Foreign words in academic writing

ad hoc

for a special and immediate purpose, without planning

ad infinitum

endlessly; forever (literally ‘to infinity’)

apropos

on the subject of, with regard to the present topic

annus mirabilis

a remarkable or auspicious year

bona fide

genuine; real (literally ‘with good faith’)

coup d’état

a sudden violent seizure of power (literally ‘blow of state’)

de facto

in fact, whether by right or not, as it really is

de jure

rightful; by right (literally ‘of law’)

double entendre

a word or phrase with two possible interpretations (from obsolete French, ‘double understanding’)

fin de siècle

relating to the end of a century

in absentia

while not present (literally ‘in absence’)

in medias res

in or the middle of things

inter alia

among other things

per annum

for each year

realpolitik

political reality, “practical“ politics

sic

used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original

tour de force

a thing accomplished with great skill (literally ‘feat of strength’)

vox populi

public opinion (literally ‘the voice of the people’)

zeitgeist

the characteristic spirit or mood of a particular historical period (literally ‘time spirit’)

faux pas

an embarrassing blunder or indiscretion (literally ‘false step’)