In academic writing, we do not need to write for people with limited reading comprehension. This suggests that using "bigger words" may be appropriate, particularly in a prestigious journal.

But we should not use "big words" for the sake of using them. We should use them when they are more descriptive and meaningful. For example, I never write "utilize" instead of "use" because the more complicated word does not add any meaning.

So maybe the real question is about what it means to be "necessary" to use elevated language.

What are academic words, man? Is the way I am asking the question an academic way of inquiry? What I mean to say is that ... Are you getting my point at all if I am not using question marks? Please note that in practical sense, there is nothing called academic or general in the context of writing. When you write, you simply communicate your ideas to the reader. When you don't do this, then you are citing or paraphrasing somebody else's work. Therefore, academic writer is not about selection of vocabulary. You can even do some joke (rarely, of course) while writing an academic paper or exam assignment. Nevertheless, in MST subjects, you should make your answers as much concise as possible. Always avoid flowery words or phrases. You can use difficult words, but don't use uncommon words. Also don't use slang or shorten the things too often. In 'academic' words, moreover, do not use vulgar colloquial or put apostrophes time and again.

I agree, somewhat, with Arghya. I'm not sure that I would categorize any non-technical vocabulary as "academic" rather than "general."

Clarity of communication is the most important thing in any writing, and clarity is much more likely to be a product of sentence length, use of subordinate clauses, and passive voice.

I would suggest using clear language as more important factor to make sure all your international readers understand your discussions clearly.

Another advice : Avoiding complicated words is as important as avoiding the slang or abbreviated words (like can't, didn't...)

"Grammarly"® offers online services can help you make your writing more into the formal "academic" style

It depends on the situation

Arghya Ray

Dear Arghya Ray

Thanks for your answer. I did not mention how I classify academic words or general words. I refer to some authority websites and books, such as http://www.uefap.com/, which get remarkable comments on English writing courses. This website lists hundreds of ‘academic words’ that are suggested for use in academic writing. You gave me a good example. Sometimes, I have to use certain words to make my point and will not consider whether I should use academic words or general words. However, I realise that, occasionally, several words can be used in a sentence. Then, I will think about whether to use some academic words. I know that most English words are specific and cannot be exchanged. I do not write well in English yet because I am still learning it. Thus, I will sometimes use ‘academic words’ to ensure that my essays read like scientific articles. I agree with your opinion that communicating my ideas to the reader matters, and I am still learning how to do it. Regarding MST subjects, thank you for your hints, and I will comply with your advice while writing.

Best regards

Chen

Peter A Kindle

Dear Dr Kindle

Thanks for your answer. Regarding the categorisation between academic vocabulary and rather general vocabulary, I am in accordance with some websites and books. Additionally, I agree with your opinion that clarity of communication matters.

Best regards

Chen

Mohamad-Hani Temsah

Dear Dr Temsah

Thanks for your answer. I will follow your suggestion. Additionally, I am using Grammarly. It is a helpful software for non-native English writers.

Best regards

Chen

Marwan Khaleel Yousif

Dear Marwan Khaleel Yousif

Thanks for your answer. I get it.

Best regards

Chen

I looked over the site referenced and the so called “academic words” they are listing are just typical words and in no way indicative of being a scholar. Trust me when I say that English speakers minds are not blown by the sophistication of someone using words like: communicate, abandan, expand, file, instruct, or predict. If these represent what are considered “academic words” than yes only use “academic words”. Using the “general words” is overly simplistic.

Nicole Buzzetto-Hollywood

Dear Professor Buzzetto-Hollywood

Thanks for your answer. It is clear to me. I agree with your suggestions. However, I should note that sophisticated words do not impress someone. The academic words on the site referenced are not ‘academic words’ literally.

Best regards

Chen

Hsin-Yuan Chen as a journal editor what we are impressed by is the overall flow, clarity, quality, and potential impact of a submission. The vocabulary should be appropriate to the audience as well as consistent with style of the journal. It is important to bear in mind that most discplines have their own parlance.

Nicole Buzzetto-Hollywood

Dear Professor

Thanks for your reply. I am glad that you offer the criteria you require for a remarkable submission as a journal editor. I will follow the writing guidelines you offer and note specific parlance in psychology.

Best regards

Chen

Notably, register or variations due to the use of language is influenced by context of situation (field, tenor, and mode) and the context of culture. Using between general and/or academic words is ascertained by the said contexts. In point of fact, learning to say what to who, when and where determines one's use of linguistic resources such as words.

Reza Biria

Dear Dr Biria

Thanks for your answer. Your suggestions are helpful and persuasive. I will be more careful with the context instead of vocabulary.

Best regards

Chen

In academic writing, we do not need to write for people with limited reading comprehension. This suggests that using "bigger words" may be appropriate, particularly in a prestigious journal.

But we should not use "big words" for the sake of using them. We should use them when they are more descriptive and meaningful. For example, I never write "utilize" instead of "use" because the more complicated word does not add any meaning.

So maybe the real question is about what it means to be "necessary" to use elevated language.

Michael W. Marek

Dear Professor Marek

Thanks for your answer. I understand. Your suggestions are helpful. The deliberate use of complicated words is not great practice as complicated words in themselves do not add any meaning. Thus, if I would like to raise the quality of my articles, I should not use complicated words aimlessly. Instead, I ought to use elevated language, including elaborate context accompanied by descriptive and meaningful words.

Best regards

Chen

In scientific works and papers - academic vocabulary should be used. Some journals even state that clear in their propositions for writting and formatting papers...

Context is key in the use of language. We adjust our register to the context of the situation and this includes the genre involved as well as the goals of our communication. Both academic vocabulary, especially of the discipline involved, and general vocabulary, are needed in good writing.

Jelena Lukić

Dear Dr Lukić

Thanks for your answer. I agree with your opinion to a certain extent. I realise the issue is a gap between non-native English writers and native English writers (or writers whose level is almost the same as that of native-English writers).

I am not a native English writer, so I can only assume from my point of view of writing Chinese papers (my first master’s degree was written in Chinese). Maybe, the situation will be a little different after all, as English and Chinese are different languages.

When I wrote articles in Chinese, I did not consider the issue of using ‘academic words’ in academic writing because I intuitively knew how to make my articles scientific. I could openly express my ideas.

However, when I am writing articles in English, apart from the content of my articles, I have to consider the words I should use to express my ideas clearly and the manner in which I can make my articles conform to the correct expression of English writing. Moreover, I need to work on my articles to get them closer to what I originally meant to express.

Despite this, I agree with the suggestions made by these experts in this discussion string. Their advice is for the level that a qualified English writer must achieve, and I hope that one day, I can reach the level and become a qualified English writer.

(I am not a language expert. These are my experiences. Please forgive me if I have made any mistakes.)

Best regards

Chen

I second your opinion Hsin-Yuan,

when writing remember that this gap/differences in English language also exists among the native speakers depending on their background or generation/age groups

you'll rarely err if you follow Orwell's advice on writing while keeping Maugham's aims in mind.

https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/o/orwell/george/o79p/

W. Somerset Maugham’s Three Aims for Writers:

“I knew that I should never write as well as I could wish, but I thought with pains I could arrive at writing as well as my natural defects allowed. On taking thought it seemed to me that I must aim at lucidity, simplicity, and euphony. I have put these three qualities in the order of the importance I assigned to them.”

Shamala Paramasivam

Dear Dr Paramasivam

Thanks for your answer. I agree with your opinion to a certain extent about the importance of context in articles. The issue of context is an advanced issue. Despite this, I can express an exact context, correctly using academic words and general words, even the terminology in my discipline.

Best regards

Chen

Mohamad-Hani Temsah

Dear Dr Temsah

Thanks for your answer. I suppose this problem will always exist, especially for the non-native writers whose native language does not originate from a Latin or Roman script (I have a German language bachelor degree, so I think I can comment a little on the issue). Despite this, I will try my best to reduce the gap.

Best regards

Chen

Stephen Laudig

Dear Stephen Laudig

The first resource is helpful. It can quote some mistakes that writers often make.

The second resource is helpful as well. I will try to follow the three aims for writers even though they are a little abstract for beginner English writers.

Best regards

Chen

the more you use them, the less abstract they will be. another tip is to read your work out loud and record it and then listen to it. Language is first and foremost, spoken. We've been talking for tens of thousands of years, we've only been reading for a few thousand. Speech is far more natural and carries information better than writing..... if done well. If done well writing should be able to be read aloud and followed unless there is a terribly important reason for high levels of technicality.

Stephen Laudig

Stephen Laudig

Thanks for your answer. Your idea is fascinating. I am going to use the method as soon as I finish writing my articles.

Best regards

Chen

Generally vocabulary is either for academic vocabulary or general vocabulary . In case of academic vocabulary the meaning of the spelling is generally more of academic nature . In general vocabulary we may cover up the meaning of the words other than academic .

If not out of the way a dictionary of Roget Thesaurus may be quite peaceful for finding out the spelling & meaning of words

This is my personal opinion

“Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river."― Lisa See

Rohit Manilal Parikh

Dear Rohit Manilal Parikh

Thanks for your reply. I will choose words between academic and general vocabulary based on your perspective. Additionally, I am going to refer Roget's Thesaurus.

Regards

Chen

Fikrat M Hassan

Dear Professor Hassan

Thanks for your reply and your encouragement.

Regards

Chen

As a journal editor I often notice that when individuals translate their work into English they may select an unusual application of a word. What I mean by this is that while the term selected is correct, the application they are presenting represents a highly uncommon use. As such, it is always a good idea to have a colleague who is s native English speaker conduct a read through before submission.

Nicole Buzzetto-Hollywood

Dear Professor Buzzetto-Hollywood,

Thanks for your reply. I agree with your comment. I often used to select inappropriate words and reviewers would comment that the phrases do not read smoothly. The tools I use to try to avoid making these mistakes now are described below:

- Dictionaries. I use the online Oxford Dictionary and the online Cambridge Dictionary.

- The website: MICUSP. I use it to check the application of some vocabulary.

- Mendeley. I can use it to check the usage of some vocabulary.

- Google is also an appropriate tool to check the application of vocabulary and phrases.

- If possible, I will request native English speakers give me comments on my articles.

Regards,

Chen

Here is a nice collection from REF-N-WRITE website blog (1-6) and other sites (7-12):

1. Academic Phrases & Vocabulary for writing Introduction section

http://www.ref-n-write.com/trial/research-paper-sample-writing-introduction-section-academic-phrasebank-vocabulary/

2. Academic Phrases & Vocabulary for writing Materials and Methods section

http://www.ref-n-write.com/trial/research-paper-sample-writing-methods-section-academic-phrasebank-vocabulary/

3. Academic Phrases & Vocabulary for writing Literature Review section

http://www.ref-n-write.com/trial/research-paper-example-writing-literature-review-section-academic-phrasebank-vocabulary/

4. Academic Phrases & Vocabulary for writing Results and Discussion sections

http://www.ref-n-write.com/trial/research-paper-example-writing-results-discussion-section-academic-phrasebank-vocabulary/

5. Academic Phrases & Vocabulary for writing Conclusion section

http://www.ref-n-write.com/trial/research-paper-sample-writing-conclusion-section-academic-phrasebank-vocabulary/

6. Academic Phrases & Vocabulary for writing Acknowledgements and Appendix sections

http://www.ref-n-write.com/trial/research-paper-example-writing-acknowledgements-appendix-sections-academic-phrasebank-vocabulary/

7. UEFAP (Using English for Academic Purposes For Students in Higher Education)

http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm

8. Academic Word List – Dr. Averil Coxhead (Victoria University of Wellington)

https://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist

9. Academic Vocabulary - Sandra Haywood, University of Nottingham, UK

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/alzsh3/acvocab/index.htm

10. Word and Phrase Info - Mark Davis, Brigham Young University

https://www.wordandphrase.info/academic/analyzeText.asp

11. Exam English

https://www.examenglish.com/vocabulary/academic_wordlist.html

12. Academic Vocabulary Exercises - Gerry Luton, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

http://www.englishvocabularyexercises.com/academic-word-list/index.html