Academic Skills

Why third person?

Using the first person pronouns ("I, me, we") can sound too personal, less objective, and more emotive. You should only use this in reflective pieces of work or if instructed by your tutor.

Second person ("you, your" etc) sounds chatty, and could also come across as appealing to the reader on an emotive level rather than being objective. You should save second person pronouns for oral presentations or less formal work.

Third person allows you to to write in a more formal and neutral tone. It can also improve the "flow" of your writing, as it forces you to rethink your sentence structure to avoid using repetitive sentences like "I did this... I found that...". 

Use formal language and avoid colloquial expressions. Replace vague terms with more precise alternatives.

Avoid contractions when using academic writing. Write out the full word(s) instead of using apostrophes to shorten them.

If you are worried about going over your word count, look at making your sentences more concise instead.

If you are going to use abbreviations in your writing (such as the names of institutions) you should write them out in full the first time they appear in your text. For example:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that...

In subsequent mentions you can use the abbreviation or acronym.

In academic writing, the choice between active and passive voice affects how clearly and effectively you communicate your ideas. Here's a quick guide on how and when to use them:

Active Voice in Academic Writing

In active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action. This structure tends to be more direct and engaging.

• Example: The researcher conducted the experiment.
• Why use it?: Active voice is clear and concise, making your argument or explanation more straightforward. It’s typically preferred when you want to highlight who is responsible for the action, like in discussion and analysis sections.

Passive Voice in Academic Writing

In passive voice, the action is done to the subject. This can be useful when you want to focus on the action or result, rather than who performed it.

• Example: The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis.
• Why use it?: Passive voice is common in academic writing, especially in methods sections, where the focus is more on what was done rather than who did it. It gives writing a more objective tone, which is often desirable in formal contexts.

When to Use Passive Voice in Academia

• To focus on the results or process rather than the researcher: Data was collected from 200 participants.
• To maintain a formal tone: The study was approved by the ethics committee.
• When the actor is irrelevant or unknown: The findings were widely accepted.

When to Use Active Voice

• In critical analysis or argumentative sections, where you need to clearly state who is responsible for an action: Smith argues that....
• To make your writing engaging and easier to follow: The study highlights the importance of....

Note for Students: Balancing active and passive voice in your academic writing can improve clarity and engagement. Use active voice to strengthen your argument and passive voice when you need a formal, objective tone, especially when discussing processes or results; you'll be using this the most!