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In the majority of cases formal English is associated with the written language, academic writing, in particular.
Its main characteristics are the absence of conversational features and the use of an appropriate academic vocabulary. Developing a command of formal style is extremely important for nonnative speakers wishing to master the conventions of English academic discourse.
Compare four pairs of sentences. What features of formality or informality can you find in the sentences?
| Thanks a lot for the invitation, but I'm afraid I can't come. I really can't comment on the findings of this paper. Will you write me back as soon as possible? I am waiting for your reply. If you need any further details, please let me know. With best wishes, Alex. | 1. Thank you very much for your kind invitation. I regret it will not be possible for me to come. 2. I am not currently in a position to provide any comments on the findings of this paper. 3. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience. 4. I should be pleased to provide any further details you request. Sincerely yours, Alex Brown. |
There are several rules of using formal academic English. It will normally avoid:
1. Contractions.
 The research won't be continued
until appropriate funding is secured.
2. Interjections and hesitation fillers
 (i.e., um, well, you know; etc.).
Well, we will now consider the
influence of sex hormones on stress response.
 3. Addressing the reader directly.
You can see the data in Table 3.
4. Phrasal verbs (although not always).
 Researchers have found out that
many mental illnesses are based on
molecular defects.
5. Direct questions (although not always).
What can be done to improve the
state of our economy?
6. Adverbs in initial or final positions
 (the middle position is preferable).
Then it will be shown how teachers
can utilize this method.
This work relies on previous research heavily.
7. Inappropriate negative forms.
 n o t... any →no
The investigation didn't yield any
new results.
not... many →few
 The book doesn't raise many
important issues.
not...much →little
 The government won't do much
to support universities in the
near future.
8. Short forms of the words or slang.
This booklet describes the
requirements and content of the
university graduation exams.
9. Figures at the beginning of the sentence.
97 people visited the museum
last week.
| The research will not be continued until appropriate funding is secured. We will now consider the influence of sex hormones on stress response. The data can be seen in Table 3. Researchers have discovered that many mental illnesses are based on molecular defects. We now need to consider what can be done to improve the state of our economy. It will then be shown how teachers can utilize this method. This work heavily relies on previous research. The investigation yielded no new results. The book raises few important issues. The government will do little to support universities in the near future. This booklet describes the requirements and content of the university graduation examinations. Ninety-seven people visited the museum last week. Last week 97 people visited the museum. |
Academic writing maintains an objective and scholarly tone. It is, therefore, important to adopt an appropriate point of view, that is to choose (or not to choose) personal pronouns (I or we) for framing a piece of writing. Traditionally, academic writing tends to avoid personal pronouns and shows preference toward impersonal style. At the same time, there is a tendency now to use an I-perspective in English academic writing, mostly in humanities.
An important feature of English academic written discourse is a cautious manner of writing, that is the avoidance of too definite statements or conclusions. The purpose of such a strategy is to be accurate and to protect the author from being criticized for possible errors or invalid claims. Cautious writing also allows for other opinions or points of view. The main linguistic ways of doing this are as follows (taken from ‘English Academic Writing for Students and Researchers’ by Yakhontova T.V.) [2].
| 1. By using modal verbs. Continuum thermodynamics of solids, fluids, and mixtures forms a powerful tool for many unsolved problems. → 2. By using adjectives that express probability (in all examples below the statements gradually weaken in strength). Dinosaurs died out due to sudden → climatic changes. | Continuum thermodynamics of solids, fluids, and mixtures may form a powerful tool for many unsolved problems. Continuum thermodynamics of solids, fluids, and mixtures could form a powerful tool for many unsolved problems. | ||||||||
 It is certain
It is likely
It is probable
It is possible
It is unlikely
| that dinosaurs died out due to sudden climatic changes. | ||||||||
3. By using a there is construction with the word possibility.
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