Academic vocabulary norms
What words are too informal or vague to use in an academic text? What are jargon and hedging, and how do you deal with these in your paper or thesis? Read all about academic word use here.
Academic vocabulary norms
Being mindful of jargon
Should I avoid jargon in my academic text? Jargon refers to specialist vocabulary that is difficult to understand for people outside a certain profession or group. Because academic papers are written for, and read by, researchers that are specialists in their field, technical vocabulary is unavoidable and often necessary. But you should aim to restrict …
Avoiding informal language
How can I avoid informal language in my academic text? Compared with other forms of written English, academic writing has a formal register. Colloquialisms that you hear in everyday speech have no place in a thesis, paper, or other research text. Here are tips to avoid informal language in your paper: Connectors, or words used at the …
Using cautious language (hedging)
How can I use cautious language (or hedging) in my academic text? Hedging refers to words and phrases that are used to soften the certainty of a statement. Because research is an ongoing process and knowledge is incremental, not all research questions have a definite answer, and a single study or paper can only provide …
Avoiding vague language
How can I avoid vague language in my academic text? Academic writing should be precise and specific. The more ambiguity in your text, the more potential for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. The following are tips to avoid vague language in your academic text: To make sure your writing is precise and specific, use Writefull’s automated …