Academic Style

Verb choice

Phrasal verb (verb + particle) / Prepositional verb (verb + preposition)

Single verb

When these concepts are put into practice (implemented) they produce an immediate health care benefit.

According to some biologists, coming up with (offering) clear proof of the decreasing numbers of frogs has been difficult.

Researchers llooked at (examined) the way strain builds up (intensifies) round a geological fault.

“We” increasingly common in publications

We investigated the sound repertoire and sound characteristics of the longsnout seahorse.

We tested the effects of prey protein and lipid content on the body composition and subsequent diet regulation of the web building spider.

Avoid addressing reader as “you” –> need to use passive voice

The results can be seen in Table 1.

Some negative forms perceived as more academic

The analysis did not yield any new resutls.

The analysis yielded no new results.

Mood did not have much effect on judgments.

Mood had little effect on judgments.

This problem does not have many viable solutions.

This problem has few viable solutions.

Don’t use too many negative terms in the same sentence: two negatives = a positive

Neither A nor B is visible.

Insomnia was frequently reported after working late at night.

Direct questions draw attention to a point

Why has antibiotic resistance increased?

In academic writing, indirect questions more common

It remains unclear why antibiotic resistance has increased.

Mid-position

This method was originally developed by Charles et al.

The morphology of the samples was then analysed using a scanning electron microscope.

don’t, wouldn’t, it’s

e.g., and so on, etc.