Grammar
What is Academic English?
Academic writing will generally demonstrate the following:
Remember:
•
an impersonal, rather than personal, style
•
arguments informed by research
There are always exceptions to the rules,
•
an objective viewpoint
as it depends on the type of writing piece.
•
use of the passive voice
For example, the writer's viewpoint
•
uncontracted verb forms
•
subordination rather than co-ordination
•
formal language.
is not prohibited! It may be expressed,
but this may only come through later in
the conclusion.
Explanations of key features of academic writing.
The passive voice
Explanation: a grammatical structure which emphasises an action rather than the person or persons
who performed the action. It depersonalises the action.
Example (passive voice): The research was conducted thoroughly.
Example (active voice):I conducted the research thoroughly
Uncontracted and contracted verbs
Explanation: uncontracted verb forms are those forms where the complete verb is spelled out.
Contracted forms are those in which one or more letters are deleted and the verb is joined to another
word.
Examples of contracted forms: don’t, he's, would’ve, they’re, I'm
Examples of uncontracted forms: do not, he is, would have, they are, I am
Co-ordination
Explanation: the joining of two or more pieces of information into a single sentence using a coordinating conjunction (and, or, although, but).
Example: We have a son although he lives in Mexico. (rather than: We have a son. He works in
Mexico)
Subordination
Explanation: the adding of extra information in a sentence.
Example: Our son, who works in Mexico, is returning to the UK.
Personal and impersonal language
Explanation: Personal language uses pronouns such as 'I' and 'you'. Impersonal language avoiding
personal pronouns is preferred when writing academically.