Research Guides: COR120: Academic voice

What is academic voice?

Writing in college and professional situations is typically expected to be more "formal" than you may be used to. This does not mean it needs to be stuffy, totally impersonal, and complicated; rather, the language should reflect the fact that you are learned (or in the process of becoming so) and are communicating to others who are learned. With academic and professional writing situations, it's helpful to keep in mind that writing is a means of helping others make decisions or an opportunity to influence their thinking and/or behavior. To do this, you ought to present your "best self" on the page. Below are some resources to help you understand this concept. (You may notice that this description uses a more informal voice on this page...because we're trying approachable.)

Below are more resources for learning about academic voice

Purdue OWL--Academic writing
This gives a more comprehensive explanation of academic writing. The sections "The Rhetorical Situation," "Conciseness," and "Using Appropriate Langauge" can be particularly helpful in helping you develop as an academic writer.
Academic vs colloquial voice
This is a helpful handout from the University of South Florida that emphasizes how "academic" langauge differs from every-day language.
Academic voice
This is a handout from Sam Huston State University that gives a pretty quick summary of academic voice. THE FIRST 4 PARAGRAPHS GIVE A GOOD SENSE ABOUT WHY VOICE IS IMPORTANT.