Writing Tips and Tools
10 Tools To Boost Your Academic Writing
By Rachel Summers
When you’re writing an academic text, it can be easy to get caught up in the content. After all, throughout primary school we're rewarded for knowing what we need to know, even if our presentation is a bit sloppy.
But as you get older, especially entering secondary school, there is a big shift. What you know is important, yes. But you're also expected to show that you are proficient with the English language, that you know how to find and source your information, and that you can put an argument together to win over your readers.
Many students struggle with this transition, but with the right tools you can adapt surprisingly quickly and deliver the quality of writing your teachers expect.
What?
A writing guide that focuses on better writing in all areas.
Why?
As your classes become more specialized, so do the writing styles you need to use. You can't just use the same format for a literature essay as for a review of a biology study, or an art history review.
How to use it?
Check out the different options and pick the one that is best for your class.
2: Grammarix
What?
A grammar checker.
Why?
Just spell checking is not enough anymore. You need to review your grammar thoroughly, to make sure your work makes sense.
How to use it?
Simply input your text and the tool will tell you if your grammar is accurate.
What?
An editing tool that helps you fix mistakes.
Why?
Sometimes when there is a grammar problem, you don't know the solution and an editing tool can help.
How to use it?
Again, input your text and the tool will do the rest.
What?
A source of amazing writing tips.
Why?
If you don't feel comfortable putting your work into an online tool, you can always look for advice on how to check your grammar and edit your text on your own.
How to use it?
Go to the page and just look for advice on whatever you need. A thorough guide will appear.
What?
A student-focused writing guide.
Why?
Students' writing and presentation needs are different from professional writers' needs, so you may need specialist advice.
How to use it?
Go to the page and just look for advice on whatever you need. A thorough guide will appear.
6: Reviewal
What?
A tool to speed up the proofreading process.
Why?
You need to proofread your work at the end, but sometimes it's hard to spot mistakes in your own work. A tool can help highlight anything you may want to change.
How to use it?
Submit your text and, depending on the service, a tool, or a person, will confidentially proofread it for you.
7: Via Writing
What?
A formatting guide, to help you format properly.
Why?
Formatting is very important in academic text. If you aren't sure how to put together your work, check out a formatting guide.
How to use it?
Just look for a guide that addresses the type of text you are writing.
What?
A guide to avoiding plagiarism.
Why?
You may think that because you wrote it, it won't come up as plagiarized. But, unfortunately, your work could be accidentally similar.
How to use it?
There are so many ways to avoid plagiarism that you actually would do better to use a specialist guide than one individual tool.
What?
A writing guide focused on essays.
Why?
Writing essays is very different to writing any other style of text. Especially if you are studying a creative subject, you need to make sure to follow proper essay formatting.
How to use it?
Just check out the tips and use any that you find helpful.
What?
A listing of amazing tools and services to help you.
Why?
There are way too many amazing services to cover them all in one article. Depending on what you're doing, you may need different tools.
If you use these tools, you should be able to produce an academic text that not only shows off your knowledge and passion, but also is easy and pleasant to read, getting your point across perfectly.
Rachel Summers has worked as a tutor for many years, supporting students who need extra help to reach their full potential. From this work she has accumulated an expert perspective that she uses to show students how to study effectively, as well as which tools and services to use, such as Top Canadian Writers. All her work is from this perspective, helping students progress through school and college.