Everything English

How to set the proper tone in academic writing? Certain words are standard, while others should be avoided. Some standard (and generally interchangeable) terms are:

Examined, considered, studied, explored

• Nordlund examined the effects of …
• Nordlund considered the effects of …
• Nordlund studied the effects of …
• Nordlund explored the effects of …

Association, relationship, correlation

• … to determine whether there was an association between income and standardized test performance.
• … to determine whether there was a relationship between income and standardized test performance.
• … to determine whether there was a correlation between income and standardized test performance.

The previous sentences could also be written as:

• … to determine whether income was associated with standardized test performance.
• … to determine whether income was related to standardized test performance.
• … to determine whether income correlated with standardized test performance.

Noted, observed, mentioned, cited, explained

• Previous literature has noted the discrepancy in …
• Previous literature has observed the discrepancy in …
• Previous literature has mentioned the discrepancy in …
• Previous literature has cited the discrepancy in …
• Previous literature has explained the discrepancy in …

Argued, contended, asserted, held

• Jones argued that
• Jones contended that …
• Jones asserted that …
• Jones held that …

Unlike, by contrast, departing from

• Unlike Genovese, Hughes argues that …
• By contrast, Hughes argues that …
• Departing from others in his field, Hughes argues that …

In addition, moreover, what is more, furthermore

• In addition, numerous studies have mentioned …
• Moreover, numerous studies have mentioned …
• What is more, numerous studies have mentioned …
• Furthermore, numerous studies have mentioned …

Like, likewise, similarly, agrees

• Like others in his field, Davis argues that …
• Likewise, Davis argues that …
• Similarly, Davis argues that …
• Davis agrees that …

“Too” and “also” may be used in academic writing – but generally only in certain ways:

• Davis, too, contends that there is an association.
• Davis also contends that there is an association.

But not:

• Also, Davis contends that there is an association.
• Davis contends that there is a relationship, too.

Other words/phrases to use sparingly (if at all): “pointed out”, “a lot of”, “lots of”. Instead of “a lot of” or “lots of”, try “numerous” or “many”.