Academic Voice Part One

Avoiding Informalities

When Writing Academically,Stay Away from These Structures

#1: Text-Speak

Lol, BTW, ASAP, u, Bolded Words

WORDS IN ALL CAPS

#2: Exclamation Points

Academic Writing is just not that exciting.

#3: Questions

or

Starting a sentence with an interrogative AUTOMATICALLY makes the sentence a question.

What happened?How did it happen?Why did it happen?Where did it happen?Who did it?Which of the events happened?

#4: ContractionsMost contractions are words that result from combining two words into one by taking away one or more letters. The presence of an apostrophe indicates the location of the missing letter(s).

would not=won’t should not=shouldn’t do not= don’t should have= should’ve it is= it’s

#5: Informal LanguageSlang, Cliches, Idioms, Jargon, Euphemisms

Slang is informal, conversational language. Ain’t, Ya’ll, Bromance

Frenemies

Clichés are expressions that are overused and trite. Better Late than Never, At the End of the Day, Think Outside the Box

Idioms are figurative expressions.Piece of Cake, Break a Leg, When Pigs Fly Fire it Up

More Informal LanguageJargon is technical language used by those belonging to a group or profession usually not understood by others outside that group.Make a Hole, MRE, BAQ, TDYSOAP Note, PRN, R/O,Injunction, Tort, Ditch, Deadstick

Euphemisms are milder words or phrases used to temper the negative connotations associated with the action to which they refer.Kick the Bucket, Pink-Slipped

Now in day, many women are waiting until after college to get married.

Doesn’t make sense!

Nowadays, many women are waiting until after college to get married.

Informal!

In modern society, many women are waiting until after college to get married.

Informal Correct!

#6: Meta-Composition

Language that Calls Attention to the Essay itself

In Conclusion The first (second, third etc.) example is… Firstly Point Being Having said that

#7 Use of 1st Person

1st person: Any Form of I I, me, my, mine, we or us*

The plural form of 1st person MAY be used sparingly, if talking about society as a whole.In the United States, we believe that everyone has a right to education.

#8: Use of 2nd Person

2nd Person=YOU You, Your, You’re, Yours, Yourself

This includes the “understood” you.Imagine a world without violence.Believe in this country.Forget everything you have heard about climate change.

#9: Talking to the Reader Soapbox Lectures or Sermonizing Usually involves the use of Platitudes

People who are superficial will never get anywhere in this world.

Believing in oneself is the way to prove others wrong.

As Texans, we demonstrate the values of the American Way.

#10: Passive, Weak Voice

Academic Writing REQUIRES the use of Active Voice.In Active Voice, the subject comes before the object. In Passive Voice, the object comes before the subject.

ACTIVE PASSIVE

Active Voice Passive Voice

The Chicken lays the egg. The egg was laid by the chicken. Subject Verb Object Object Verb Subject

Active Voice vs. Passive VoiceIn the 1st picture, the subject (the chicken) was actively carrying out the action of the verb.

In the 2nd picture, the object (the egg) came before the verb and surprised the chicken (as if she had nothing to do with it!)

Do Not Confuse Passive Voice with Past Tense

Passive Voice refers to the order of the sentence.

Past Voice refers to the form the main verb takes to illustrate the time period in which the action took place.

The student was very happy when she passed English with an A.

Use Active Voice for academic writing. The subject-verb-objectorder is clear and forceful.

Do NOT use Passive Voice because it is not authoritative.