Write Like a Professional : Words and Phrases to avoid in Academic Writing

Words and Phrases to Avoid in Academic Writing
Academic writing—encompassing dissertations, theses, and research papers—demands a specific style characterized by formality, precision, and objectivity. Unlike casual conversation or informal writing, academic prose requires a level of sophistication and clarity that enhances both the credibility and comprehensibility of the content. In this guide, we will examine various words and phrases that should be avoided in academic writing to maintain a formal tone and provide more precise alternatives. Read more, CBSE Class 10 English 2024: Blueprint for Achieving a Score of 90+


Avoid Informal Language
Writing classes should be free of colloquial speech and expressions that are acceptable in everyday language. Here are some common words and their common equivalents:
- Less: Instead of saying, “Planning the problems was difficult,” consider saying, “Planning the problems was difficult.” “This subtle change adds a lot of meaning to the sentence.
- Many / / two: This phrase can be replaced with more specific words such as ‘many’, ‘many’ or specific numbers. For example, ‘Many studies have shown’ can be reformulated as ‘Many studies have shown’.
- Conjugation (can’t, can’t, doesn’t, does): In formal writing, it is best to use the full form of the abbreviation. For example: “The sample is not representative” should be rewritten as “The sample is not representative.” “
- Type/Species: This statement lacks specificity and can be misleading. Instead of ‘The findings were significant’, select ‘The findings were significant’ or ‘The findings were moderately significant’.
- Til / till: These informal terms can be replaced with “until” or “to.” For example, “From 2008 till 2012” should be revised to “From 2008 until 2012.”
Additionally, the second-person point of view (e.g., “you,” “your”) is generally inappropriate in academic writing. A sentence like “You can see the results” should be transformed into “One can see the results” or “The results can be observed.”

Steer Clear of Informal Sentence Starters
While some words may be acceptable in a particular context, they can make your writing unique when used to begin a sentence. Consider these examples:

- Plus: Replace this with ‘More’, ‘Additional’ or ‘Additional’. For example, ‘Also participants agreed’ could be changed to ‘Also participants agreed’. “
- So: This word can be replaced by “Therefore”. Therefore, “Therefore we can conclude that the model needs further improvement”, “Therefore we can conclude that the model needs further improvement.”
- Also: this can be removed or replaced with ‘Other’. For example, ‘And all the participants are over 30 years old’ can be translated as ‘The participants are over 30 years old’. “
- Besides: Instead of “Besides, we asked all the participants to sign an agreement,” consider using “Additionally, we requested that all participants sign an agreement.”
Avoid Vague Terms
Writing lessons are often simple and unstructured. Words with unnecessary emphasis should be used with caution:
- Always/never: This can be replaced by ‘often’, ‘usually’ or ‘usually’. For example, “Researchers always say this” could be changed to “Researchers always say that.”
- Completed: Consider using “The best answer to the question” or “One of the best answers to the question” instead of “The best answer to the question.
- Real/very/super: Replace with more specific words such as ‘important’, ‘critical’ or ‘important’. For example, “This idea is really important” can be expressed as “This idea is important.” “
Limit Exaggerated Terms
Academic writing is typically straightforward and unembellished. Words that create unnecessary emphasis should be used sparingly:
- Always / never: These can be substituted with “frequently,” “commonly,” or “typically.” For example, “Researchers always argue that” can be changed to “Researchers frequently argue that.”
- Perfect: Rather than saying “The perfect solution to the problem,” consider using “An ideal solution to the problem” or “One of the most effective solutions to the problem.”
- Really / so / super: Replace these with more precise terms such as “important,” “critical,” or “crucial.” For instance, “This theory is really important” can be expressed as “This theory is significant.”
Avoid Subjective Language
In order for the topics to remain in academic writing, statements that show personal bias should be avoided:


Correct Common Mistakes
Certain phrases are frequently misused. Avoiding these common pitfalls can enhance the accuracy of your writing:
- Literally: Some words are used incorrectly. Avoiding these common pitfalls can improve the accuracy of your writing: Often instead of saying “Students don’t understand,” you say, “Students don’t understand.”, would have in this scenario.
- Would of, had of: Use “would have” or “have” instead. For example, “Research Evaluated” should be revised as “Research Evaluated”. “
Additional Tips
In general, avoid jargon, clichés, colloquial abbreviations, slang, and gender-related language. Choose specific words instead of unnecessary words. For example, instead of saying ‘competition’ you can just say ‘competition’.
Conclusion
Maintaining integrity in lessons is essential to clarity, clarity and professionalism. Words and phrases that are vague, ambiguous, exaggerated, and verbose language will help you meet the stringent standards expected of academic communication. These guidelines will help you improve your writing style and make your research and arguments stronger and more persuasive.

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SRM University-AP Students Secure 3rd Place at HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026

Students from SRM University-AP, Amaravati, have once again demonstrated their growing global footprint in technology and innovation by securing 3rd place at the HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026, an esteemed global competition held on January 16–17, 2026. The achievement highlights the university’s strong emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary research, and industry-relevant problem-solving.
SRM Students held 3rd Place at HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026
The winning team comprised Rajat Kumar Singh and Shruthi Bhagawan, third-year B.Tech students in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and active members of Next Tech Lab (NTL), the university’s flagship student-led innovation and research ecosystem. Representing SRM University-AP on an international stage, the duo competed against some of the brightest young minds from across the world.

The HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026 was organised in collaboration with several globally reputed institutions, including the University of Texas at El Paso (USA), University of Piraeus (Greece), University of South Florida (USA), and SUNY Polytechnic Institute (USA). The event attracted significant international participation, with over 280 shortlisted teams from 14 countries, making the competition both intense and highly selective.
Aligned with the hackathon theme “Code. Comply. Conquer.”, participants were challenged to develop innovative solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cyber law. Rajat and Shruthi stood out by presenting a solution that addressed a real-world issue often overlooked in the digital ecosystem user awareness and understanding of privacy policies.
Their project, titled “Privy,” is a privacy-policy intelligence framework designed to help users better understand how their personal data is collected, processed, and governed. In today’s digital landscape, users frequently agree to lengthy and complex privacy policies without fully comprehending their implications. Privy seeks to bridge this gap by automatically analysing privacy policy documents and translating them into clear, actionable insights.
The system identifies key aspects such as types of user data collected, intended data usage, third-party sharing practices, and applicable legal frameworks, including regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By simplifying dense legal language into accessible summaries, Privy empowers users to make informed decisions while encouraging organisations to adopt more transparent data practices.

The global jury commended the team for the solution’s practical relevance, clarity of design, and strong alignment with regulatory compliance requirements. Their effort was recognised with a cash award of USD 250 along with an official Winner’s Certificate, further validating the impact and quality of their work.
Reflecting on the achievement, Rajat Kumar Singh shared that the team deliberately chose to focus on a problem that affects millions of users daily but rarely receives adequate attention. Rather than building superficial technical complexity, they emphasised accuracy, usability, and real-world applicability, which resonated strongly with the hackathon’s evaluation criteria. He also noted that the team plans to further develop Privy into a scalable and deployable solution that organisations can seamlessly integrate into their digital workflows to enhance accountability in data privacy practices.
Shruthi Bhagawan attributed the success to rigorous hands-on preparation in cybersecurity concepts, HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026, strong team collaboration, and continuous mentorship from Next Tech Lab. She highlighted that the hackathon experience reinforced her aspiration to work at the convergence of AI, cybersecurity, and cyber law, creating solutions that foster digital trust and user empowerment in an increasingly data-driven world.

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This accomplishment reflects the innovation-driven culture and academic excellence nurtured at SRM University-AP. Through platforms like Next Tech Lab, students are encouraged to tackle complex global challenges, collaborate across disciplines, and gain exposure to international research and development ecosystems.
By securing a top position at the HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026, SRM University-AP students have not only brought pride to the institution but also reaffirmed its growing reputation as a hub for cutting-edge technology education and impactful innovation on the global stage.
Vani Jha is a creative content writer with over 2 years of experience in producing engaging, informative, and well-researched content across various domains. Her expertise lies in SEO, research, editing, and content and copywriting. With a proven track record in enhancing online presence and audience engagement, Vani excels in crafting compelling articles, blogs, and other written materials.
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