1. Formal and Impersonal: Academic writing avoids slang, contractions, colloquialisms, and personal opinions. It focuses on objective presentation of information, using third-person narration and avoiding the use of "I" or "you".
2. Precise and Clear: Academic writing demands precision in language. It uses specific vocabulary and avoids ambiguity. Sentences are typically concise and well-structured, with clear connections between ideas.
3. Evidence-Based: Academic writing relies heavily on evidence to support claims. This evidence comes from credible sources such as peer-reviewed journals, books, and reliable websites. References are meticulously cited to ensure transparency and allow readers to verify information.
4. Objectivity: Academic writing strives to be unbiased and impartial. It presents different perspectives on a topic, avoiding emotional language and subjective opinions. The focus is on presenting facts and interpretations based on data.
5. Structure and Organization: Academic writing typically follows a structured format, often including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section serves a specific purpose and is organized logically to guide the reader through the information.
Keep in mind that these characteristics can vary depending on the specific discipline and the type of academic writing. For example, a humanities paper might be more interpretive, while a scientific paper will emphasize empirical data.