Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Language Editing Services
  • Translation Services
  • Illustration Services
  • Author’s Webshop
Facebook
Pinterest
LinkedIn
YouTube
WeChat
x
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
Language Editing Services by Elsevier Author Services
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Research Process
  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Manuscript Review
  • Publication Process
  • Publication Recognition
  • English
  • Manuscript Preparation

Formalizing your writing: 5 top tips

  • 2 minute read
  • 6.8K views
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0

Table of Contents

  • 1. Avoid contractions.
  • 2. Don’t use clichés.
  • 3. Stay away from slang.
  • 4. Use the passive voice.
  • 5. Ask someone to proofread.

When you get into the flow of writing it can be easy to slip into a comfortable style, moving you away from your target audience. You might start to drop a few casual contractions or colloquialisms into your text; before you know it the discussion section of your paper starts to read like a diary entry.

So how can you stay focused and keep a consistent level of formality in your writing throughout the paper? Here are five top tips.

1. Avoid contractions.

Isn’t it easy to use contractions? Don’t they make writing sound more natural? Contractions are created from two or more words squeezed together with an apostrophe replacing missing letters: we’re, haven’t, didn’t, it’s. We use them all the time when we speak and in informal writing, but they are not well suited to academic writing so it’s best to avoid them in your manuscript.

2. Don’t use clichés.

When all is said and done, your paper is the icing on your research cake – the end of the road for your experiment. So don’t ruin it by stuffing clichés into your manuscript. Clichés and idioms do not tend to travel well, and something that has a clear meaning to you might mean something else – or nothing at all – to the person reading your paper.

3. Stay away from slang.

There’s a time and a place for slang, and it’s in the bar over a drink to celebrate the publication of your paper – not in the paper itself. So “a stumbling block” might become “a point of contention,” or if something “got out of hand” you might instead say it “was no longer in control.” It may seem like using slang or informal language is helping to make your writing more accessible and understandable, but in fact, it could be reducing clarity. Instead, try using shorter sentences.

4. Use the passive voice.

As we’ve seen in a previous blog post, the passive voice is used throughout academic writing. Clarity is key in your paper, and passive writing prizes clarity over engagement; putting the object at center stage makes your writing less active but more formal. So instead of saying “we tested the engine every 30 minutes,” you would say “the engine was tested every 30 minutes.”

5. Ask someone to proofread.

Whatever you write, having a second, fresh pair of eyes on your work will improve it. An editor or proofreader, like the professional language editors available via Elsevier’s WebShop, will help you make sure your writing style is clear, formal and, most importantly, consistent. If you slip into colloquialisms, contractions, and active sentences, they’ll pull you back to the formal path.

Total
0
Shares
Post 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Send 0
Message 0
Previous Article
  • Manuscript Preparation

Common Mistakes: apostrophe use

View Post
Next Article
  • Manuscript Preparation

Gained in translation – launching your international career

View Post
You May Also Like
Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps

What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?

Research Paper Conclusion
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Research Paper Conclusion: Know How To Write It

Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis

How to Write a Research Paper Outline
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

How to Write a Research Paper Outline

Medical Research Abstract
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Medical Research Abstract: How to Write

How to Write a Scientific Article for Publication
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

How to Write a Scientific Article for Publication

Tips for a Manuscript in Preparation
View Post
  • Manuscript Preparation

Tips for a Manuscript in Preparation

  • Formalizing your writing: 5 top tips

    • 2 minute read
    View Post
  • How to Write a Research Paper Outline

    How to Write a Research Paper Outline

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • Sharing my research during the Publication Process

    Sharing my Research During the Publication Process

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • Medical Translation Services

    Medical Translation Services: Engage with researchers in their own language

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • Article Metrics: Measure the Impact of Your Publications

    Article Metrics: Measure the Impact of Your Publications

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
More Posts
  • Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps
    Converting your PhD Thesis into a Book in Five Steps
    • 5 minute read
  • What is a Problem Statement
    What is a Problem Statement? [with examples]
    • 4 minute read
  • How to Write a Research Question
    How to Write a Research Question
    • 5 minute read
  • Write and Improve your Researcher Profile
    How to Write and Improve your Researcher Profile
    • 4 minute read
  • What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
    What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
    • 4 minute read
  • Research Paper Conclusion
    Research Paper Conclusion: Know How To Write It
    • 4 minute read
Price Calculator
Type in wordcount for Standard
Total:
Follow this link if your manuscript is longer than 12,000 words.
Upload
Learn more about
  • Research Process
  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Manuscript Review
  • Publication Process
  • Publication Recognition
  • News
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Language Editing Services
  • Translation Services
  • Illustration Services
  • Author’s Webshop
Elsevier wordmark
Terms & Conditions

Cookies are used by this site. To decline or learn more, visit our Cookies page.

RELX Wordmark

Input your search keywords and press Enter.