Academic Style: The 10 Rules
Academic English is a formal, written style. Ten practical rules cover the five qualities it aims for: formality (rules 1–5), objectivity (rule 6), precision (rules 7–8), tentative language (rule 9), and explicit links (rule 10).
| Rule | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Formal vocabulary | many fathers; such as | many dads; like |
| 2 Formal verbs | increase, discuss, deteriorate | go up, talk about, get worse |
| 3 Full forms | do not, cannot, will not | don't, can't, won't |
| 4 Formal structures | nominalisation and clauses | too many simple sentences |
| 5 Statements | "There were four reasons." | rhetorical questions |
| 6 Impersonal language | "There are three problems." | "I can think of three problems." |
| 7 Precision | exact figures; factor, aspect | "about", "several", "thing" |
| 8 Cite sources | "Russell (2001) states…" | "Everybody knows…" |
| 9 Hedging | may, appears to, possibly | absolute words like "always" |
| 10 Explicit links | "In addition,…" | "And…", numbering, too many transitions |
Example (hedging): Education may reduce crime / It appears that education reduces crime — not the absolute Education reduces crime.
Tip: Hedging (rule 9) — may, might, possibly, seems to — lets you make careful claims that can stand up to challenge. Absolute words like always and everybody are risky.
Common mistake: Using contractions (don't, can't) and idioms (like, dads) in academic work. Use full forms and formal vocabulary.
✏️ Test Yourself
1. "many dads" or "many fathers"?
2. "go up" or "increase"?
3. "Education reduces crime" or "Education may reduce crime"?
4. "I heated the water" or "The water was heated"?
📒 Words to learn
Meaning — Based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence.
“It was just a suppositional reason.”
Meaning — Consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning.
“He analyzed the evidence in a criminal trial.”
Meaning — In a close manner.
“You should talk intimately.”
Meaning — Serving or intended to explain or make clear.
“This is an explanatory paragraph.”
Meaning — Have a craving, appetite, or great desire for.
“I craved to go aboard.”