The document discusses the importance of using caution in academic writing. Knowledge is built on proven theories, so sweeping generalizations should be avoided. Instead, modal verbs, adverbs, or cautious verbs should be used to refine statements. When drawing conclusions or referencing other works, writers must observe caution. Forms of cautious language include modal verbs like "may" or "can", adverbs of frequency like "sometimes", and verbs that indicate caution such as "tend" or "suggest". Academic writing should relate new contributions to previous research in a balanced way without directly contradicting other perspectives.

1. Caution

2. Caution
Academic writing requires care since knowledge is built
from proven theories and concept.
Therefore, caution is needed to avoid sweeping
generalizations.

3. Example:
Government officials are corrupt.

4. The statement can be improved through the use of
devices such as modal verbs, adverbs, or verbs.

5. Improved version:
Some government officials may be corrupt. (modal verb)
Corruption is commonly linked to some key government officials.
(adverb)
A number of government officials tend to be linked with cases of
corruption.
(verb)

6. In academic writing, caution needs to be
observe in the following parts of your paper:
1. When a hypothesis needs to be tested.
2. When drawing a conclusions or predictions from
your findings.
3. Referencing others’ work to build on your paper

7. Below are some forms that you may use in
observing caution in writing
Verbs indicating Caution:
• Tend
• Suggests
• Appear to be
• Think
• Believe
• Doubt
• indicate

8. Example
The finding of the survey suggest that the students
who use the social networking in their academic work
tend to be more updated on recent developments in
their respective subjects.

9. Modal verbs
• Will
• Must
• Would
• May
• Can
• Might
• could

10. Example:
The observation of students’ use of social networking
sites may lead to the different behaviors that manifest
in real-life communication.

11. Adverbs of frequency
• Often
• Sometimes
• usually

12. Academic writing draws on previous writings done related to your topic
(in the case of research writing), it is important that creating knowledge
is expressed through means that do not lead sweeping generalizations
that may directly attack other writers point of view.

13. If your results show something different from
another authors ideas there are possible ways in
writing these points.
1. The results contradict to Meyer’s findings.
2. The results appear to be different from Meyer’s findings.

14. 1. The results contradict to Meyer’s findings.
2. The results appear to be different from Meyer’s findings.

15. Both sentences essentially may mean the
same
• Sentence No 1 expresses an explicit difference between your findings
and Meyer’s Findings
• This may be interpreted by the readers as an attempt to highlight
your findings as superior compared to Meyer.
• On the other hand Sent. 2 shows that u are distancing yourself from
your work. And base ur conclusions based on what is observe.
• and comparing your work based on previous work done by other
researchers. Relating your contribution to other ideas.

16. It is also important that you expresses your ideas with openness,
striking a balance between being concise and Cautious at the same
time.

17. Activity
Examine the following expressions and think of
ways to reduce the impact of the utterances