creative writing versus academic writing

Academic Writing vs. Creative Writing: Understanding the Key Differences

Both academic writing and creative writing are commonly used in many contexts and serve a variety of goals. While academic writing is widely utilised in educational environments, creative writing is frequently employed in literary and artistic contexts. The ability to write should be universal. No matter what their profession, educational background, or area of interest, everyone may utilise writing to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

What is Academic Writing and its Features?

What is creative writing and its features.

Writing that uses imagination and creativity to convey thoughts, feelings, and ideas is referred to as creative writing. It is a distinctive style of writing meant to enthral, motivate, and arouse the reader’s emotions.

Key Differences Between Academic Writing and Creative Writing

At first glance, writing for academic and creative objectives may appear to be one and the same thing. Nonetheless, there are two different writing styles, and each has its own traits and goals. The main distinctions between academic writing and creative writing will be covered in this section.

Academic writing frequently has researchers, academics, and subject-matter specialists as its audience. A sizable component of the audience for creative writing is made up of readers of fiction, poetry, and other literary genres.

Accuracy and precision are stressed in formal language used in academic writing. The tone is neutral and objective, and the jargon is specialised and technical. Slang and contractions are not appropriate.

The writer has more leeway to experiment with different structures when writing creatively because there is no set structure to follow. Flashbacks, non-linear tales, and other approaches can be used by the author to develop a distinctive framework.

Advantages of Academic Writing and Creative Writing

1.enhance communication skills, 2.increases analytical abilities, 3.builds data analysis skills.

Research and data analysis are crucial parts of academic writing since they call for in-depth subject knowledge. In many fields, notably scientific research, where the interpretation and analysis of data are critical, this talent is essential.

4.Helps in Expressing Emotions

5.enhance imagination.

For various reasons, it’s important to comprehend the difference between academic and creative writing. In the first place, it can aid writers in deciding which genre to use in a particular circumstance. In addition, it can aid authors in honing the abilities and methods required for every kind of writing. As a final benefit, it can assist authors in understanding the demands and expectations of various writing styles, which is helpful in both academic and professional contexts.

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Academic Vs. Creative Writing: What You Need to Know Before You Teach

In college and during your teacher training, you probably spent a lot of time discussing how to teach writing to students. Even if you didn’t discuss writing pedagogy, you know the basics of academic writing from having gone through academia yourself. You might feel unprepared, then, when you need students to do creative writing. How do you approach–and teach–academic vs. creative writing?

( Teaching Creative Writing for the first time? You may want to start with this post. )

Teaching the Differences Between Writing Goals

Many of the differences between the two types of writing center on the goal, audience, and purpose of the writing. It’s important to understand these so that you can better communicate them to your students. 

You don’t want students fabricating rich stories for their essays, and you also don’t want them to panic when asked to use their imaginations. Teaching both academic and creative writing is essential, then, for students to be able to respond to the variety of tasks life will throw their way. 

While you might intuitively understand the difference, your students probably have not developed this awareness yet. Use this breakdown of the differences between academic and creative writing to help them know when to use each. 

Academic Vs. Creative Writing Difference #1: Style

It’s important for students to have at least a basic understanding of style before walking them through the differences between academic and creative writing. 

Academic writing uses a much more formal style of writing. Academic settings, like universities and schools, use it almost exclusively. For this reason, your students are probably already familiar with the basic expectations of academic writing. 

Academic writing uses an objective, unbiased tone and focuses on presenting research and evidence to support an argument or claim. Academic writing is typically based on factual information and aims to inform and educate the reader about a particular topic.

Creative writing, however, is more expressive and imaginative and aims to entertain its reader. It can take many forms, including fiction, poetry, and personal essays.

Creative writing uses emotive language. Creative writing is less concerned with presenting factual information and more focused on exploring themes and ideas through the use of storytelling and descriptive language.

Teaching students about style can help them see the differences between academic and creative writing for themselves. It will also help them maintain the correct style for the writing task at hand. 

( Want a fun activity to start a discussion about style? Try this lesson on Literary Voice! )

Academic Vs. Creative Writing Difference #2: Intended Audience

Academic writing is typically aimed at a more specialized and educated audience. For students, the intended audience for most of their academic writing will be teachers, professors, and fellow students. If they pursue academics, they may one day write for peer-reviewed journals or share scholarly articles. 

Because academic writing audiences tend to already be knowledgeable, the writing may be more technical and difficult for a general audience to understand. 

Creative writing, meanwhile, is often aimed at a wider, more general audience. Your students should be able to list all kinds of examples of creative writing from children’s books to fiction novels to even the old classics they read in class. 

Creative writing may be more accessible and engaging to a wider range of readers. (Although this isn’t necessarily true–just look at how our students struggle with Shakespeare today.) Creative writing uses more poetic and figurative language . 

It’s important to discuss intended audiences with your students regardless of what kind of writing they’re doing. Their audiences should inform their choices of language, form, and style in all of their writing. 

Academic Vs. Creative Writing Difference #3: Purpose and Goal

Academic writing is typically focused on presenting research and evidence to support a specific argument or claim. This means that academic writing may be more structured and follow a specific format.

Your students are probably very familiar with the good old five-paragraph essay. They may even have learned C-E-R or some other highly structured format for presenting claims, evidence, and logical reasoning . 

Creative writing on the other hand is more focused on exploring ideas and emotions through storytelling and descriptive language. The intent of a poem can sometimes be as simple as to convey strings of beautifully sounding words.

While academic writing often feels formulaic, creative writing is more open-ended and creative in its approach. (This may actually frustrate some of your students!)

How many ways have you seen authors discuss love? There are poems, plays, stories, and more. Even if you just look at “love poems,” you can see there are countless ways to structure creative writing. 

To demonstrate just how open-ended creative writing can be to students, it might be helpful to show them a variety of mentor texts. For example, you can compare E. E. Cummings’s abstract style with Shakespeare’s highly-structured sonnets. 

These Poem of the Week activities are a great way to incorporate a variety of mentor texts and bring different opportunities into your classroom for poetry discussion. 

If you’re teaching a Creative Writing class for the first time, it’s important to go into it with a firm understanding of how it varies from academic writing. This will help you to begin thinking about what lessons and skills you’ll need to focus on in your class. 

Even more important, however, is making sure your students understand these differences for themselves. After all, once they leave school, no one is going to tell them whether to write a formal, five-paragraph essay or a villanelle to summarize their notes for the big meeting. 

Students need to understand the characteristics of both–and learn when to use each–if they’re going to find success (and possibly fulfillment) in writing in their futures. 

Need to teach a whole Creative Writing class and don’t know where to start? Make it easy on yourself with my done-for-you Creative Writing 9-Week Class !

How Academic Writing Differs from Other Forms of Writing

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Written by  Scribendi

Have you ever wondered how academic writing stacks up against different styles of writing? If you have, then you're in good company, as many curious minds have pondered that same distinction. Let's get to it!

Formal Language versus Informal Language

Academic writing should use formal language that minimizes the use of contractions and colloquialisms and avoids slang terminology whenever possible. Casual language should only be used for emphasis.

Further, academic writing generally does not employ first person pronouns like "I" or "we," but different styles of writing do offer varying degrees of flexibility when it comes to the use of language, with a diverse range of informal elements sanctioned among different styles of writing.  

Check out the image below to further explore the differences between textspeak, informal language, and formal language!

Structure and Form

Style guides like the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Chicago Manual of Style are quintessential resources for scholars engaging in academic writing, with different style guides used for different fields of academia. These style guides standardize how references should be presented and how a document should be formatted, considering things like the margins, headings, typeface, and a myriad of other elements; some guides even prescribe the kind of language to be used for various circumstances encountered most frequently within the field.

All forms of academic writing will employ a structure that should allow the information presented to flow logically from one section to the next, regardless of the segments or formatting details used according to different styles of writing. For example, a scientific research article will typically include sections for the abstract, introduction, methods, analysis, results, and conclusions, whereas a paper written for the humanities will use a drastically different framework that can vary between artistic disciplines.

Different styles of writing contain various essential structural elements. This means that some styles, such as creative writing, grant significantly more freedom to the author than other styles, such as the style used for writing engineering documents.

The tone used to communicate ideas will significantly affect how readers interpret those ideas. It's vital that different styles of writing adopt different tones appropriate for the respective target audiences.

It's especially crucial within academic writing to eliminate all personal biases, both explicit and implicit. Academic writing must display objectivity. It's often best that academic writing avoids rhetorical tactics, like sweeping generalizations and emotional arguments, as this will ensure the highest degree of objectivity expected from academic writing.

At its core, academic writing should be clear, succinct, and objective; the exact criteria for these qualities differ among different styles of writing, but without these elements, the credibility of academic writing is often shaky.

The tone, language, and formality of academic writing will all depend on the target audience . As such, the target audience is a crucial consideration for effective academic writing.

In an academic setting, your audience could comprise researchers, professors, and/or experts in the field, but a casual piece might target your family and friends. The way we speak to figures of authority is very different from how we speak to siblings or friends, and communicating with these different groups when writing is no different; the word choices used in academic writing should suit the audience just as much as a person's vocabulary and gestures might shift for face-to-face communication according to these different groups.

For example, when the public is the intended audience for a piece of academic writing, it's probably a good idea to use simple language to explain any tricky terms used in the document. You might even consider substituting the academic jargon for another phrase more easily understood by the masses. This is true for all different styles of writing. The audience needs to understand what has been written!

If you're uncertain whether a particular term might be appropriate for your audience, try consulting a friend who is unfamiliar with the topic. This should clearly indicate how easy it might be for the average person to understand the concept.

The following piece of advice applies to all different styles of writing: leave time to edit! Regardless of the document, your work should be entirely free from errors. Proofreading for things like grammatical mistakes and punctuation errors and editing for elements such as the word choices and sentence structures will ensure that the writing is cohesive and clear. Further revision will ensure that unsightly grammatical errors and embarrassing typos never appear before the unforgiving public eye.

Have a peek at the image below to review the key aspects of academic writing (you can even download the image for reference). Once these elements have been nailed, you will have officially become a master of academic writing.

Image source: AboutImages/elements.envato.com

Make Sure Your Academic Writing Follows Conventions

Hire an expert academic editor , or get a free sample, about the author.

Scribendi’s in-house editors work with writers from all over the globe to perfect their writing. They know that no piece of writing is complete without a professional edit, and they love to see a good piece of writing turn into a great one after the editing process. Scribendi’s in-house editors are unrivaled in both experience and education, having collectively edited millions of words and obtained nearly 20 degrees collectively. They love consuming caffeinated beverages, reading books of various genres, and relaxing in quiet, dimly lit spaces.

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Creative Writing Vs. Technical Writing Vs. Academic Writing

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: June 7, 2023  - Last updated: July 31, 2023

Categories Writing

You’re a writer, and you’ve got the passion and talent to explore various realms of writing. You might wonder how to navigate the diverse creative, technical, and academic writing landscapes.

Each style has its unique purpose, goals, and characteristics that can open new avenues for creative expression and professional growth.

In this article, we’ll delve into the defining aspects of these three writing styles, helping you understand their differences while offering tips on balancing creativity and accuracy.

As you develop skills in multiple writing domains, you’ll discover how to adapt your voice for different audiences and contexts. Embrace the freedom that comes from mastering these distinct forms of communication!

Key Takeaways

• Each writing style has its unique characteristics and requires different approaches for success.
• Adapting writing style to fit different audiences and contexts is important for effective communication.
• Versatile writers who master multiple writing styles have greater career and creative opportunities.
• Writing quality is crucial regardless of the style and requires clarity, precision, and continuous skill refinement.

Defining the Three Writing Styles

You’re strolling through a literary garden, where three distinct paths emerge – creative writing with vivid blooms, technical writing with structured hedges, and academic writing adorned by meticulously pruned scholarly trees.

Each path offers a unique experience as you explore the world of written communication.

A writing styles comparison reveals that each style has its own rules and unique challenges to overcome.

Creative writing allows your imagination to run wild, painting pictures with words and evoking emotions in your readers.

Technical writing, on the other hand, demands precision and clarity as you explain complex concepts or provide instructions for specific tasks.

Academic writing requires rigorous research and adherence to established guidelines while presenting arguments or findings clearly and concisely.

As you navigate these paths in the literary garden, remember that mastering each style will grant you the freedom to express yourself effectively in any situation life throws you.

Purpose and Goals of Each Style

Diving into each style’s purpose and goals, it’s crucial to understand how they uniquely cater to various communication needs and audiences.

Creative writing aims for audience engagement by evoking emotions, sparking imagination, and telling a story. Its main goal is to entertain, inspire, or provoke thought through stylistic choices such as figurative language, vivid descriptions, and memorable characters.

On the other hand, technical writing focuses on providing clear and concise information to help readers understand complex concepts or complete tasks. This style prioritizes accuracy and user-friendliness while employing straightforward language with minimal jargon.

In contrast, academic writing seeks to explore intellectual ideas or present research findings in a structured format like essays or research papers. The primary goal is contributing knowledge within a specific field by adhering to established standards of evidence-based argumentation.

Unlike creative writing that encourages personal expression and flexibility in form, academic writing demands strict adherence to guidelines concerning citation styles, tone consistency, and logical organization.

Ultimately, your ability to adapt between these different styles will free you from the constraints of one-dimensional communication skills – allowing you greater complexity in your thoughts and ideas while efficiently conveying them across various platforms.

Characteristics of Creative Writing

Imagine a world where words paint vivid pictures and stories come to life, captivating your senses – that’s the realm of artistic expression in literature.

Creative writing is about emotionally impacting your audience, using sensory language to craft immersive experiences that transport readers into the world you’ve built for them.

Some key characteristics of creative writing include:

• Emotional impact: Inspiring emotions such as joy, sadness, or fear in your reader
• Sensory language: Utilizing descriptive words and phrases that engage the five senses
• Artistic freedom: Experimenting with different styles, formats, and structures

Remember to focus on creating an emotional impact through sensory language so your readers can truly experience the world you’ve created.

By doing this, they will enjoy what’s written and indulge their subconscious desire for freedom – allowing them to escape from reality into a universe crafted by their imagination.

Elements of Technical Writing

In technical writing, focusing on clarity, precision, and a straightforward approach is essential.

You’ll need to master technical terminology and document design to effectively convey complex information in a way that’s easy for your audience to understand.

When dealing with specialized subject matter, you must ensure that your writing is accurate and concise while meeting the needs of both experts and novices alike.

To create engaging content that satisfies your audience’s subconscious desire for freedom, consider incorporating visual aids like charts or diagrams into your document design. This helps break up large blocks of text and makes it easier for readers to grasp difficult concepts at a glance.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to use contractions and an active voice in your writing – this can help make your work more relatable and enjoyable to read, even when dealing with highly technical subjects.

Clear communication is key in technical writing, so always prioritize simplicity over complexity whenever possible.

Features of Academic Writing

Academic writing, often characterized by its formal tone and precise structure, serves as a vehicle for critical thinking and the dissemination of knowledge. Through metaphorical language, it’s possible to paint a vivid picture that illuminates complex ideas for readers across various disciplines, ensuring they’re more likely to engage with the content on a deeper level.

Maintaining an academic tone requires avoiding colloquial expressions or emotional language while adhering to grammatical conventions.

Additionally, it’s important to recognize the different referencing styles used in academia. These styles enable writers to provide proper credit for sources while maintaining consistency throughout their work.

To help you better understand some key features of academic writing, take a look at this table illustrating common attributes:

Embrace these characteristics in your academic writing endeavors! By practicing clarity, accuracy, and conciseness – along with proper referencing styles – you’ll foster an environment where readers can freely explore new ideas and expand their understanding of complex concepts.

In turn, this will contribute positively towards your intellectual growth while making your work enjoyable and relatable for others who share your desire for freedom through knowledge acquisition.

The Role of Imagination and Artistry

While it’s often overlooked, the infusion of imagination and artistry can greatly enhance the impact of academic writing by drawing readers into a vivid landscape of ideas and fostering deeper engagement with complex concepts.

Imagination limitations are sometimes seen as necessary in scholarly work to maintain objectivity, but incorporating elements of creativity can help you break free from conventional thinking patterns and present your research more engagingly.

Artistry may not be explicitly required in academic writing, but it can elevate your work when applied judiciously. To harness the power of imagination and artistry in your academic writing, consider these strategies:

• Use metaphors or analogies to clarify abstract or complex ideas
• Experiment with narrative techniques to build suspense or intrigue around your research questions
• Employ active voice and vivid language for more dynamic descriptions
• Integrate visuals such as graphs, charts, or illustrations to support your arguments visually
• Choose an innovative structure that complements the content

Remember that combining creative approaches with rigorous scholarship doesn’t compromise your credibility; it demonstrates your ability to think beyond traditional boundaries and present information in a fresh light.

The Importance of Clarity and Precision

Clarity and precision can’t be overstated in academic writing, as they ensure your arguments are well-structured, your ideas easily understood, and your evidence compellingly presented.

The significance of clarity lies in its ability to eliminate confusion and ambiguity, allowing readers to grasp complex concepts without getting lost in a maze of jargon or convoluted sentences.

Similarly, the benefits of precision include fostering trust with your audience by demonstrating that you’ve conducted thorough research and can present information accurately.

In embracing these principles, you’ll empower others to comprehend and engage with your work and grant them the freedom to explore new thoughts and perspectives.

By presenting clear and precise content, you’re inviting readers into a world where they can freely navigate ideas without feeling overwhelmed or confined.

Formality and Structure in Writing

Transitioning from the importance of clarity and precision in writing, another crucial aspect is the formality and structure employed in your work.

As a writer, you need to be aware of these elements as they vary across different types of writing.

When it comes to creative writing, informal language, and unconventional structures are often embraced. This allows for more freedom and flexibility in expressing ideas, emotions, or storytelling.

On the other hand, technical and academic writing generally requires more formal language usage and structured formats. These guidelines help ensure that your audience clearly communicates and easily understands information.

It’s important to strike the right balance between formality and structure based on your purpose – engaging readers with an enjoyable narrative or providing concise, accurate information they can rely on.

Common Applications for Each Style

As you’re exploring various writing styles, it’s essential to understand their common applications and how each can serve a unique purpose in effectively conveying your message.

To evoke an emotional response from your audience, consider the following applications for each style:

• Creative writing: Unleash your imagination through storytelling, poetry, or personal essays. With this style, you have the freedom to express yourself without limitations.
• Technical writing: Simplify complex concepts and procedures by crafting clear and concise manuals, reports, or user guides. This allows your readers to grasp new information easily.
• Academic writing: Showcase your critical thinking skills with research papers, dissertations, or journal articles. Rigorous analysis and synthesis of ideas are key in this style.
• Style integration: Combine elements from different styles to create engaging content that caters to diverse audiences – a blog post blending creativity with research insights or a business proposal incorporating data analysis with persuasive language.
• Application challenges: Hone your adaptability by tackling projects requiring multiple writing styles, such as grant proposals or marketing campaigns.

By recognizing the value of each writing style and understanding when to apply them effectively, you’ll be well-equipped to face any communication challenge.

Career Opportunities and Professional Paths

You might wonder how mastering different writing styles can benefit your career, so let’s dive into the various opportunities and professional paths that await you.

Whether you’re interested in creative, technical, or academic writing, each field offers unique prospects for career growth. As a creative writer, you could pursue careers such as novelist, screenwriter, copywriter, or content creator for various mediums.

Technical writers are highly sought after in industries like technology, healthcare, engineering, and manufacturing, to name a few.

Academic writers often find their niche in research institutions or universities where they contribute to scholarly publications.

No matter which path you choose, strong networking strategies will play an important role in propelling your career forward.

Attending conferences and workshops related to your chosen field helps sharpen your skills. It allows you to connect with industry professionals who can provide guidance and possible job leads.

The Writing Process: Differences and Similarities

Now that we’ve explored various career paths, let’s delve into the writing process and examine how different styles share similarities and distinctions.

Whether you’re working on creative, technical, or academic writing projects, certain aspects of the writing process remain consistent across all fields.

To keep your audience engaged and satisfy their subconscious desire for freedom, your writing must maintain clarity, accuracy, and conciseness. Finding the right writing motivation can help you stay focused and produce high-quality content.

• Planning: Before starting any project, plan your approach by identifying your goals and target audience. This will ensure your content is well-suited for its purpose.
• Writing: Regardless of the style you’re working with, always strive to write clearly and concisely while maintaining an engaging tone.
• Editing: Once your draft is complete, use effective editing techniques to refine your work by removing redundancies or errors that could hinder comprehension.

By following these steps in each type of writing project (creative, technical, or academic), you’ll be better equipped to create captivating content tailored specifically for its intended purpose while keeping in mind the inherent differences between each style.

Balancing Creativity and Accuracy

Striking the perfect balance between imagination and precision is essential for crafting content that captivates readers while conveying accurate information.

Creative constraints and accuracy challenges can push you to think outside the box, allowing your work to stand out. Embrace these limitations as opportunities for growth, whether creating an imaginative story or composing a well-researched academic paper.

Remember that your audience has a subconscious desire for freedom – don’t be afraid to use creative techniques to engage them while maintaining accuracy. When it comes to balancing creativity and accuracy, practice makes perfect.

Experiment with different writing styles, methods, and sources of inspiration until you discover what works best for your unique voice.

Clarity, accuracy, and conciseness are crucial to effective communication.

However, don’t let those requirements stifle your creativity entirely. By consciously honing your skills in both areas simultaneously, you’ll find that striking the ideal balance becomes second nature over time – allowing you to create captivating content that resonates with readers while remaining true to the facts.

Adapting to Different Audiences and Contexts

Mastering the art of adapting your content to various audiences and contexts can be an exhilarating challenge, as it’s essential to tailor your message while maintaining authenticity – but how will you achieve this delicate balance?

One key component is audience engagement, which requires understanding who you’re addressing and their needs, desires, or interests.

By empathizing with your readers and crafting messages that appeal to them personally, you’ll capture their attention and motivate them to engage with your content.

Contextual adaptation comes into play when you consider the specific circumstances surrounding each piece of writing.

Whether it’s a creative story meant for entertainment purposes or an academic article discussing complex theories, adjusting language, tone, and style accordingly will ensure that your message is clear and concise for the intended audience.

Remember that people have a subconscious desire for freedom – so make sure your writing connects with them emotionally while still providing accurate information they need.

Developing Skills in Multiple Writing Styles

Diversifying your skill set in various writing styles can truly set you apart as a versatile and dynamic wordsmith. This will enable you to excel in any literary arena, making you a more appealing candidate for job opportunities and allowing you to connect with different audiences and contexts through your writing.

As a result, versatile writers often find themselves enjoying greater freedom in their careers and creative pursuits.

To achieve this level of versatility, consider focusing on the following four areas:

• Practice multiple writing styles : Challenge yourself to write creatively, technically, and academically – even outside your comfort zone.
• Study diverse genres : Read widely across different genres and formats to understand the unique requirements for each type of writing.
• Seek constructive feedback : Share your work with others with experience or expertise in various fields, requesting feedback on improving clarity, accuracy, and conciseness.
• Continuously refine your skills : Review and revise your work to ensure it meets the highest quality standards while remaining engaging for readers.

By embracing these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a versatile writer who can navigate any literary landscape with confidence and ease. Enjoy the freedom that comes from mastering multiple writing styles!

Tips for Success in Each Writing Domain

To excel in each writing domain, it’s essential to understand the unique requirements and techniques for success.

Did you know that 73% of employers value strong writing skills?

You’ll be better equipped to meet diverse demands and seize opportunities by honing your abilities in various domains. Skill-building exercises can help strengthen your proficiency in creative, technical, and academic writing styles while boosting your writer’s motivation.

For creative writing, practice painting vivid images with words by describing settings, characters, or emotions from personal experiences or imagination.

Experiment with different narrative structures and use stylistic devices like metaphor and simile.

In contrast, technical writing requires clarity and precision above all else; try breaking down complex processes into simple steps or creating concise user guides for software or tools.

Finally, academic writing calls for a formal tone and well-structured arguments supported by credible evidence; practice synthesizing research findings into clear thesis statements followed by logical analysis.

As you explore these distinct realms of expression, embrace your freedom to create compelling stories, convey helpful information effectively, and contribute valuable insights to scholarly discourse – the world needs all three!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a writer effectively transition between creative, technical, and academic writing styles within the same project or document.

To effectively transition between styles, master transition techniques and enhance your writing versatility. Embrace clarity, accuracy, and conciseness while engaging your audience’s subconscious desire for freedom through your adaptable writing approach.

Are there any specific tools or software programs that can help writers improve their skills in each of these writing styles?

Explore various software programs to boost your skill development in different writing styles. Embrace the freedom of mastering creative, technical, and academic writing with tools designed for clarity, accuracy, and conciseness.

How do cultural differences and language barriers impact the effectiveness of creative, technical, and academic writing when communicating with international audiences?

Imagine trying to solve a puzzle with mismatched pieces. Cultural adaptability and language sensitivity are crucial for effective communication, as they bridge gaps in understanding when addressing international audiences.

Can you provide examples of successful writers who have mastered all three writing styles and have been able to use them interchangeably in their work?

Mastering versatility in writing is key to success! Successful writer examples include Isaac Asimov, who skillfully switched between creative, technical, and academic styles. Embrace your freedom to adapt and excel in all three.

Are there any interdisciplinary fields or industries where a writer may need to utilize all three writing styles regularly, and how can they prepare for such a diverse writing landscape?

In the dance of interdisciplinary writing, you’ll glide between styles. Diverse preparation is your key to mastering this choreography. Embrace clarity, accuracy, and conciseness while engaging your audience’s desire for freedom.

So, think of yourself as a chef in the writing kitchen. Each style – creative, technical, and academic – is like a different ingredient you can mix and match to cook the perfect dish for your audience.

Remember to keep it clear, accurate, and concise so your readers can savor every bite of your literary feast.

Bon appétit!

Developing your essay

• Who is your audience?
• Balancing content and audience expectations
• 1a. Creativity in academic writing

Creativity in academic writing

Choose your story, plan the story, moving from a creative to an academic tone, how are creative and academic writing different.

• 2. What focus will you take in the work?
• 3b. Sample arguments
• 4a. Planning the paper
• 4b. Creating strong titles
• 4c. Introductory paragraphs
• 4d. Body paragraphs
• 4e. Transitional expressions and transitional sentences
• 4f. Body paragraph checklist
• 4g. Concluding paragraphs

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If you’re yearning to take a more creative approach to academic writing, consider how you might involve aspects of your creativity at different stages of the writing process. For example, when you’re developing ideas and deciding on your essay topic, try brainstorming using colours, shapes, or designs to represent your ideas. You may also find it helpful to keep a journal that allows you to record your ideas in whatever form best represents your thinking.

When it comes to the  planning stage of writing , consider how you like to organize your thoughts when you are working on other types of projects. For example, if using a linear approach like outlining feels like the death of all creative energy to you, try a different approach that better reflects how you think, such as mind-mapping or story-boarding your assignment. You could use photos to represent your ideas and build a collage that captures the details. If the format allows you to work from your plan to create the first draft of your document, it’s the right format for you, regardless if it works for anyone else.

Once you’ve got your plan in place, consider the narrative of your assignment e.g., what is the beginning, middle, and end of the work? For example, if you have experience with creative writing, try writing the plot of the essay. If you’re feeling stuck, try telling the story out loud to see how the story unfolds. Once the framework of the story is in place, you can move the approach and tone of the work from being narrative and descriptive to a more analytical, formal piece of writing. For example, look for adjectives and adverbs, which are common descriptive words that typically aren’t necessary in academic writing. If the adjectives or adverbs don’t provide essential information, delete them to improve the  conciseness  of the text. Also, check if you’ve used metaphors in the text, and if so, use the metaphor to help you identify a more specific meaning. While the metaphor might seem obvious to you, imagine if someone who is unfamiliar with the expression tried to understand it based on the literal meaning of the phrase. For example, understood literally, “think outside the box” makes no sense at all; however, “solve problems using non-traditional approaches” gives more specific and direct information, especially if an author provides examples to further illustrate the point.

While creativity is essential to all stages of academic writing, creative writing and academic writing do have major differences, largely due to the intent and audience of the work. For example, creative writers use narrative techniques, such as suspense, to engage the reader’s attention and imagination. In contrast, academic writing is persuasive and analytical, which means writers engage readers through convincing arguments and explanations that support the overall focus of the work. Furthermore, where creative writing engages the reader through imagery and emotion, academic writing provides compelling information that demonstrates the author’s understanding of a topic. While readers actively participate in creative writing by involving their imaginations in their reading experiences, academic readers focus on understanding the author’s thinking on a topic. For example, in a reflective work about personal leadership goals, an author could tell the story of a challenging conflict at work and explain how addressing that conflict will support his or her growth as an effective leader. By providing that analysis, the author allows the reader to view the conflict as the author sees it: a challenge, but an essential step in the development of personal leadership skills. Without that additional explanation, the story of the conflict itself wouldn’t communicate how the resolving the conflict fits into the broader discussion of the author’s development as a leader, nor why the author values the opportunity to build the necessary skills.

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Encyclopedia for Writers

Writing with artificial intelligence, academic writing – how to write for the academic community.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - Founder, Writing Commons

Academic writing refers to the writing style that researchers, educators, and students use in scholarly publications and school assignments. An academic writing style refers to the semantic and textual features that characterize academic writing and distinguish it from other discourses , such as professional writing , workplace writing , fiction , or creative nonfiction . Learn about the discourse conventions of the academic community so you can write with greater authority , clarity , and persuasiveness (and, in school settings, earn higher grades!).  

Table of Contents

What is Academic Writing?

Academic writing refers to all of the texts produced by academic writers, including theoretical, empirical , or experience-based works. Examples:

• Students at the high school and undergraduate level write essays, book reviews, lab reports, reviews of literature, proposals–and more . These assignments often presume an audience of a teacher-as-examiner
• by proposing a new theory, method, application
• by presenting new empirical findings
• by offering new interpretations of existing evidence .

Different academic fields have distinct genres , writing styles and conventions because each academic field possesses its own set of rules and practices that govern how ideas are researched , structured , supported , and communicated . Thus, there is no one single style of academic writing. Rather, there are many different writing styles a writer might adopt , depending on their aims of discourse , media , writing tools, and rhetorical situation .

Related Concepts: Audience – Audience Awareness ; Discourse Community – Community of Practice ; Discourse Conventions ; Elements of Style ; Genre ; Professional Writing – Style Guide ; Persona ; Rhetorical Stance ; Tone ; Voice

Differences aside, there are a number of discourse conventions that academic writers share across disciplines. These conventions empower writers to establish authority and clarity in their prose –and to craft pieces that can be understood and appreciated by readers from various academic fields as well as the general public.

Features of Academic Discourse

• Academic writing tends to be substantive rather than superficial, anecdotal , vague or underdeveloped. For example, a paper on climate change would not just describe the observed changes in temperature, but might also delve into the scientific theories that explain these changes, the evidence supporting these theories, the potential impacts of climate change, and the debates within the scientific community
• Academic writing prioritizes evidence and logical reasoning over anecdotal observations , personal opinions, personal beliefs emotional appeals
• Members of the academic community expect authors to provide evidence for claims . When academics introduce evidence into their texts, they know their readers expect them to establish the currency, relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of any evidence they introduce
• Academic writers are careful to support their claims with evidence from credible sources, especially peer-reviewed , academic literature.
• Academics are sensitive to the ideologies and epistemologies that inform research methods.
• For example, when a psychology student studies the effects of mindfulness on anxiety disorders, they would need to understand that their research is based on the assumption that anxiety can be measured and quantified, and that it can be influenced by interventions like mindfulness training. They would also need to understand that their research is situated within a particular theoretical framework (e.g., cognitive-behavioral theory), which shapes how they conceptualize anxiety, mindfulness, and the relationship between them.
• Academic writing is expected to be objective and fair–and free of bias . This means presenting evidence in a balanced way, considering different perspectives , and not letting personal biases distort the analysis.
• It also involves recognizing the limitations of the research and being open to criticism and alternative interpretations .
• Academic writers are very careful to attribute the works of authors whom they’re quoting , paraphrasing , or summarizing . They understand information has value , and they’re careful to discern who the major thought leaders are on a particular topic . They understand they cannot simply copy and paste large sections of copyrighted material into their own work, even if they provide an attribution .
• Academic writers must also abide copyright laws , which protect the rights of authors and creators. This means, for example, that they cannot simply copy and paste large sections of copyrighted material into their own work, even if they provide a citation . Instead, they can use smaller excerpts under the principle of “fair use,” or they can seek permission from the copyright holder to use larger portions.

Organization

Academic writing is typically organized in a deductive way (as opposed to inductively ). Many genresof academic writing have a research abstract, a clear introduction , body, conclusions and recommendations.

Academic essays tend to have an introduction that introduces the topic, the exigency that informs this call to write. reviews pertinent research, and explains the problem — hypothesis, thesis, and rhetorical situation. the context and states the purpose of the writing (aka, the thesis! ), the body develops the arguments or presents the research, and the conclusion summarizes the main points and discusses the implications or applications of the research

Typically, the design of academic documents is plain vanilla, despite the visual turn in communication made possible by the ubiquity of design tools. Unlike professional writing, which tends to be incredibly visual, academic writing tends to be fairly traditional with its focus on alphabetical text as opposed to visual elements.

• Plain Design: Academic documents, such as research papers, theses, or scholarly articles, typically follow a minimalist design approach. They primarily consist of black text on a white background, with a standard, easy-to-read font. This “plain vanilla” design reflects the focus of academic writing on the content rather than the presentation. The aim is to communicate complex ideas clearly and without distraction.
• Limited Use of Visuals: Unlike in professional writing or journalism, visuals such as images, infographics, or videos are not commonly used in academic writing. When they are used, it’s usually to present data (in the form of graphs, charts, or tables) or to illustrate a point (with diagrams or figures). The visuals are typically grayscale and are intended to supplement the text rather than replace it.
• Structured Layout: Academic writing tends to follow a structured layout, with clearly marked sections and subsections. This helps to organize the content and guide the reader through the argument. However, aside from headings, there is usually little use of design elements such as color, bolding, or varied fonts to highlight different parts of the text.
• Lack of Interactive Features: With the transition to digital media, many types of writing have become more interactive, incorporating hyperlinks, multimedia, or interactive data visualizations. However, academic writing has been slower to adopt these features. While academic articles often include hyperlinks to references, they rarely include other interactive elements.

However, as digital media and visual communication become increasingly prevalent, we may see changes in the conventions of academic design.

• Academic writing tends to be formal in persona , tone , diction . Academic writers avoid contractions , slang, colloquial expressions, sexist use of pronouns . Because it is written for specialists, jargon is used, but not unnecessarily. However, the level of formality can vary depending on the discipline, the genre (e.g., a research paper vs. a blog post), and the intended audience . For instance, in sociology and communication, autoethnography is a common genre , which is a composite of autobiography , memoir, creative nonfiction, and ethnographic methods .
• In the last 20 years, there has been a significant move toward including the first person in academic writing. However, in general, the focus of discourse isn’t the writer. Thus, most academic writers use the first person sparingly–if at all.
• Academic writers use the citation styles required by their audiences .
• Specialized Vocabulary: Academics often use specialized vocabulary or jargon that is specific to their field. These terms can convey complex ideas in a compact form, contributing to the compressed nature of academic prose. However, they can also make the writing less accessible to non-specialists.
• Complex Sentence Structures: Academic writing often uses complex sentence structures, such as long sentences with multiple clauses, or sentences that incorporate lists or parenthetical information. These structures allow academic writers to express complex relationships and nuances of meaning, but they can also make the writing more challenging to read.
• Referential Density: Academic writing often refers to other works, theories, or arguments, either explicitly (through citations) or implicitly. This referential density allows academic writers to build on existing knowledge and engage in scholarly conversation, but it also assumes that readers are familiar with the referenced works or ideas.

1. When is it appropriate to use the first person?

Use of the first person is now more commonplace across academic disciplines. In order to determine whether first person is appropriate, engage in rhetorical analysis of the rhetorical situation .

Recommended Resources

• Professional Writing Prose Style
• First-Person Point of View
• Using First Person in an Academic Essay: When is It Okay?
• A Synthesis of Professor Perspectives on Using First and Third Person in Academic Writing

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

Recommended

Structured Revision – How to Revise Your Work

Professional Writing – How to Write for the Professional World

Authority & Credibility – How to Be Credible & Authoritative in Research, Speech & Writing

Citation Guide – Learn How to Cite Sources in Academic and Professional Writing

Page Design – How to Design Messages for Maximum Impact

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How Creative Writing Differs from Academic Writing

Creative writing and academic writing are two distinct forms of expression, each with its own purpose, style, and audience. While creative writing emphasizes storytelling, imagination, and emotional engagement, academic writing focuses on presenting research, analysis, and factual information in a structured and objective manner. Understanding the differences between these writing styles is crucial for anyone looking to develop their skills in both areas, whether for educational purposes or personal growth. This guide delves into the unique characteristics of creative and academic writing, providing insights into how each serves its specific role in communication and education.

The Different Purposes of Creative Writing Versus Academic Writing

Creative writing and academic writing serve different purposes, audiences, and follow distinct styles and structures, making them unique forms of expression and communication. Understanding these differences is crucial for students, educators, and anyone involved in writing.

1. Purpose and Intent:  The primary purpose of  academic writing  is to inform, argue, or analyze a particular topic based on research and evidence. It is often used in educational and professional settings to present information in a clear, structured, and objective manner. The goal is to educate the reader, support a hypothesis, or contribute to academic discourse with logical reasoning and evidence-based arguments.

In contrast,  creative writing  is driven by the desire to entertain, express, or evoke emotions. It is more flexible and imaginative, allowing writers to explore themes, ideas, and narratives in a way that engages the reader on an emotional or intellectual level. The purpose of creative writing is not necessarily to inform but to create an experience for the reader through storytelling, poetry, or other literary forms.

2. Audience and Style:  Academic writing is typically aimed at a specialized audience, such as scholars, students, or professionals within a particular field. It follows a formal style, characterized by precise language, structured formats (like essays, research papers, or reports), and adherence to specific style guides such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. The language is objective, and personal opinions are often excluded unless supported by evidence.

Creative writing, on the other hand, caters to a broader audience and is more informal in style. Writers have the freedom to experiment with language, tone, and structure, making creative writing more personal and expressive. The use of first-person narratives, figurative language, and a more conversational tone are common in creative works like novels, short stories, and poems.

3. Structure and Format:  Academic writing follows a strict structure, often including an introduction, body, and conclusion, with clear thesis statements and evidence-based arguments. The writing is logical, with a focus on clarity and precision, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the argument or analysis being presented.

Creative writing does not adhere to a specific format or structure. It allows for a more fluid and flexible approach, where the narrative can unfold in various ways. Writers might use non-linear plots, flashbacks, or stream-of-consciousness techniques to create a unique storytelling experience. The emphasis is on creativity and originality rather than strict adherence to a particular format.

4. Language and Expression:  In academic writing, the language used is formal, objective, and precise. Technical jargon and specialized vocabulary are often employed to convey complex ideas accurately. The use of contractions, slang, or figurative language is generally avoided to maintain a professional tone.

Here’s a table outlining the differences between creative writing and academic writing:

Here’s a free pdf download for examples of Creative Writing Versus Academic Writing

These differences highlight the unique characteristics of each writing style and emphasize the importance of tailoring the writing approach to the intended purpose and audience, which can be seen from this YouTube Video as well:

Creative writing embraces a more varied and expressive use of language. Writers can play with words, invent new expressions, and use metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to enhance the reader’s experience. The language is often more colorful, vivid, and aimed at evoking emotions or creating a particular atmosphere.

To illustrate the differences between creative writing and academic writing, let’s explore contrasting paragraphs that showcase their distinct tone, structure, and language. This will help clarify how these two writing styles serve different purposes and audiences.

Example of Creative Writing

Excerpt from a Short Story:

“The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Sarah sat on the old wooden bench, her fingers tracing the worn grooves in the wood, each mark a memory. She could still hear the laughter of her childhood echoing in the quiet evening air. The world around her had changed, but this place remained the same—a sanctuary of time and emotion, untouched by the passage of years.”

• Purpose : This piece aims to evoke emotions and create a vivid, imaginative scene that draws the reader into the character’s experience.
• Audience : It targets a general audience, aiming to evoke a nostalgic or emotional response.
• Style : The writing is expressive and descriptive, using imagery and metaphors to convey the atmosphere and emotions.
• Structure : The narrative is flexible, focusing on the emotional journey rather than a strict plot structure.
• Language : It uses figurative language, including metaphors and sensory descriptions, to create a rich, engaging scene.

Example of Academic Writing

Excerpt from a Research Paper:

“This study examines the effects of early childhood education on cognitive development. Data collected from a longitudinal study of 500 children shows a significant correlation between structured early education programs and improved cognitive outcomes in later years. The findings suggest that children who participate in preschool programs are more likely to perform better in areas such as language, mathematics, and problem-solving skills. These results underscore the importance of policy interventions that support early childhood education as a means to promote long-term academic success.”

• Purpose : The writing is intended to inform and argue, presenting research findings that support the benefits of early childhood education.
• Audience : It is aimed at a specialized audience, such as educators, policymakers, and researchers.
• Style : The tone is formal, objective, and focused on presenting factual information supported by data.
• Structure : The writing follows a strict structure, with a clear introduction, methodology, results, and conclusion.
• Language : It uses technical terms and specialized vocabulary relevant to the field of education and research, avoiding any figurative language.

Here’s more examples to illustrate the differences between creative writing and academic writing:

Example 1:  Creative Writing

Context : A short story excerpt about a character’s internal conflict.

Creative Writing Excerpt:

“As the storm raged outside, Emily sat by the window, her thoughts as turbulent as the dark clouds rolling across the sky. She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her chest, like a heavy stone. Memories of the argument with her father played on repeat in her mind, each word cutting deeper than the last. She knew she had to make a decision, but the fear of the unknown held her back, like a chain tethering her to the past.”

• Tone : Emotional and introspective, drawing readers into the character’s inner world.
• Language : Rich with metaphors and descriptive language (e.g., “thoughts as turbulent as the dark clouds,” “heavy stone”).
• Structure : Looser, more narrative-driven, allowing for exploration of the character’s thoughts and feelings.

Example 2:  Academic Writing

Context : A paragraph from a research paper discussing the psychological effects of decision-making under stress.

Academic Writing Excerpt:

“Decision-making under stressful conditions can significantly impact cognitive functioning, leading to impaired judgment and increased risk-taking behaviors. According to Smith and Johnson (2020), individuals experiencing high levels of stress are more likely to rely on heuristic processing rather than analytical thinking, resulting in less optimal decision outcomes. This phenomenon is particularly evident in high-pressure environments, where the demand for quick decisions exacerbates the cognitive load on individuals (Smith & Johnson, 2020).”

• Tone : Formal, objective, and focused on presenting research findings.
• Language : Precise and technical, with references to studies and data (e.g., “heuristic processing,” “cognitive load”).
• Structure : Structured and concise, with clear topic sentences, supporting evidence, and citations.

Key Differences:

• Tone : Creative writing is more expressive and emotional, while academic writing is formal and objective.
• Language : Creative writing uses descriptive language, metaphors, and imagery, whereas academic writing employs technical terminology and precise language.
• Structure : Creative writing allows for more flexibility and exploration, while academic writing follows a structured approach, often with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

References and Citations:

• Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The Impact of Stress on Cognitive Decision-Making Processes.  Journal of Psychological Research , 58(4), 234-245.
• Purdue OWL. (n.d.).  The Differences between Creative Writing and Academic Writing . Retrieved from  https://owl.purdue.edu
• National Writing Project. (n.d.).  Creative Writing vs. Academic Writing: Understanding the Distinctions . Retrieved from  https://www.nwp.org

Example 3:  Creative Writing

Context : A descriptive passage from a novel depicting a serene beach setting.

“The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow across the endless expanse of ocean. Waves lapped gently at the shore, their rhythmic whispers a soothing lullaby for the soul. Seagulls soared overhead, their cries mingling with the salty breeze that danced through the air. The sand beneath her feet was warm and soft, like a comforting embrace, grounding her in the present moment as she walked aimlessly along the beach, lost in thought.”

• Tone : Reflective and peaceful, aiming to evoke a sense of calm and connection with nature.
• Language : Vivid and sensory-rich, using imagery to create a detailed picture in the reader’s mind (e.g., “golden glow,” “rhythmic whispers,” “salty breeze”).
• Structure : Flows freely, with a focus on the sensory experience and emotional response of the character.

Example 4:  Academic Writing

Context : A paragraph from a geography research paper discussing coastal erosion.

“Coastal erosion is a significant environmental concern, particularly in regions with high population densities and economic activities. According to Jones and Smith (2019), coastal erosion is exacerbated by both natural processes, such as wave action and storm surges, and human activities, including construction and deforestation. These factors contribute to the loss of land, which has serious implications for biodiversity, local communities, and economic stability (Jones & Smith, 2019). Mitigating coastal erosion requires a comprehensive approach that includes both environmental management and policy interventions.”

• Tone : Objective and informative, focused on presenting factual information and research findings.
• Language : Formal and technical, with specific terminology related to the subject matter (e.g., “coastal erosion,” “wave action,” “biodiversity”).
• Structure : Organized and concise, with a clear argument supported by evidence and citations.
• Tone : The creative writing example uses a tranquil, reflective tone, while the academic writing example maintains an objective, fact-based tone.
• Language : The creative writing passage uses rich, descriptive language to evoke emotion, whereas the academic passage uses precise, technical language to convey information.
• Structure : Creative writing allows for a flowing narrative, while academic writing adheres to a structured format that prioritizes clarity and evidence.
• Jones, A., & Smith, R. (2019). The Impact of Coastal Erosion on Local Communities.  Journal of Environmental Studies , 45(3), 112-128.
• Purdue OWL. (n.d.).  Creative Writing and Academic Writing: Contrasting Styles and Approaches . Retrieved from  https://owl.purdue.edu
• National Geographic. (n.d.).  Understanding Coastal Erosion and Its Impacts . Retrieved from  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/coastal-erosion

These examples and explanations should help educators clearly understand the fundamental differences between creative and academic writing, providing a visual and contextual representation of how each style functions in its respective domain.

These examples illustrate how creative writing and academic writing differ in purpose, style, structure, and language, each serving its unique role in communication and expression.

Fun Facts on How Creative Writing Differs from Academic Writing

Here are some fun facts about how creative writing differs from academic writing, complete with links for further reading:

• Creative Freedom vs. Structure : Creative writing allows for almost limitless freedom, where writers can invent entire worlds, bend the rules of grammar, and play with language. On the other hand, academic writing is all about structure, precision, and following specific guidelines. It’s like comparing a freewheeling jazz solo to a meticulously composed symphony! Learn more about these differences on  It’s Lit Teaching .
• Word Count Fun : In creative writing, the length of a piece can vary dramatically. A poem could be just a few words long, while a novel might span hundreds of pages. Academic writing, however, often comes with strict word limits—usually not a single word more or less! Check out the guidelines for academic writing on Purdue OWL .
• Audience Engagement : Creative writing is designed to entertain or emotionally move its readers, often using cliffhangers, vivid imagery, or dramatic twists. Academic writing aims to inform or persuade, with its success measured by how well it conveys complex ideas or arguments, not necessarily by how entertaining it is. Read more about engaging different audiences in  this article from University of Birmingham.
• Language and Tone : In creative writing, authors can use slang, invented words, or even create entire languages (think J.R.R. Tolkien’s Elvish!). Academic writing, however, demands precise, technical language and a formal tone—no room for made-up words here! For more on language and tone in writing, visit  Grammarly’s Blog .
• Expression of Opinions : Creative writers are encouraged to let their personalities and opinions shine through in their work, often making their voice a key element of their writing. In contrast, academic writers are expected to minimize their personal opinions and focus on objective analysis and evidence-based arguments. Learn about the balance between personal voice and objectivity in  this guide from the University of Leeds.
• Historical Background : The origins of creative writing can be traced back to oral storytelling traditions, where stories were passed down through generations. Academic writing, however, has roots in scholarly traditions dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, where philosophers and scholars documented their theories and findings. Explore the history of writing styles on ThoughtCo. .

These fun facts highlight how creative and academic writing serve distinct purposes and appeal to different audiences, each with its own unique approach to communication and expression.

Best Practices for Parents and Educators

To help students navigate the differences between academic and creative writing, parents and educators can:

• Encourage both forms of writing : Promote activities that require both academic essays and creative projects, allowing students to practice and appreciate the unique aspects of each.
• Provide examples : Show students examples of both academic and creative writing, highlighting the differences in style, purpose, and structure. Discuss how each serves its specific audience.
• Develop distinct rubrics : Use separate evaluation criteria for academic and creative writing assignments to ensure that students understand what is expected in each context.
• Foster creativity alongside critical thinking : While academic writing focuses on critical thinking and analysis, creative writing fosters imagination and self-expression. Balancing both in education helps students become versatile writers.

By understanding these key differences and providing appropriate guidance, educators and parents can help students excel in both academic and creative writing, equipping them with a well-rounded set of writing skills for various contexts.

For further reading on these distinctions and to explore detailed guides, you can visit sources like  Planning Tank ,  Naomi Kizhner’s blog , and  QuillBot’s comparison  on creative versus academic writing.

The Use of Creative Writing in Education and School Work

Creative Writing in Education:  Creative writing plays a crucial role in education by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. It allows students to explore their imagination, develop their voice, and express ideas in a way that is personal and meaningful. Creative writing activities in schools can range from writing short stories and poems to crafting personal essays and reflective journals. These activities encourage students to think creatively, experiment with language, and communicate their thoughts and feelings in a unique way.

When to Use Creative Writing:

• In Language Arts Classes:  Creative writing is commonly used in English and language arts classes to help students explore literary techniques, narrative structures, and character development.
• As a Reflective Tool:  Teachers often use creative writing assignments as a way for students to reflect on personal experiences, explore emotions, and develop empathy.
• In Interdisciplinary Projects:  Creative writing can be integrated into other subjects, such as history or science, where students might write a fictional diary from the perspective of a historical figure or create a narrative about a scientific discovery.

The Use of Academic Writing in Education and School Work

Academic Writing in Education:  Academic writing is essential in education for presenting research, analysis, and arguments in a structured and formal manner. It is used to convey information clearly and objectively, often supported by evidence and logical reasoning. Academic writing helps students develop critical thinking skills, learn how to construct logical arguments, and engage with scholarly discourse. It is a foundational skill for success in higher education and professional fields.

When to Use Academic Writing:

• In Research Papers:  Academic writing is used for research papers, essays, and reports, where students need to present information based on research and evidence.
• In Exam Essays:  During exams, students often use academic writing to answer questions in a clear, structured, and objective manner.
• In Class Assignments:  Teachers assign academic writing tasks to help students develop their ability to analyze information, construct arguments, and communicate ideas clearly.

How to Change Writing Style to Suit the Occasion

Transitioning from Creative to Academic Writing:  When transitioning from creative writing to academic writing, students need to shift their focus from personal expression and storytelling to presenting information objectively and logically. This involves:

• Adjusting Tone and Language:  Moving from an informal, expressive tone to a formal, precise tone. Avoiding figurative language and focusing on clarity and accuracy.
• Structuring the Writing:  Shifting from a flexible, narrative structure to a strict format, typically including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Supporting Arguments:  Replacing personal opinions and creative descriptions with evidence-based arguments and factual information.

Transitioning from Academic to Creative Writing:  When moving from academic writing to creative writing, students should:

• Embrace Creativity:  Allow for more flexibility in language and structure, using metaphors, similes, and descriptive language to enhance the narrative.
• Focus on Expression:  Shift from presenting facts to exploring ideas and emotions, creating characters, and developing plots that engage the reader.
• Adopt a Personal Tone:  Move from an objective tone to a more personal, subjective voice that reflects the writer’s individual style and perspective.

Both creative and academic writing are vital in education, each serving different purposes and requiring distinct approaches. Understanding when and how to use each type of writing is crucial for students to develop a well-rounded skill set. By learning to transition between creative and academic writing, students can effectively communicate in a variety of contexts, whether they are crafting a compelling story or presenting a well-reasoned argument. This versatility not only enhances their academic performance but also prepares them for a wide range of real-world situations.

Critical Thinking Skills in Creative Writing vs. Academic Writing

Critical Thinking Skills in Creative Writing:  Creative writing enhances several critical thinking skills, including:

• Imagination and Innovation : Creative writing pushes students to think outside the box, fostering creativity and the ability to generate original ideas. When students develop plots, create characters, or describe settings, they engage in divergent thinking, which is crucial for innovation and problem-solving​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Empathy and Perspective-Taking : Writing from the perspectives of different characters helps students understand and appreciate diverse viewpoints. This skill is fundamental for developing empathy and social awareness, which are essential components of emotional intelligence​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Narrative Reasoning : Students learn to structure narratives logically, ensuring that plots are coherent and characters’ actions are motivated. This form of reasoning helps in organizing thoughts, making connections between ideas, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
• Reflection and Self-Expression : Creative writing often involves introspection, encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences and emotions. This reflective practice enhances self-awareness and critical self-examination​( It’s Lit Teaching ).

Critical Thinking Skills in Academic Writing:  Academic writing, on the other hand, develops different critical thinking skills:

• Analysis and Evaluation : Academic writing requires students to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and construct logical arguments. This involves assessing the validity of sources, distinguishing between facts and opinions, and developing reasoned conclusions based on evidence​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Logical Reasoning : Academic writing is heavily focused on logical structure, with students needing to organize their arguments coherently and support them with evidence. This type of reasoning is essential for forming strong arguments and engaging in scholarly discourse​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Synthesis of Information : Students must synthesize information from multiple sources, integrating different viewpoints and findings to support their arguments. This skill is crucial for producing well-rounded, informed perspectives on complex issues​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Objective Analysis : Unlike creative writing, academic writing requires a more objective tone, where students must detach from personal biases and focus on presenting balanced, evidence-based arguments​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).

Psychological Effects on Children Learning Creative Writing vs. Academic Writing

Psychological Effects of Creative Writing:

• Emotional Expression and Regulation : Creative writing offers children a safe outlet to express and explore their emotions, which can be therapeutic. It helps in managing stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges by providing a form of self-expression and catharsis​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem : As children see their ideas take shape and receive positive feedback, their confidence in their creative abilities grows. This can lead to improved self-esteem and a stronger sense of identity​( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Enhanced Empathy and Social Understanding : By exploring different characters and scenarios, children develop a deeper understanding of others’ emotions and experiences. This can improve their social skills and ability to relate to others in real life​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).

Psychological Effects of Academic Writing:

• Cognitive Development : Academic writing enhances cognitive functions such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning. This rigorous mental exercise can improve intellectual abilities and prepare children for more advanced academic challenges​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Stress and Anxiety : The pressure to perform well in academic writing can sometimes lead to stress and anxiety, particularly if children feel overwhelmed by the expectations of structured, evidence-based writing. However, mastering academic writing can also provide a sense of accomplishment and resilience​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).
• Discipline and Focus : Academic writing requires discipline, focus, and the ability to adhere to guidelines and formats. These skills are crucial for academic success and can foster a strong work ethic and perseverance in students​ ( It’s Lit Teaching ).

Both creative and academic writing contribute significantly to a child’s development but in different ways. Creative writing nurtures imagination, empathy, and emotional expression, while academic writing hones analytical thinking, logical reasoning, and discipline. By balancing both types of writing in education, children can develop a comprehensive set of cognitive and emotional skills that prepare them for a wide range of challenges in both their academic and personal lives.

Teaching the Differences Between Creative Writing and Academic Writing to a Child

Teaching children the differences between creative and academic writing can be challenging because the boundaries between the two can sometimes blur. However, with clear examples, practice, and guidance, children can learn to distinguish between these writing styles and use each appropriately.

1. Use Clear, Relatable Examples:  Start by showing your child clear examples of each type of writing. For creative writing, you might share a short story, a poem, or a personal narrative that focuses on emotions, imagination, and storytelling. For academic writing, show them an essay, a book report, or a research paper that is structured, objective, and based on evidence.

Example Exercise:

• Creative Writing Example:  Read a short story together and discuss how the author uses descriptive language and imaginative scenarios to entertain the reader.
• Academic Writing Example:  Review a simple science report or an essay, focusing on how the information is presented logically with supporting evidence.

2. Explain the Purpose and Audience:  Help your child understand that each writing style serves a different purpose and audience. Creative writing is often about expressing personal feelings, telling stories, or exploring ideas in a way that engages the reader emotionally. In contrast, academic writing is about informing, explaining, or arguing a point using facts and logical reasoning, often for a teacher or a knowledgeable audience.

Example Discussion:

• Ask your child what they think the purpose of their writing is. Is it to tell a story (creative) or to explain something they’ve learned (academic)?
• Discuss who will be reading their work. Is it meant for a general audience (creative) or for a teacher or classmates who need to learn from it (academic)?

Here’s a table outlining how to explain the purpose and audience differences between creative writing and academic writing:

This table helps to clarify the different purposes and audiences for creative and academic writing, making it easier for children to understand when and how to use each style effectively.

3. Practice Writing in Both Styles:  Provide opportunities for your child to practice both creative and academic writing. Give them prompts that are clearly defined as either creative or academic and guide them through the process of writing in each style.

Example Prompts:

• Creative Writing Prompt:  “Write a story about a day when everything goes wrong, but in the end, it turns out to be the best day ever.”
• Academic Writing Prompt:  “Write a report explaining why plants need sunlight to grow. Use facts and examples from your science lessons.”

4. Teach the Differences in Language and Tone:  Explain that creative writing often uses more descriptive, colorful language and a personal tone, while academic writing uses precise, clear, and sometimes technical language with a formal tone.

Example Activity:

• Have your child describe their favorite animal using creative writing techniques (e.g., “The majestic lion with its golden mane…”).
• Then, ask them to write a factual description as they would for a school report (e.g., “Lions are large carnivorous mammals found in Africa…”).

Here’s a table outlining how to teach the differences in language and tone between creative writing and academic writing:

This table helps clarify the distinct approaches to language and tone in creative and academic writing, making it easier for children to understand when and how to use each style appropriately.

5. Discuss the Structure:  Teach your child that creative writing can have a more flexible structure, with varying formats like dialogue, non-linear plots, or free verse in poetry. Academic writing, however, follows a strict structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion, and often requires evidence to support the main points.

• Write a short story together, focusing on the creative aspects such as plot twists or character dialogue.
• Then, outline an academic essay, focusing on the structure and how to support each point with facts.

Here’s a table outlining how to discuss the structure differences between creative writing and academic writing:

This table helps to explain the structural differences between creative and academic writing, highlighting when each type of structure is appropriate and how to effectively teach these concepts to children.

6. Reinforce Through Feedback and Revision:  When your child mixes the styles—like using too much descriptive language in a science report or structuring a story like an essay—gently correct them. Explain why certain elements belong in one type of writing and not the other, and encourage them to revise their work accordingly.

Example Feedback:

• If they use imaginative language in an essay, explain why it might confuse the reader and suggest more straightforward wording.
• If they write an overly structured story, encourage them to add more creative flair and explore different narrative techniques.

Here’s a table outlining the do’s and don’ts for teaching the differences between creative writing and academic writing to a child:

This table will help you guide children effectively in learning when and how to use creative writing versus academic writing, reinforcing the skills necessary for both styles.

By using relatable examples, clear explanations, and targeted practice, children can learn to distinguish between creative and academic writing. Reinforcing these concepts through feedback and revision will help them understand when and how to use each style appropriately. The goal is to build their confidence and versatility as writers, enabling them to excel in both creative and academic settings.

Recognizing the differences between creative writing and academic writing is essential for effective communication in various contexts. Creative writing allows for personal expression, creativity, and connection with a broader audience, while academic writing demands precision, structure, and objectivity to convey research and analysis to a specialized audience. By mastering both forms of writing, individuals can enhance their versatility and effectiveness as communicators, whether in educational settings, professional environments, or personal projects. Understanding when and how to use each style will equip writers with the tools they need to succeed in a wide range of writing tasks.

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Reflections from a Young Writer: Academic vs. Creative Writing

LibParlor Contributor, Samantha Bise, reflects on the similarities and differences between academic and creative writing. Continue Reading Reflections from a Young Writer: Academic vs. Creative Writing

Samantha Bise is a Reference & Instruction Librarian at Central Penn College. Her research interests include critical information literacy, information bias, and educational barriers for vulnerable populations. Samantha spends a lot of her time volunteering in her community, and she is passionate about teaching, creating educational opportunities for adult learners, and writing poetry. Some of her recent poetry can be found at www.sambise.com , or here (2nd place in her county’s competition!), and here (published in a poetry journal). You can find her on Twitter: @sam_bise .

As Anne Lamott says in her book Bird by Bird, “…good writing is about telling the truth. We are a species that needs and wants to understand who we are.” What is humanity if not collectively sharing our experiences, anyway? I believe writing is one of the best ways to use our voices, share our experiences, work through difficult concepts, and contribute to the world.

“I believe writing is one of the best ways to use our voices, share our experiences, work through difficult concepts, and contribute to the world.”

As an early-career academic librarian, I am often writing about education for scholarly publications and presentations. As a lifelong poet who recently began submitting poetry for publication, I spend a lot of my time writing poetry and sending my work to editors. Throughout the writing and publication processes, I’ve noticed key differences and fundamental parallels in academic and creative writing. Below are reflections from me, a young academic and creative writer, along with suggestions for other beginners.

Writing to learn

Writing is at the root of my learning style, meaning I cannot see a way through difficult topics and issues without writing about it first. When I’m introduced to a new pedagogical idea, I research it and write about it. When somebody suggests a new library program or project, I research similar projects and write about my findings Results The section of a research article where researchers share the results from the research. This section takes the results and directly connects them to the research questions or hypotheses posed at the start of the article. Also can be called “Findings.” . Similarly, when I am struggling to understand something about the world around me, I write poetry about it.

Just like learning, writing is a messy business. I tell my students that research and writing are not linear processes, and this holds true for us, too. It’s messy and personal. Researching and writing are like doing a puzzle—some people start with the edges, some people sort by color, and others dive right in. We all have our ways of organizing ourselves. When writing academically or creatively, organize yourself in your way.

Choosing your topic

I made the decision years ago only to write what I am passionate about. If you haven’t made this promise to yourself yet, do it now. I spent too much of my time trying to be excited about library marketing when education and teaching information literacy was actually what I loved most. Once I began researching things that I felt a connection to, excitement and a desire to learn more kept me committed.

This holds true in my poetry, too. I spent most of my undergraduate years trying to be a romantic writer by writing very vague metaphors about nature. This is the genre of poetry I found myself reading, so I forced it into my writing. In direct contrast, I learned that I am more passionate about the raw realities of social issues, like drug addiction, mental illness, and poverty; this is now what most of my poetry focuses on. Don’t make writing more difficult by forcing a topic that doesn’t align with your passions, interests, or goals. Choosing to write only what you care about may be the best thing you ever do for your writer-self.

Adhering to a style

When writing for an academic audience, I learned the hard way to read the publisher’s guidelines or conference requirements before planning the way I shape my research findings. Scholarly publishers and academic conferences have specific styles they expect you to adhere to. Writing an article or proposal before finding a publisher has proven to be more time consuming than necessary.

When writing poetry, I was taught the opposite—don’t think about the audience. Writing creatively lends itself to, well, more creativity. When I write poetry, I write first and find appropriate publications later. This gives me more control over the final product, compared to the academic publishing process.

Supporting your claim and giving credit

As an academic librarian, I am constantly drawing a line between what ideas are mine and what concepts I’ve borrowed from others to help strengthen my point. The scholarly writing process relies heavily on expert voices and textual evidence to support my claims. This is necessary to help make a strong case and to contribute to the scholarly conversation. There’s a certain anxiety that comes along with responding to and critiquing the claims of other scholars.

On the other hand, the creative writing process focuses on my own experiences and perceptions of the world around me. An uncomfortable, yet liberating, part of creative writing is that I get to own [almost] every experience that happens to me without thinking about citation styles, copyright ethics, and intellectual freedom. However, similar to the anxieties in academic writing, writing creatively about personal experiences and observations lends itself to some discomfort, too.

Building community

One of the best parts about working in librarianship is that it’s a profession rooted in sharing. There are professional networks available for most interests in our field. I can share my work with my greater library community, and receive valuable feedback and support.

Similarly, in my creative writing communities, there is an abundance of mutual sharing and support. The difference is, people are less likely to harshly critique creative writing than they are academic writing. Outside of academia, poetry that is based on personal perceptions of the world does not lend itself to formal criticism. My creative writing communities value the act of sharing over the need for critique, which is in direct contrast to the mission of academic writing.

Coping with critiques

When you use your voice, people will have opinions about your work. This holds true for academic works and creative projects. When I finish a piece of writing—be it an article, conference proposal, or poem—the self-doubt sets in. I begin to have unrealistically high expectations for my writing. I suddenly believe that this one piece of writing should be simultaneously timeless, indisputable, and groundbreaking. But the truth is, most ideas are not unique, and all ideas should be open to critique.

I’ve learned to cope with the critiques by not attaching my professional or personal self-worth to others’ opinions of my work. If we make claims that are later deemed incorrect or invaluable, that’s okay. Research evolves, and so do we. Defend your work as you see fit, but also allow yourself to recognize and admit when your work has room for improvement. Stop holding your work to an impossible standard of perfection, and realize that using your voice as productively as you can is often enough. If you publish something you later regret, do better next time.

Using your voice

Researching and writing for academia is an important way to contribute to the progress of human knowledge. Similarly, writing creatively—in my case, writing poetry—is also a practice in using our voices, sharing our stories, and trying to help make sense of humanity. Contributing to the greater conversation by sharing your own experiences and expertise is challenging, rewarding, and necessary.

Above all else, I believe using our voices productively is one of the best things we can do for the world. Writing is one way to do this. Often times us beginners feel like we have nothing to offer, but simply the experiences of being new are perspectives worth sharing. When you use your voice, know that you will both formally and informally receive criticism, you will be told your voice doesn’t align with the standards or desires of certain publications or communities, and you will sometimes wonder why you are even trying to use your voice at all. I’d like to tell you that your voice and your contributions do matter.

Keep the Conversation Going

• Do you have a creative outlet that allows you to use your voice productively and express yourself?
• What are some ways you’ve learned to cope with critiques of your work?
• How do you stay committed to the scholarly writing process?
• What professional networks or communities have helped you find your place within librarianship?

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The expressions of writer do not reflect anyone’s views but their own

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Remember that the writing style of an academic research paper is tightly defined by three factors: 1) the discipline; 2) the type of research you are reporting (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research create expectations in reporting styles (see http://www.equator-network.com ); and 3) the style expectations of the journal. Adhere closely to those and remember that academic research writing is very formalized and structured. Use classic, proper English at all times. Yes, your own voice will come through to some extent, but that’s actually more expressed in the choice of research topic and research method Research Method The approach taken by the researcher to collect data. Examples include in-depth interviews, focus groups, surveys, experiments, etc. . Writing for a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal is about as formalized as it gets. Peer-reviewers will be tough on you. Sometimes you have to rewrite multiple times and submit to multiple journals. You don’t have to accept everything a peer-reviewer tells you, but you should have a good reason for why you didn’t. Forget creative writing, there is nothing creative about this type of writing except for trying to persuade editors buried in submissions and busy peer-reviewers that you have something novel and useful enough to contribute to the journal and the discipline.

See Also: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/ https://ori.hhs.gov/avoiding-plagiarism-self-plagiarism-and-other-questionable-writing-practices-guide-ethical-writing http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htm http://www.ease.org.uk/publications/author-guidelines-authors-and-translators/ https://www.aacc.org/publications/clinical-chemistry/clinical-chemistry%C2%A0guide-to-scientific-writing# https://cgi.duke.edu/web/sciwriting/index.php

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Academic Writing Vs. Creative Writing: Understanding The Differences

Published by Oliver Smith at September 11th, 2023 , Revised On January 30, 2024

Writing is a vast and varied field, with numerous genres and sub-genres, each demanding a unique approach and mindset. Among the multitude of writing types, academic and creative writing stand out as polar opposites. These two forms of writing serve distinct purposes and possess characteristic styles and tones. This blog will discuss the differences between academic and creative writing. 

What is Academic Writing

Academic writing is a formal style of writing. It is commonly used in universities and scholarly publications. Its characters mainly include evidence-based arguments, logical reasoning, and conciseness.

While some might see it as stuffy or rigid, it is crucial in academia for maintaining clarity and credibility. Let’s break down the features and purposes of academic writing:

Features of Academic Writing

The features of good academic writing include:

Evidence-Based

Academic writing relies on evidence, such as data, facts, logical reasoning, and expert testimonies. Unsupported claims are not acceptable.

Formal Tone

Casual or colloquial language is avoided. Instead, a serious and respectful tone is maintained.

Clear and Precise 

It prioritises clarity and avoids ambiguity. Words and phrases are used in their exact meaning.

There is a clear organisation to the content, whether it is the standard introduction, body, and conclusion of an essay or the abstract, introduction, or other parts of a research paper.

Impersonal Tone

Personal beliefs, feelings, or opinions are typically kept out unless they are relevant to the discussion.

Any information, ideas, or data not original to the author must be cited. This gives credit to original authors and provides a trail for readers to verify information.

Purpose of Academic Writing

Academic writing mainly serves the following purposes. 

Much of academic writing aims to inform the reader about a specific topic. This could be a review of existing literature, explaining a concept, or presenting new research findings.

In some cases, academic writing persuades the reader of a certain viewpoint. This is seen in argumentative essays and papers where the author presents and supports a thesis statement with evidence.

Academic writing can serve as a record of research findings, observations, or experiments. This is crucial for future researchers who might build upon that work.

Reflective essays or reports allow the writer to discuss their experiences, learning, or observations in a structured way.

Audience of Academic Writing

The primary audience of academic writing is the scholarly community, including professors, students, researchers, and experts in the field. 

However, given the increasing accessibility of academic works, the public, policymakers, and other professionals are also counted in the category. 

Types of Academic Writing

Here are the main types of academic writing. 

Essays are short pieces of academic writing that convey the author’s perspective on a particular topic. The different types of essays include argumentative, descriptive, expository, and narrative.

Essays are meant to concisely explore and communicate ideas, arguments, or information. They often require critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to present a coherent argument.

Research Papers

Research papers are in-depth documents that present original research findings on a specific topic. They are often more extensive than essays and follow a structured format.

These papers also contribute new knowledge to a particular field, which helps demonstrate the author’s ability to conduct research, analyse data, and draw meaningful conclusions.

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and dissertations are comprehensive research projects. They are generally required to get a master’s or doctoral degree. They represent the completion of a student’s academic work.

Additionally, theses and dissertations involve in-depth research, critical analysis, and the presentation of original contributions to a specific academic discipline.

Reports are documents commonly used in scientific and technical fields to convey information about experiments, investigations, or research studies. They have a structured format, including methods, results, and conclusions.

Moreover, reports aim to provide detailed and objective information about experiments, allowing others to replicate the study or understand the findings accurately.

Reviews critically assess other works, such as books, articles, or literature. They summarise the main points of the work and provide an evaluation based on specific criteria.

Reviews help readers understand the content and quality of the work being reviewed. They assist in decision-making processes and contribute to scholarly discourse.

Case Studies

Case studies involve detailed analyses of specific cases, events, or situations. They often include real-life examples and explore the factors contributing to a particular outcome.

Furthermore, case studies are used to gain insights into complex phenomena, investigate cause-and-effect relationships, and provide context-rich information for research or educational purposes.

Abstracts are concise summaries of larger academic papers, typically appearing at the beginning of the document. They briefly overview the paper’s main objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions.

Abstracts serve as a quick reference for readers, allowing them to determine whether the full paper is relevant to their interests. They provide a snapshot of the paper’s content without requiring the reader to review it.

Academic Writing Process

• What is academic writing
• Difference between a heading and a title
• Taboo words from around the world
• When and how to use transition words
• List of transition words and phrases
• Verb tenses – rules & examples

What is Creative Writing

Creative writing is an art form that allows for self-expression and imagination. It breaks away from the more strict constraints of other forms of writing. It encompasses various written works and genres, each characterised by imaginative narratives, characters, and poetic use of language. 

Conclusively, creative writing seeks to tell a story, evoke emotions, or paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

Features of Creative Writing

An impeccable piece of creative writing has the following features. 

Imaginative and Original

Central to creative writing is the use of imagination. It allows writers to invent characters, worlds, scenarios, and more.

It is a means of expressing personal feelings, emotions, and ideas.

Character Development

Characters in creative writing often undergo growth or transformation, revealing depths of human nature.

Poetic Use of Language

Words are chosen for their literal meaning, sound, rhythm, and emotional resonance.

Narrative Structure

Even though creative writing doesn’t always follow a strict structure, many pieces have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Evokes Emotion

One of its goals is to make readers feel something—whether it is joy, sorrow, excitement, or fear.

Purpose of Creative Writing

Creative writing is usually done for

Entertainment

Many creative works aim to entertain, taking readers on journeys to far-off places or introducing them to intriguing characters.

Writers often use creative writing as a platform to express personal feelings, beliefs, or experiences.

It can be a medium to reflect on societal issues, human behaviour, or the world at large.

Some creative works, like allegories or satires, can be persuasive, conveying opinions on political or societal issues.

Audience of Creative Writing

While some creative works might target a specific audience, many are meant for anyone who appreciates storytelling, language artistry, or poetic expressions. From children to adults, the audience for creative writing is diverse.

Types of Creative Writing

The types of creative writing include

Fiction is fabricated and based on the author’s imagination. It is not factual, but it may be based on true events or situations.

• Novels: Extended works of fiction that can range from about 50,000 words to several hundred thousand words.
• Short Stories: Brief works of fiction, typically between 1,000 and 20,000 words.
• Novellas: Longer than short stories but shorter than novels, often between 20,000 and 50,000 words.

Poetry uses meter, rhyme, and metaphor to express feelings, ideas, or tell stories. Its form and structure can vary widely.

Drama involves writing that is intended to be performed by actors on a stage, in a film, or on television.

Creative Non-Fiction

This genre uses narrative techniques commonly found in fiction to relay true, factual events or experiences.

• Memoirs: A personal account of someone’s life or experiences.
• Biographies: A detailed account of someone else’s life.
• Personal Essays: Short, introspective pieces that reflect on life experiences.

Flash Fiction

These are very short stories, often characterised by brevity and succinctness. They still have a full narrative but in a much condensed form.

Screenwriting

This involves writing scripts specifically for visual mediums, like movies or TV shows. The script will often include scene directions, character actions, and dialogue.

Songwriting

The art of writing lyrics for music often encompasses a range of emotions, themes, and narratives.

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The Difference Between Academic Writing and Creative Writing

Academic writing and creative writing are two very different types of writing that serve distinct purposes and adopt unique characteristics. Let’s look at the primary differences between them:

Academic Writing: The primary purpose is to inform, explain, argue, or analyse. It is mainly used to present research findings, argues a point, or elaborate on a theory or idea. Examples include essays, research papers, and journals.

Creative Writing: The primary purpose is to entertain, evoke emotions, and express the author’s imaginative ideas. It may also inform or persuade, but stylistically and narratively. Examples include poetry, fiction (novels, short stories), plays, and scripts.

Style and Tone

Academic Writing: Typically adopts a formal tone and uses precise, unambiguous language. Jargon or technical terms relevant to the field may be used.

Creative Writing: Can vary in tone, from casual and conversational to highly formal. Figurative language, rhetorical devices, and a focus on narrative or poetic techniques often mark it.

Academic Writing: Follows a structured format that depends on the type of academic work. For instance, research papers might follow the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion).

Creative Writing: More flexible in structure. While there might be conventional structures for certain genres (like the three-act structure in plays), creative writing often allows for more deviation and experimentation.

Evidence and Research

Academic Writing: Relies heavily on evidence, citations, and references. Proper sourcing and avoiding plagiarism are crucial.

Creative Writing: While it may be based on research (e.g., historical fiction), it does not always require citations or references, and it often relies on the author’s imagination.

Point of View

Academic Writing: Typically uses a third-person perspective, and first-person might be avoided depending on the discipline or assignment.

Creative Writing: Can employ first, second, or third-person perspectives. The choice depends on the nature of the story and the writer’s intention.

Objective vs. Subjective

Academic Writing: Strives for objectivity. Even when presenting an argument, the emphasis is on presenting evidence and logical reasoning.

Creative Writing: It is often more subjective, focusing on emotional truths, individual perspectives, and personal experiences.

Constraints

Academic Writing: Generally needs to adhere to specific guidelines formatting rules, and be clear and concise.

Creative Writing: Offers more freedom, allowing writers to play with language, structure, and content.

Academic Writing: Typically written for scholars, researchers, students, or professionals in the field.

Creative Writing: Aimed at a general audience, although some works might cater to niche readerships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is creative writing part of academic writing.

Creative writing and academic writing serve different purposes. While academic writing prioritises evidence-based arguments, clarity, and objectivity, creative writing emphasises storytelling, character, and emotion. However, you can use elements of creative writing to enhance academic pieces and make them more engaging.

What is the difference between academic writing and creative writing?

Academic writing presents researched information and is mostly clear, properly structured, and objective. Creative writing emphasises storytelling, imagination, and emotional resonance. While academic writing seeks to inform or argue based on evidence, creative writing aims to entertain, provoke thought, or express personal insights. Both have unique styles, purposes, and conventions.

What are the characteristics of creative writing?

Creative writing emphasises imagination, originality, and expression. It prioritises storytelling, character development, emotional resonance, and vivid imagery. Unlike formal styles, creative writing allows for flexibility in structure and language, encouraging the exploration of diverse narratives and voices.

What is an example of academic writing?

“Recent research on climate change highlights its adverse effects on global sea levels. Using satellite data from 1990-2020, Smith et al. (2022) found a 3.2mm annual rise in sea levels. This upward trend, linked to melting polar ice caps, underscores the urgent need for sustainable environmental policies worldwide.”

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Writer’s block is defined as the temporary inability to begin or continue a writing project due to fear, anxiety, or lack of inspiration. Given the intense academic pressures, it is no surprise that many students and researchers face this challenge.

In grammar, passive voice is a verb form in which the subject receives the action of the verb. It contrasts with the active voice, where the subject performs the action. Passive constructions are formed using the verb “to be” + the past participle of the main verb.

Language is an intricate and dynamic entity, and verb tenses play a vital role in conveying meaning and expressing actions across time. Mastering verb tenses can significantly improve our communication and ensure clarity in our writing and speaking.

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• Academic writing

What Is Academic Writing? | Dos and Don’ts for Students

Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in universities and scholarly publications. You’ll encounter it in journal articles and books on academic topics, and you’ll be expected to write your essays , research papers , and dissertation in academic style.

Academic writing follows the same writing process as other types of texts, but it has specific conventions in terms of content, structure and style.

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Table of contents

Types of academic writing, academic writing is…, academic writing is not…, useful tools for academic writing, academic writing checklist.

Academics mostly write texts intended for publication, such as journal articles, reports, books, and chapters in edited collections. For students, the most common types of academic writing assignments are listed below.

Different fields of study have different priorities in terms of the writing they produce. For example, in scientific writing it’s crucial to clearly and accurately report methods and results; in the humanities, the focus is on constructing convincing arguments through the use of textual evidence. However, most academic writing shares certain key principles intended to help convey information as effectively as possible.

Whether your goal is to pass your degree, apply to graduate school , or build an academic career, effective writing is an essential skill.

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Formal and unbiased

Academic writing aims to convey information in an impartial way. The goal is to base arguments on the evidence under consideration, not the author’s preconceptions. All claims should be supported with relevant evidence, not just asserted.

To avoid bias, it’s important to represent the work of other researchers and the results of your own research fairly and accurately. This means clearly outlining your methodology  and being honest about the limitations of your research.

The formal style used in academic writing ensures that research is presented consistently across different texts, so that studies can be objectively assessed and compared with other research.

Because of this, it’s important to strike the right tone with your language choices. Avoid informal language , including slang, contractions , clichés, and conversational phrases:

• Also , a lot of the findings are a little unreliable.
• Moreover , many of the findings are somewhat unreliable.

Clear and precise

It’s important to use clear and precise language to ensure that your reader knows exactly what you mean. This means being as specific as possible and avoiding vague language :

• People have been interested in this thing for a long time .
• Researchers have been interested in this phenomenon for at least 10 years .

Avoid hedging your claims with words like “perhaps,” as this can give the impression that you lack confidence in your arguments. Reflect on your word choice to ensure it accurately and directly conveys your meaning:

• This could perhaps suggest that…
• This suggests that…

Specialist language or jargon is common and often necessary in academic writing, which generally targets an audience of other academics in related fields.

However, jargon should be used to make your writing more concise and accurate, not to make it more complicated. A specialist term should be used when:

• It conveys information more precisely than a comparable non-specialist term.
• Your reader is likely to be familiar with the term.
• The term is commonly used by other researchers in your field.

The best way to familiarize yourself with the kind of jargon used in your field is to read papers by other researchers and pay attention to their language.

Focused and well structured

An academic text is not just a collection of ideas about a topic—it needs to have a clear purpose. Start with a relevant research question or thesis statement , and use it to develop a focused argument. Only include information that is relevant to your overall purpose.

A coherent structure is crucial to organize your ideas. Pay attention to structure at three levels: the structure of the whole text, paragraph structure, and sentence structure.

Well sourced

Academic writing uses sources to support its claims. Sources are other texts (or media objects like photographs or films) that the author analyzes or uses as evidence. Many of your sources will be written by other academics; academic writing is collaborative and builds on previous research.

It’s important to consider which sources are credible and appropriate to use in academic writing. For example, citing Wikipedia is typically discouraged. Don’t rely on websites for information; instead, use academic databases and your university library to find credible sources.

You must always cite your sources in academic writing. This means acknowledging whenever you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work by including a citation in the text and a reference list at the end.

There are many different citation styles with different rules. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago . Make sure to consistently follow whatever style your institution requires. If you don’t cite correctly, you may get in trouble for plagiarism . A good plagiarism checker can help you catch any issues before it’s too late.

You can easily create accurate citations in APA or MLA style using our Citation Generators.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

Correct and consistent

As well as following the rules of grammar, punctuation, and citation, it’s important to consistently apply stylistic conventions regarding:

• How to write numbers
• Introducing abbreviations
• Using verb tenses in different sections
• Capitalization of terms and headings
• Spelling and punctuation differences between UK and US English

In some cases there are several acceptable approaches that you can choose between—the most important thing is to apply the same rules consistently and to carefully proofread your text before you submit. If you don’t feel confident in your own proofreading abilities, you can get help from Scribbr’s professional proofreading services or Grammar Checker .

Academic writing generally tries to avoid being too personal. Information about the author may come in at some points—for example in the acknowledgements or in a personal reflection—but for the most part the text should focus on the research itself.

Always avoid addressing the reader directly with the second-person pronoun “you.” Use the impersonal pronoun “one” or an alternate phrasing instead for generalizations:

• As a teacher, you must treat your students fairly.
• As a teacher, one must treat one’s students fairly.
• Teachers must treat their students fairly.

The use of the first-person pronoun “I” used to be similarly discouraged in academic writing, but it is increasingly accepted in many fields. If you’re unsure whether to use the first person, pay attention to conventions in your field or ask your instructor.

When you refer to yourself, it should be for good reason. You can position yourself and describe what you did during the research, but avoid arbitrarily inserting your personal thoughts and feelings:

• In my opinion…
• I think that…
• I like/dislike…
• I conducted interviews with…
• I argue that…
• I hope to achieve…

Long-winded

Many students think their writing isn’t academic unless it’s over-complicated and long-winded. This isn’t a good approach—instead, aim to be as concise and direct as possible.

If a term can be cut or replaced with a more straightforward one without affecting your meaning, it should be. Avoid redundant phrasings in your text, and try replacing phrasal verbs with their one-word equivalents where possible:

• Interest in this phenomenon carried on in the year 2018 .
• Interest in this phenomenon continued in 2018 .

Repetition is a part of academic writing—for example, summarizing earlier information in the conclusion—but it’s important to avoid unnecessary repetition. Make sure that none of your sentences are repeating a point you’ve already made in different words.

Emotive and grandiose

An academic text is not the same thing as a literary, journalistic, or marketing text. Though you’re still trying to be persuasive, a lot of techniques from these styles are not appropriate in an academic context. Specifically, you should avoid appeals to emotion and inflated claims.

Though you may be writing about a topic that’s sensitive or important to you, the point of academic writing is to clearly communicate ideas, information, and arguments, not to inspire an emotional response. Avoid using emotive or subjective language :

• This horrible tragedy was obviously one of the worst catastrophes in construction history.
• The injury and mortality rates of this accident were among the highest in construction history.

Students are sometimes tempted to make the case for their topic with exaggerated , unsupported claims and flowery language. Stick to specific, grounded arguments that you can support with evidence, and don’t overstate your point:

• Charles Dickens is the greatest writer of the Victorian period, and his influence on all subsequent literature is enormous.
• Charles Dickens is one of the best-known writers of the Victorian period and has had a significant influence on the development of the English novel.

There are a a lot of writing tools that will make your writing process faster and easier. We’ll highlight three of them below.

Paraphrasing tool

AI writing tools like ChatGPT and a paraphrasing tool can help you rewrite text so that your ideas are clearer, you don’t repeat yourself, and your writing has a consistent tone.

They can also help you write more clearly about sources without having to quote them directly. Be warned, though: it’s still crucial to give credit to all sources in the right way to prevent plagiarism .

Grammar checker

Writing tools that scan your text for punctuation, spelling, and grammar mistakes. When it detects a mistake the grammar checke r will give instant feedback and suggest corrections. Helping you write clearly and avoid common mistakes .

You can use a summarizer if you want to condense text into its most important and useful ideas. With a summarizer tool, you can make it easier to understand complicated sources. You can also use the tool to make your research question clearer and summarize your main argument.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

Use the checklist below to assess whether you have followed the rules of effective academic writing.

• Checklist: Academic writing

I avoid informal terms and contractions .

I avoid second-person pronouns (“you”).

I avoid emotive or exaggerated language.

I avoid redundant words and phrases.

I avoid unnecessary jargon and define terms where needed.

I present information as precisely and accurately as possible.

I use appropriate transitions to show the connections between my ideas.

My text is logically organized using paragraphs .

Each paragraph is focused on a single idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Every part of the text relates to my central thesis or research question .

I support my claims with evidence.

I use the appropriate verb tenses in each section.

I consistently use either UK or US English .

I format numbers consistently.

I cite my sources using a consistent citation style .

Your text follows the most important rules of academic style. Make sure it's perfect with the help of a Scribbr editor!

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Creative Writing(ENG-207) Week#7:- Difference between Academic and Creative Writing

• Week#7:- Difference between Academic and Creative Writing

Difference between Academic and Creative Writing

Creative writing is different from  academic writing . Writing for websites is different from writing for newspaper columns. Journal entries are different from writing press releases on behalf of a brand. Writing purposes do vary. It's important that when undertaking any writing you have a firm grasp on this concept.

Let's look at the fundamental differences between academic and creative writing.

The Principal Difference

Style is the chief difference between academic and creative writing. Creative writing need not adhere to any specific style parameters. Academic writing is different. Academic writing needs to be structured and executed adhering to a series of guidelines. Indeed, so stringent are these guidelines that academic institutions include these guidelines as part of their curriculum.

Style Guidelines Outlined

These documents or manuals outline the rules and standards needed for the successful execution of any written exercise. A quick Google search and you'll find web pages dedicated to clearly communicating the guidelines of academic writing. However, many institutions have their own stylistic guidelines.

Common Style Guide Conventions vs. Informal Writing

Here is a look at some of the differences between informal writing and conventional, academic writing.

Contractions – generally speaking contractions are acceptable in academic writing, though overuse will dilute the integrity of the writing. Studying academic writing you'll see that the writer makes use of contractions to get points across.

Technical terminology –when writing for academic purposes it's important that you always bear the audience in mind. If you're writing for a niche market alone the audience will understand any jargon that may be lost on the layman. Take out technical terminology altogether if writing for a diverse audience.

Reference appropriately – good academic writing includes references for any information used to support your argument. These need to be referenced appropriately.

Colloquial expressions and clichés – creative writing, especially dialogue, will have expressions that are unique to that character. However, these should not be used in academic writing. For example, it's unwise to describe Noam Chomsky's contribution to linguistics as ‘awesome.'

These are just a few tips for anyone considering how to cater to their writing for academic or creative purposes. Follow these are you will give yourself the best possible chance of executing a well-crafted piece of work, no matter the purpose.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CREATIVE AND ACADEMIC WRITING

In personal, reflective, or creative writing, there are far fewer rules since it is.. well. personal and creative!  In this kind of writing, one can tell a story,  summarize their experiences, or express their opinions, ideas, or emotions.  Their writing can be entirely fictional, requiring minimal factual evidence or support.  However, writers may still want to include support for their assertions, especially if their personal writing is supposed to be persuasive or deliver an opinion.  Writers may support their claims with personal experiences and information that they have heard, even if they aren’t entirely sure where from.  Their evidence doesn’t have to include the page number of the specific text it is found in like academic writing does.  This is simply because it is writing for the purpose of only the writer’s intentions.  It doesn’t need to satisfy requirements or match the grading of a rubric. Academic or scholarly writing on the other hand is a little more standardized.  One's writing must be much more organized and formatted, and the evidence used as support for their assertions must come from concrete sources.  The sources should be properly cited both in text and in a works cited page.  In academic writing, the writer needs to prove to the reader that what is being said is factual and correct.  Ideas need to be explained, and any inferences or deductions based on textual evidence or data must include support.  Contrary to creative writing, one cannot simply ponder about an idea and ask questions.  In academic writing, questions must be answered.

Another difference between academic writing and creative or personal writing is the presence of pressure due to time restraints.  In timed essays, ones writing situation may greatly change.  There is no time to brainstorm or procrastinate, so being able to organize ideas quickly is essential.  Also, far greater preparation before beginning the paper is required.  The writer does not have the luxury of aimlessly searching through sources for evidence.  The subject of the timed essay must be understood thoroughly, prior to the beginning of the timed writing.

Overall, creative writing allows for more personal expression whereas academic/scholarly writing aims to explore an idea, argument, or concept.  Academic writing requires more factual evidence for support, and presents challenges such as the pressure of time.  They each have their own purpose, and as a developing writer, I hope to improve my writing of both types.

• Week#1:- Literature and major forms of literature
• Week#2:- Drama and forms of drama
• Week#3:- Poetry and kinds of poetry
• Week#4:- Objective poetry and its kinds
• Week#5:- Benefits of Creative Writing
• Week#6:- Types of Writing and Writing Process
• Week#8:- Elements of Short Stories
• Week#9:- Novel and its types
• Week#10:- Novel and its uses
• Week#11:- Communication and its types
• Week#12:- Communication's elements and benefits
• Week#13:- The Barrier to effective communication
• Week#14:- Essay and its types
• Week#15:- Figures of speech
• Week#16:- Poem: "Mending Wall"
• Chapters 16
• Department Business Administration

• USC Libraries
• Research Guides

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper

• Academic Writing Style
• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Reading Research Effectively
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Applying Critical Thinking
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Research Process Video Series
• Executive Summary
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tiertiary Sources
• Scholarly vs. Popular Publications
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Insiderness
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Generative AI and Writing
• USC Libraries Tutorials and Other Guides
• Bibliography

Academic writing refers to a style of expression that researchers use to define the intellectual boundaries of their disciplines and specific areas of expertise. Characteristics of academic writing include a formal tone, use of the third-person rather than first-person perspective (usually), a clear focus on the research problem under investigation, and precise word choice. Like specialist languages adopted in other professions, such as, law or medicine, academic writing is designed to convey agreed meaning about complex ideas or concepts within a community of scholarly experts and practitioners.

Academic Writing. Writing Center. Colorado Technical College; Hartley, James. Academic Writing and Publishing: A Practical Guide . New York: Routledge, 2008; Ezza, El-Sadig Y. and Touria Drid. T eaching Academic Writing as a Discipline-Specific Skill in Higher Education . Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2020.

Importance of Good Academic Writing

The accepted form of academic writing in the social sciences can vary considerable depending on the methodological framework and the intended audience. However, most college-level research papers require careful attention to the following stylistic elements:

I.  The Big Picture Unlike creative or journalistic writing, the overall structure of academic writing is formal and logical. It must be cohesive and possess a logically organized flow of ideas; this means that the various parts are connected to form a unified whole. There should be narrative links between sentences and paragraphs so that the reader is able to follow your argument. The introduction should include a description of how the rest of the paper is organized and all sources are properly cited throughout the paper.

II.  Tone The overall tone refers to the attitude conveyed in a piece of writing. Throughout your paper, it is important that you present the arguments of others fairly and with an appropriate narrative tone. When presenting a position or argument that you disagree with, describe this argument accurately and without loaded or biased language. In academic writing, the author is expected to investigate the research problem from an authoritative point of view. You should, therefore, state the strengths of your arguments confidently, using language that is neutral, not confrontational or dismissive.

III.  Diction Diction refers to the choice of words you use. Awareness of the words you use is important because words that have almost the same denotation [dictionary definition] can have very different connotations [implied meanings]. This is particularly true in academic writing because words and terminology can evolve a nuanced meaning that describes a particular idea, concept, or phenomenon derived from the epistemological culture of that discipline [e.g., the concept of rational choice in political science]. Therefore, use concrete words [not general] that convey a specific meaning. If this cannot be done without confusing the reader, then you need to explain what you mean within the context of how that word or phrase is used within a discipline.

IV.  Language The investigation of research problems in the social sciences is often complex and multi- dimensional . Therefore, it is important that you use unambiguous language. Well-structured paragraphs and clear topic sentences enable a reader to follow your line of thinking without difficulty. Your language should be concise, formal, and express precisely what you want it to mean. Do not use vague expressions that are not specific or precise enough for the reader to derive exact meaning ["they," "we," "people," "the organization," etc.], abbreviations like 'i.e.'  ["in other words"], 'e.g.' ["for example"], or 'a.k.a.' ["also known as"], and the use of unspecific determinate words ["super," "very," "incredible," "huge," etc.].

V.  Punctuation Scholars rely on precise words and language to establish the narrative tone of their work and, therefore, punctuation marks are used very deliberately. For example, exclamation points are rarely used to express a heightened tone because it can come across as unsophisticated or over-excited. Dashes should be limited to the insertion of an explanatory comment in a sentence, while hyphens should be limited to connecting prefixes to words [e.g., multi-disciplinary] or when forming compound phrases [e.g., commander-in-chief]. Finally, understand that semi-colons represent a pause that is longer than a comma, but shorter than a period in a sentence. In general, there are four grammatical uses of semi-colons: when a second clause expands or explains the first clause; to describe a sequence of actions or different aspects of the same topic; placed before clauses which begin with "nevertheless", "therefore", "even so," and "for instance”; and, to mark off a series of phrases or clauses which contain commas. If you are not confident about when to use semi-colons [and most of the time, they are not required for proper punctuation], rewrite using shorter sentences or revise the paragraph.

VI.  Academic Conventions Among the most important rules and principles of academic engagement of a writing is citing sources in the body of your paper and providing a list of references as either footnotes or endnotes. The academic convention of citing sources facilitates processes of intellectual discovery, critical thinking, and applying a deliberate method of navigating through the scholarly landscape by tracking how cited works are propagated by scholars over time . Aside from citing sources, other academic conventions to follow include the appropriate use of headings and subheadings, properly spelling out acronyms when first used in the text, avoiding slang or colloquial language, avoiding emotive language or unsupported declarative statements, avoiding contractions [e.g., isn't], and using first person and second person pronouns only when necessary.

VII.  Evidence-Based Reasoning Assignments often ask you to express your own point of view about the research problem. However, what is valued in academic writing is that statements are based on evidence-based reasoning. This refers to possessing a clear understanding of the pertinent body of knowledge and academic debates that exist within, and often external to, your discipline concerning the topic. You need to support your arguments with evidence from scholarly [i.e., academic or peer-reviewed] sources. It should be an objective stance presented as a logical argument; the quality of the evidence you cite will determine the strength of your argument. The objective is to convince the reader of the validity of your thoughts through a well-documented, coherent, and logically structured piece of writing. This is particularly important when proposing solutions to problems or delineating recommended courses of action.

VIII.  Thesis-Driven Academic writing is “thesis-driven,” meaning that the starting point is a particular perspective, idea, or position applied to the chosen topic of investigation, such as, establishing, proving, or disproving solutions to the questions applied to investigating the research problem. Note that a problem statement without the research questions does not qualify as academic writing because simply identifying the research problem does not establish for the reader how you will contribute to solving the problem, what aspects you believe are most critical, or suggest a method for gathering information or data to better understand the problem.

IX.  Complexity and Higher-Order Thinking Academic writing addresses complex issues that require higher-order thinking skills applied to understanding the research problem [e.g., critical, reflective, logical, and creative thinking as opposed to, for example, descriptive or prescriptive thinking]. Higher-order thinking skills include cognitive processes that are used to comprehend, solve problems, and express concepts or that describe abstract ideas that cannot be easily acted out, pointed to, or shown with images. Think of your writing this way: One of the most important attributes of a good teacher is the ability to explain complexity in a way that is understandable and relatable to the topic being presented during class. This is also one of the main functions of academic writing--examining and explaining the significance of complex ideas as clearly as possible.  As a writer, you must adopt the role of a good teacher by summarizing complex information into a well-organized synthesis of ideas, concepts, and recommendations that contribute to a better understanding of the research problem.

Academic Writing. Writing Center. Colorado Technical College; Hartley, James. Academic Writing and Publishing: A Practical Guide . New York: Routledge, 2008; Murray, Rowena  and Sarah Moore. The Handbook of Academic Writing: A Fresh Approach . New York: Open University Press, 2006; Johnson, Roy. Improve Your Writing Skills . Manchester, UK: Clifton Press, 1995; Nygaard, Lynn P. Writing for Scholars: A Practical Guide to Making Sense and Being Heard . Second edition. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, 2015; Silvia, Paul J. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2007; Style, Diction, Tone, and Voice. Writing Center, Wheaton College; Sword, Helen. Stylish Academic Writing . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012.

Strategies for...

Understanding Academic Writing and Its Jargon

The very definition of research jargon is language specific to a particular community of practitioner-researchers . Therefore, in modern university life, jargon represents the specific language and meaning assigned to words and phrases specific to a discipline or area of study. For example, the idea of being rational may hold the same general meaning in both political science and psychology, but its application to understanding and explaining phenomena within the research domain of a each discipline may have subtle differences based upon how scholars in that discipline apply the concept to the theories and practice of their work.

Given this, it is important that specialist terminology [i.e., jargon] must be used accurately and applied under the appropriate conditions . Subject-specific dictionaries are the best places to confirm the meaning of terms within the context of a specific discipline. These can be found by either searching in the USC Libraries catalog by entering the disciplinary and the word dictionary [e.g., sociology and dictionary] or using a database such as Credo Reference [a curated collection of subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, guides from highly regarded publishers] . It is appropriate for you to use specialist language within your field of study, but you should avoid using such language when writing for non-academic or general audiences.

Problems with Opaque Writing

A common criticism of scholars is that they can utilize needlessly complex syntax or overly expansive vocabulary that is impenetrable or not well-defined. When writing, avoid problems associated with opaque writing by keeping in mind the following:

1.   Excessive use of specialized terminology . Yes, it is appropriate for you to use specialist language and a formal style of expression in academic writing, but it does not mean using "big words" just for the sake of doing so. Overuse of complex or obscure words or writing complicated sentence constructions gives readers the impression that your paper is more about style than substance; it leads the reader to question if you really know what you are talking about. Focus on creating clear, concise, and elegant prose that minimizes reliance on specialized terminology.

2.   Inappropriate use of specialized terminology . Because you are dealing with concepts, research, and data within your discipline, you need to use the technical language appropriate to that area of study. However, nothing will undermine the validity of your study quicker than the inappropriate application of a term or concept. Avoid using terms whose meaning you are unsure of--do not just guess or assume! Consult the meaning of terms in specialized, discipline-specific dictionaries by searching the USC Libraries catalog or the Credo Reference database [see above].

Additional Problems to Avoid

In addition to understanding the use of specialized language, there are other aspects of academic writing in the social sciences that you should be aware of. These problems include:

• Personal nouns . Excessive use of personal nouns [e.g., I, me, you, us] may lead the reader to believe the study was overly subjective. These words can be interpreted as being used only to avoid presenting empirical evidence about the research problem. Limit the use of personal nouns to descriptions of things you actually did [e.g., "I interviewed ten teachers about classroom management techniques..."]. Note that personal nouns are generally found in the discussion section of a paper because this is where you as the author/researcher interpret and describe your work.
• Directives . Avoid directives that demand the reader to "do this" or "do that." Directives should be framed as evidence-based recommendations or goals leading to specific outcomes. Note that an exception to this can be found in various forms of action research that involve evidence-based advocacy for social justice or transformative change. Within this area of the social sciences, authors may offer directives for action in a declarative tone of urgency.
• Informal, conversational tone using slang and idioms . Academic writing relies on excellent grammar and precise word structure. Your narrative should not include regional dialects or slang terms because they can be open to interpretation. Your writing should be direct and concise using standard English.
• Wordiness. Focus on being concise, straightforward, and developing a narrative that does not have confusing language . By doing so, you  help eliminate the possibility of the reader misinterpreting the design and purpose of your study.
• Vague expressions (e.g., "they," "we," "people," "the company," "that area," etc.). Being concise in your writing also includes avoiding vague references to persons, places, or things. While proofreading your paper, be sure to look for and edit any vague or imprecise statements that lack context or specificity.
• Numbered lists and bulleted items . The use of bulleted items or lists should be used only if the narrative dictates a need for clarity. For example, it is fine to state, "The four main problems with hedge funds are:" and then list them as 1, 2, 3, 4. However, in academic writing, this must then be followed by detailed explanation and analysis of each item. Given this, the question you should ask yourself while proofreading is: why begin with a list in the first place rather than just starting with systematic analysis of each item arranged in separate paragraphs? Also, be careful using numbers because they can imply a ranked order of priority or importance. If none exists, use bullets and avoid checkmarks or other symbols.
• Descriptive writing . Describing a research problem is an important means of contextualizing a study. In fact, some description or background information may be needed because you can not assume the reader knows the key aspects of the topic. However, the content of your paper should focus on methodology, the analysis and interpretation of findings, and their implications as they apply to the research problem rather than background information and descriptions of tangential issues.
• Personal experience. Drawing upon personal experience [e.g., traveling abroad; caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease] can be an effective way of introducing the research problem or engaging your readers in understanding its significance. Use personal experience only as an example, though, because academic writing relies on evidence-based research. To do otherwise is simply story-telling.

NOTE:   Rules concerning excellent grammar and precise word structure do not apply when quoting someone.  A quote should be inserted in the text of your paper exactly as it was stated. If the quote is especially vague or hard to understand, consider paraphrasing it or using a different quote to convey the same meaning. Consider inserting the term "sic" in brackets after the quoted text to indicate that the quotation has been transcribed exactly as found in the original source, but the source had grammar, spelling, or other errors. The adverb sic informs the reader that the errors are not yours.

Academic Writing. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Academic Writing Style. First-Year Seminar Handbook. Mercer University; Bem, Daryl J. Writing the Empirical Journal Article. Cornell University; College Writing. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Murray, Rowena  and Sarah Moore. The Handbook of Academic Writing: A Fresh Approach . New York: Open University Press, 2006; Johnson, Eileen S. “Action Research.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education . Edited by George W. Noblit and Joseph R. Neikirk. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2020); Oppenheimer, Daniel M. "Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly." Applied Cognitive Psychology 20 (2006): 139-156; Ezza, El-Sadig Y. and Touria Drid. T eaching Academic Writing as a Discipline-Specific Skill in Higher Education . Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2020; Pernawan, Ari. Common Flaws in Students' Research Proposals. English Education Department. Yogyakarta State University; Style. College Writing. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Invention: Five Qualities of Good Writing. The Reading/Writing Center. Hunter College; Sword, Helen. Stylish Academic Writing . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012; What Is an Academic Paper? Institute for Writing Rhetoric. Dartmouth College.

Structure and Writing Style

I. Improving Academic Writing

To improve your academic writing skills, you should focus your efforts on three key areas: 1.   Clear Writing . The act of thinking about precedes the process of writing about. Good writers spend sufficient time distilling information and reviewing major points from the literature they have reviewed before creating their work. Writing detailed outlines can help you clearly organize your thoughts. Effective academic writing begins with solid planning, so manage your time carefully. 2.  Excellent Grammar . Needless to say, English grammar can be difficult and complex; even the best scholars take many years before they have a command of the major points of good grammar. Take the time to learn the major and minor points of good grammar. Spend time practicing writing and seek detailed feedback from professors. Take advantage of the Writing Center on campus if you need help. Proper punctuation and good proofreading skills can significantly improve academic writing [see sub-tab for proofreading you paper ].

Refer to these three basic resources to help your grammar and writing skills:

• A good writing reference book, such as, Strunk and White’s book, The Elements of Style or the St. Martin's Handbook ;
• A college-level dictionary, such as, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ;
• The latest edition of Roget's Thesaurus in Dictionary Form .

3.  Consistent Stylistic Approach . Whether your professor expresses a preference to use MLA, APA or the Chicago Manual of Style or not, choose one style manual and stick to it. Each of these style manuals provide rules on how to write out numbers, references, citations, footnotes, and lists. Consistent adherence to a style of writing helps with the narrative flow of your paper and improves its readability. Note that some disciplines require a particular style [e.g., education uses APA] so as you write more papers within your major, your familiarity with it will improve.

II. Evaluating Quality of Writing

A useful approach for evaluating the quality of your academic writing is to consider the following issues from the perspective of the reader. While proofreading your final draft, critically assess the following elements in your writing.

• It is shaped around one clear research problem, and it explains what that problem is from the outset.
• Your paper tells the reader why the problem is important and why people should know about it.
• You have accurately and thoroughly informed the reader what has already been published about this problem or others related to it and noted important gaps in the research.
• You have provided evidence to support your argument that the reader finds convincing.
• The paper includes a description of how and why particular evidence was collected and analyzed, and why specific theoretical arguments or concepts were used.
• The paper is made up of paragraphs, each containing only one controlling idea.
• You indicate how each section of the paper addresses the research problem.
• You have considered counter-arguments or counter-examples where they are relevant.
• Arguments, evidence, and their significance have been presented in the conclusion.
• Limitations of your research have been explained as evidence of the potential need for further study.
• The narrative flows in a clear, accurate, and well-organized way.

Boscoloa, Pietro, Barbara Arféb, and Mara Quarisaa. “Improving the Quality of Students' Academic Writing: An Intervention Study.” Studies in Higher Education 32 (August 2007): 419-438; Academic Writing. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Academic Writing Style. First-Year Seminar Handbook. Mercer University; Bem, Daryl J. Writing the Empirical Journal Article. Cornell University; Candlin, Christopher. Academic Writing Step-By-Step: A Research-based Approach . Bristol, CT: Equinox Publishing Ltd., 2016; College Writing. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Style . College Writing. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Invention: Five Qualities of Good Writing. The Reading/Writing Center. Hunter College; Sword, Helen. Stylish Academic Writing . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012; What Is an Academic Paper? Institute for Writing Rhetoric. Dartmouth College.

Writing Tip

Considering the Passive Voice in Academic Writing

In the English language, we are able to construct sentences in the following way: 1.  "The policies of Congress caused the economic crisis." 2.  "The economic crisis was caused by the policies of Congress."

The decision about which sentence to use is governed by whether you want to focus on “Congress” and what they did, or on “the economic crisis” and what caused it. This choice in focus is achieved with the use of either the active or the passive voice. When you want your readers to focus on the "doer" of an action, you can make the "doer"' the subject of the sentence and use the active form of the verb. When you want readers to focus on the person, place, or thing affected by the action, or the action itself, you can make the effect or the action the subject of the sentence by using the passive form of the verb.

Often in academic writing, scholars don't want to focus on who is doing an action, but on who is receiving or experiencing the consequences of that action. The passive voice is useful in academic writing because it allows writers to highlight the most important participants or events within sentences by placing them at the beginning of the sentence.

Use the passive voice when:

• You want to focus on the person, place, or thing affected by the action, or the action itself;
• It is not important who or what did the action;
• You want to be impersonal or more formal.

Form the passive voice by:

• Turning the object of the active sentence into the subject of the passive sentence.
• Changing the verb to a passive form by adding the appropriate form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb.

NOTE: Consult with your professor about using the passive voice before submitting your research paper. Some strongly discourage its use!

Active and Passive Voice. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Diefenbach, Paul. Future of Digital Media Syllabus. Drexel University; Passive Voice. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina.  

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The difference between academic and professional writing: a helpful guide

Whether you’re a current or prospective student at Penn LPS Online, you’ve likely written your fair share of academic papers and business emails. But you’re not alone if you still have questions about the differences and similarities between academic and professional writing. This overview contains a summary of everything you need to know about the intricacies of these critical forms of writing.

What is the difference between academic and professional writing?

One of the key differences between academic writing and business writing is the goal of each endeavor. Because the readers are often students, professors, or scholars in academic writing, the goal is to present and analyze information on a specific subject and increase understanding. With professional writing, the goal is generally to communicate information or influence the opinions of managers, coworkers, clients, or job prospects. While academic writing is strictly formal, it’s common to use the first-person point of view in many standard business communications. Lastly, academic writing requires adherence to strict formatting and source requirements, but there is generally more flexibility in this area when it comes to professional documents.

Read on to dive deeper into the ins and outs of academic and professional writing.

Academic writing

The hallmarks of academic writing include the use of the third-person point of view, a logical flow, an emphasis on facts and ideas, and an authoritative, formal tone. This writing style is objective, avoids casual language and slang, offers insightful analysis, and includes citations for research backed by reliable sources such as scientific studies or journal articles. While students and professors routinely use academic writing, scientists also use it to describe their research findings, as do literary critics. There are four distinct types of this formal writing style: descriptive, analytical, persuasive, and critical.

Descriptive writing

Descriptive writing is one of the most simple and ubiquitous types of scholarly writing. You can see examples of this writing style in essays, research papers, or lab reports for several fields of study. The primary goal of descriptive writing is to use precise language to summarize and describe information, such as the result of an experiment or a section of prose.

Analytical writing

An example of analytical writing is an academic paper that compares two or more complex ideas or theories. Although a part of analytical writing is descriptive, it requires going a step further to reorganize and deconstruct facts into categories, groups, types, or relationships that provide context. As such, to author a successful analytical essay, you need to start with a strong outline.

Persuasive writing

Persuasive writing takes analytical writing to the next level. Not only must you structure a coherent, fact-based argument, but you must also include your own point of view. This could be a recommendation, interpretation of findings, or an evaluation of someone else’s work, but the claims you make need to be credible and backed by evidence.

Critical writing

This formal style is commonly used in research, advanced undergraduate, or postgraduate writing. It includes the tenets of persuasive writing with the supplement of at least one other point of view (in addition to your own) on a topic or issue. For example, if you’re writing a thesis, you may explain a researcher’s analysis from a journal article, critique the merits of their argument, and provide your own alternative explanation.

Professional writing

Professional writing refers to any written communication that takes place in an organizational context. A primary objective of professional or business writing is to effectively educate, instruct, or persuade an audience via emails, newsletters, memos, press releases, project proposals, business plans, executive summaries, letters, and resumés. As is the case with all writing styles, proper grammar usage—including syntax, spelling, and parts of speech—is essential in professional writing, as are the three points below.

Clarity and concision

One of the main requirements for successful professional writing is to use clear, precise language so that your message is easily understood. It’s also important to avoid clichés and hyperbole and stick to simple, concise statements that efficiently share concrete information. Not only will this save you time, but it will also benefit the reader’s comprehension and enjoyment.

Active and purposeful

Whether you’re creating a quick email or preparing an in-depth report, every piece of business writing should start with a well-defined objective or purpose. To keep your communication to the point, you should use an active voice, choose strong action verbs, and avoid qualifiers or passive phrases such as “I think.”

Personal tone

Although professional writing should have a courteous tone, the level of formality does not need to be equal to that used in an academic setting. Documents such as business plans should have a formal structure, but with emails or online chats with colleagues, a friendly, polite tone and positive phrasing can go a long way.

The overlap between academic and professional writing

Although there are distinct differences, there are also many similarities between academic and professional writing. Both writing styles require that you use proper grammar and punctuation, clear and precise language, and a serious tone, along with well-developed ideas with clear objectives. Whether you’re writing for business or academic purposes, it’s also important to avoid exaggeration, emotionally charged expressions, and jargon, as they dilute the effectiveness of your communication. In everything from research papers and essays to memos and fundraising letters, it’s essential to ensure that the information you convey is both accurate and relevant. And you should always have a clearly defined goal for academic or business writing, such as to describe, inform, analyze, or persuade.

If you’re somewhat of a writing novice and looking to improve your skills, then consider PROW 1030: Introduction to Academic Reading, Writing, and Research and PROW 1000: Fundamentals of Professional Writing at Penn LPS Online. The former is designed to expand your abilities and build your confidence as you learn how to plan and execute a well-structured argument, write with logical coherence, and polish your work to ensure readability. The latter provides an introduction to critically analyzing any writing situation and creating purposeful messaging to address it. With targeted exercises to improve grammar, mechanics, and precision, you’ll work to enhance the quality and effectiveness of your writing practice.

If you want to expand and refine your existing repertoire, look to PROW 3030: Advanced Academic Writing and PROW 3010: The Power of Storytelling . The former focuses on improving your ability to translate readings, research, and findings into meaningful academic content. This includes employing time management and reading strategies and enhancing your understanding of the nuances of academic genres and writing styles. The latter explores storytelling as a means of conveying complex and memorable information. Learn how to use narrative studies as a research tool for gathering data and a rhetorical strategy for generating emotional appeal, action, and brand identity.

Explore the professional writing certificate at Penn LPS Online

The 4-course Certificate in Professional Writing at Penn LPS Online offers practical applications that provide an accelerated understanding of the art of effective business communication—and tips to help you become a master of grammar, concision, and clarity. As mentioned above, whether you’re looking to learn the fundamentals or you’re already a seasoned writer, these Ivy League writing courses will help you take your skills to the next level. Discover innovative findings in the field, receive extensive coaching and feedback, and learn how to incorporate your personal or corporate brand story into every piece of communication.

The Certificate in Professional Writing prepares you to:

• Analyze different audiences, scenarios, and contexts to better shape your messaging
• Develop effective rhetorical strategies and skills to persuade personal, professional, and social audiences
• Learn how use complex multimedia texts that incorporate language, image, and sound to produce a coherent, engaging message
• Grow your empathic and analytical skills to integrate and build upon other viewpoints
• Explore how to engage the senses to successfully convey information through social media
• Understand how to use effective visualization to make complex material more accessible 

Ready to get started? If you have yet to do so, apply to Penn LPS Online today and enroll in the Certificate in Professional Writing . Or  view our course guide to see what’s available in any upcoming term.

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Technical vs. Academic, Creative, Business, and Literary Writing: What Is the Difference?

Technical writing is all about the content that focuses on providing detailed and clear information on the product or service. It contains a factual and straightforward message. Technical writers convert complex technical information into useful and easy-to-understand language. You should know that there are different types of technical writing , for example, online tutorials , instruction manuals, API documentation, and so on.

The main idea of all types of technical writing is to help the end-user understand any technical aspect of the product or service.

In addition to technical writing, there are many types of other writings, such as creative, business, and literary writing. All of them have distinctive features. Let’s compare these writings to technical writing and see what they have in common and what makes them different.

Technical Writing vs. Academic Writing

Some people might think these two types of writing are similar. The truth is that these are two completely different categories. It may seem that academic writing should be more complicated since it is focused on some specific and narrow discipline. Indeed, this type of writing may describe very complex concepts and provide specialized knowledge.

Technical writing is intended to describe technical information. It may vary depending on the specifics of a particular industry.

Academic writing is aimed to present a certain point of view on a particular subject. Academic papers show results of research and demonstrate someone’s knowledge. In turn, technical writing explains something to readers and informs them. Technical papers often explain how to use a particular product or service. Technical documents can also describe procedures used by the manufacturer to perform certain tasks. What technical and academic writing have in common is that both types may contain jargon.

Academic and technical writing target different audiences. Academic papers are usually intended for fellow scholars. However, there are also academic pieces of writing intended for a broad audience. Technical writing is intended for people who use a product or service.

Technical Writing vs. Creative Writing

Creative writing is a piece of writing for entertainment and education. It focuses on imaginative and symbolic content, and creative papers are published to entertain, provoke, inspire the user. Technical writing, on the other hand, is not done to amuse its reader. It is used to inform someone. Some technical articles are sometimes made to trigger the reader to take action.

There is no such specific reader who prefers creative papers. Anyone can read the creative paper if they want to, and it gives readers a theme, message, moral, or lesson which is helpful in their real lives or provides temporary entertainment to the reader.

Creative writing has many genres and subgenres. If you want to write creatively, you should have talent. Of course, talent alone is not enough – practice is everything here.

It doesn’t mean that creativity can’t be used in technical writing. Technical articles contain so many facts and data that they can bore and overwhelm readers. This is where creativity in technical writing might come in handy. A tech writer should be creative to encourage their readers to continue reading the document.

Technical Writing vs. Business Writing

Business writing is just about any kind of writing people do at work, if we are not talking about journalism or creative writing. Business writing includes reports, emails, proposals, white papers, minutes, business cases, letters, copywriting, bids, and tenders.

However, many reports, bids, and proposals contain technical data and specifications. So business writers may find themselves editing technical content, and technical writers may be called upon to write persuasive documents for a non-technical audience.

The main objective for both these writings is to inform, be useful, build something or operate the equipment.

The language needs to be clear, concise, and accurate. Wordiness, repetition, and unfamiliar words that the audience may not understand do not belong in either business or technical writing.

Of course, you can use technical jargon in documents where the audience has the same technical background. But too much jargon tends to be a huge problem. So, if in doubt, avoid jargon or explain it.

Some business documents need to be persuasive, whereas technical documents tend to be neutral and objective.

However, there are differences in the content, language, and style of technical and business writing. More on technical writing in business is in our article What Value Technical Writers Bring to Business?

Technical Writing vs. Literary Writing

The main difference between technical writing and literary writing is that literary language is used in literary work while technical writing is used in writing for a particular field. Literary writing is used in fiction. Examples of literary writing include poems, novels, short stories, dramas, etc. The language used in literary writing is creative, imaginative and uses literary techniques like hyperbole, personification, similes, metaphors, etc.

Technical writing is the style of writing that is mostly observed in non-fiction. The language used in technical writing is direct, factual, and straightforward.

Literary writing appeals to emotions. Technical writing appeals to the mind.

Technical writing is aimed at people who have knowledge about a particular subject area. Literary writing is written for general readers.

Every writing style is important in its own way. They are used by writers depending on the subject matter, purpose, language, and target audience. Below is the table that summarizes what you found out about the types of writing mentioned in this article:

It doesn’t matter what you write: essays, business materials, fiction, letters, or just notes in your journal, your writing will be at its best if you stay focused on your purpose and target audience.

Good luck with your technical writing! ClickHelp Team Author, host and deliver documentation across platforms and devices

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