What is meant by academic writing?

Are you looking for information on academic writing? This guide provides an overview of what academic writing is and how to get started. We'll also give you

What is meant by academic writing?

Academic writing is clear, concise, focused, structured and supported by evidence. Its purpose is to help the reader understand. It has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary.

Dr. Isla Merrick
Dr. Isla Merrick

The Cognitive Writing ScholarA guide who frames writing not simply as a skill, but as a cognitive process, a lens for understanding the world, and a discipline that teaches precision of thought.Background:Dr. Isla Merrick is a lecturer in Academic Literacy and Applied Linguistics, with a research focus on the cognitive and rhetorical foundations of writing. She has spent over a decade helping undergraduate and postgraduate students understand the why behind academic conventions—objectivity, clarity, argumentation, third-person stance, formality, and structured reasoning.Her work draws from:• rhetoric and composition theory• cognitive science and writing psychology• applied linguistics• research writing + epistemic literacy• academic integrity and ethical authorship• dissertation and thesis pedagogyIsla’s writing style blends analytical calm, conceptual clarity, and supportive instruction, helping students move from confusion to control. She specialises in explaining complex academic principles in simple, structured language.