Top 7 Dos and Don’ts of Academic Writing

Academic writing is a significant skill for students to gain success in the university. No matter whether you are writing research papers, assignments, reflective essays, or dissertations, the way you write is as important as what you write. Therefore, students lose marks due to some avoidable writing mistakes that replace weak ideas.

Therefore, if you wish to upgrade your marks and submit credible, clear, and high-scoring academic work, the following blog is handy. Here are the top 7 Dos and Don’ts in academic writing, along with practical examples to assist you in writing with precision and confidence.

1. Do write objectively and clearly

❌ Don’t Use Informal or Emotional Language

One of the foundational principles of academic writing is objectivity and clarity. Academic writing is not a casual blog or personal diary. It is precise, formal and evidence-based.

✅ Do:

• Use clear and concise sentences
• Maintain a formal academic tone
• Present arguments logically and objectively

Example:

✔️ The following study examines the impact of digital marketing on the purchasing behaviour of consumers.

❌ I feel digital marketing is critical and impacts people a lot.

🚫 Don’t:

• Use slang, contractions, or casual expressions
• Express personal emotions unless explicitly required (e.g., reflective writing)

Clear academic language helps in enhancing the readability of the academic paper.

2. Do structure your writing properly

❌ Don’t write without the presence of logical flow

A highly structured academic writing makes it easy for readers to evaluate your argument and showcases critical thinking.

✅Do:

• Follow a clear structure: Introduction – Body – Conclusion
• Use headings and subheadings where appropriate
• Ensure each paragraph focuses on one main idea

Ideal Paragraph structure

1. Topic sentence
2. Evidence or citation
3. Analysis
4. Link to the following paragraph

🚫 Don’ts:

• Jump randomly between ideas
• Write long, unfocused paragraphs
• Ignore assignment guidelines

The availability of high-quality structure enhances scalability and academic credibility.

3. Do Support Arguments with proofs and evidence

❌ Don’t make unsupported claims

Academic writing requires arguments supported by evidence, and not options.

✅ Do:

• Support claims with scholarly sources
• Use peer-reviewed journals, books, and credible reports
• Cite all sources accurately

Example:

✔️ As per Porter (2018), competitive advantage is gained through differentiation strategies and cost leadership.

❌ Most businesses achieve success as they do things differently.

🚫 Don’t:

• Rely on personal beliefs
• Use unreliable websites or blogs
• Forget citations

Referencing the academic writing with credible sources helps in improving the trust and authority academically.

4. Use proper referencing

❌ Don’t Plagiarise (Not even accidentally)

Plagiarism is one of the most critical academic offences that results in rejection and penalties.

✅ Do:

• Use the required referencing style (Harvard, APA, MLA, etc.)
• Paraphrase properly instead of copying
• Include both in-text citations and reference lists

🚫Don’t:

• Copy-paste content from sources
• Forget to credit ideas that are not your own
• Mix referencing styles

Using correct referencing helps in protecting your writing from plagiarism and improves academic integrity.

5. Always maintain an academic tone

❌ Don’t use the first person unless it is said.

Academic writing generally does not include personal language unless it is specified.

✅Do:

• Write in third person where appropriate
• Use passive or neutral constructions
• Maintain consistency in tone

Example:

✔️ The findings of the study showcase a strong correlation between employee engagement and leadership style.

❌ I think the results clearly show that leaders matter a lot.

🚫 Don’t:

• Use “I”, “we”, or “you” unnecessarily
• Sound conversational or persuasive without evidence

The presence of a consistent academic tone helps in improving trust and maintaining professionalism.

6. Perform proofreading and editing thoroughly

❌ Don’t submit your academic writing without reviewing

Even brilliant ideas cannot get the full marks due to poor formatting and grammar.

✅Do:

• Proofread multiple times
• Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Ensure consistent formatting

🚫 Don’t:

• Rely solely on spell-check tools
• Ignore minor errors—they add up
• Rush submission

Reading the work aloud can help catch the errors and unclear sentences.

7. Do follow academic guidelines

❌ Don’t ignore the instructions of the assignment.

The majority of the students lose marks just for not following the instructions

✅Do:

• Follow word count requirements
• Stick to the given topic
• Use prescribed fonts, spacing, and formatting

🚫 Don’t:

• Exceed or fall short of word limits
• Answer a different question
• Assume guidelines are optional

The universities penalise the off-topic answers.

Final Thoughts: Mastering the academic thoughts with confidence

It is important to note that academic writing is not required to be very intimidating. Following the above-mentioned Top 7 Dos and Don’ts of Academic Writing can help improve the coherence, confidence, and credibility in the work. Strong academic writing is not about using complex phrases; but it is more about structured arguments, clear thinking, and credible evidence. No matter whether you are working on a post-graduate dissertation or are a first-year student, mastering these tips will help you write with confidence and help you score higher.