Academic (Scholarly) Writing refers to a particular style of expression that researchers use to define the intellectual boundaries of their disciplines and their areas of expertise. It is characterized by a formal tone, use of the third-person rather than first-person perspective (usually), a clear focus on the research problem under investigation, and precise word choice. Using a specialist language, academic writing is designed to convey agreed meaning about complex ideas or concepts for a group of scholarly experts.
Note: The above definition was adapted from: (1) Academic Writing. Writing Center. Colorado Technical College; (2) Hartley, James. Academic Writing and Publishing: A Practical Handbook. New York: Routledge, 2008.
The Library has had many requests for writing resources, particularly for assistance with writing for publication and professional writing. It is our hope that this guide will help you in these areas.