Academic writing is notoriously difficult to write. The best way to learn how to do it correctly is by practicing, but what are the dos and don’ts of academic writing? 

This blog post will go over some tips for students on how they can improve their Australian writing skills and make the most of their academic careers. 

Go Formal

The first thing that you should always remember when writing an academic paper is to use formal language, nothing too informal! It's also important not to make any grammatical mistakes, as these might lead your reader astray or confuse them altogether. 

Create Rough Draft

When trying to organize your thoughts before starting an essay, try outlining them in a rough draft so you know where each point goes. Another good tip would be using transitions between sentences so that the ideas flow better together rather than giving a monotonous impression.

Write Engaging Content

The last thing you want to do is spend your time writing an assignment that everyone loves to read. The best way to ensure this doesn't happen is by making sure your introduction is engaging and grabs the reader's attention. 

The Do’s and Don’ts of Academic Writing

If you're like me, you've been in school for a while and have learned the dos and don'ts of academic writing. I thought it would be helpful to share some tips that will help make your papers perfect! Some of these points are from my own experience as well as what I've gleaned from other writers. 

So without further ado, let’s check out the Dos:    

1) Read your paper out loud before turning it in so you can catch any awkward phrasing or sentences. 

2) Remember to use "I" instead of "the author." 

3) Include sources so people know where the information came from! 

4) When quoting someone else's work, always put their name first.

5) Do use action verbs like explain, show, present, discuss. 

Here are a few Don’ts of academic writing:

In academic writing, many things can get your paper rejected or marked down. It’s important to know the don'ts of academic writing before you start a project. Here we will discuss what not to do when doing academic writing for college courses.

1. Do not write too formally as it can cause readers to lose interest
2. Don’t lose the main idea of your papers
3. Don’t use unusual or extraordinary words or phrases
4. Don’t use exaggerated statements to convince readers.
5. Don't use slang words in your essays.

Slang words may be used in conversation but they do not belong in an essay unless it is being written about pop culture or music. This includes internet acronyms such as "lol" and "OMG." 

Your professor does not want to read these types of phrases because they're unprofessional and distracting from the content of the essay.