8 Easy Steps to Build Your Vocabulary
Academic writers are expected (maybe, unfairly) to have a larger vocabulary than those outside their field of expertise. Publishers often have restrictions on the number of pages…
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Good Word Choice
Understanding The Difference Between Number and Amount
The words “number” and “amount” are used to describe how many or how much of something is present. A research report might include information on the number of participants in the…
Do Idioms Improve or Detract from Academic Writing?
When you think of popular English idioms—hit the nail on the head, kick the bucket, the last straw, see eye to eye, and so on—and examine the possible usage, you will find that…
Correct Positioning and Order of Writing Adjectives in English
If anyone has ever asked you to describe something, you most probably would have used an adjective (i.e., a word naming an attribute of a noun). In English, established phrase…
Anthropomorphism in Academic Writing
Do “bacteria actually prefer XYZ as a growth medium”? Do “cows in the United States prefer to ‘socialize’ when they eat”? Or do “yeast strains found in rich soil regularly attack…
Word Choice in Academic Writing: Tips to Avoid Common Problems
What is "Word Choice" in Writing?
'Word Choice" in writing is the usage of effective and precise language that conveys information not just in a functional way, but also to…
Similar Words With Subtle Differences
Due to its diverse influences, the English language is full of seemingly illogical constructions and rules. However, correct usage of language should be an editor’s forte and…
Commonly Misspelt Words in English
All languages evolve over time, both through internal developments and through interactions with many other languages. English is Germanic in its roots and was established by the…
Nominalization and Clarity: Ensuring the Right Balance in Academic Writing
Although research would significantly benefit from clear and direct writing, it often becomes crucial to adhere to a certain style of writing, in this case academic style, which…
Commonly Confused Prepositions
While prepositions are limited in number, they are important because they act as vital markers to the structure of a sentence; they mark special relationships between persons,…
Understanding the Usage of “Majority”
Like an indivisible nucleus at the center of an atom, the subject-verb pair unifies the sentence. It can be surrounded by any number of modifying words, taking on new shades of…
Word Choice in Academic Writing: Commonly Confused English Words
As an academic researcher, a part of the writing process that often causes confusion and leads to common mistakes is the word choice. While writing in English, maintaining the…