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Essential Academic Skills

Skills for Success / Academic Skills / Essential Academic Skills

English Language / Grammar

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What is it?

This refers to your ability to use English vocabulary and grammar for your academic purposes. Academic vocabulary is more specific than general English, and individual subjects have their own technical terms and definitions. There are rules about how to say things in academic texts that affect your choice of words and also the way you structure your sentences.

Why is it important?

Clear and accurate communication of ideas is important because at university level most things are open to debate and so it is important to be clear and precise. This forces you to think more clearly and is essential for critical thinking. The ability to think critically and express yourself clearly will also be important in your professional life beyond university.

Examples

  • Don't use first person.
    • Normal English - "I heated the test tube." (using "I")
    • Academic English - "The test tube was heated" (using the passive to avoid "I")
  • Don't use "get"
  • Use the passive
  • Make sentences into nouns ("nominalisation"). For example:
    • In normal English - "A stable family helps young people to be happy."
    • In academic English - "The happiness of the young is promoted by a stable family."

How can I learn it?

  • Read a lot and notice new academic words and how sentences and paragraphs are structured.
  • Keep notes of vocabulary and structures.
  • Learn the Academic Word List.
  • Look through the Skills for Success: Academic Skills website for guidance and resources.

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