Writing Style
STUDENT
Learning
Centre
IMPROVING YOUR
WRITING STYLE
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Academic writing requires a level of clarity and precision that makes repeated editing essential.
This brochure describes some aspects of good writing style and will give you practice at editing sentences to improve their style.
TONE
Academic writing sounds different to more casual writing because it:
♦
is usually impersonal and unemotional
♦
uses precise vocabulary and complicated nouns
♦
uses passive voice more often than informal writing does
♦
often has longer sentences than informal writing does acade mic writing
informal writing
Research has shown a relationship between vitamin A and cancer, but the exact nature of t he connection has not been determined.
We believe vitamin A and cancer may have a link, but we haven't worked out exactl y what it is yet. imperson al
person al
Research has shown
We believe
e.g.
Note: Academic writing usually avoids the pronouns 'I' and 'we', but some disciplines allow more personal language than others, e.g. in introductions and conclusions but not in the body of papers.
It is a good idea to check what is expected in your specific context.
PRACTICE
1. Rewrite these sentences without personal pronouns.
a) When we study coal production, we find these figures.
b) With this evidence I have proved my hypothesis that reading out loud is an effective editing strategy. precise voc abul ary
vague words
a rel ationship the exact nature of the connection
a link exactly what it is
complicated nouns
simple nouns
a rel ationship bet ween vitamin A and cancer
vitamin A and cancer may have a link
STUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/01/2007
CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders Universit y of South Australia
CRICOS Provider Number: 00114A
PRACTICE
2. Rewrite these sentences as nouns (things) in the new sentences.
a) She spoke recently about poverty.
b) The patient recovered
Learning
Centre
IMPROVING YOUR
WRITING STYLE
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Academic writing requires a level of clarity and precision that makes repeated editing essential.
This brochure describes some aspects of good writing style and will give you practice at editing sentences to improve their style.
TONE
Academic writing sounds different to more casual writing because it:
♦
is usually impersonal and unemotional
♦
uses precise vocabulary and complicated nouns
♦
uses passive voice more often than informal writing does
♦
often has longer sentences than informal writing does acade mic writing
informal writing
Research has shown a relationship between vitamin A and cancer, but the exact nature of t he connection has not been determined.
We believe vitamin A and cancer may have a link, but we haven't worked out exactl y what it is yet. imperson al
person al
Research has shown
We believe
e.g.
Note: Academic writing usually avoids the pronouns 'I' and 'we', but some disciplines allow more personal language than others, e.g. in introductions and conclusions but not in the body of papers.
It is a good idea to check what is expected in your specific context.
PRACTICE
1. Rewrite these sentences without personal pronouns.
a) When we study coal production, we find these figures.
b) With this evidence I have proved my hypothesis that reading out loud is an effective editing strategy. precise voc abul ary
vague words
a rel ationship the exact nature of the connection
a link exactly what it is
complicated nouns
simple nouns
a rel ationship bet ween vitamin A and cancer
vitamin A and cancer may have a link
STUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/01/2007
CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders Universit y of South Australia
CRICOS Provider Number: 00114A
PRACTICE
2. Rewrite these sentences as nouns (things) in the new sentences.
a) She spoke recently about poverty.
b) The patient recovered