1. Casual Language and Slang
* Why: Academic writing demands a formal, professional tone. Slang and colloquialisms can make your writing seem unprofessional and detract from your credibility.
* Example: "The study totally blew my mind" should be rewritten as "The study yielded surprising results."
2. Contractions
* Why: While contractions are common in everyday speech, they are generally avoided in academic writing. They create a less formal tone.
* Example: "It's" should be replaced with "It is."
3. First-Person Pronouns (I, We)
* Why: Academic writing emphasizes objectivity and focuses on the research itself, not the writer's personal opinions. While there are exceptions (e.g., in qualitative research), using "I" and "we" is usually best avoided.
* Example: "I believe that..." should be rewritten as "This research suggests that..."
4. Second-Person Pronouns (You)
* Why: Similar to first-person, using "you" creates a less formal tone and can make your writing sound like you're giving instructions instead of presenting research.
* Example: "You can see that..." should be rewritten as "The data demonstrates that..."
5. Personal Opinions and Beliefs
* Why: Academic writing relies on evidence and logical argumentation. Personal opinions and beliefs, without strong supporting evidence, have no place in academic work.
* Example: "I think that..." should be rewritten as "The data supports the claim that..."
6. Weak Claims and Unsubstantiated Generalizations
* Why: Your claims should be specific, supported by evidence, and not overly broad generalizations.
* Example: "Everyone knows that..." should be rewritten as "Research indicates that..."
7. Vague Language
* Why: Clarity is essential in academic writing. Avoid vague language that could be interpreted in multiple ways.
* Example: "A lot of people think..." should be rewritten as "A recent survey indicates that..."
8. Emotional Language
* Why: Academic writing should be objective and unbiased. Emotional language can make your writing appear subjective and unprofessional.
* Example: "This study is incredibly exciting" should be rewritten as "This study provides significant insights into..."
9. Unnecessary Jargon
* Why: While technical terms are often necessary, avoid using jargon that is unfamiliar to your audience. If you do use technical terms, define them clearly.
* Example: "The experiment yielded a significant p-value" should be rewritten as "The experiment produced statistically significant results."
10. Plagiarism
* Why: This is a serious academic offense. Always properly cite your sources and use quotation marks for direct quotes.
11. Poorly Organized Paragraphs
* Why: Paragraphs should have a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concise conclusion. A well-organized paragraph helps readers follow your argument.
12. Grammatical and Spelling Errors
* Why: These errors detract from the professionalism of your writing and can make it difficult for readers to understand your ideas.
13. Lack of Proofreading and Editing
* Why: Take the time to carefully proofread and edit your work for any errors. Ask a peer or classmate to read it over, too!
Remember: The key is to be clear, concise, and objective in your writing. Use formal language, support your claims with evidence, and be sure to cite your sources properly.