Introduction

Academic writing is not just about what you say—it’s about how you say it. The credibility, clarity, and impact of your scholarly work depend heavily on style, tone, and word choice. In academic contexts, inappropriate style or tone can detract from strong ideas.

So, which elements belong in formal academic writing, and which should you avoid? This guide breaks down the differences between formal and informal writing, outlines the characteristics of formal academic style, and gives concrete tips — all supported by authoritative sources.

Why Writing Style Matters in Academia

Your style communicates more than your content: it signals to readers (professors, peers, reviewers) that your work is serious, precise, and trustworthy. In fact, research shows that style—even function words—can affect how much attention a paper gets (e.g. citations). One study found that writing style (independent of content) accounted for 13–27% of a paper’s citation impact. (arXiv)

Moreover, without a formal tone, even strong arguments may come across as less credible. Tone influences how readers perceive authority, neutrality, and professionalism. (PMC)

Because academic discourse is part of a community of knowledge, conforming to a recognized formal style helps your work integrate more cleanly into that discourse. (USC Libraries)

Difference Between Formal and Informal Writing

The distinction largely rests on audience, purpose, and convention:

• Informal writing is conversational, personal, sometimes emotive, and often uses slang, idioms, contractions, or direct address (you, I). (University of Texas at El Paso)
• Formal academic writing is objective, detached, precise, and follows conventions of scholarly discourse (standard grammar, citations, structured flow). (touro.edu)

For example:

Informal: “I think that this is a big problem, and we should fix it.”
Formal: “This issue presents significant challenges, which empirical research suggests require systematic interventions.”

Notice the removal of “I think” (a subjective phrase) and the insertion of more precise phrasing.

The Formal and Informal Style tutorial from Northern Illinois University summarizes this distinction clearly: formal style tends toward standard English, complex sentence structure, rare use of personal pronouns, and avoidance of colloquialisms and slang. (niu.edu)

Key Features of Formal Academic Writing

Objective Tone

In academic writing, authors should strive for neutrality—presenting arguments without emotional or biased language. Avoid statements like “I feel,” “I believe,” or “you see.” Instead, use evidence and logical structure. (Open Textbooks @ UQ)

Walden University’s guides emphasize that a scholarly voice should be clear, objective, and formal, avoiding emotive or loaded language. (Walden University Academic Guides)

Clear and Precise Language

Ambiguous words weaken arguments. Rather than “a lot,” say “many,” “numerous,” or specify a number or range. Replace vague adjectives like “good” or “bad” with precise descriptors. The Academic Tone for Formal Writing PDF (Tru version) instructs writing objectively, using precise language, and avoiding conversational phrasing. (Thompson Rivers University)

Also, the Academic Writing Style guide from USC notes that academic writing uses specialized terminology, formal tone, and precise word choice. (USC Libraries)

Evidence-Based Arguments

Academic claims must rest on evidence rather than personal belief. Use data, peer-reviewed sources, statistics, and properly framed citations to support each claim. The Formal Writing Study Guide underscores that body paragraphs should include supporting evidence such as quoted sources or factual information. (NCCU | myEOL)

Furthermore, academic writing is inherently intertextual: it participates in existing scholarly conversations. Proper citations show that you acknowledge and build on others’ work. (Wikipedia)

Structured Format

A logical, coherent structure is essential. In research writing, the common template is IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion). (Wikipedia)

Even in essays or shorter works, using clear introductions, well-developed body paragraphs, signposting transitions, and a conclusive summary helps maintain clarity and flow. (Open Textbooks @ UQ)

Common Elements That Belong in Formal Writing

Third-Person Perspective

Academic writing usually employs the third-person (he, she, they, the researcher) rather than first or second person. It keeps the writing impersonal and objective. (niu.edu)

Some exceptions exist (e.g. reflective essays or methodology sections), but these are the exception, not the rule. (Thompson Rivers University)

Academic Vocabulary

Use terminology that is discipline-appropriate, precise, and elevated without being obscure. Replace everyday words with formal equivalents (e.g. “investigate” vs “look into,” “demonstrate” vs “show”). (niu.edu)

The Formal Tone in Academic Writing: Tips to Achieve It article provides guidelines about avoiding contractions, informal phrasing, and focusing on precise diction. (BestEditProof)

Proper Citations and References

Using recognized citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) gives your work credibility and allows readers to verify sources. The Academic Writing Style guide emphasizes intertextual engagement and correct referencing. (Wikipedia)

Also, avoid “informal citations” (e.g. mentioning only author names without full reference), which hamper scholarly rigor. (arXiv)

Complete Sentences and Logical Transitions

Fragments or run-on sentences break flow. Robust transitions (e.g. “furthermore,” “however,” “in addition,” “conversely”) help readers follow your logic. (Open Textbooks @ UQ)

The Reducing Informality in Academic Writing handout from GMU provides examples of replacing informal features with more formal alternatives. (The Writing Center)

What Does Not Belong in Academic Writing

Slang, Idioms, and Contractions

Words like “cool,” “gonna,” “a piece of cake,” or “don’t” are too casual. Replace them with formal equivalents: “interesting,” “going to,” “easy,” “do not.” (blinn.edu)

The Academic Tone for Formal Writing PDF warns against conversational phrasing and instructs writers to avoid contractions. (Thompson Rivers University)

Personal Anecdotes (Unless Reflective Writing)

Unless the assignment explicitly requests reflection or personal narrative, you should avoid sharing personal stories or emotional experiences. The focus should remain on evidence and argumentation.

Overly Casual Tone

Avoid phrases like “This is super interesting” or “Honestly, I was shocked.” These detract from the professional feel. Replace them with formal expressions: “This topic is noteworthy,” “The findings were unexpected,” etc.

Unsupported Opinions

You cannot assert “I think technology is dangerous” without backing it up. Every claim must be grounded in research or logic. Unsupported opinions undermine credibility.

Examples: Formal vs. Informal

Here are a few side-by-side revisions, now with citations/examples to reinforce style:

Informal

Formal

Notes / Source

“Kids these days spend way too much time on their phones.”

“Recent studies indicate that adolescents dedicate increasing amounts of time to mobile devices, with implications for mental health.”

See how vague “kids these days” becomes precise and supported

“I think the results were good, but we need more data.”

“The results are promising; however, additional empirical data are required to validate the conclusions.”

Removes “I think,” uses hedging, sharper diction

“This article talks about climate change a lot.”

“This article provides an in-depth analysis of climate change, focusing on its environmental and socioeconomic impacts.”

Replacement of casual “talks about … a lot”

To see more about how formal and informal styles differ, check the Formal and Informal Style page from NIU. (niu.edu)

Tips to Maintain Formality in Your Writing

Proofreading for Tone

After drafting, read specifically to catch informal expressions. Ask: Does this sound like spoken language? Does “I” or “you” appear unnecessarily? Reading aloud often helps. Also, tools like the Academic-Tone-for-Formal-Writing PDF provide checklists for spotting overused informal words. (Antioch University)

Using Academic Resources and Style Guides

Refer to reliable guides like Purdue OWL, APA/MLA manuals, or your institution’s writing center. Purdue emphasizes that tone varies by genre and audience, and instructs writers on when formality is required. (Purdue OWL)

Avoiding Filler Words

Words like “really,” “basically,” “kind of,” “very,” or “just” often weaken formality. For example, replace “This is really important” with “This is significant.” The Reducing Informality handout helps spot such words. (The Writing Center)

Practice and Exposure

Reading journal articles, academic essays, and other formal texts helps your subconscious pick up appropriate tone and vocabulary. The more you read formal writing, the more your writing will adapt naturally.

You can also build or use tools that flag informal words and suggest academic paraphrases. For example, the system described in Automatic Compilation of Resources for Academic Writing identifies informal words and suggests academic alternatives. (arXiv)

Conclusion

Which elements truly belong in formal academic writing? The answer is: those that uphold clarity, objectivity, precision, and alignment with scholarly norms.

To recap:

• Belonging elements: third-person perspective, academic vocabulary, evidence with citations, structured flow, formal tone.
• Elements to avoid: slang, idioms, contractions, personal anecdotes (unless required), overly casual tone, unsupported opinions.

Ultimately, writing well academically means respecting your audience and your subject. The content matters—but how you present that content can make the difference between a paper that convinces and one that distracts.

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