By How to Improve Academic Writing in the UK? 10+ Writing Rules for UK students
Improving your academic writing is often the difference between a 2:1 and a first-class degree in the UK. I’ve spent years navigating the labyrinth of UK higher education. There’s one thing that I’ve learned: writing well in the UK isn’t about having a massive vocabulary. It’s about understanding the specific, somewhat quirky rules of that game that the British tutors look for.
In this blog, we will discuss the 10 rules which I have used to secure a Grade A.
The Core Foundations of UK Academic Writing
In UK academia, writing is not so much about impressing people with your intelligence but rather about having accurate, critical thinking and well-formed ideas/structures. This applies especially when working on CIPD Level 3 Assignments in UK, as clear and evidence-based writing/discussion is required to successfully complete these assignments. Furthermore, British higher education institutions use a linear structure when writing assignments: you first state what you are about to do, then do the actual work, and finally, provide a summary of everything you have done after completing the work.
Rule 1-4: Nail the Basics
1. Prioritise British English Spelling
Ensure your word processor is set to British (United Kingdom). Some common pitfalls include:
- -ise vs. -ize: Use organise, prioritise, analyse (not organize or analyze).
- -our v.s -or: Use colour, behaviour, labour, etc.
- Double consonants: We use “cancelled” or “travelling” in the UK, not “canceled” or “traveling.”
2. Use Hedging for Academic Caution
In UK academia, making absolute claims like (this shows that…) is often seen as unscholarly.
Instead, use hedging to show critical awareness:
- Avoid: “This shows…”
- Use: “This suggests…”, “It could be argued that…”, or “Evidence indicates the tendency towards…”
3. Follow the UK Style Guide
Incorrect referencing is treated as plagiarism in the UK academic. The common referencing style used is:
- Harvard: This is the most common ‘author-date’ style used in the UK for social science and business subjects.
- Oxford style: This uses footnotes and a bibliography and is often preferred in history and philosophy.
- OSCOLO: This referencing style is standard for law subjects.
- MHRA: Common in arts and humanities for thesis writing.
Read the four types of referencing styles for your CIPD assignment.
4. Sign-posting is Non-Negotiable
You must guide the reader through your logic. So use transitional phrases to show the direction of your thoughts.
For example:
- To add information: Furthermore, in addition.
- To show contrast: Conversely, Nevertheless, On the other hand.
- To conclude: Consequently, as a result, therefore.
Rules 5-8: Build Solid Structure
5. Plan Before You Write
A grade-A academic piece is accomplished by planning. One of the most important rules in improving academic writing is to organise your work properly.
In addition, a well-written introduction, an in-depth main body, and a focused conclusion bring clarity to writing. Your ideas flow logically, and it becomes easy to follow for readers.
- Introduction (10%): Begin with a solid hook and briefly tell what the essay is about.
- Main body (80%): Each paragraph should cover one point. Also, move beyond description to evaluate, compare, and contrast viewpoints.
- Conclusion (10%): Summarise the main points without adding any new information.
6. Master the PEEL Paragraph Method
When I started writing, my paragraphs were messy. Then I discovered the PEEL method. It is an effective method to structure the content:
- Point (P): Start with a clear topic sentence.
- Evidence (E): Support it with a citation.
- Explanation (E): Analyse how the evidence supports your point.
- Link (L): Connect the point back to the essay question or the next point.
7. Analysis Over Description
If I could give you one piece of advice, it’d be this: Stop describing what happened. Start explaining why it’s significant.
If your paragraph is 80% summary and 20% of your analysis, you are looking at a 2:2. Flip that ratio to get into the first-class bracket.
8. Punchy Intros and Conclusions
Punchy intros and conclusions are essential for hooking readers immediately or leaving a lasting impression. In addition, a strong intro sets the flair with a thesis, while a solid ending provides a thought-provoking kicker.
For example:
- A Shocking Fact: By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
- An Anecdote or Narrative Scene: The fluorescent lights hummed as I watched the last of my savings account vanish on the screen.
- A Provocative Question: What if everything you were taught about success was designed to make you fail?
- The ‘so-what’ method: If we cannot teach responsibility online, maybe the platforms shouldn’t pretend they’re neutral.
- A CTA or Prediction: To truly address the education gap, policymakers must look beyond test scores and invest in students’ well-being.
Rules 9-10: Sharpen Your Language
9. Punctuation: The Outside Rule
In UK academia, the commas and full stops are generally placed outside the quotation marks, unless the punctuation is part of the original quote.
Also, full stops are not added in UK writing after Dr, Mr, Sir, etc.
For example:
- UK: ‘Like this.’
- US: “Like this.”
- UK: Dr
- US: Dr.
10. Active vs Passive Voice
Using passive voice in UK academia was once the rule. However, the modern UK academic style encourages the use active voice to add clarity to the content. Make sure to keep it formal.
- Formal: The study identifies three main factors.
- Informal: This study looks at three main things.
Rules 11-12: Edit and Proofread
11. Cite Every Source
Cite sources in-text and provide a full-reference list to avoid plagiarism and credit original work. In addition, it commonly uses the Harvard style.
Make sure to use the same referencing style throughout the academic document. And check that every in-text citation has a corresponding entry in the reference list.
12. Proofread for Accuracy
Once you have written the content, take a break of 1-2 days to have a fresh perspective. Many experts suggest physical copies for proofreading because it is easier to catch errors.
Furthermore, read aloud the content to catch awkward phrasing like a pro.
Final Words
Writing your academic content in the UK should not be hard. Follow this guide where we have broken down 10+ effective rules for UK students to improve their writing.
These include:
- Prioritise British English Spelling
- Use Hedging for Academic Caution
- Follow the UK Style Guide
- Signposting is non-negotiable.
- Plan Before You Write
- Master the PEEL Method
- Analysis Over Description
- Punchy Intros and Conclusions
- Punctuation: The Outside Rule
- Active vs Passive Voice
- Cite Every Source
- Proofread for Accuracy
