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This page is intended for newcomers to the AWE site. If you have been here before, go on with your search!

The Academic Writing in English (AWE) project is a collection of suggestions designed to help students write in ways that may please their teachers. It contains a number of warnings against common errors - that is, usages that are commonly seen as errors in formal writing. To be more specific, it deals with the styles of writing that are regarded as acceptable in formal work in Higher Education in the UK. Even within that restricted set of styles, there is great variation.

Nothing that is said here should be understood as being authoritative; that is, it is not giving you orders. It is meant to be helpful, and to help as a guide. Any reader can ignore any of the advice. But it is best if they think about why they choose the language (the words and structures) that they do. What is given here is advice, not instruction; and it is intended for those who are seeking advice.

AWE is not meant to be single-track. It is meant to give you choices, and some ideas about how to use those choices. Some of the most admired writing in English is effective because it breaks the rules - deliberately, and to achieve a particular effect.

You may want to look at the principles of Good writing.

If you are new to AWE, we suggest you now look here.

AWE currently holds 4,584 articles.

Site editors, go here: AWE Project.