URDANETACITYUNIVERSITY

COLLEGEOFENGINEERINGANDARCHITECTURE
#1 San Vicente West, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

Q044-ARCH 415
RESEARCH METHODS IN ARCHITECTURE

Requirement No.: RSW NO. 01

Requirement Title: DIFFERENT KINDS OF FORMAT IN RESEARCH
WRITING
Date Due: September 22, 2023

Submitted by:

Name: ISIT, MAE ANN P.

Student No.: 20203105

Submitted to:

Arch’t. Maria Teresa Cuares-Velasco, MA EHURP

CEA- Instructor
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………….1

TYPES OF RESEARCH…………………………………………………………………..2

RESEARCH METHODS………………………………………………………………….5

STEPS FOR WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER………………………………………..7

COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER……………………………………………11

FORMATTING A RESEARCH PAPER………………………………………………...14

MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN WRITING A RESEARCH…………………………..18

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INTRODUCTION

What is Research?

Research is a process to discover new knowledge. In the Code of Federal Regulations (45 CFR
46.102(d)) pertaining to the protection of human subjects research is defined as: “A systematic
investigation (i.e., the gathering and analysis of information) designed to develop or contribute
to generalizable knowledge.” The National Academy of Sciences states that the object of
research is to “extend human knowledge of the physical, biological, or social world beyond
what is already known.” Research is different than other forms of discovering knowledge (like
reading a book) because it uses a systematic process called the Scientific Method.

The Scientific Method consists of observing the world around you and creating a hypothesis
about relationships in the world. A hypothesis is an informed and educated prediction or
explanation about something. Part of the research process involves testing the hypothesis, and
then examining the results of these tests as they relate to both the hypothesis and the world
around you. When a researcher forms a hypothesis, this acts like a map through the research
study. It tells the researcher which factors are important to study and how they might be related
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to each other or caused by a manipulation that the researcher introduces (e.g. a program,
treatment or change in the environment). With this map, the researcher can interpret the
information he/she collects and can make sound conclusions about the results.

Research can be done with human beings, animals, plants, other organisms and inorganic matter.
When research is done with human beings and animals, it must follow specific rules about the
treatment of humans and animals that have been created by the U.S. Federal Government. This
ensures that humans and animals are treated with dignity and respect, and that the research
causes minimal harm.

TYPES OF RESEARCH

❖ Scientific Research

Scientific research utilizes a systematic approach to test hypotheses. Researchers plan their
investigation ahead of time, and peers test findings to ensure the analysis was performed
accurately.

❖ Foundational research in sciences, often referred to as “basic science,” involves much

of the research done at medical research organizations. Research done by the MMRI
falls into this category, seeking to uncover “new information and insights for scientists
and medical researchers around the world.”

Scientific research is a broad term; studies can be lab-based, clinical, quantitative, or qualitative.
Studies can also switch between different settings and methods, like translational research.

“Translational research moves research from lab-settings to the settings in which they will
provide direct impact (for example, moving bench science to clinical settings),” says Laren
Narapareddy, faculty member and researcher at Emory University.

❖ Historical Research

Historical research involves studying past events to determine how they’ve affected the course
of time, using historical data to explain or anticipate current and future events, and filling in
gaps in history. Researchers can look at past socio-political events to hypothesize how similar
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events could pan out in the future. However, historical research can also focus on figuring out
what actually happened at a moment in time, like reading diary entries to better understand life
in England in the 14th century.

In many ways, research by data, financial, and marketing analysts can be considered historical
because these analysts look at past trends to predict future outcomes and make business
decisions.

❖ User Research

User research is often applied in business and marketing to better understand a customer base.
Researchers and analysts utilize surveys, interviews, and feedback channels to evaluate their
clients’ and customers’ wants, needs, and motivations.

❖ Market Research

Market research utilizes methods similar to user research but seeks to look at a customer base
more broadly. Studies of markets take place at an intersection between economic trends and
customer decision-making. Market research “allows you to stay up-to-date with industry trends
and changes so that you can adjust your business strategies accordingly,” says Pickett. A
primary goal in market research is finding competitive advantages over other businesses.
Analysts working in market research may conduct surveys, focus groups, or historical analysis
to predict how a demographic will act (and spend) in the future.

Other Types of Research

The world of research is constantly expanding. New technologies bring new ways to ask and
answer unique questions, creating the need for different types of research. Additionally, certain
studies or questions may not be easily answered by one kind of research alone, and researchers
can approach hypotheses from a variety of directions. So, more niche types of research seek to
solve some of the more complex questions For instance, “multidisciplinary research brings
experts in different disciplines together to ask and answer questions at the intersection of their
fields,” says Narapareddy. Research doesn’t happen in a bubble, though. To foster better
communication between researchers and the public, types of research exist that bring together
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both scientists and non-scientists. “Community-based participatory research is a really

important and equitable model of research that involves partnerships among researchers,
communities and organizations at all stages of the research process,” says Narapareddy.

Research Methods

Regardless of the type of research or the study’s primary goal, researchers usually use
quantitative or qualitative methods.

Qualitative Methods

Qualitative research focuses on descriptive information, such as people’s beliefs and emotional
responses. Researchers often use focus groups, interviews, and surveys to gather qualitative
data.This approach to research is popular in sociology, political science, psychology,
anthropology, and software engineering. For instance, determining how a user feels about a
website’s look isn’t easily put into numbers (quantitative data). So, when testing UX designs,
software engineers rely on qualitative research.

Quantitative Methods

Quantitative research methods focus on numerical data like statistics, units of time, or
percentages. Researchers use quantitative methods to determine concrete things, like how many
customers purchased a product. Analysts and researchers gather quantitative data using surveys,
censuses, A/B tests, and random data sampling.

Practically every industry or field uses quantitative methods. For example, a car manufacturer
testing the effectiveness of new airbag technology looks for quantitative data on how often the
airbags deploy properly. Additionally, marketing analysts look for increased sales numbers to
see if a marketing campaign was successful.

What Is a Writing Style, and Which Formats Could You Use?

As a writer of academic papers, every student must document any source of information they
use in their research papers, articles, presentations, and any kind of scientific project. If you
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properly document the original works of other authors on which you base your ideas, it allows
the readers to see and consult the resources used. Accurate and proper quoting will help avoid
plagiarism, considered a serious breach of academic conduct.

There are 3 different writing formats for including other writers’ work in your paper. They are
called citing or quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.

❖ Citing. The purpose of the citing/quoting is that it should repeat the original text
word-for-word and include a reference to the original writer of the source document.
You should decide which approach to use when incorporating another author’s ideas into
your text. You should use direct quotations during research when the exact wording of a
passage is important to ensure you have reproduced the original accurately. You might
also use citations if the original statement is well-formulated and you feel it will enrich
your writing.
❖ Paraphrasing in research is basically retelling a passage of the original text using your
own words and sentence structures. The original author must also be referenced.
Paraphrasing is widely used in research papers and argumentative essays, showing your
supervisors you understand a source text and may reformulate it and find and emphasize
its main points. It also helps change the stylistic characteristics of your source, adapting
it to the readers (e.g., if you use it for a presentation of some scientific topic before your
class) and omitting unnecessary details.
❖ Summarizing in research means reproducing only the source’s most important ideas and
main points in your own words. It usually summarizes a larger statement in the form of a
shorter explanation. However, the original source must be referenced, too. The purpose
of a summary is similar to that of a paraphrasing. Still, it helps to shorten a long text,
explaining a lengthy chapter, article, or book in a brief essay or even a single paragraph.

Why Do You Need to Choose the Right Research Paper Style?

Each university has its own citation rules. Moreover, they may differ depending on the teacher
or subject. Therefore, before writing each work, you must check with your teacher the citation
type for a given paper. Each has its paper formatting styles and standards; you will see them in
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more detail later. The main thing to remember is that if you use some source, either quote or
paraphrase, indicate the author. Otherwise, these thoughts can be assessed as plagiarism.

Research papers are essential in academia, the sciences, law, and other fields where you must
share detailed information backed by solid research. Writing a research paper can be daunting if
you’re not experienced with the process. Getting the proper format is one of the most
challenging aspects of the task. Reviewers will immediately dismiss a paper that doesn't comply
with standard formatting, regardless of the valuable content it contains.

A research paper is a document that provides a thorough analysis of a topic, usually for an
academic institution or professional organization. A research paper may be of any length, but
they are typically 2,000–10,000 words. Unlike less formal papers, such as articles or essays,
empirical evidence and data are key to research papers. In addition to students handing in
papers, scientists, attorneys, medical researchers, and independent scholars may need to produce
research papers. People typically write research papers to prove a particular point or make an
argument. This could support or disprove a theoretical point, legal case, scientific theory, or an
existing piece of research on any topic. One of the distinguishing characteristics of research
papers is that they contain citations to prior research. Citing sources using the correct format is
essential for creating a legitimate research paper.

The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for writing a research paper.
Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way,
you may need to rearrange these steps.

Step 1: Identify and develop your topic

Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment. Since this is the
very first step in writing a paper, it is vital that it be done correctly. Here are some tips for
selecting a topic:

Select a topic within the parameters set by the assignment. Many times your instructor will give
you clear guidelines as to what you can and cannot write about. Failure to work within these
guidelines may result in your proposed paper being deemed unacceptable by your instructor.
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Select a topic of personal interest to you and learn more about it. The research for and writing of
a paper will be more enjoyable if you are writing about something that you find interesting.

Select a topic for which you can find a manageable amount of information. Do a preliminary
search of information sources to determine whether existing sources will meet your needs. If
you find too much information, you may need to narrow your topic; if you find too little, you
may need to broaden your topic.

Be original. Your instructor reads hundreds of research papers every year, and many of them are
on the same topics (topics in the news at the time, controversial issues, subjects for which there
is ample and easily accessed information). Stand out from your classmates by selecting an
interesting and off-the-beaten-path topic.

Still can't come up with a topic to write about? See your instructor for advice.

Once you have identified your topic, it may help to state it as a question. For example, if you are
interested in finding out about the epidemic of obesity in the American population, you might
pose the question "What are the causes of obesity in America ?" By posing your subject as a
question you can more easily identify the main concepts or keywords to be used in your
research.

Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information

Before beginning your research in earnest, do a preliminary search to determine whether there is
enough information out there for your needs and to set the context of your research.

Look up your keywords in the appropriate titles in the library's Reference collection (such as
encyclopedias and dictionaries) and in other sources such as our catalog of books, periodical
databases, and Internet search engines.

Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve
readings. You may find it necessary to adjust the focus of your topic in light of the resources
available to you.
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Step 3: Locate materials

With the direction of your research now clear to you, you can begin locating material on your
topic. There are a number of places you can look for information:

If you are looking for books, do a subject search in One Search. A Keyword search can be
performed if the subject search doesn't yield enough information. Print or write down the
citation information (author, title,etc.) and the location (call number and collection) of the
item(s). Note the circulation status. When you locate the book on the shelf, look at the books
located nearby; similar items are always shelved in the same area. The Aleph catalog also
indexes the library's audio-visual holdings.

Use the library's electronic periodical databases to find magazine and newspaper articles.
Choose the databases and formats best suited to your particular topic; ask at the librarian at the
Reference Desk if you need help figuring out which database best meets your needs. Many of
the articles in the databases are available in full-text format.

Use search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.) and subject directories to locate materials on the
Internet. Check the Internet Resources section of the NHCC Library web site for helpful subject
links.

Step 4: Evaluate your sources

See the CARS Checklist for Information Quality for tips on evaluating the authority and quality
of the information you have located. Your instructor expects that you will provide credible,
truthful, and reliable information and you have every right to expect that the sources you use are
providing the same. This step is especially important when using Internet resources, many of
which are regarded as less than reliable.

Step 5: Make notes

Consult the resources you have chosen and note the information that will be useful in your
paper. Be sure to document all the sources you consult, even if you there is a chance you may
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not use that particular source. The author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be
needed later when creating a bibliography.

Step 6: Write your paper

Begin by organizing the information you have collected. The next step is the rough draft,
wherein you get your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. This step will help you organize
your ideas and determine the form your final paper will take. After this, you will revise the draft
as many times as you think necessary to create a final product to turn in to your instructor.

Step 7: Cite your sources properly

Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.

Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes: it gives proper
credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to
duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references. The MLA and
the APA Styles are two popular citation formats.

Failure to cite your sources properly is plagiarism. Plagiarism is avoidable!

Step 8: Proofread

The final step in the process is to proofread the paper you have created. Read through the text
and check for any errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure the sources you used
are cited properly. Make sure the message that you want to get across to the reader has been
thoroughly stated.

Additional research tips:

Work from the general to the specific -- find background information first, then use more
specific sources.

Don't forget print sources -- many times print materials are more easily accessed and every bit
as helpful as online resources.
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The library has books on the topic of writing research papers at call number area LB 2369.

If you have questions about the assignment, ask your instructor.

If you have any questions about finding information in the library, ask the librarian.Top
considerations for writing a research paper

To write a research paper, you must consider several factors. Fields such as the sciences,
humanities, and technical professions have certain criteria for writing research papers.

You’ll write a research paper using one of several types of formatting. These include APA,
MLA, and CMOS styles, which we’ll cover in detail to guide you on citations and other
formatting rules.

Specific requirements of the assignment

If the paper is for a college, university, or any specific organization, they’ll give you certain
requirements, such as the range of topics, length, and formatting requirements.

You should study the specifics of the assignment carefully, as these will override more general
guidelines you may find elsewhere. If you're writing for a particular professor, they may ask for
single or double spacing or a certain citation style.

For example, if you were writing a research paper for ASME (American Society of Mechanical
Engineers), you would look at their requirements and note specific guidelines for the paper's
length, font, and necessary elements.

Components of a research paper Here are the basic steps to writing a quality research paper,
assuming you've chosen your topic and considered the requirements of the paper. Depending on
the specific conditions of the paper you're writing, you may need the following elements:

Thesis statement

The thesis statement provides a blueprint for the paper. It conveys the theme and purpose of the
paper. It also informs you and readers what your paper will argue and the type of research it will
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contain. As you write the paper, you can refer to the thesis statement to help you decide whether
or not to include certain items. Most research papers require an abstract as well as a thesis.
While the thesis is a short (usually a single sentence) summary of the work, an abstract contains
more detail. Many papers use the IMRaD structure for the abstract, especially in scientific
fields. This consists of four elements:

Introduction: Summarize the purpose of the paper

Methods: Describe the research methods (e.g., collecting data, interviews, field research)

Results: Summarize your conclusions.

Discussion: Discuss the implications of your research. Mention any significant limitations to
your approach and suggest areas for further research.

The thesis and abstract come at the beginning of a paper, but you should write them after
completing the paper. This approach ensures a clear idea of your main topic and argument,
which can evolve as you write the paper.

Table of contents

Like most nonfiction books, a research paper usually includes a table of contents.

Tables, charts, and illustrations

If your paper contains multiple tables, charts, illustrations, or other graphics, you can create a
list of these.

Works cited or reference page

This page lists all the works you cited in your paper. For MLA and APA styles, you will use
in-text citations in the body of the paper. For Chicago (CMOS) style, you'll use footnotes.

Bibliography
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While you use a reference page to note all cited papers, a bibliography lists all the works you
consulted in your research, even if you don't specifically cite them. While references are
essential, a bibliography is optional but usually advisable to demonstrate the breadth of your
research.

Dedication and acknowledgments

You may include a dedication or acknowledgments at the beginning of the paper directly after
the title page and before the abstract.

Steps for writing a research paper

These are the most critical steps for researching, writing, and formatting a research paper:

Create an outline

The outline is not part of the published paper; it’s for your use. An outline makes it easier to
structure the paper, ensuring you include all necessary points and research.

Here you can list all topics and subtopics that will support your argument. When doing your
research, you can refer to the outline to ensure you include everything.

Gather research

Solid research is the hallmark of a research paper. In addition to accumulating research, you
need to present it clearly. However, gathering research is one of the first tasks. If you compile
each piece of research correctly, it will be easier to format the paper correctly. You want to
avoid having to go back and look up information constantly.

Start by skimming potentially useful sources and putting them aside for later use. Reading each
source thoroughly at this stage will be time-consuming and slow your progress. You can
thoroughly review the sources to decide what to include and discard later. At this stage, note
essential information such as names, dates, page numbers, and website links. Citing sources will
be easier when you’ve written all the information down.
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Be aware of the quality of your sources. A research paper should reference scholarly, academic,
or scientific journals. It’s vital to understand the difference between primary and secondary
sources. A

primary source is an original, firsthand account of a topic. A secondary source is someone else
covering the topic, as in a popular article or interview. While you may include secondary
sources, your paper should also include primary research. Online research can be convenient,
but you need to be extra careful when assessing the quality of your sources.

Write the first draft

Create a first draft where you put together all your research and address the topic described in
your thesis and abstract.

Edit and format the paper

Proofread, edit, and make any necessary adjustments and improvements to the first draft. List
your citations as described below. Ensure your thesis and abstract describe your research
accurately.

Formatting a research paper: MLA, APA, and CMOS styles

There are several popular formats for research papers: MLA (Modern Language Association)
and APA (American Psychological Association). Certain academic papers use CMOS (Chicago
Manual of Style). Other formats may apply to particular fields.

For example, medical research may use AMA (American Medical Association) formatting and
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) for particular technical papers. The
following are the guidelines and examples of the most popular formats:

● MLA format

The humanities typically use MLA format, including literature, history, and culture. Look over
examples of papers created in MLA format. Here are the main rules to keep in mind:
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● Double-spaced lines.

Indent new paragraphs 1/2 inch.

● Title case for headings, where all major words are capitalized, as in "How to Write a
Research Paper."
● Use a popular font such as Times New Roman. This applies to all formatting styles.
● Use one-inch margins on all sides.
● Number sections of the paper using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).
● Use a running head for each page on the upper right-hand corner, which consists of your
last name and the page number.
● Use an in-text citation within the text, using the author's last name followed by the page
number: "Anything worth dying for is certainly worth living for" (Heller 155).
● On the citations page, list the full name, book or periodical, and other information. For
MLA, you will not need footnotes, only in-text citations.
● List citations in alphabetical order on a separate page at the end of the paper entitled
“Works Cited.”

Continuing with the above example from Heller, the listing would be: Heller, Joseph. Catch-22,
Simon & Schuster, 1961.

For a periodical, the format is "Thompson, Hunter S. "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and
Depraved" Scanlon's, June 1970."

Use title case for source titles, as in "On the Origin of Species."

● APA format

The sciences typically use APA format, including physical sciences such as physics and social
sciences such as psychology. Simply Psychology provides examples of APA formatting. The
following are the most important rules of the APA format.

● Begin the paper with a title page, which is not required for MLA.
● Use double-line spacing.
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● Indent new paragraphs 1/2 inch.

● Use a running head for each page in the upper right-hand corner, which consists of the
paper's title in capital letters followed by the page number.
● The citations page at the end should be titled "References."
● In-text citations should include the publication date: (Smith, 1999, p. 50). Note also that
there's a "p" for "page," whereas in MLA, you write the page number without a "p."

As with MLA, use title case for headings, as in "Most Popular Treatments for Cognitive
Disorders."

Use sentence case for titles of sources, as in "History of the decline and fall of the Roman
empire." Note "Roman" starts with a capital because it's a proper noun.

When citing in-text references, use the author's last name and the first and middle initials.

Always use the Oxford comma. This comma goes before the words "or" and "and" in a list. For
example, "At the store, I bought oranges, paper towels, and pasta."

● CMOS formatting

Book publishers and many academic papers use CMOS formatting based on the Chicago
Manual of Style. CMOS is also called Turabian, named after Kate L. Turabian, who wrote the
first manual for this style. Here are examples of CMOS style formatting and citations.

● Include an unnumbered title page.

● Use double-line spacing.
● Indent new paragraphs 1/2 inch.
● Place page numbers on the upper right-hand corner of the page. Do not list your name or
the paper's title as you would for MLA or APA styles.
● Use title case for both headings and sources (same as MLA).

Unlike MLA and APA, the Chicago style uses footnotes for citations. Use a superscript for
footnotes: "Smith argues against Jones' theory¹.” Footnotes may appear at the bottom of the
page or the end of the document.
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CMOS supports both short notes and full notes. In most cases, you'll use the full note: "Michael
Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (New York: Penguin, 2006),
76." For further references to the same source, use a short note: " Pollan, Omnivore's Dilemma,
45." The requirements of some papers may specify using only short notes for all footnotes.

General guidelines for writing and formatting research papers

Keep these guidelines in mind for all types of research papers:

● Initial formatting

As you create your first draft, don't worry about formatting. If you try to format it perfectly as
you write the paper, it will be difficult to progress and develop a flow of thought. With the first
draft, you don't have to be concerned about ordering the sections. You can rearrange headings
and sections later.

● Citation tools

Use automation tools for citations. Some useful tools make citations easier by automatically
generating a citation list and bibliography. Many work with APA, MLA, and CMOS styles.

● Check for plagiarism

Use a plagiarism detector to make sure your paper isn't unintentionally plagiarizing. There are
many free and paid plagiarism checkers online, such as Grammarly.

● Proofread your work

Do several rounds of editing and proofreading. Editing is necessary for any type of writing, but
you’ll need to revisit several distinct areas with a research paper:

● Check for spelling and grammatical errors.

● Read the paper to make sure it's well-argued and that you’ve organized it properly.
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Check that you’ve correctly formatted citations. It's easy to make errors, such as incorrect
numbering of footnotes (e.g., Chicago style) or forgetting to include a source on your citations
page.

MISTAKES TO AVOID ON WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER

In many disciplines, publishing is an important part of being a graduate student. Students who
go on to secure tenure track faculty positions find that publishing is a vital part of achieving
tenure. However, the process behind writing a research paper is not natural to most of
us(Hudelson & Perneger, 2004). Learning the rules and a few mistakes to avoid will go a long
way when you’re ready to publish your research. Here are five common impediments to getting
published.

1. The research question is too vague, too broad or not specified. A clearly stated research
question helps you organize the information that should be included in your paper. If your
research addressed more than one question, write more than one paper. Think in terms of
“optimally publishable units” rather than “least publishable units.”

2. The structure of the paper is chaotic. It can be easy to unintentionally include methods in your
results section or results in your discussion section. Take the time to clearly outline your
research paper before you begin to write, keep in mind what each section needs to accomplish.

• Introduction -state your research question

• Methods - describe how you answered your research question

• Results - explain what you observed

• Discussion - discuss what you think your results mean

3. Limitations of the study are not acknowledged. Your discussion section tells readers what you
think your results mean, both for moving your research forward and to indicate ways your
research can be improved. Readers will want to learn more about your limitations, ways you can
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improve your research and implications the limitations have on your research question.
Including limitations shows a thorough evaluation of your methods and result.

4. The research question is not answered. Because the discussion section allows for the most
freedom, it also can be the most difficult section to

Write. Before you start this section, go back to your research question and think about how you
want to answer it. Revisit your research question frequently while writing the discussion.

5. Grammar and use of language are poor. The Writing Center (http://www.unl.edu/writing/)
provides free consultations for graduate students

with graduate students who can help you at any point in your writing, especially when you’re
polishing and finalizing yourresearch paper. Use resources such as Elements of Style by Strunk
and White to become familiar with the proper use of grammar.

Books and articles about publishing research articles are available from a number of sources.
Here are just a few.

Becker, H.S.(1986). Writing for social scientists: How to start and finish your thesis book or
article.Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Choi, K. (2002). How to publish in top journals, available at: http://www.roie.org/howi.htm.

Thyer, B.A. (1994). Successful publishing in scholarly journals. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.Source

Hudelson, P.M., & Perneger, T.V. (2004). Writing a research article for beginners. Journal for
Quality in Health Care, 16, 191-192.

Common writing mistakes can negatively impact your manuscript’s chance of acceptance. With
rejection rates in some top international publications as high as 97%,1 this is something that
researchers should worry about. Unlike general day-to-day writing, academic writing requires a
special skill set that needs to be nurtured and developed. This requires authors to be objective,
concise, and formal in their writing, which should ideally be devoid of common English
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grammar mistakes. However, an interesting statistic from the 2018 Global Survey Report by
Editage reveals that 76% of research authors find it difficult to prepare a well-written, error-free
manuscript for journal submission.2 This is not surprising given that the manuscript writing
process can be as challenging and time-consuming as conducting research. However, you can
ensure that you deliver high-quality manuscripts that meet the stringent standards set by leading
journals. Just make sure to check your work and avoid the most common writing mistakes that
budding academics and researchers with English as a second language tend to make.

Here’s a quick list of the seven most common writing and grammar mistakes to look out for
before submitting your manuscript.

1. Language errors (word choice, phrasing)

Academic writing is meant to be professional and straightforward, on point but easy to

understand, and precise, with no room for misinterpretation. One of the most common mistakes
in writing is not using the appropriate tone and style to communicate your research. Keep in
mind that language that is generally acceptable in informal writing, such as slang and irregular
abbreviations, is considered inappropriate for academic writing.

Another common writing mistake is mixing up words that look or sound similar or not the right
words and phrases to convey your meaning clearly and accurately. When using synonyms or
rephrasing text, make sure you choose words and phrases that fit the context. Avoid using
excessive technical terminology, jargon and cliches, such as “think outside of the box” and “at
the end of the day.”

2. Poor grammar (voice, tenses, punctuation)

In academic writing it’s essential to check your work to eliminate common grammar mistakes.
Using grammar and punctuation properly helps to emphasize pauses, thoughts, ideas, and even
the accuracy of the text. Experts suggest the use of active voice instead of passive voice when
writing, for example, “we carried out research”, rather than “research was carried out”.
Although some sections of your paper will benefit from the use of passive voice. Similarly,
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consistency in verb tense usage within a paragraph or between adjacent paragraphs helps to
ensure better flow of ideas.

The incorrect use of punctuation marks, such as commas, apostrophes, quotations, colons, and
semi-colons, is among the most common grammar mistakes in English that can change the way
a message is interpreted, so it is important to understand how to use punctuations properly.
Other grammar mistake examples include the misuse of articles, sentence fragmentation,
parallelism, and subject-verb agreement.

3. Repetition of ideas (winding sentences)

While writing your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, you will need to keep within the
recommended word count. However, academics often resort to describing established concepts
or repeating ideas and arguments in different sections of their paper to meet this word count
requirement. This common writing mistake shows a lack of proper research and a dearth of
original perspectives and can make your research manuscript seem bloated and incoherent.

Academic writing is expected to be clear and concise, so it’s important to maintain a balance
between restating key points to highlight critical messages for the reader and becoming overly
repetitive to the extent of being irritating or boring. If you find yourself repeating phrases often,
avoid this common mistake in writing by using contextual synonyms or rephrasing text
differently to convey your research in the most effective way possible.
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REFERENCES

● https://www.nhcc.edu/academics/library/doing-library-research/basic-steps-research-pro
cess
● https://www.american.edu/provost/academic-access/upload/ten-steps-for-writing-researc
h-papers.pdf
● https://www.theforage.com/blog/skills/what-is-research
● https://www.paperpal.com/blog/academic-writing-guides/language-grammar/writing-mis
takes-research-paper/
● https://www.nhcc.edu/academics/library/doing-library-research/basic-steps-research-pro
cess