Want to know why most academic writing falls flat? Spoiler alert: it’s not the research, it’s not the methods, and it’s not even the topic. It’s the words you use. Maybe you’re trying to explain quantum physics to a pumpkin on Halloween night. But the pumpkin isn’t having it. Just like the vampire in this picture. Happy Halloween, my friends.
Too many junior academics make these critical mistakes:
- Hiding behind passive voice like you’re a chameleon blending into the fall leaves.
- Writing sentences longer than entire paragraphs.
- Writing to sound impressive rather than clear.
- Using jargon that no one understands.
- Stuffing the text with empty phrases.
The result? Readers who give up halfway through. Reviewers who recommend rejection. A wasted effort that ends in frustration. A ghost story that drags on until dawn. So, don’t sport garlic breath when you’re trying to charm a vampire on a date.
Here’s the reality: simple words win. The best academic writers? They don’t hide behind complex language. They write deliberately, cut out hollow phrases, and make certain their ideas radiate clearly through their text. Let’s explore why clear language matters in academic writing, and how you can start choosing better words today.
Clear writing is smart communication
Imagine this: you open a new journal article. After five minutes, you’re already feeling like a surfer dude at a poetry slam, neck-deep in phrases like “quantitative elucidation of multifactorial dynamics” and “integrative, synergistic framework” — words that sound impressive but ultimately mean Sweet Fanny Adams (that’s Australian for nothing at all, diddly squat). You close the tab. You feel frustrated. You’re not alone.
Many writers confuse complex writing with intelligent writing. But clarity isn’t the enemy of complexity. No, clarity is like your brain’s VIP entrance to a knowledge party. Einstein didn’t need complex abstract examples to explain relativity. His most famous thought experiment connected a moving train and lightning strikes. Darwin introduced evolution with plain English. Feynman could explain quantum physics to a high schooler. They all used simple language to convey complex ideas — and they did it because they knew that the true measure of mastery is communication.
The best academic writing doesn’t try to sound smart like a dictionary doing CrossFit. You might as well cosplay on Halloween as a walking thesaurus. Its goal should be for you to understand it. Clarity.
Vary your sentence structure to keep your readers engaged. Paragraph after paragraph of ten-word sentences will lull them to sleep faster than a Christmas dinner. Instead, mix up sentence lengths. Start some sentences with short, punchy subjects. Then follow them with longer, more complex clauses. This creates a natural rhythm that guides the reader through your ideas. The variety of sentence structures keeps the writing dynamic and engaging.
Next time you write, imagine explaining your work to a friend who’s smart but outside your field. Put some training wheels on your thought process. Use plain language that doesn’t require a translator, and hold their hand a bit through your logic jungle. If your sentences are getting you funny looks, simplify them.
Use clear, specific words instead of jargon
Here’s what I’ve learned after editing over 200 papers: most of the jargon that fills up academic writing can’t stand up to a closer look. Words like “utilize” can always be replaced with “use” — and they should be. Otherwise, you’re writing elevator music. Phrases like “the extent to which” are just filler. They’re mental bubble wrap that keeps the real ideas from bouncing around. They say nothing. Zilch. Zip. Nada.
Academic writing should be crisp and efficient. You want chopsticks, not a catapult here. Sure, some technical terms (i.e., jargon) are necessary at times, but they should be few and far between. When you reach for a fancy word, ask yourself: Is there a simpler word that says exactly the same thing? If so, go with the simple one.
The problem isn’t just readability. More often than not, it’s accuracy. Big, vague words leave too much room for interpretation. They make it hard for readers to understand what you’re really saying. Worst of all, they even make it harder to replicate your work.
Instead, use words that do the heavy lifting. Replace vague verbs with specific ones. “Investigate” becomes “measure” or “test”. “Shows” becomes “reveals” or “indicates.” Clear words paint a clearer picture, and they make your arguments stronger.
For example, instead of writing “The results underscore the importance of effective strategies,” write “The results show that targeted strategies reduced error rates by 25%”. More specific, more powerful. Think less fortune cookie and more Google Maps.
Use a thesaurus to brighten it up with sharper, more accurate terminology. Identify the jargon, and replace it with more concrete language. Write words that you would high-five. Put some boots on those words. Talk to the reader as if they’re a squirrel looking for their nuts. If a word doesn’t contribute, delete it.
Abandon the passive voice
Avoid passive voice like a date with a vengeful ex-lover. Many writers think the passive voice sounds more “academic” — more objective, more formal. But all it does is put distance between your research and your reader. “A significant effect was found” makes readers wonder: by whom? Don’t play hide and seek with your readers. The passive voice hides agency. It muddies meaning.
Instead, make your writing more direct. Put the subject first, and let the reader see the action happen. Instead of “The hypothesis was supported by the data,” write “The data supported the hypothesis.” It’s cleaner, more concise, and it keeps the focus on your actual findings. Don’t put your meaning in witness protection. As we all use generative AI to write everywhere, our words are already having an identity crisis.
When you use active voice, you take ownership of your research. You make it clear who did what. Instead of “Data were collected over a three-month period,” write “We collected data for three months.” Yeah, you did that. Good on you. It’s sharper. It’s clearer. It makes your writing come alive. Like Mike Myers at the end of each Halloween movie. 👀
There’s a time and place for the passive voice — like when the actor is unknown or unimportant. But in general, it’s a lazy crutch that weakens your writing. Cut back on it. Marie Kondo those sentences. And instead, do some linguistic Kung Fu.
Mark up every instance of “was” or “were” in your draft. Rewrite as many as you can to show who did the action. You might be surprised how much flabbier writing hides in those passive constructions. Get your sentences a gym membership. (And lay off the adverb donuts, too.) And then, hit the editor workout.
Practical steps to improve your writing
Ready to make your writing stand out? Here are five steps you can take today to start using better words in your academic writing:
- Read your work aloud: Let text-to-speech software read your draft back to you. If you stumble on a sentence, your reader will, too. Simplify it.
- Slash the fillers: Words like “somewhat,” “very,” and “likely” often don’t add value. Delete them unless they change the meaning.
- Use strong verbs: Avoid vague verbs like “affects,” “deals with,” or “shows.” Use more specific verbs that paint a clear picture.
- Shorten sentences: Long, winding sentences lose readers. Keep each one to a single thought. If it’s getting too long, split it up.
- Keep the reader in mind: Your job is to clarify your work to others. If someone has to reread a sentence three times, you haven’t done your job.
Put these five steps into practice for your next paper. Watch how your writing improves, and notice how much more engaging your ideas become.
Clear writing drives reader engagement
Think about the most cited papers in your field. The ones that pop up again and again when you’re doing your literature review. Chances are, they’re the papers that are written clearly. That’s not an accident.
Clarity drives engagement. If your audience can understand your work, they’ll engage with it. They’ll cite it, apply it, critique it. If they can’t understand it, they’ll move on to something they can. As a researcher, your job is to push the boundaries of your field — but if you can’t communicate what you’ve done, you’re not making an impact.
Your job isn’t to impress with big words. It’s to guarantee your ideas are understood, remembered, and used. Don’t hide behind fancy language. Use words that tell your story simply and powerfully. The world deserves to understand your research — so make it understandable.
What to do next
Download and print out the 3-page PDF of my Writing Improvement Checklist with 61 items to remember when writing your paper:
