Words to avoid in academic writing. Cliches, jargon, fillers, and more

When writing academic papers, choose words that fit your discipline, audience, and assignment: vague, informal, or overstated language can obscure your meaning even when your essay format is correct. The categories below identify language to review in context, rather than words that are always forbidden. Reviewing well-edited samples can help you recognize these patterns, including when you use an essay writing service for support.

Types of words to avoid in academic writing

Even professional academics need to review their word choices. Use the categories below as an editing checklist, checking whether each expression communicates your intended meaning and meets the expectations of your assignment. A word that is unsuitable in one context may be necessary in another.

Writing tip from SpeedyPaper

Informal and colloquial expressions

Most academic assignments require a formal style and corresponding language. Review expressions that are conversational, vague, or unsuitable for your audience rather than treating every item as automatically forbidden.

• A bit
• A lot
• Sort of
• Would’ve
• Kind of
• The type to
• Tons of
• FTW, FOMO, FAFO, etc.
• One of a kind

For example, “The test was somewhat difficult to pass” is a more formal version of “The test was a bit difficult to pass.” Simply deleting “a bit” changes the degree of difficulty being described. If greater precision is needed, use relevant evidence rather than making the claim stronger without justification.

Likely and unlikely are not inherently informal or inappropriate. They can express a level of uncertainty that accurately reflects the evidence, as in “The difference is likely to reflect variation in the sample.” Use them when the interpretation is supported, rather than to disguise speculation.

It is important to mind your transition sentences. Choose connecting words according to the relationship between your ideas. And and so are not automatically inappropriate in academic writing. Use moreover or additionally to add information and therefore to express a supported consequence; these words are not interchangeable replacements for every conjunction.

Subjective or opinion-based language

In some types of essays, personal opinions are appropriate or even necessary, but in most assignments, you should focus on facts and evidence from credible sources. Using subjective language can call into question your paper’s objectivity and relevance. Review expressions such as the following, especially when they replace evidence or a precise description:

• I believe/feel/think
• To my mind
• In my opinion
• Personally
• Amazing
• Horrible
• Horrific
• Impressive
• Devastating
• Cool
• Lovely
• Extraordinary

Support your arguments with evidence and make your reasoning explicit. Distinguish findings from interpretations and explain what supports an inference; an academic argument does not require every interpretation to be conclusively proven. Evaluative words can be appropriate when you define the relevant criteria or substantiate the description.

Exaggerations and intensifiers

Review language that adds emphasis without explaining the size, importance, or quality of a result. Superlatives require a defined comparison, while intensifiers should contribute meaning rather than substitute for evidence. Expressions to check include:

• Best
• Very
• Super
• Too
• Best/worst of all
• Unbelievably great
• Totally amazing/horrible

Vital and critical are not automatically inappropriate. They can express justified importance or have a specific technical meaning. Explain what makes a factor important, and retain technical uses when they are relevant. Absolute claims such as always and never are addressed separately below.

Contractions

Contractions are usually avoided when an assignment requires a formal academic register. In that context, spell out full forms rather than using conversational contractions. Examples include:

• Don’t
• Isn’t
• I’ve
• They’re
• Should’ve
• Wouldn’t’ve
• Hasn’t
• It’s been

Conventions vary by genre and publication. Preserve contractions in accurate quotations, and follow your instructor’s or publisher’s requirements for your own prose.

Cliches and idioms

Idioms can make a claim less precise or harder to interpret, particularly for readers unfamiliar with their figurative meaning. Prefer a direct expression when the wording adds no useful meaning. Examples to review include:

• Break the ice
• A piece of cake
• Hit the nail on the head
• Eat your heart out
• Break even
• Neither here nor there
• Fool me once
• Up to no good
• Not until hell freezes over, etc.

Context matters: break even is an established financial term and can be appropriate in a paper about costs and revenue. Idioms may also be necessary when they are the subject of analysis or appear in a quotation.

Review stock phrases such as above board, at the end of the day, and think outside the box for a more specific alternative. Expressions such as get through or in recent years are not automatically clichés; revise them when they are vague or do not fit the intended meaning. Replace a vague time reference with dates only when those dates are supported.

Slang and jargon

Slang and jargon present different challenges in academic writing. Slang includes highly informal expressions such as "gonna," "wanna," or "no biggie," which are generally unsuitable for formal academic prose unless they appear in quotations or are being analyzed. Jargon, by contrast, refers to specialized terminology used within a particular field. Technical terms are often necessary for accuracy, but unfamiliar expressions should be defined when readers may not understand them. The following examples illustrate terms that may be appropriate in specialized academic contexts rather than words that must always be removed.

• Paradigm
• Holistic approach
• Synergy
• Disruptive innovation
• Time to market
• Lateral networking
• Industry 4.0
• IoT
• Cloud computing

For example, cloud computing is appropriate when it names the technology being discussed, and internet of things (IoT) can be necessary terminology in a relevant technical paper. The problem is unnecessary complexity or undefined language, not specialization itself.

Define unfamiliar abbreviations at first use unless your style guide treats them as standard. For instance, write key performance indicator (KPI) or return on investment (ROI). While industry experts may be familiar with the terms, readers outside the field may need the explanation.

First- and second-person pronouns

First-person pronouns are not universally prohibited in academic writing. Their suitability depends on the discipline, genre, style guide, and assignment. Review how you use these pronouns rather than removing them automatically:

• I
• My
• You
• Your
• We
• Our

APA Style permits I when describing your own work and we when referring to yourself and your coauthors. Other conventions may differ. Do not replace an accurate first-person statement with “the author” merely to make it sound more formal.

Second-person you can be too vague or conversational in a research argument. Identify the population or group you mean when precision matters. Avoid an undefined we that assumes the author and every reader share the same experiences.

Filler words

The use of superfluous and vague words can weaken the writing and affect the overall effectiveness of the message. Review the following expressions for unnecessary use, keeping them when they contribute a specific meaning:

• Literally
• Really
• Basically
• Just
• Helps to
• So
• Extremely
• Very

For example, literally may distinguish a literal meaning from a figurative one, while helps to may describe a contribution rather than a complete cause. Removing either expression automatically can change your claim.

Redundant words and phrases can also clutter writing by repeating an idea. Check whether the surrounding context makes part of an expression unnecessary:

• End result
• In close proximity
• Final outcome
• Brief summary
• Past period
• Short moment
• Extra addition

These are editing prompts rather than universal errors. For example, final outcome may distinguish a final assessment from an intermediate outcome. Remove wording only when the shorter version preserves the distinction you need.

Absolute terms

Absolute terms describe a claim without exceptions. They can be appropriate in a definition, a valid formal proof, or a statement supported for a clearly defined population or set of conditions. Review whether your evidence supports the full scope of expressions such as:

• Always
• Everything
• All
• None
• Never
• No one
• Everyone
• Total
• Every
• This is impossible

When the evidence is limited, specify the population, conditions, or period covered. Words such as may, likely, or generally can communicate justified uncertainty, but they should not be added mechanically.

Attribution can identify whose claim you are reporting, but it does not make an absolute statement accurate. The following phrases introduce a source or framework; they are not direct replacements for always or never:

• According to [source]
• As claimed by [author]
• Following [author]’s definition

Words to avoid in academic writing and how to replace them

Whether you’re working on a research paper, dissertation, or essay, word choice can affect the overall quality of the paper. Use the examples below to make your wording more precise without changing the intended meaning. The alternatives are conditional: do not invent counts, dates, comparisons, or levels of certainty to make a sentence sound more academic.

How to choose appropriate words in academic writing

Review wording after checking your argument and evidence. Make each change for precision, clarity, or suitability for the audience, rather than replacing ordinary words with more elaborate ones.

• Use precise and meaningful words. Name what you mean and use numbers only when your sources or data support them.
• Choose clear phrases. Replace vague or unsuitable expressions, but keep straightforward verbs and necessary technical terms.
• Use historical wording in context. Preserve it when quoting or analyzing historical texts; use contemporary language for your own explanation when appropriate.
• Remove unnecessary language. Check fillers, repetition, and clichés, making sure that each deletion preserves the original meaning.
• Get help. If you still have trouble with words to avoid, get in touch, and we’ll set you up with a professional editor who will clean up your papers.

For further guidance, review Cambridge Proofreading & Editing and our guide to types of sentences. Apply individual recommendations alongside your assignment instructions and disciplinary conventions.

Conclusion

Even if your research and writing skills are strong, imprecise word choices can weaken your academic work. Keep this list at hand when editing, but assess jargon, contractions, evaluative language, and pronouns in context. Careful editing can make your argument clearer while preserving the meaning and level of certainty supported by your evidence.

FAQ

Why is informal language inappropriate in academic writing?

Many academic assignments call for a formal register that helps readers interpret claims precisely. Conversational expressions can be distracting or unclear when they do not fit that register. However, informal wording may be appropriate in quotations, narrative passages, or linguistic analysis, depending on the assignment.

Are contractions acceptable in academic papers?

Contractions are usually avoided in formal academic prose, but expectations vary by genre, instructor, and publication. Preserve contractions in accurate quotations. For your own writing, follow the relevant style guide or ask your instructor when the requirements are unclear.

Can personal pronouns be used in academic writing?

Yes, when the discipline, genre, and assignment permit them. APA Style allows I to describe your own work and we to refer to yourself and your coauthors, including in research writing. First person is not limited to personal essays or acknowledgments. Avoid vague references and follow the relevant instructions.

Why should absolute words like “always” and “never” be avoided?

They should be revised when the evidence does not support a claim without exceptions. They can be appropriate within a clearly justified scope. If you report a percentage instead, calculate it from actual data; do not insert an estimated figure merely to make the wording appear more precise.

How can weak or vague words be replaced in academic writing?

Name the relevant object, process, quantity, or characteristic. For example, replace “a few subjects” with “3 out of 10 subjects” only if those are the recorded figures. When describing symptoms, specify their severity, frequency, or duration according to the evidence. Do not replace “very strong symptoms” with “persistent symptoms” unless persistence is what you mean: severity and duration are different characteristics.

Are there differences in word usage requirements across academic disciplines?

Clarity and precision matter across fields, but conventions for voice, register, terminology, and evidence differ. Some disciplines and assignments permit first-person descriptions of research, while others favor different constructions. Field-specific jargon will also vary depending on the discipline, and so will the tolerance toward contractions and other informal word choices.