Academic tips and useful phrases

Cross out tips about academic writing below that you dont agree with, then compare with
the rest of the class
- Put the most important information first
- Explain the structure of your writing in the introduction
- A new paragraph means a new topic
- Start most paragraphs with expressions meaning First, Second, Next and
ast
- !se At first and At last to mean Firstly and ast
- A"oid starting sentences with and and #ut
- !se $n the other hand, Ne"ertheless and $n the contrary to mean %owe"er
- !se this& these with nouns li'e pro#lem and theory to lin' to pre"ious
sentences
- !se reference words and phrases rather than repeating the su#(ect in later
sentences
- !se reference phrases rather than repeating the su#(ect in later paragraphs
- A"oid o"er-generalisations li'e )t is thought and *apanese people thin'
- A"oid ) and we
- A"oid you
- A"oid a##re"iations associated with your area
- A"oid atin a##re"iations li'e e+g+ and i+e+
- Explain (argon
- A"oid exclamation mar's+ !se expressions to mean the same thing instead
- A"oid strong words li'e nonsense, ridiculous, terri#le and must
- A"oid rhetorical ,uestions li'e -hat should we do a#out this.
- A"oid multi-word "er#s li'e sort out and chase after
- A"oid short "er#s with many meanings li'e get and ta'e
- A"oid "ague and o"er-used words li'e "ery and really
- A"oid contractions
- A"oid repeating signalling expressions li'e howe"er, #ecause, for example,
also, if, in particular, in other words, generally and clearly
Brainstorm useful phrases for the ones that you havent crossed off.
Use the laptops your teacher gives you to look for online tips on academic writing and
make a top ten list.
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com 2011
Suggested answers
- Put the most important information first / 0he main& most important& most
significant& most o#"ious1 the thing that stands out is1
- Explain the structure of your writing in the introduction / 2)n the paper3 ) will1& 0his
article will1& 0he author will1 and then1
- A new paragraph means a new topic / 4o"ing on to1& oo'ing at1& 0urning our
attention to1
- Start most paragraphs with expressions meaning First, Second, Next and
ast / Pro#a#ly not a good idea
- !se At first and At last to mean Firstly and ast / Not a good idea as they
ha"e different meanings
- A"oid starting sentences with and and #ut / )n addition Furthermore
4oreo"er %owe"er )n contrast
- !se $n the other hand, Ne"ertheless and $n the contrary to mean %owe"er
/ $nly if you are sure that is what you mean, as they are all more specific than
howe"er
- !se this& these with nouns li'e pro#lem and theory to lin' to pre"ious
sentences / this issue& idea& concept& argument& point of "iew
- !se reference words and phrases rather than repeating the su#(ect in later
sentences / it& they& this& that& these& those& one& #oth 0he former, 0he latter
- !se reference phrases rather than repeating the su#(ect in later paragraphs / Not a
good idea as paragraphs should #e a#le to stand alone+ )t is #etter to paraphrase
- A"oid o"er-generalisations li'e )t is thought and *apanese people thin' / 0he
ma(ority of people thin'1 5eading newspapers would gi"e you the impression
that1
- A"oid ) and we / 0he author2s3 )t was found that1
- A"oid you / 0he reader People reading this description People interested in
this matter
- A"oid a##re"iations associated with your area / not necessary
- A"oid atin a##re"iations li'e e+g+ and i+e+ / not necessary
- Explain (argon / that is 2to say31 213 usually defined as1 used here to
mean1
- A"oid exclamation mar's+ !se expressions to mean the same thing instead /
surprisingly to the surprise of the researchers1 indeed
- A"oid strong words li'e nonsense, ridiculous, terri#le and must / de#ata#le
not desira#le should pro#a#ly
- A"oid rhetorical ,uestions li'e -hat should we do a#out this. / many people
may wonder what we should do a#out this
- A"oid multi-word "er#s li'e sort out and chase after / resol"e pursue
- A"oid short "er#s with many meanings li'e get and ta'e / o#tain
- A"oid "ague and o"er-used words li'e "ery and really / su#stantially
significantly
- A"oid contractions / ) am we ha"e etc+
- A"oid repeating signalling expressions li'e howe"er, #ecause, for example,
also, if, in particular, in other words, generally and clearly/ although
since for instance as well supposing particularly to put it another way in
the ma(ority of cases o#"iously
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com 2011