What is Academic English?

Academic English is a formal style of language which is used in school settings such as universities and colleges. You should study this kind of English if you are a student, but it is also helpful for working professionals because writing to clients, employees, or employers often requires formal use of language.

Academic English includes: writing academic essays, giving speeches, using formal vocabulary, doing research, including citations and references (APA or MLA styles), providing support for claims or opinions, maintaining an objective versus subjective tone, avoiding cliches, using proper grammar, outlining, using a clear structure in writing, etc.

To improve your academic English, you can do the following:

-Study the Academic Word List

-Avoid contractions

-Avoid phrasal verbs

-Do formal research and include references and citations

-Use objective tone and language

While it takes time to develop academic English skills, it is always possible to improve them, and once you master this kind of English, you will be really proud of yourself.

Author: Nairi I., English Coach (English as a Second Language, MA)

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