Section outline

  • Academic English is the genre of English used in the world of research, study, teaching and universities. If you read an article in an academic journal or listen to someone giving a presentation or a talk about an academic subject in an academic environment, Academic English is probably being used. If you are studying in an English speaking university (or going to) you will need to learn this type of English. Native English speakers also have to learn Academic English too because it is not like the English that is used every day by English speakers. Academic English is different from other types of English and it often has features like these:

    • it uses formal academic language and avoids colloqualisms
    • it usually avoids 'I' and is written in the third person and often uses impersonal structures
    • it is objective and impartial
    • it often uses the passive voice, infinitive structures, and participles
    • there are many references to other writers
    • the texts are well structured
    • there are well developed paragraphs which often start with a strong topic sentence
    • there are linking words which give the text cohesion

    (taken from https://englishforuniversity.com)