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Writing in Academic Style - PPT (Lecture 22)

The document provides guidelines for writing in an academic style, including: 1) Avoiding phrasal verbs and instead using single-word equivalents. 2) Not starting sentences with conjunctions like "and", "but", or "so" and instead using more formal linking words. 3) Eliminating vague language and exaggerations that have no place in measured academic writing.

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35 views

Writing in Academic Style - PPT (Lecture 22)

The document provides guidelines for writing in an academic style, including: 1) Avoiding phrasal verbs and instead using single-word equivalents. 2) Not starting sentences with conjunctions like "and", "but", or "so" and instead using more formal linking words. 3) Eliminating vague language and exaggerations that have no place in measured academic writing.

Uploaded by

Salah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Writing in Academic

Style
Rhetorical questions
A question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than
to get an answer.
• Industrial sites cause vast amounts of
environmental pollution, so why do we still
use them?
• The question surrounding the continued use of
industrial sites, given their vast pollution
production, still remains.
Rhetorical Question
Phrasal verbs
Generally avoid "phrasal verbs" (e.g. get off, get away with, put in
etc): instead, use one word equivalents.
Exercise 1
Replace the phrasal verbs in the sentences
with a more appropriate verb from the list
below. Don't forget to keep the same tense.
fluctuate Investigate Eliminate raise reduce propose intervene establish

1. Researchers have been looking into the problem for 15


years.
2. This issue was brought up during the seminar.
3. It is assumed that the management knows what is
happening and will therefore step in if there is a problem.
4. Schools cannot altogether get rid of the problem of
truancy.
5. The number of staff has been cut down recently.
6. It was very difficult to find out exactly what
happened.
7. House prices have a tendency to go up and down.
fluctuate Investigate Eliminate raise reduce propose intervene establish

1. Researchers have been looking into the problem for 15


years.
2. This issue was brought up during the seminar.
3. It is assumed that the management knows what is
happening and will therefore step in if there is a problem.
4. Schools cannot altogether get rid of the problem of
truancy.
5. The number of staff has been cut down recently.
6. It was very difficult to find out exactly what
happened.
7. House prices have a tendency to go up and down.
Exercise 2
Replace the following phrasal verbs with a more
formal single word.
1. The locals could not put up with the visitors from the city.
2. The decline was brought about by cheap imports.
3. The university is thinking about installing CCTV.
4. Sales are likely to drop off in the third quarter.
5. He went on speaking for over an hour.
6. The meeting was put off until December.
7. The cinema was pulled down ten years ago.
8. People have cut down on their consumption of beef.
Avoid starting sentences with
“and”, “but”, “because” or “so”
“In addition”, “additionally”, “further”, “furthermore”, “indeed” or “moreover”.
(Instead of and)

“However”, “in contrast”, “instead”, “nevertheless”, “occasionally”, “of course”, “on


the contrary” or “otherwise”. (Instead of but)

“Accordingly“, “as a result“, “consequently”, “hence”, “in short”, “subsequently“,


“therefore”, “thus” or “to this end“. (Instead of so)

Other important linking words:


Giving examples: “for example“, “for instance“
Finishing up: “in summary“, “in short”, “in conclusion”, “taken together”
Avoid ending sentences with
“too”, “also”, “though” or “yet”
Avoid “get”
Use “have”, “receive”, “obtain”, “possess” or “become”.
“get rid of” (delete, eliminate, omit, remove).
“get better” (ameliorate, improve, recover).

“My supervisor got excited when I got some results using


samples I got from Africa. However, she got angry when she got
to know that I had got hold of them illegally.”
Avoid vagueness, sensationalism
and exaggeration
Eliminate words such as “a lot”, “a bit” and “a little” in scientific writing.

Avoid adjectives such as “amazing”, “incredible”, “unbelievable”,


“stunning” or “spectacular”.
In addition, do not end sentences with exclamation marks.

Absolute statements (e. g. “This hypothesis will never be falsified.”) and


exaggerated accuracy (e. g. “Our results provide 100% proof of our theory.”)
have no place in measured scientific writing.

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