7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Writing Your Research Paper

Many of you might find it challenging to describe visuals in academic writing. Similarly, your ability to convey ideas and arguments makes all the difference in your research paper.  

Writing well is essential, whether you are a student trying to earn a good grade or a professional looking to publish your writing.  

However, many writers make common mistakes that detract from the quality of their work. 

Similarly, learning grammar rules is the best way to begin if you want to improve your writing skills. At times, the rule might be difficult to remember, but you need not worry.  

In this article, we will emphasize common errors that you need to avoid while writing an academic paper.  

Common Mistakes To Avoid In Academic Writing

Following guidelines and strategy will help you produce clear, effective writing that will impress the reader. 

Here are some common mistakes you must avoid while writing an academic paper.  

1. Language Error

Academic writing should be straightforward, professional, on point, easy to understand, and precise, with no room for misinterpretation.  

Thus, one of the most common errors in writing is not using a style to communicate your research or maintaining an appropriate tone all throughout the paper.  

Therefore, consider the tone and words you use. Similarly, write in a tone that is acceptable in a formal academic setting. However, avoid using irregular abbreviations and slang, as they are not accepted in academic writing.  

Another common mistake that you need to avoid is mixing up words that sound similar. The repeated words may not hold any meaning or support your argument specified on the paper. Thus, keep a check when you use synonyms or rephrasing your text.  

2. Poor Organizing

Poor organization is one of the most common mistakes writers often make when writing an academic paper.  

You need to set a clear structure for your paper to segregate a report or an essay into different subtopics. Otherwise, you may need clarification and face difficulty adjusting the word count equally for all topics.  

Here are some of the tips that will help you organize your paper: 

Create an outline for the introduction, body, recommendation, and conclusion. 

Develop an argument coherently and logically and ensure that each paragraph flows naturally with the next. 

Incorporate headings and sub-headings to break the article into smaller sections and make it look easier for the reader to follow.  

Conclude the paper with a summary of the key facts and a restatement of the thesis.  

3. Overly Complex Words

It might be tempting to use overly complex language or big words that will make your writing sound more impressive. But, doing so might make your paper look harder to read and understand the language.  

Here are some of the common tips that will help you avoid complex language: 

Use clear and simple language that is easy for you and the reader to understand. 

Avoid using technical terms or jargon that will be difficult to follow. 

Keep the sentence short and be on point.  Long and convoluted sentences can be difficult to follow, especially for non-native speakers.  

Avoid the passive voice. Whenever possible, use the active voice. This will make your writing easier and more engaging for the reader to understand.  

Lastly, avoid using unnecessary words and phrases, such as “in order to,” “due to,” and many others.  

Following the tips will ensure that your writing is concise and clear, making it easier for the readers to understand your argument and ideas.  

Thus, academic writing support by Essay Tigers ensures to maintain every rule of academic writing and delivers solutions before the due date. If facing difficulty in maintaining work and college submission, take assistance from Essay Tigers and remain stress-free.  

4. Inadequate Research

Inadequate research is another common mistake that you tend to make when crafting an academic paper.  

Therefore, your academic paper may need more credibility and accuracy with thorough research.  

Here are some tips that you need to consider: 

Use a variety of sources to support your argument. These can be academic journals, credible websites, or books.  

Ensure to cite your sources in the right citation style. This can be in MLA, Chicago, APA, Vancouver, or Harvard.  

Take care of the notes and maintain track as you research.  

Avoid plagiarizing work and summarizing information from other sources.  

5. Weak Argument

A weak argument is another common mistake you must avoid when writing an academic paper.  

Thus, with a strong thesis statement and supporting evidence, your article might be inconvenient and unfocused.  

Here are tips that will help you develop a strong argument: 

Start with a concise and clear thesis statement that outlines the article’s main point.  

Ensure your thesis statement is debatable and specific.  

Use evidence to support your thesis statement. It can be research studies, statistics, or other credible sources.  

Anticipate counterarguments and mention them in your writing.  

Use logical reasoning to support your argument.  

6. Lack Of Proofreading

One common mistake writer makes when crafting an academic paper is failing to proofread the work entirely.  

However, even with the best-written article, you might need to pay attention to spelling, grammar, or other typos.  

Here are some common mistakes that will help you proofread your paper: 

Try to take breaks in between your writing and then proofread your paper.  

Read your work out loud. This will help you catch errors you might not notice when reading silently.  

Use grammar and spelling checkers. 

Let someone else read your paper. Another person might catch the common mistakes that you might have missed.  

7. Poor Grammar

In academic writing, checking your work to remove common grammar mistakes is important.  

Thus, to avoid them, you need to use proper punctuation and grammar. This will further bring a flow to your writing and emphasize pauses, ideas, and thoughts.  

Hence, you must avoid common mistakes: colons, quotations, semi-colons and apostrophes.  

Therefore, try to use a more active voice instead of a passive one. Similarly, be consistent within each paragraph, ensuring a better flow of ideas.  

Fix Writing Mistakes Now

Some argue that ending a sentence with a preposition in casual writing and other similar situations is ok.  

While the rules of grammar can sometimes alter with time, it is best to stay on top of academic standards.  

So, if you are a student and are worried about your writing skills or trying to improve, seek help from academic advisors.