What are the main features of academic writing pdf?

This PDF provides an overview of the main features of academic writing, including key vocabulary, grammar, and the structure of an academic paper.

What are the main features of academic writing pdf?

In The Best Academic Writing Tutors Websites, facts and figures are given precisely.

Academic writing

aims to be clear and precise, with a direct style that logically moves from one idea to the next. This page describes how you can structure sentences and paragraphs to achieve clarity and “fluency” in your writing. As the questionnaire activity shows, several characteristics combine to determine the level of formality of a text.

It is worth consulting with your tutor what is expected, but in general it remains the case that in most higher education institutes (i.e. universities), a high degree of formality is considered necessary. Therefore, a clear understanding of how to achieve this formality is essential to making the right decisions when choosing vocabulary, constructing sentences, and reviewing grammar. Formal vocabulary A more formal and less conversational tone can be achieved through the precise use of vocabulary.

In academic writing, the use of vocabulary must be precise. Specialized language can be learned by reading extensively on a topic in the target language (for example, it is also necessary to spend time accurately finding the words needed to convey less specialized ideas or information). For example, whether framed in terms of “objective” or “analytical” writing, it is clear that this requirement contributes to the formality of academic texts. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how to produce this style of writing.

Whether framed in terms of “objective” or “analytical” writing, it is clear that this requirement contributes to the formality of academic texts. This suggests that, in academic texts, expressing opinions, especially strongly expressed opinions, can be considered problematic. Another way to familiarize yourself with these characteristics is to look for them in the academic texts you are reading in your studies. Academic style is more than just a writing convention; it can also help you think more logically and clearly as you work on an assignment.

Use brief activities and explanations to take a closer look at what distinguishes academic writing from other uses of English. The more you look for these aspects of writing in the academic texts you are reading, the more easily you can incorporate those characteristics into your own writing. To put it more precisely, the writer could specify exactly what group of people he was referring to, what his preferences were, and the degree of strength of those preferences. Stephen Bailey's, Academic Writing for International Students of Business, offers comprehensive explanations and exercises to develop the awareness and skills students need to write essays and reports.

Academic writing presents and evaluates problems and reaches an objective position; a position that focuses and is based on research and reasoning rather than personal feelings and opinions. The danger of such statements is that they can inhibit students and cause them to play safely and produce work in which they uncritically reproduce what has been learned from their classes, readings, debates and research, rather than developing an academic voice that allows them to express the kind of thoughts. and beliefs that are generally rewarded with high marks when they are well argued and well supported by evidence. Academic writing in English has a distinctive style: it is formal and uses particular language rules that you need to learn.

This page outlines some tips to help you incorporate four key features of academic style into your writing. Although a sequence of simple short sentences can be easy to understand, it is difficult to achieve the required level of academic detail and complexity without combining ideas to form longer sentences.

Joseph Robbins
Joseph Robbins

Joe Robbins is a seasoned educational consultant and the Head of Consultancy at The Profs, a multi-award-winning education company based in the UK. With a Master’s degree in Security, Leadership, and Society from King’s College London (awarded with Distinction), Joe brings a deep understanding of academic integrity, strategic thinking, and global education standards.At The Profs, Joe led the creation of their Consultancy division—offering expert admissions support for competitive UK and US universities, academic mentoring, career guidance, and tailored educational strategies for students worldwide. With over a decade of experience in higher education, Joe is a trusted voice in academic planning, essay structuring, and application coaching.On Academic-Writing.net, Joe shares practical insights into academic writing conventions, formal style, third-person usage, and evidence-based writing techniques. His articles help students across disciplines improve clarity, coherence, and academic rigour in their essays, dissertations, and research papers.“Academic writing isn’t just a skill—it’s a gateway to critical thinking, strong communication, and future success.”Expertise: Academic writing, UK & US university admissions, essay structure, personal statements, research planning