Stylistics

General rules and the most

common mistakes
 include
a formal tone, use of the third-person rather
than first-person perspective (usually), a
clear focus on the research problem under
investigation, and precise word choice. So,
all academic papers require careful
attention to the :
Unlike fiction, academic writing is
and . To make the
text coherent, you can use
- narrative links
between sentences and
paragraphs.

PAY ATTENTION THAT

lack of transitions between
sentences and paragraphs makes
your text hard to read and
comprehend, while overuse can Some examples of transition
distract and confuse the reader. So words in English you can use.
please avoid forcing a transition
into every sentence.
 is created when you use
grammatically equivalent forms in
sequence within a sentence or a
paragraph:
She likes jogging, cooking, and
reading.
, , , , , , , , people who tell them.
and are useful for referring
back to something previously
mentioned. Be sure, however, that what
you are referring to is clear:
When scientific experiments do not work out as
expected, they are often considered failures until
some other scientist tries them again.
are words that have
essentially the same meaning, and
they provide some variety in your
word choices, helping the reader to
stay focused on the idea being
discussed:
Myths narrate sacred histories and explain
sacred origins. These traditional
narratives are, in short, a set of beliefs that
are a very real force in the lives of the
By the way,
, which are a common
mistake among writers.

Throughout your paper, you
have to present the arguments
of others fairly, with an
appropriate narrative tone, and
without loaded or biased
language.
To do this, you should
The following words and phrases are considered
too informal for an academic paper:
, , , , , ,
(or any other contraction), ,
.
Expressing your opinion is appropriate in
particular types of academic text (such
as personal statements and reflective or
argumentative essays). In other cases, try to let
the facts speak for themselves or emphasize your
point with less biased language.
Using too many simple terms can make
your writing sound elementary, so take care
not to overuse them. It is also better
to
.

Using vague terms makes your writing

imprecise and may cause people to
interpret it in different ways. Always try to
be as specific as possible.
Academic writing is usually unadorned and
direct. Some adverbs of frequency (such
as and ), superlatives (such
as ), and intensifiers (such as )
Earlier, the preferred way to avoid bias
are often too dramatic.
was to use “ ” instead of “he”.
Now, the alternative pronoun most
commonly used is “ ”, often referred
to as singular “they”:
Someone left his or her backpack behind. →
Someone left their backpack behind.

Also, it is recommended to avoid nouns

such as “ ”, “ ”,
“ ”, etc. because these
words are not gender-neutral.
Moreover, they can be confusing.
 Your language should be concise, formal, and express
precisely what you want it to mean. Do not use vague
expressions that are not specific or precise enough. There is no
need to use needlessly complex syntax.

When writing, :

It is appropriate for you to Avoid using terms whose

use terms and a formal style of meaning you are unsure of and do not just
expression in academic writing, but it guess or assume! Consult the meaning of
does not mean using "big words" just terms in specialized, discipline-specific
for the sake of doing so. dictionaries or the Internet.
 Avoid directives that
demand the reader to "do this" or
"do that." Directives should be
framed as evidence-based
recommendations or goals
leading to specific outcomes.
Excessive
use of personal nouns [e.g., I,
me, you, us] may lead the
reader to believe the study
was overly subjective.
Personal nouns are generally
found in the discussion
section of a paper because
this is where you as the
author/researcher interpret
your work.
Your
narrative should not include
dialects or slang terms; be
direct and concise using
standard English.
Focus on being
concise and straightforward
and be careful with such
phrases as ,
etc. because they
are regarded as padding, i.e.
all the extra words that do not
carry any importance to the
paper.
 (e.g., "they," "we," "people,"
"the company," "that area," etc.). Being concise
in your writing also includes avoiding vague
references to people, places, or things. While
proofreading your paper, edit any vague or
imprecise statements that lack context or
specificity.
The use of bulleted
items or lists should be used only if the narrative dictates
a need for clarity. Secondly, be careful using numbers
because they can imply a ranked order of priority or
importance. If none exists, use bullets and avoid
checkmarks or other symbols. Finally, you should
remember that is the number one priority in
the bulleted list. So, use either complete sentences or
grammatically equal phrases or words.
sometimes produce words that are
spelled correctly, but that are not the word
you had in mind. Avoid them by carefully
proof-reading your work before submitting.
 To achieve maximum coherency, use a
combination of all techniques but in moderation.

And remember:
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!