(You might also want to so you avoid using them in essays, too!)


Rhetorical questions might be useful in philosophical essays. But, in the context of academic writing, which seeks to impart valuable information to readers in an upfront manner, such questions only work toward increasing the word count without contributing toward anything significant.


In general, beginning authors use too many of this word in their writing. Even old pros often search this word during the editing process to delete those that are unnecessary. Deleting extra words strengths your work.

3. Inadequate or unfocused topic sentences
Do not, out of enthusiasm, haste, or laziness, abandon the basics of paragraph structure for paragraphs subsequent to your thesis statement. From start to finish the paper should follow a consistent progression leading coherently to a reasonable, well thought out conclusion. Therefore, make sure every single paragraph in your paper contains its own clearly stated topic sentence as well as the specific details to support each, though not necessarily in that order–the following example, for instance, starts with an illustration and concludes with a topic sentence:

5. Avoid Overusing Flowery Language In Your Essays

The statutes of academic language propose that any academic text should state its contents explicitly. Taboo words, such as the ones listed above, “subvert” this “explicitness” by deterring the readers from discerning the crux of any academic text. Therefore, it is necessary, especially for amateur academic writers, not to include such words in their works.

These words are usually unnecessary and can be cut out. If you need a stronger adjective, find one rather than adding “really” or “very” to it. (Exception: can be used sparingly in dialogue because it makes a character more realistic.)

4. Writing off-subject
Your thesis statement is a promise to your reader about what you will cover in your paper. Don't write "off" this subject; don't include sentences that do not support or elaborate on this main idea. For instance, if your thesis statement for an expository "process" paper is "Making a set of bookshelves requires precise skills," don't include sentences describing your favorite author or the kinds of books you plan to place in the bookshelves. If your thesis statement for a descriptive paper is "My room is a place of refuge," don't include more than incidental references to the other parts of the house or to your neighborhood.

An idiom is any group of words that renders a sense of profundity and depth to a piece of text. However, such depth takes away the unequivocal nature of academic texts. Hence, one should avoid using idioms while writing for academic purposes.


Check for sources before you commit to writing an essay on a topic.

Adverbs are words that usually end in “–ly”. They can be helpful, but should not be overused. Adverbs are a good example of “telling, not showing”, when there is a better action verb or descriptor to convey the same information.

Revise your essay to look for grammar and spelling mistakes

During the course of. During the course of this article, we have learned what to use and what not to use. This is another example of a redundant phrase that you should avoid while writing.

How Essay Writing Services Can Help You Achieve Academic Excellence

While we do provide a list of the most common words to look for, there are whole categories of words that you should avoid in your writing, unless you have a specific reason to use them.

Balancing Academic Integrity and the Use of Essay Writing Tools

6. An inadequate conclusion
Usually, student writers should write a concluding paragraph that summarizes the topic sentence (in words different from those used earlier) and restates the thesis (again, in different words). The conclusion should include the most important idea from your paper, the one you most want readers to remember. (Some papers may differ; the conclusion to a narrative essay, for example, may not follow this pattern.)

20+ Words to Avoid Writing in Your Essay | JLV College Counseling

We hope that they’ve laid a great foundation for you as you write your essays and in your. If you correctly follow these tips, you can rest assured that these instructions will keep you away from trouble. Have you liked the article above? Which of the five instructions has inspired you to try a new perspective when writing your essays?

Words to Avoid in Academic Writing | Cambridge Proofreading

Now that we've covered some of the basic categories of words to avoid, let's look at individual words that should be a big warning sign for you.