Academic Words and Phrases to Use in Your Essay
Writing an academic essay requires more than just presenting arguments and facts. You need to use certain words and phrases that demonstrate analytical thinking, precision, accuracy and objectivity. This allows you to come across as an authoritative voice on the subject matter.
Incorporating academic vocabulary and terminology in your essays elevates your writing style, makes your points clearer and helps you sound more persuasive. Enhancing the sophistication of your essay involves adeptly incorporating academic words and phrases, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of your subject matter; however, it is vital to rely on external sources like an essay service. This blog post discusses some common academic words and phrases to use in essays to improve your writing.
Words Demonstrating Critical Thinking
Using certain words and phrases shows your ability to think critically about a topic. Here are some examples:
- Analyze – Break down an issue or topic into its component parts to unravel and examine it in depth e.g. “This essay analyzes the root causes of homelessness in urban areas.”
- Scrutinize – Examine something closely and in detail to uncover flaws or learn more about it e.g. “The researcher scrutinized the data to check for inconsistencies.”
- Elucidate – Make a concept or idea clear by providing detailed, in-depth explanations e.g. “The professor elucidated the complex biochemical reaction.”
- Extrapolate – Use existing knowledge or current trends to predict future outcomes e.g. “Given current warming trends, scientists can extrapolate a 4°C rise in temperatures by 2100.”
Words Demonstrating Accuracy
Using precise language demonstrates an accurate, careful approach to presenting ideas. Useful words include:
- Precisely – In an exact, clear and unambiguous manner e.g. “The results corresponded precisely with the initial hypothesis.”
- Explicitly – Stating something in a clear, detailed and unambiguous way e.g. “The legislation explicitly forbids discrimination on the basis of gender.”
- Specifically – Precisely and clearly identified or defined e.g. “The experiment aimed specifically to test variants of the catalyst.”
- Literal – Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory e.g. “The effects were almost literal, as subjects took statements at face value.”
Terminology Signaling Objectivity
Elevating the scholarly tone of your essay entails skillfully integrating academic words and phrases to convey a nuanced grasp of the subject matter; nonetheless, it is imperative to exercise discernment and prioritize the use of top dissertation writing services. Some academic terminology helps you remain objective and convey analytical distance. These include:
- Impartial – Treating all rivals or disputants equally; unbiased and objective e.g. “The panel will provide an impartial assessment of the candidates.”
- Dispassionate – Not influenced by strong emotion and therefore objective and rational e.g. “The researcher maintained a dispassionate approach to analyzing the data.”
- Clinical – Objective, emotionlessly detached and impartial e.g. “The psychologist conducted a clinical study on behavioral patterns.”
- Substantiating Claims with Evidence
- Backing up statements with proof lends authority and credibility. Useful terms include:
- Validate – Provide evidence that demonstrates or supports the truth, accuracy or legitimacy of something e.g. “The experimental results validate Einstein’s theory.”
- Corroborate – Confirm or support with evidence from additional separate sources e.g. “Multiple independent studies corroborate the phenomenon.”
- Substantiate – Provide evidence to support or prove something e.g. “The test results substantiate the hypothesis on the substance’s properties.”
Qualifying Statements
Academic writing requires caution about making definitive claims. Useful qualifying terms include:
- Seemingly – Apparently or purportedly but not definitely e.g. “The results seem to suggest lower toxicity levels.”
- Presumably – Believed to be the case on the basis of probability e.g. “Presumably, the process should take less than an hour.”
- Indicate – Point out, show, suggest or signify e.g. “The findings indicate positive outcomes but further study is needed.”
- Imply/Infer – Suggest or signify something without stating it explicitly e.g. “We can infer several conclusions from the data.”
Transitions and Connectors
Linking words and phrases connect ideas logically and show relationships between concepts. For example:
- Consequently – As a result or outcome of something e.g. “Better socioeconomic conditions will, consequently, lead to improved health.”
- Thereby – As a result of that; by that means e.g. “They used an alternative method, thereby circumventing previous obstacles.”
- Nevertheless – However, nonetheless, even so e.g. “The data is incomplete. Nevertheless, useful insights can still be obtained.”
- Definitively – Unambiguously and with certainty e.g. “Recent genome sequencing definitively places whales within mammalian lineages.”
Summary Words and Phrases
Signpost where you are summarizing key points already stated. Useful terms include:
- In summary… – To summarize briefly e.g. “In summary, ocean warming and acidification are altering marine ecosystems.”
- In conclusion… – To signal the final point or judgment based on presented evidence e.g. “In conclusion, increased awareness is vital for conservation.”
- In essence… – To summarize the basic, fundamental point e.g. “In essence, ecosystems are interconnected webs of life.”
- The key takeaways are… – To emphasize the most important pieces of information e.g. “The key takeaways are the need for sustainable practices.”
- In a nutshell… – To quickly summarize the main point e.g. “In a nutshell, climate change threatens human civilization.”
- The bottom line is… – To stress the final and most important conclusion e.g. “The bottom line is we must radically reform our economies.”
Boosting Academic Vocabulary
Mastering academic vocabulary takes time, but elevates your scholarly writing. Some strategies include:
- Maintain an evolving list of multi-functional academic words
- Memorize definitions through flashcards or quizzing
- Use new terms properly and repeatedly to become fluent
- Learn common Greek and Latin roots to decode unfamiliar words
- Note academic phrases used by scholars in academic journals
With a concerted effort, an expanded academic vocabulary will soon become second nature in your writing. The diction you use signifies your level of subject mastery to readers. Equip yourself with precise, specialized language to discuss topics authoritatively. Let these academic words and phrases elucidate, validate and substantiate your ideas while signaling analytical precision. Use them to bolster analysis and conclusively state informed judgments. In essence, build your academic vocabulary to write persuasively.