Outline your papers. Think about how your thought process works. Which claims should come first? Which sections prepare the reader for the next?

A paper is your argument and should mainly be your words. Too much writing that is not yours silences you.

This can also be seen as a form of plagiarism, known as “patchwork plagiarism,” if too much of the paper is not your own.

Make sure you vary the sentence types (e.g., simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) and your ways of separating sentences and clauses (e.g., periods, semicolons, em dashes, commas, conjunctions, etc.).

Many think that being overly complex and convoluted is how you write academically. It is not true. Clarity, conciseness, and claims in your own words are always much more valuable.

Pay attention to your verb tense (e.g., present, past, future) and keep it consistent. If something is present (claims/topics), then make sure those sections are present-tense. If something is past tense (history) or future tense (future solutions), then keep those tenses consistent as well.

Avoid repeating the same points or claims. Repetition in a paper can cause the reader to feel boredom or annoyance at the lack of progress. Keep moving forward. Only repeat yourself for intentional reasons.

Overgeneralizing and absolute language should be avoided. Terms like “always,” “everyone,” or “forever” can harm your writing. It must be arguable. Absolute language leaves no room for argument.

Generally, avoid using rhetorical questions. They can sometimes work, but it can be much more impactful to confidently write the answer as a claim. Your reader wants your argument, not ambiguity.