relevant thing to you right now, you will benefit greatly from learning to communicate more effectively in writing.

You might even consider replacing academic jargon with another phrase that is more easily understood by the masses. Academic writing is a formal and rather impersonal way of writing that is intended for an academic audience. The difference between academic writing and non-academic writing is due to several factors, such as their audience, purpose, language, format, and tone. The key difference between academic writing and non-academic writing is that academic writing is a formal and rather impersonal mode of writing that is intended for an academic audience, while non-academic writing is any writing aimed at the mass audience.

General writing can be informal, formal or semi-formal, but it would be simpler and easier to understand than academic writing. For example, when the audience is the target audience of an academic paper, it's probably a good idea to use simple language to explain any difficult terms used in the document.

Dr. Isla Merrick
Dr. Isla Merrick

The Cognitive Writing ScholarA guide who frames writing not simply as a skill, but as a cognitive process, a lens for understanding the world, and a discipline that teaches precision of thought.Background:Dr. Isla Merrick is a lecturer in Academic Literacy and Applied Linguistics, with a research focus on the cognitive and rhetorical foundations of writing. She has spent over a decade helping undergraduate and postgraduate students understand the why behind academic conventions—objectivity, clarity, argumentation, third-person stance, formality, and structured reasoning.Her work draws from:• rhetoric and composition theory• cognitive science and writing psychology• applied linguistics• research writing + epistemic literacy• academic integrity and ethical authorship• dissertation and thesis pedagogyIsla’s writing style blends analytical calm, conceptual clarity, and supportive instruction, helping students move from confusion to control. She specialises in explaining complex academic principles in simple, structured language.