First things first, let’s clarify that there is a big difference between writing academic papers and writing fiction, and consequently, the best methods with which to approach these two types of exercises will be different. In this article, we’ll talk about the words and phrases that will make your research papers or thesis weaker, however, some of them are highly appreciated in creative essays and fiction writing.
1. I/we think
First of all, replace “I” with “we” whenever you can, and second, saying “I think” is exceedingly boring. Try these phrases instead:
- To our minds
- We believe that
- In our view
- As far as we can tell
- As far as we are concerned
- We consider
- From our point of view.
2. I/we don’t know
There’s no need to confess your own ignorance. Say “there is not enough evidence to state that…” or “this issue is beyond my proficiency level” instead.
3. Clichés
No writing will be improved by using clichés. At the moment, clichés are the way to create a humorous effect of dusty, vintage language. Allow all those instances of “your obedient servant” and “without further ado” to rest in peace.
4. Jargon
Corporate vocabulary and bureaucratic balderdash should be abandoned in every kind of communication, be it business emails, academic papers, love letters, or chats among friends. Here are some examples of jargon that can easily be replaced by human speech.
- Going forward = further, later on
- During the course of/ In the process of = in the time, whilst
- Due to the fact that = because, as
- It’s important to note that = as
- In order to = to
Avoid these phrases along with “across multiple channels.” Just mention them all!
“Implementing communication methodologies” is easily replaced with “speaking.”
“Matrix of factors” can be replaced by “factors.”
“Goals” instead of the “KPIs” will also make your writing more human.
As a rule of thumb, make sure that your writing doesn’t contain excessive words.
5. Intensifiers
The three most popular intensifiers are “very,” “really,” “quite,” and “so,” and you simply don’t need them. These words are frequently used in non-official communication, but they make your language dull and boring. There are many other ways you can make your speech more intense and dramatic. Check out a short list of powerful adjectives you can use instead of the boring intensifiers mentioned above:
- Very scared = petrified
- Really loud = deafening
- So poor = destitute
- Very clean = spotless
- Quite cold = freezing
- Very religious = devout
- Really big = enormous
- Quite sure = certain
- So smart = brilliant
By opting for more impressive and engaging adjectives, you can also stick to your word limit, which is a strict requirement in academic writing.
6. One more thing about “so”
Don’t start your sentences with “so.” There are phrases like “with that being said,” “therefore,” “as a result,” “this way,” “consequently,” and even “thusly.” Diversify your language if possible.
6. A lot
This is a judgemental and abstract notion that should be deleted from academic writing. Every time you want to describe the amount or size of something, take some time and find a numerical description of the object in question.
7. Frankly speaking, actually
Does this imply that you’ve just been lying up to this point in your writing/speaking? Try to remember what words mean when using them as fillers.
8. Obviously, as you know
Using these words is a cheap form of manipulation. If you want to make your writing more skillfully Machiavellian, go for “as every intelligent person knows” or “this is obvious to every expert,” and don’t waste time on trifles!
9. Modal adjectives
Words like “probable” or “possible” are examples of hedging language which is often used in academic writing. On the one hand, using them makes your research less complicated and your work on the paper faster, but if you want to complete a stunning piece of writing, try to avoid them.
10. Modal adverbs
As well as modal adjectives, modal adverbs like “perhaps,” “arguably,” or “possibly” shows your uncertainty about an idea or, as some teachers put it, your humility. On the other hand, if you use them too often, you might find that the paper you’ve completed bears no academic weight and is quite basic, with nothing special or interesting about it.
11. Adverbs of frequency
Words like “usually,” “often,” or “typically” is something we all use to avoid hard numbers and hide our ignorance. Do without them if you can.
12. Like or as
Research papers are not the best place for similes, even though some physicists like Neil deGrasse Tyson or Carl Sagan use this kind of figurative language to popularize and explain difficult scientific notions. If the paper you’re working on should look more conservative, refrain from comparisons made via similes or metaphors.
13. Hyperboles
Don’t exaggerate things when composing an academic paper. Words and phrases like “most,” “always,” “a thousand times,” and the superlative forms of adjectives should also be avoided unless you’re talking about the biggest Hadron Collider in existence or the fact that the sun always rises in the East.
15. The layering of adverbs and adjectives
We tend to use tons of adjectives and adverbs when we’re trying to describe something in the most minute detail. However, in the majority of cases, this goal can be achieved with a more precise choice of words.
If you want to say that something is “extremely,” “highly,” or “much,” +adjective, think twice and replace the two with a single, more precise adjective.
Also, remember that adjectives can become weak, especially when you attach more than two of them to one object or idea.
16. The layering of verbs and deverbative constructions
An overabundance of verbs sounds very official but is difficult to comprehend.
“She tried to keep going” = “She proceeded”
In addition, though the passive voice is widespread in academic writing, when used in excess it can make your text less readable. It is often accompanied by deverbative nouns:
“This decision was made by a group of scientists” = “A group of scientists decided to…”
17. It, this, that
Avoid these pronouns if you have difficulties in connecting your sentences. Read your text several times to make sure that every “it,” “this,” or “that” refers back to a particular notion or object, and there will be no ambiguities for the reader.
18. Issue, thing
Both words are extremely boring and can create a mess in your reader’s head. However, they are popular in academic writing. If you cannot apply the notion itself once again without falling into a tautology, try a “problem,” “the subject in question,” or “a factor” instead. Actually, anything would be better than “a thing.”
19. Effect
Academic writing flourishes with the use of some particular words like “effect.” There is nothing bad about the word, and you shouldn’t exclude it entirely from your papers, however, using some synonyms to it now and then will enlarge your vocabulary and increase the overall quality of your papers. Try “a consequence,” “in the aftermath,” or “a reaction” instead of “an effect.”
20. Good and bad
As academic papers should be impartial and unprejudiced, all words describing your likes and dislikes are unwanted. But if you decide to show your perspective on something, at least do it with more interesting words than “good” or “bad.” Use “atrocious,” “poor quality,” “deplorable,” “wretched,” “woeful,” or “dreadful” when you want to write about something negative, and opt for “acceptable,” “satisfactory,” “exceptional,” or “valuable” when you need to talk about something positive.
21. Great, awesome, amazing, fantastic
In academic writing, we can justifiably compare these words to obscene language. When we use the F-word too often, it loses its power and stops conveying the emotions it should. If you use the F-word every time your browser freezes up, what will you say when you hit your pinky toe on the table leg? The same is true for words describing our feelings of amazement. If you find an article written by your peer “amazing,” what will you say about the speech of a Nobel prize winner? If the results of the research are “fantastic,” how will you describe the Mars colonization plan? If you feel like the word you’re using doesn’t mean anything anymore, stop using it. Try to narrow down the application of your emphatic language to cases when the subject truly deserves it.
All in all, there are four groups of words and phrases you should avoid when completing an academic assignment.
– Emotionally charged words. Here we should remind you that even “I” instead of “we” is a way of making your research or essay more personal and hence, should be avoided in typical college papers. Let alone all the words emphasizing your feelings towards the notion or object.
– Words that have lost their meaning. These are the phrases that should be eliminated from both your writing and oral communication. Let’s make words strong and meaningful again!
– Filler words. In oral speech, by “filler words” we mean “so,” “well,” “ah,” “um,” “right,” “you see,” “you know,” “ur,” and “like.” In writing, fillers are longer but have as little meaning as the average “um.”
“Basically,” “actually,” “literally,” “totally,” and “clearly” are the filler words often used in academic writing, and it would be great if you can stop applying them.
– Hedging language when it can be replaced with specific data. For sure, all those examples of “often” instead of “in 75% of cases” or “probably” instead of “the chances are 4 out of 5” can save you a lot of time when you’re writing a paper, but the more precise information you provide, the more valuable the paper you compose will be.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, this article is full of words and phrases we recommend you avoid. We’ve done this because they are convenient, fast, and easy to use. But we do our best to minimize them in our writing. Let’s try improving our skills together?
