Academic English: What Is It?
The term "academic English" refers to the more formal version of the language that is commonly employed in scholarly and professional settings like schools, libraries, and journals. Complex concepts and information may be more clearly and objectively conveyed using this unique register of English. Communicating effectively in academic contexts is why academic English is so important for researchers, teachers, and students.
Fundamental Characteristics of Formality in Academic English
Academic English does not use colloquialisms, slang, or too informal terms. Words and phrases are selected with great care to maintain a professional tone. In place of the phrase "a lot of," for instance, one can use the phrase "a considerable amount of."
Ideas are articulated explicitly and without ambiguity. The definitions and explanations are quite specific to guarantee that the audience understands the content completely. For example, "The experiment demonstrated a significant correlation between variables A and B."
Written communication is objective and focuses on facts rather than the author's feelings or beliefs. It is common practice to minimize the use of first-person pronouns (such as "I" or "we") unless academic rules specifically state. You may say something like, "The results suggest a need for further investigation," rather than saying something like, "I think this needs more study."
The ability to present and analyze arguments, evaluate evidence, and reach logical conclusions are all essential components of academic-level English. The primary focuses are reasoning and providing evidence to back up statements using reliable sources.
Introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions are all examples of ordered frameworks utilized in academic writing and speaking. Examples of these structures include essays and research papers. Although many sentences are difficult to understand, they are well organized and contain transitions and connections to guarantee that they are coherent.
Language is exclusive to a discipline. Students and professionals alike need to comprehend the vocabulary and jargon exclusive to each academic discipline. For instance, the words "phonology" and "syntax" are frequently employed in linguistics, but in business, the phrases "market dynamics" and "profit margins" are utilized.
The assertions are backed up by evidence from reputable sources, such as scientific publications subjected to peer review, books, or trustworthy internet resources. Proper citation standards are followed to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism.
If you can understand academic English, you will have access to a wide variety of materials, such as academic journals, books, and databases.
The ability to communicate ideas in a clear and convincing way while simultaneously interacting with a worldwide academic community is made possible by using academic English. It is a fundamental component of scholarly communication. By acquiring academic English, students may improve their capacity to participate in educational, research, and professional activities, which increases the likelihood that they will succeed in their academic and professional undertakings.
Academic English Resources
Here are ten English for Academic Purposes (EAP) software and websites.
1. Grammarly
https://www.grammarly.com
Purpose: A writing tool designed to help users with grammar, punctuation, tone, and style.
Features:
Grammar and spell-checking for error-free writing.
Suggestions for improving vocabulary and sentence structure.
Clarity and tone adjustments for academic writing.
The premium version offers plagiarism detection.
EAP Use: Helps students refine academic essays, reports, and research papers.
2. Turnitin
https://www.turnitin.com
Purpose: Academic integrity software institutions use to ensure originality in student submissions.
Features:
Plagiarism detection by comparing work against a vast database.
Feedback Studio for detailed instructor feedback.
Tools for peer review and writing assessment.
EAP Use: Ensures originality and provides feedback on academic assignments.
3. Academic Phrasebank
https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk
Purpose: A compilation of academic phrases for structuring papers and essays.
Features:
Offers ready-to-use phrases for different sections of academic work (e.g., introductions, methodology, discussions).
Designed for non-native English speakers.
EAP Use: Helps students build academic writing fluency by providing examples of formal language.
4. Wordvice AI Proofreader
https://wordvice.ai
Purpose: AI-driven proofreading tool tailored for academic writing.
Features:
Grammar and style checker.
Customized suggestions for research papers and essays.
Academic tone adjustments.
EAP Use: Supports students in polishing academic drafts and improving language accuracy.
5. Writefull
https://writefull.com
Purpose: Writing assistance software aimed at academic writers and researchers.
Features:
Checks for grammar, vocabulary, and technical correctness.
Offers language models for accurate academic phrasing.
Integrates with Microsoft Word and Overleaf for real-time editing.
EAP Use: Helps students refine their academic vocabulary and phrasing.
6. QuillBot
https://quillbot.com
Purpose: A paraphrasing and summarization tool for academic purposes.
Features:
Paraphrasing modes for improving sentence variety and clarity.
Summarization tools for condensing lengthy texts.
Grammar checker for academic precision.
EAP Use: Supports students in avoiding plagiarism and improving sentence structure.
7. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
Purpose: A dictionary specifically designed for English learners.
Features:
Academic word lists and thesauruses.
Example sentences showcasing correct word usage.
Pronunciation tools for spoken English improvement.
EAP Use: Enhances vocabulary for academic essays and presentations.
8. Thesaurus.com
https://www.thesaurus.com
Purpose: A resource for finding synonyms and antonyms to enhance vocabulary.
Features:
Comprehensive database of synonyms and antonyms.
Contextual examples to clarify word usage.
Tools for exploring word origins and meanings.
EAP Use: Expands students’ academic vocabulary for more varied and nuanced writing.
9. Zotero
https://www.zotero.org
Purpose: A reference management tool for collecting, organizing, and citing research sources.
Features:
Automatic citation generation in multiple formats (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Easy import of bibliographic data from websites and databases.
Cloud storage for organizing research collections.
EAP Use: Streamlines the process of citing references and creating bibliographies for academic assignments.
10. EndNote
https://endnote.com
Purpose: Advanced reference management software for academic research.
Features:
Comprehensive library for storing and organizing references.
Integration with Word for citation insertion.
Automatic formatting for various citation styles.
EAP Use: Assists in managing citations for large-scale academic projects like theses and dissertations.
More Academic English Resources
Using English for Academic Purposes
A guide for students in higher education.
English for Academic Purposes - The Hong Kong Polytechnic
Proficiency exercises & games, academic discussions, developing academic writing skills, giving oral presentations, EAP resources.
Academic English Cafe
Free English language quizzes on grammar and writing topics, real academic vocabulary, great books on learning English, model essays on many academic topics.
English for Academic Study
This site has been developed for students and teachers using books in the EAS series. Its aim is to provide students and teachers alike with additional material they will find useful both inside and outside the classroom.
Academic Vocabulary Games
A collection of games and activities designed to review and strengthen vocabulary development.
Academic English Discussion (Video)
Academic English - skills and language for university study.
Reading for Kids
Extensive reading resources for kids of various ages.
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