{"id":7724,"date":"2016-02-06T11:48:51","date_gmt":"2016-02-06T10:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/?p=7724"},"modified":"2023-09-11T10:39:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T08:39:09","slug":"taboo-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/academic-writing\/taboo-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Taboo words in academic writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you are writing a dissertation<\/a>, thesis, or research paper, many words and phrases that are acceptable in conversations or informal writing are considered inappropriate in academic writing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You should try to avoid expressions that are too informal, unsophisticated, vague, exaggerated, or subjective, as well as those that are generally unnecessary or incorrect.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind, however, that these guidelines do not apply to text you are directly quoting<\/a> from your sources (including interviews<\/a>).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Too informal<\/h2>\n

Academic writing is generally more formal than the writing we see in non-academic materials (including on websites). It is also more formal than the ways in which we normally speak. The following words and phrases are considered too informal for a dissertation or academic paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Taboo <\/strong><\/th>\nExample<\/strong><\/th>\nAlternative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A bit<\/td>\nThe interviews were a bit<\/em> difficult to schedule<\/td>\nThe interviews were (difficult\/somewhat difficult)<\/em> to schedule<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A lot of, a couple of<\/td>\nA lot of<\/em> studies<\/td>\n(Many\/several\/a great number of\/eight)<\/em> studies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isn\u2019t, can\u2019t, doesn\u2019t, would\u2019ve (or any other contraction<\/a>)<\/td>\nThe sample isn\u2019t<\/em><\/td>\nThe sample is not<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kind of, sort of<\/td>\nThe findings were kind of<\/em> significant<\/td>\nThe findings were (somewhat significant\/significant to some degree)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Til, till<\/td>\nFrom 2008 till<\/em> 2012<\/td>\nFrom 2008 (until\/to) <\/em>2012<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You, your<\/p>\n

(i.e., the second-person point of view<\/a>)<\/td>\n

You<\/em> can clearly see the results<\/td>\nOne<\/em> can clearly see the results<\/p>\n

The results can clearly be seen<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Informal sentence starts<\/h3>\n

Some words are acceptable in certain contexts, but become too informal when used at the beginning of a sentence. You can replace these with appropriate\u00a0transition words<\/a>\u00a0or simply remove them from the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Taboo <\/strong><\/th>\nExample<\/strong><\/th>\nAlternative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Plus<\/td>\nPlus, <\/i>the participants were in agreement on the third question<\/td>\n(Moreover\/Furthermore\/What is more)<\/em>, the participants were in agreement on the third question<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
So<\/td>\nSo,<\/em> it can be concluded that the model needs further refinement<\/td>\nTherefore,<\/em>\u00a0it can be concluded that the model needs further refinement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
And<\/td>\nAnd<\/em> the participants were all over the age of 30<\/td>\nThe participants were all over the age of 30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Besides<\/a><\/td>\nBesides,<\/em> we asked all the participants to sign an agreement<\/td>\nAdditionally<\/em>, we asked all the participants to sign an agreement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Too vague<\/span><\/h2>\n

Using vague terms makes your writing imprecise and may cause people to interpret it in different ways. Always try to be as specific as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Taboo <\/strong><\/th>\nExample<\/strong><\/th>\nAlternative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Stuff<\/td>\nPeople are concerned about their stuff<\/em><\/td>\nPeople are concerned about their (belongings\/possessions\/personal effects)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thing<\/td>\nThe report presents many things<\/em><\/td>\nThe report presents many (details\/findings\/recommendations)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A while<\/a><\/td>\nThis topic has interested researchers for a while<\/em><\/td>\nThis topic has interested researchers for more than 30 years<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Too exaggerated<\/h2>\n

Academic writing is usually unadorned and direct. Some adverbs of frequency<\/a> (such as always<\/em> and never<\/em>) and intensifiers (words that create emphasis, such as really<\/em>) are often too dramatic. They may also not be accurate \u2013 you\u2019re making a significant claim when you say something is perfect<\/em> or never<\/em> happens.<\/p>\n

These terms do sometimes add value, but try to use them sparingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Taboo <\/strong><\/th>\nExample<\/strong><\/th>\nAlternative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Always, never<\/td>\nResearchers always<\/em> argue that<\/td>\nResearchers (frequently\/commonly\/ typically) <\/em>argue that<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perfect<\/td>\nThe perfect<\/em> solution to the problem<\/td>\n(An ideal solution\/one of the best solutions)<\/em> to the problem<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Really, so, super<\/td>\nThis theory is really<\/em> important<\/td>\nThis theory is (important\/critical\/crucial)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Too subjective<\/h2>\n

Some words and phrases reveal your own bias. For instance, if you state that something will obviously <\/em>happen, you are indicating that you think the occurrence is obvious \u2013 not stating a fact.<\/p>\n

Expressing your opinion is appropriate in certain sections of a dissertation<\/a> and in particular types of academic texts (such as personal statements<\/a> and reflective or argumentative essays<\/a>). In most cases, though, take care when using words and phrases such as those below \u2013 try to let the facts speak for themselves, or emphasize your point with less biased language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Taboo <\/strong><\/th>\nExample<\/strong><\/th>\nAlternative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Beautiful, ugly, wonderful, horrible, great, boring<\/td>\nA review of the literature yielded many great<\/em> articles<\/td>\nA review of the literature yielded many\u00a0relevant<\/em> articles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Obviously, naturally, of course<\/td>\nThe results obviously <\/em>indicate<\/td>\nThe results\u00a0clearly<\/em> indicate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Generally incorrect<\/span><\/h2>\n

Certain words and phrases are often used incorrectly, even by native speakers of a language. If you\u2019re exposed to such mistakes often enough, you may start to assume they are correct \u2013 but it\u2019s important that you don\u2019t let them creep into your writing.<\/p>\n

You should also bear in mind that some of these mistakes relate to things we all frequently mishear (for instance, we often think the speaker is saying would of <\/em>instead of would have<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Taboo <\/strong><\/th>\nExample<\/strong><\/th>\nAlternative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Literally<\/td>\nThe students literally\u00a0<\/em>did not understand<\/td>\nThe students did not understand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Would of, had of<\/td>\nThe study would of<\/em> considered<\/td>\nThe study would have<\/em> considered<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other tips<\/h2>\n

In general, you should also try to avoid using words and phrases that fall into the following categories:<\/p>\n