This document discusses the key characteristics of academic writing. Academic writing is structured research written by scholars for other scholars that includes reading, thinking, arguing, and writing according to academic parameters. It is factual, objective, and formal. Some key aspects of academic writing are complexity, formality, precision, objectivity, accuracy, and responsibility. Writers must avoid colloquial language and be precise when presenting information, dates, and figures. Good academic writing is focused, organized, clear, concise, precise, and free of errors.

1. By
Reda E Fatemah

2. Definition : Academic writing is a structured
research written by scholars for other
scholars(all university writers are scholars
here in this context).

3. It includes reading, thinking, arguing and
writing according to academic parameters.
In simple words, the kind of writing that
you required to do at university.

4. Academic writing is
Factual
Objective
And most importantly “Formal”.

5. Academic writing is also used in
Journals
Blogs
Books
Articles

6. Complexity
Formality
Precision
Objectivity
Accuracy
Responsibility

7. Written language is relatively more
complex than spoken language.
Written texts are lexically dense compared
to spoken language - they have
proportionately more lexical words than
grammatical words.

8. Written language is grammatically more
complex than spoken language. It has
more subordinate clauses
More "that/to" complement clauses
 More attributive adjectives
 More passives than spoken language.

9.  Because the technology has improved its less
risky than it used to be when you install them
at the same time, and it doesn't cost so much
either.(SPOKEN)
 Improvements in technology have reduced
the risks and high costs associated with
simultaneous installation.(WRITTEN)

10. In general this means in an essay that you
should avoid:
 Colloquial words and expressions; ""stuff",
"a lot of", "thing", "sort of",
Abbreviated forms: "can't", "doesn't",
"shouldn't“

11. In academic writing you need to be precise
when you use
 Information
Dates Or Figures.
Do not use "a lot of people" when you can
say "50 million people".

12. Chemists had attempted to synthesize
quinine for the previous hundred years but
all they had achieved was to discover the
extreme complexity of the problem.

13. This means that the main emphasis should
be on the information that you want to give
and the arguments you want to make,
rather than you.

14. In general, avoid words like "I", "me",
"myself".
A reader will normally assume that any
idea not referenced is your own. It is
therefore unnecessary to make this
explicit.
Don't write:" In my opinion, this a very
interesting study."
Write: "This is a very interesting study."

15. In academic writing you need to be
accurate in your use of vocabulary. Do not
confuse.
for example, "phonetics" and "phonology"
or "grammar" with "syntax".

16. In academic writing you are responsible for
demonstrating an understanding of the
source text. You must also be responsible
for, and must be able to provide evidence
and justification for, any claims you make.
This is done by paraphrasing and
summarizing what you read and
acknowledging the source of this
information or ideas.

17. Good writing should be focused, not fuzzy.
Good writing should be Organized.
Good writing should be clear, concise and
precise.
Good writing should be free of grammatical
errors.