ACADEMIC TONE AND DICTION
A Write Place edition
SLASH THE SLASHES,
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Replace slashes with “and,” or “or.”
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To participate in the class museum trip, students
must have permission from parents/guardians
parents or guardians.
Instead of etc., say “and so on” or offer the rest of
the list.
She went to Target to buy pencils, paper, paper clips
etc and so on.
 She went to Target to buy pencils, paper, paper clips,
etc. pens, highlighters, and other office supplies.
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DON’T USE CONTRACTIONS
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Contractions present a conversational tone.
Example of what not to do: I don’t know what
he/she’s implying here.
Example to follow: I do not know what he or she is
implying here.
WHEN TO ABBREVIATE
Appropriate
Specific organizations
or institutions
Example:
USA = United States of America
FBI= Federal Bureau of
Investigations
Inappropriate
Conversationally acceptable
terms of communication
Example:
w/o = without
w/Jon = with Jon
NOTE: The first time an unfamiliar
acronym is used, spell it out and
put the acronym after. For all
succeeding references, use the
acronym.
Example: The Center for Disease
Control (CDC) issued a measles
warning this afternoon.
asap = as soon as possible
yr. old = year old
b/c = because
THROW CLICHÉS AND REGIONALISMS
OUT THE WINDOW
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Be creative with your metaphors and analogies,
avoid the clichéd phrases such as….
Fast as lightning, a stitch in time, against the
grain, beating like a drum, there is no “I” in
team, standing the test of time, a cold winter’s
night, once upon a time, a needle in a haystack,
in no time, walking a fine line, walking on thin
ice, dancing with the devil, hell on earth, when
pigs fly, crystal clear, clear as a bell, clear as day,
plain as day, in plain sight, hind sight is 20/20,
making a mountain out a mole hill, a penny
saved is a penny earned, cute as a button, taking
it one day at a time, easy does it, time is of the
essence, talk is cheap, you get what you pay for…
CLICHÉS, REGIONALISMS (CONT.)
“at all” (Do you want any coffee at all.)
 Y’all
 You betcha
 Hot dish
 “go with” (Mom went to the drugstore. I went
with.)
 Borrow someone money. (I borrowed loaned Sally
$20.)
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HYPERBOLES ARE THE WORST
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Using extremes compromises the author’s
credibility. Instead, let the research speak for you.
Examples
 The parking at St. Cloud State is much worse than
any other university!
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On average, St. Cloud State University students
spend an additional 10 minutes more per day
searching for a parking slot than students at any
other MNSCU institution.
INTEGRATE QUOTATIONS EFFECTIVELY
AND SEAMLESSLY
Always say who said the quoted words to separate your voice from the author’s.
Example
To be successful in a challenging class, begin written assignments as soon as
possible. “Remember that there is no virtue in delay.” Rushing at the last
minute causes sloppy work.
To be successful in a challenging class, begin written assignments as soon as
possible. Keith Hjortshoj advises, “Remember that there is no virtue in delay.”
Rushing at the last minute causes sloppy work.
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Vary your signal verb. Avoid “states.” Try not to overuse “says.”
Example
Keith Hjortshoj states (or says), “Remember that there is no virtue in delay.”
Keith Hjortshoj advises, “Remember that there is no virtue in delay.”
Keith Hjortshoj writes, “Remember that there is no virtue in delay.”
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Only use quotations when the wording is unique or when you would like to
emphasize the words of a well-known authority to give your argument
credibility. Nonetheless, use quotations sparingly and paraphrase instead.
QUOTATIONS (CONT.)
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Only use quotations when the wording is unique or when you would like
to emphasize the words of a well-known authority to give your
argument credibility. Nonetheless, use quotations sparingly and
paraphrase instead.
Even within her own Communist Party, language was often co-opted by
the masculine, as terms like “‘proletarian’ and ‘manly’ were used
interchangeably” (Obermueller 48). In her book, Better Red: The
Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur, Constance
Coiner explains that Le Sueur and Olsen “problematize the patriarchal
nature of the Left and the masculinist assumptions of proletarian
literature” (7). Le Sueur complicates the patriarchal norm not only by
portraying women as interesting and textured characters, but also by
repeatedly employing the metaphors of maternity, birth, growth, and
death in writing about the value of the working person’s experience, and
as Erin Obermueller explains, in doing so “she also historicizes and
politicizes the body” (49).
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Consider using a quotation sandwich. Introduce your quotation in
your own words. Insert quotation. Then comment on quotation and
transition into next part.
QUOTATIONS (CONT.)
Consider using a quotation sandwich.
Introduce your quotation in your own words.
Insert quotation. Then comment on quotation
and transition into next part.
Example
In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther
King Jr. makes a strong case for hope, saying
“With this faith we will be able to transform the
jangling discord of our nation into a beautiful
symphony of brotherhood” (359). Barack
Obama’s themes of collaboration and
inclusiveness recall King’s words.
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THE GIANT DANGLING MODIFIER
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Wrong. In Sandra Lee’s book, How to Navigate
Rough Academic Waters, she says . . . “
Correct.
In her book, How to Navigate Rough Academic
Waters, Sandra Lee says . . . “
 Sandra Lee’s book, How to Navigate Rough Academic
Waters, says . . . “
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WORDS/PHRASES TO AVOID
Basically
 States
 Awesome
 You
 Totally, very, extremely (useless intensifiers)
 Put him or her down (try denigrate, humiliate,
insult, belittle, disparage)
 Anything with “the fact.”
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Due to the fact = because
In spite of the fact = despite
Because of the fact = because
WORDS/PHRASES TO AVOID
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Empty or Redundant words and phrases
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At all times = always
At the present time = now, currently, today
At that point in time = then
At this point in time = now
In order to = to
In the event that = if
For the purpose of = for
Red in color = red
Literally = avoid this word. Most things are literal
OTHER ACADEMIC LANGUAGE AND TONE
ADVICE
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Use synonyms for the author to avoid sounding
repetitious.
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The author asserts . . . “
Jones asserts . . . “
The article (or essay or book) asserts . . . “
Don’t use stuffy, overblown, or jargon-filled language
unnecessarily. Quality academic writing is clear and
information is easily understood by the target
audience.
“Pursuant to the recent memorandum issues August 9,
1987, because of financial exigencies, it is incumbent upon
us all to endeavor to make maximal utilization of
telephonic communication in lieu of personal visitation”
(Williams 85).
 “As the memo of August 9 said, to save the company
money, use the telephone as much as you can instead of
making personal visits” (Williams 85).
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OTHER ADVICE (CONT.)
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Avoid pompous language (use sparingly)
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Endeavor = try
Utilization = use
Termination = end
Cognizant of = aware of
Desirous of = wants or desires
Transpires = happens
Envisage = think, regard, imagine, see
Eventuate = happen
Deem = think
OTHER ADVICE
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Don’t belabor the obvious.
States the obvious. Imagine a mental picture of
someone engaged in the intellectual activity of trying
to learn what the rules are for how to play the game
of chess.
 Concise. Imagine someone trying to learn the rules
of chess.
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INTERACTIVE EXAMPLES
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Revise the following:
Because of the fact that cats are independent
creatures, they lead extremely private lives at all
times.
 A student should turn in his/her research paper,
annotated bibliography, etc. w/o delay.
 She didn’t get rid of all of her English books and
notes because she didn’t want to burn her bridges
totally.
 At all times, one should be cognizant of the subtle
transitions of color and temperature in the passing of
the seasons as fodder for one’s poetry.
 In my mind, I am of the opinion, that standing in the
cold without outerwear can lower your body
temperature, hence causing body shaking.
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