Dos and don'ts of academic writing

Academic writing follows conventions that differ from everyday writing. These dos and don'ts cover what markers and reviewers actually look for.

Do

• Do make a clear argument. An academic piece is built around a thesis. State it early and support it throughout.
• Do cite your sources. Every idea that is not your own — a claim, a quote, a specific finding — needs a citation in the required style. Uncited material can be treated as plagiarism.
• Do use a formal but clear tone. Serious and precise. Avoid casual language, but never let formality make the writing obscure — clarity is still the goal.
• Do use the structure your field expects. Essays, reports and research papers each have a standard shape. Follow it; a known structure is easier to assess fairly.
• Do define your terms. If you use a technical term, make sure the reader knows what it means in your argument.
• Do evidence every claim. A claim in academic writing is only as strong as the support behind it.

Don't

• Don't plagiarise, even by accident. Paraphrasing another author's idea without citing is still plagiarism. Cite even when you rephrase.
• Don't use vague, unsupported claims. "It is widely agreed that…" is meaningless without a source.
• Don't over-claim. Do not say your study "proves" something a small study cannot. Be precise about what your evidence supports.
• Don't confuse your opinion with evidence. You may argue, but your argument must be built on evidence, not assertion.
• Don't use filler or inflated language. Empty phrases and inflated vocabulary do not impress. They hide weak thinking.
• Don't ignore the counter-evidence. A strong academic argument acknowledges and answers what contradicts it.

The quick test

For every claim you make, ask: is this mine and argued, or is it drawn from a source, and if so, is it cited? If a claim is neither argued nor cited, it needs work.

Checklist

• I stated a clear thesis and argument.
• I cited every idea that is not my own.
• My tone is formal but clear.
• I used the standard structure for the form.
• I defined technical terms.
• I evidenced every claim and avoided over-claiming.