When writing academic papers and publications, it is important to use the proper variant of English suited for an international audience. The major options include American English, British English, and localized Englishes used in post-colonial countries. Understanding the key differences and best practices for which English to employ can help your research achieve clarity and maximize readership. Reading reviews of the best overall essay writing service can provide useful tips on crafting high-quality academic writing for wide audiences. This guide covers choosing the right English, variations in spelling and vocabulary, formatting considerations, tips for consistency, and provides additional examples and explanations to elaborate on the main points.
Selecting Appropriate English for Your Field
Academic fields often gravitate toward particular variants of English for historical and cultural reasons. The sciences generally utilize American English in leading journals and conferences. For example, publications like Nature, Science, and IEEE journals use American spellings and conventions. This likely developed partially due to the prominence of American academics and institutions in advancing fields like physics, chemistry, and computing in the 20th century.
British English was traditionally more common in the humanities, though this distinction is fading. Subject areas like literature, history, and philosophy employed British styling frequently, perhaps reflecting the early influence of scholars from the UK. However, usage has blended more over recent decades.
Some social sciences are transitioning toward more American styling recently as well. For instance, a journal like Psychological Science utilizes primarily American norms now, despite psychology’s early 20th century roots in German academia. Overall, consensus exists less uniformly across disciplines, so checking top publications in your specific field helps determine preferences. If no clear consensus exists, defaulting to American English often provides wide accessibility currently.
Additionally, many major academic publishers now allow either British or American English, as long as usage is internally consistent. But specialized journals still sometimes specify „American English only” or „British English required.” Again, surveying submission guidelines in leading periodicals related to your research area provides guidance. Knowing your discipline’s norms helps select suitable English.
Navigating Spelling and Vocabulary Differences
One major difference across English variants is “-ize” versus “-ise” spellings in words like organize/organise and realization/realisation. American English utilizes the z, while British English uses s. Relatedly, British English keeps u in words like colour, honour, and favour. Check online dictionaries to confirm spellings if uncertain.
Beyond spelling, some vocabulary terms differ, like lift/elevator and rubbish/trash. Where such distinctions exist, use the variant fitting your chosen English style. For example, a paper employing American English would say “an elevator failed” rather than “the lift broke down.”
Make a list of these alternate vocabulary words to reference. Familiarize yourself with these spelling and word variations to maintain consistency. Let journal guidelines and accepted research in your field determine selections.
Formatting Numbers, Dates, and Measurements Punctuation, number expressions, date displays, and measurement units also vary between English types. American English uses commas in large numbers (1,000 vs 1.000 in British English), expresses dates as month/day/year (3/21/2023), and measures with feet, gallons, pounds, Fahrenheit temperatures etc.
Meanwhile, British English omits commas (1.000), orders dates day/month/year (21/3/2023), and uses metres, litres, kilograms, Celsius temperatures and so on. Again, academic publishers often allow either format now if employed logically. But you must be careful to use just one approach consistently, rather than mixing styles haphazardly.
Incorporating Localized Englishes
If writing about certain post-colonial regions, incorporating accepted terms and spellings from localized Englishes provides specificity. This could include Indian English when discussing the Indian subcontinent or Nigerian English for contexts related to Nigeria. For example, the Indian English word “lakh” signifies 100,000, a useful descriptor when detailing demographic statistics.
But use such localisms judiciously and define initially for broad intelligibility. Also, explain if diverging from other formatting norms like date displays. Sensitive inclusion of legitimate localized Englishes acknowledges diversity while still adhering to academic English expectations. Avoid overly niche words only recognized by limited local audiences. As top essay writing services suggest, find balance between flavorful specificity and broadly understandable vocabulary.
Achieving Consistent Conventions
Throughout your paper, use the same English variant you initially establish regarding spelling, vocabulary, formatting, and localized varieties. Carefully proofread to check adherence to the conventions you set. Read sentences aloud to detect subtle inconsistencies. Create a style guide summarizing decisions to reference when uncertainties arise.
Set your word processor to alert for spelling differences between English versions. Use grammar checking and style editing software prospectively to prevent lapses upfront. Establishing and meticulously maintaining English conventions enhances professionalism. Leading academic journals scrutinize submissions for careful consistency, so cultivate this early in your scholarly writing.
In academic writing, the English language variant you choose as standard matters. Research publishing tendencies in your discipline to select the preference best suited to your target audience. American English provides the most universal option currently when no clear guideline exists. Understand and apply either American or British rules systematically regarding spelling, vocabulary, formatting, and localization. With careful attention and editing, you can master the conventions of academic English uniformly to convey research clearly and impactfully.
