Mr.

Gunnar
English 10

Sophisticated Academic Writing

Directions: When composing academic papers, maintaining a powerful intellectual voice can
lead to success. In other words, it pays to sound like you know what you are talking about.
Power Verbs for Writing Analyses
alludes
analogizes
argues
asserts
augments
bolsters
clarifies
compares
conveys
connotes
contrasts
creates

deduces
depicts
describes
delineates
defines
demonstrates
depicts
develops
elucidates
embodies
emphasizes
enhances

establishes
explores
expresses
foreshadows
fosters
illuminates
illustrates
implements
initiates
introduces
juxtaposes
paints

permeates
pervades
portrays
presents
proves
qualifies
reveals
solidifies
specifies
tackles
transcends
transforms

Avoiding Weak Words and Expressions

Note: You may not be able to eliminate them all, but if you can use more formal words and
expressions in their place, your paper will sound much better.
Weak Verbs:
am, is, are, be, was, were, has been, had been, have been, being, has, had, gets, shows,
have, makes, seems, appears, uses, and utilizes (which means the same thing as uses).
Other Weak Words lots, a lot, well, fine, so, fun, great, very, said, get, got, very, nice, your,
you, good, just, like; Further explanations and other examples follow:
forms of the verb, "to be" unless as helping verbs or when using passive verbs effectively
This means...
feel (as a substitute for "think" or "believe")
kind of, sort of
makes This makes Gunnar mad.
for some reason
personally In most formal academic writing situations, you avoid personalizing your paper.
I think I feel I believe (State your opinion as fact and support it.)
it seems to me
you and second person narration
in which
get Gunnar gets mad.

OVER PLEASE

Try to avoid these too!

Very
Great
Nice
Sweet
Maybe

Seems
Perhaps
We
Even
Thing

Anything
Everything
Nothing
Something

Redundancies (2 or more sentences with the same ideas unless for rhetorical effect)
This is, he/she is, that is, there is..., there are..., it is..., it was... Simply begin with the
noun that follows or better yet, create an appositive: Gunnar, the handsome man standing over
there, is my teacher. Instead of: Gunnar is my teacher. He is the handsome man standing over
there.
Fabulous
Weird
Really
Extremely

This shows
That shows
Somewhat

Little
To some extent
Very
Great

a lot or allot (meaning a lot, not in the act of allotting)

feel used as a substitute for "think" or "believe."
it is interesting that...
it is interesting to note...
this is profound because
pretty pretty good, pretty well: Gunnar is pretty handsome.
there for me (usually in reference to mothers/friends)
and then but then (double-eliminate conjunction)
just, even, and ever again (he was just sure... he is not even... no one could ever
again...
In conclusion
In Bierces short story
being (being that... being as... his being a giant is...)
really (as opposed to fakely?), really tough
I got finished. vs. I finished.(ot is not a helping verb.)
done for finished (I got done is doubly awful.)