Clear Academic Writing: 4 Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Academic English often has a bad reputation for being too long, overly complex, or hard to follow. But effective academic writing doesn’t need to be complicated—it should be clear, focused, and easy to understand. 

Whether you’re writing a dissertation, thesis, journal article, or conference paper, clear academic writing can help your research reach a wider audience. 

In this article, you’ll learn four common academic writing problems—and simple tips to fix them for more polished, impactful prose. 

Problem #1: Overly Long Sentences 

Writers sometimes think long sentences sound more academic. In reality, they often confuse the reader and bury the main idea. Clear sentence structure helps readers follow your argument. 

✅ Solution: Use simpler phrases. Break longer sentences into two or more sentences.  

Before: 

“Due to the fact that recent developments in the regional political landscape have occurred, it is now more important than ever to consider a reevaluation of current energy policy frameworks, which were designed for an earlier geopolitical context and may no longer be suitable.” 

After (Option 1): 

“Recent changes in the regional political landscape make it important to reevaluate current energy policy frameworks. These policies were designed for an earlier context and may no longer be suitable.” 

After (Option 2): 

“Recent changes in the regional political landscape make it important to reevaluate current energy policy frameworks that were designed for an earlier context and may no longer be suitable.” 

✅ Tip: Stick to one main idea per sentence. If it helps, imagine reading your text out loud—where would you naturally pause? 

Problem #2: Wordy Phrases Instead of Clear Language 

Wordiness weakens your message, inflates your word count, and drains the reader’s focus. One of the most effective academic writing strategies is to be concise. 

✅ Solution: Replace phrases with simpler alternatives whenever possible. For example:  

Before: 

“In order to test the hypothesis, it is necessary to conduct further research.” 

After: 

“To test the hypothesis, further research is needed.” 

✅ Tip: Be concise. Every extra word should earn its place. 

Problem #3: Weak “There Is / There Are” Constructions 

Phrases like “there is” and “there are” weaken impact and hide the real subject. 

✅ Solution:  Start with the subject. This makes your sentence more direct and engaging. 

Before: 

“There is a growing interest in renewable energy among policy makers.” 

After: 

“Policy makers are increasingly interested in renewable energy.” 

✅ Tip: When writing and editing, highlight “there is” and “there are” in your draft. These are great opportunities to strengthen your sentence structure and improve clarity. 

Problem #4: Too Much Jargon 

Specialized vocabulary has its place, but too much jargon makes your writing harder to understand and limits your audience. Even expert readers prefer clear, accessible language. 

✅ Solution: Use plain language whenever possible. Define essential terminology clearly, especially if it’s discipline-specific, and use examples to illustrate your point. 

Before: 

“The intervention sought to operationalize pedagogical scaffolding through a constructivist lens in order to optimize cognitive uptake.” 

After: 

“The intervention used a constructivist approach—a teaching method that builds on what students already know—to help students understand new concepts more effectively.” 

✅ Tip: If you wouldn’t say it aloud in a conference talk, simplify it. Ask: Would an intelligent reader from another field understand this sentence? 

Final Thoughts 

Clear writing is not just about grammar—it’s about respecting the reader’s time and attention. Academic writing can (and should) be sophisticated, but never at the cost of clarity.