Academic text

An academic text is a formal, structured piece of writing intended for scholarly purposes. It presents research, analysis or arguments on a specific topic, supported by evidence and references. Examples include essays, journal articles, dissertations and conference papers. These texts use clear, precise language, follow disciplinary conventions and aim to inform or contribute to academic discussions.

This blog post provides a comprehensive guide to academic texts. Moreover, it covers the purpose, characteristics, types, structure and distinctions of academic texts, as well as how to recognise them and the role of editing services in preparing them for publication. Finally, read this post to discover resources for improving academic writing.

What is an academic text?
How do you know if a text is academic?
What is the difference between an academic and non-academic text?
Editing services
Resources

What is an academic text?

An academic text is a formal, evidence-based piece of writing designed to inform, analyse or argue on a specific topic within a scholarly or educational context. It is typically structured with an introduction, body and conclusion and uses a formal tone, discipline-specific terminology and clear, logical arguments supported by credible references. Written by researchers, scholars or students, academic texts are aimed at an academic audience and often appear in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings or scholarly books. Examples include essays, research papers, theses, monographs, conference papers and edited volumes. They avoid casual tone, unsupported claims and personal bias to maintain objectivity and credibility.

Purpose

Academic texts are created to advance knowledge and foster scholarly discussions. They serve multiple universal purposes, through which academic texts promote rigorous inquiry and meaningful contributions to their respective fields.

Inform: They present new information, findings or insights on a topic.
Analyse: Academic texts critically evaluate data, concepts or previous studies.
Argue: They construct and defend arguments based on evidence.
Contribute to knowledge: These texts fill gaps in existing research or explore new perspectives.

Characteristics

Academic texts are formal, evidence-based and structured to maintain clarity, precision and objectivity. These distinct features set them apart from other forms of writing.

Formal tone: They avoid casual language or slang.
Clarity: Ideas are expressed clearly and logically.
Evidence-based: Citations and references support the ideas.
Objectivity: They avoid personal opinions unless explicitly required.
Discipline-specific language: Terminology is relevant to the field of study.

Academic texts avoid certain features that are common in informal or non-scholarly writing. These include:

Personal or casual tone: Academic texts do not use conversational language, slang or informal expressions.
Emotional or subjective language: They avoid overly emotional, biased or opinion-based statements unless explicitly required.
Unstructured format: Unlike creative or informal writing, academic texts follow a clear structure with an introduction, body and conclusion.
Unsupported claims: Arguments or statements in academic writing are always evidence-based and avoid unverified assertions.
Overly simple language: While academic texts aim for clarity, they do not oversimplify concepts or avoid technical terms relevant to the field.
Irrelevant content: They focus strictly on the topic, avoiding tangents or unnecessary details.
Overuse of first-person perspective: Unless the discipline or assignment specifies, academic texts avoid using first-person language to maintain objectivity.

Types

Different types of academic texts serve to explore questions, present findings or contribute critical evaluations. Among others, they include research papers, theses and dissertations and academic books.

Essays: Structured arguments exploring a specific question or issue.
Research papers: Detailed studies presenting findings or experiments.
Reports: Systematic descriptions of processes, outcomes or observations.
Theses and dissertations: In-depth research projects for academic degrees.
Reviews: Critical evaluations of literature or studies in a field.
Monographs: Detailed works on a single specialised topic, often authored by one individual.
Conference papers: Presentations of research or findings at academic conferences, typically summarised in proceedings.
Edited volumes: Collections of chapters or essays by different authors, compiled by editors around a central theme.

Structure

Most academic texts follow a clear structure to organise ideas, which universally includes an introduction, a body (consisting of methods, results and discussion of literature), a conclusion and references.

Introduction: Presents the topic, background and purpose, often including a thesis statement or research question.
Methods: In research-focused texts, this section describes the methodology used to gather and analyse data. It provides details about research design, data collection methods and analytical tools. This way, it ensures reproducibility and transparency.
Results: The results section presents the findings of the study, often using tables, graphs or figures to summarise data. This section is factual and avoids interpretation; instead it focuses solely on presenting what the research discovered.
Discussion: This section interprets the results and links them back to the research question or hypothesis. It explores the implications of the findings, compares them with previous studies and identifies potential limitations or areas for further research.
Conclusion: Summarises the key points and, if relevant, offers recommendations or insights.
References: A list of sources cited throughout the text.

How do you know if a text is academic?

You can identify an academic text by examining its key features, which include, among others, its purpose, intended audience, language tone and structure.

Purpose: It aims to inform, analyse or argue within a scholarly context. Look for research questions, analysis or evidence-based conclusions.
Audience: Academic texts are written for scholars, researchers or students in a specific field.
Language: The tone is formal, precise and objective, avoiding casual or personal expressions.
Structure: It typically follows a clear organisation, such as an introduction, body and conclusion, often including headings or subheadings.
References: Citations and a bibliography or reference list are included to credit sources and support arguments.
Author: The author is usually a researcher, scholar or expert affiliated with an academic institution.
Publication: Academic texts are often published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings or as part of scholarly books.
Content: The text contains discipline-specific terminology, detailed analysis and evidence-based arguments.

What is the difference between an academic and non-academic text?

Examining purpose, audience, language, structure and other distinctions helps determine the appropriateness of a text for scholarly or general purposes. In contrast to academic texts, non-academic texts aim to entertain, inform or persuade a general audience. They may rely on personal opinions, anecdotes or minimal evidence and may use conversational language. Examples include magazine articles and novels. Unlike academic texts, they are less structured and do not follow strict citation practices.

Purpose
- Academic texts aim to inform, analyse, argue or contribute to scholarly knowledge.
- Non-academic texts aim to entertain, inform a general audience or persuade without in-depth analysis.
Audience
- Academic texts are written for researchers, scholars or students in a specific field.
- Non-academic texts are written for the general public or a broad audience.
Language
- Academic texts use formal, precise and objective language with technical terms relevant to the field.
- Non-academic texts use informal or conversational language, often avoiding technical jargon.
Structure
- Academic texts follow a structured format, such as an introduction, body and conclusion, with headings or subheadings.
- Non-academic texts may follow a less rigid structure, like narratives, opinions or casual articles.
Evidence and references
- Academic texts are evidence-based, citing reliable sources with references or a bibliography.
- Non-academic texts may rely on opinions, anecdotes or minimal evidence, often without formal citations.
Examples
- Academic texts: Essays, research papers, theses, journal articles, monographs, conference papers, edited volumes.
- Non-academic texts: Magazine articles, blog posts, novels, opinion pieces, newspapers.
Objectivity
- Academic texts prioritise objectivity, avoiding personal opinions or emotional language.
- Non-academic texts often include subjective views, personal anecdotes or persuasive techniques.

Editing services

Editing services play a vital role in preparing academic texts for publication, as they enhance quality, professionalism and adherence to scholarly standards. Each stage of editing contributes uniquely to the refinement process.

In short, editing services contribute at every stage of the preparation process. Developmental editing refines structure and arguments, line editing improves clarity and tone and copyediting ensures technical accuracy. Proofreading polishes the text further, while indexing increases usability.

Developmental editing

Developmental editing focuses on the overall structure and content of the text. This step ensures the arguments are logically organised, the purpose is clear and the ideas are supported with sufficient evidence.

It helps restructure sections to improve the flow of ideas.
Additionally, editors may identify gaps in research or areas where more explanation is needed.
For example, they might suggest adding context to the introduction or strengthening the conclusion to align it with the findings.

Line editing

While developmental editing addresses broader issues, line editing focuses on style, tone and clarity at the sentence level. This stage ensures that clear and concise expression of ideas.

Line editing improved transitions between paragraphs to create a smooth reading experience.
Furthermore, editors refine awkward phrasing and ensure consistency in the academic tone.
For instance, if the language is too casual, they will adjust it to meet formal writing standards.

Copyediting

After addressing the issues with structure and style, copyediting focuses on correcting technical issues. This stage is essential for ensuring the text adheres to the required formatting and style guide, such as APA or MLA.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling errors are corrected.
Moreover, editors check for consistency in terminology, citation formatting and the use of abbreviations.
For example, they ensure references in the bibliography match the in-text citations precisely.

Proofreading

After copyediting, proofreading provides a final review to catch any remaining errors. It serves as the last line of defence before submission.

Proofreaders correct typos, formatting inconsistencies and minor punctuation errors.
Additionally, proofreaders ensure headings, tables and figures are properly formatted and align with the publisher’s guidelines.
For instance, they might adjust the spacing in tables or fix a misaligned chart title.

Indexing

For longer works, such as academic books or theses, indexing is an essential step. It enhances the accessibility of the text by helping readers locate key terms and concepts efficiently.

Indexers compile an organised list of important topics covered in the document.
This step makes the document more user-friendly for readers and researchers alike.

Resources

Books

Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students by Stephen Bailey
How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing by Paul J. Silvia
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams and Joseph Bizup
The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams
The Elements of Academic Style: Writing for the Humanities by Eric Hayot
They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein
Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded by Joshua Schimel
Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks by Wendy Laura

Podcasts

Key takeaways

In conclusion, an academic text is a piece of formal writing designed to inform, analyse or argue within scholarly contexts. It differs significantly from a non-academic text in purpose, audience, tone and structure. Editing services can help ensure academic texts are polished and meet publication standards. By understanding the features and preparation process, writers can create high-quality academic texts that advance knowledge and contribute meaningfully to their fields.

Contact me if you are an academic author looking for editing or indexing services. I am an experienced editor offering a free sample edit and an early bird discount.