Zen your English
With Sarah and Heather
Academic English
You have just started a masters or an undergraduate programme and you’re not sure your writing is ‘academic’ enough? We can proofread your writing and make suggestions on how to improve readability including grammar, spelling, academic vocabulary, coherence and cohesion and lots of other aspects of written English including hedging, nominalisation, synthesising, academic voice etc.
As you've probably guessed, there is a difference between Academic and General English. Academic English is the genre of English used in the world of research, study, teaching and universities. It can be found in proposals, essays, presentations, books, journals, dissertations, research and reports. If you read an article in an academic journal or listen to someone giving a presentation or a talk about an academic subject in an academic environment, Academic English is probably being used.
If you are studying in an English speaking university (or going to) you will need to learn this type of English. Native English speakers also have to learn Academic English too because it is not like the English that is used every day by English speakers. Academic English is different from other types of English and it often has features like these:
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it uses formal academic language and avoids colloqualisms
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it usually avoids 'I' and is written in the third person and often uses impersonal structures
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it is objective and impartial
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it often uses the passive voice
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it is tentative and cautious
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there are lots of references to other writers
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the texts are well structured
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there are well developed paragraphs which often start with a strong topic sentence
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there are linking words which give the text cohesion
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Etc.
Proofreading
Proofreading means carefully checking for errors in a text before it is published or shared. It is the very last stage of the writing process, when you fix minor spelling and punctuation mistakes, typos, formatting issues and inconsistencies.
Proofreading is essential for any text that will be shared with an audience, whether it’s an academic paper, a job application, an online article, or a print flyer. Depending on your skills and budget, you can choose to proofread the text yourself or to hire a professional.
Sarah and Heather both have experience in proofreading, either professionally for companies or privately for students and customers wanting a second opinion on their content. Their high-quality English proofreading services are perfect for authors who require an elementary grammar and consistency check on their manuscript drafts, right before submission.
