Academic Style Word Choice Replacements

Comprehensive fill-in-the-blank practice cards covering academic vocabulary substitutions across verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and transitional connectors.

Instead of the verb 'bring about', an academic writer should use __________.

Induce / Precipitate

An academic replacement for the verb 'build' is __________.

Construct / Fabricate

In academic writing, 'buy' is replaced by __________.

Purchase

Instead of using 'change', academic style favors __________.

Modify / Alter

To replace 'check' in formal prose, one should use __________.

Verify / Validate

Instead of the phrasal verb 'clear up', an academic paper should use __________.

Clarify / Elucidate

Rather than 'come before', formal academic style uses __________.

Precede

Instead of 'cop out / give up', formal writing employs __________.

Concede / Relinquish

In place of the informal phrasal verb 'deal with', use __________.

Address / Manage

Instead of using the simple verb 'do', formal register prefers __________.

Conduct / Execute

In academic writing, 'drop out' should be replaced with __________.

Withdraw

Instead of using 'end', academic papers should use __________.

Terminate / Conclude

Rather than the verb 'explain', an academic alternative is __________.

Elaborate / Expound

Instead of 'find out', academic style utilizes __________.

Determine / Ascertain

Instead of the colloquial verb 'fix', an academic writer should choose __________.

Resolve / Rectify

In formal texts, the verb 'get' is replaced by __________.

Obtain / Acquire

Instead of the phrasal verb 'get rid of', academic style suggests __________.

Eliminate / Eradicate

Instead of the common verb 'give', academic alternatives include Provide or __________.

Contribute / Allocate

Rather than 'go up', formal writing uses __________.

Increase / Escalate

Instead of 'go down', academic writing prefers __________.

Decrease / Diminish

Instead of 'guess', an academic author should use __________.

Conjecturate / Surmise

In academic contexts, 'happen' should be replaced with __________.

Occur / Transpire

Instead of using 'help', scholarly prose prefers __________.

Assist / Facilitate

Rather than the verb 'keep', formal academic register utilizes __________.

Retain / Preserve

Instead of 'look at', academic texts employ __________.

Examine / Analyze

Instead of the simple verb 'make', academic writing uses __________.

Generate / Manufacture

Instead of the phrase 'make sure', academic writing uses __________.

Ensure

Rather than 'make up', formal writing uses __________.

Comprise / Constitute

Instead of the expression 'more and more', use the adverb __________.

Progressively

Instead of 'need', academic writing typically uses __________.

Require / Necessitate

Rather than 'put off', formal style specifies __________.

Postpone / Defer

Instead of 'say', academic writing substitutes __________.

State / Assert / Declare

Instead of the phrasal verb 'set up', an academic writer uses __________.

Establish / Configure

In academic prose, 'shorten' is replaced with __________.

Abbreviate / Truncate

Rather than 'show', formal scholarly diction uses __________.

Demonstrate / Illustrate / Evince

Instead of 'speed up', formal texts recommend __________.

Accelerate

Instead of 'start', academic writing uses __________.

Initiate / Commence

Rather than 'stop', academic style employs __________.

Cease / Halt

Instead of 'take away', academic writing substitutes __________.

Extract / Remove

Instead of 'talk about', formal academic prose uses __________.

Discuss / Debate

In academic writing, 'tell' is replaced by __________.

Inform / Notify

Rather than 'think', academic authors use Posit, Hypothesize, Maintain, or __________.

Conceive

Instead of 'try', academic register prefers __________.

Attempt / Endeavor

Instead of 'understand', formal academic vocabulary uses __________.

Comprehend / Discern

Rather than the common verb 'use', academic style prefers __________.

Utilize / Employ

Instead of 'work together', academic writing uses __________.

Collaborate / Cooperate

Instead of 'write', an academic paper should use __________.

Compose / Draft

As a noun, instead of 'answer', formal style prefers __________.

Solution / Response

Instead of the noun 'chance', academic writing uses __________.

Opportunity / Probability

Instead of 'difference', academic style employs __________.

Discrepancy / Distinction

In place of the noun 'idea', scholarly discourse uses __________.

Concept / Notion

Instead of 'job', formal register uses __________.

Occupation / Profession

Instead of the informal noun 'kids', academic research uses __________.

Offspring / Juveniles

Rather than the noun 'part', an academic replacement is __________.

Component / Element

Instead of the general word 'people', academic texts favor __________.

Individuals / Subjects

Instead of 'problem', scholarly writing utilizes __________.

Complication / Dilemma

Rather than 'proof', formal academic prose uses __________.

Evidence / Substantiation

Instead of 'result', academic papers often use __________.

Consequence / Outcome

Instead of the vague noun 'thing', academic writing specifies __________.

Object / Phenomenon

Instead of 'trouble', formal style prefers __________.

Adversity / Impediment

Rather than using 'way', academic writers should choose __________.

Method / Strategy / Approach

Instead of 'a lot of', formal writing uses __________.

Numerous / Myriad

When describing quantity or topic, instead of 'about', use __________.

Approximately / Regarding

Instead of the adverb 'always', academic prose uses __________.

Invariably

Rather than the descriptor 'bad', academic prose employs __________.

Detrimental / Adverse

Instead of 'big / huge', scholarly writing uses __________.

Substantial / Significant

Instead of 'cheap', formal writing employs __________.

Inexpensive / Nominal

Instead of 'clear', academic descriptions use __________.

Evident / Manifest

Instead of 'dangerous', academic writing replaces it with __________.

Hazardous / Perilous

Instead of 'empty', formal prose employs __________.

Vacant / Depleted

Rather than using 'enough', academic writers use __________.

Sufficient / Adequate

Instead of 'everywhere', academic register substitutes the adjective __________.

Ubiquitous

Instead of 'good', academic writing uses __________.

Advantageous / Effective

Instead of 'hard', formal texts prefer __________.

Arduous / Formidable

Rather than 'important', academic papers employ __________.

Crucial / Paramount

Instead of 'little / small', academic writing uses __________.

Minute / Negligible

Instead of 'main', academic register favors __________.

Primary / Principal

Rather than 'next', scholarly style uses __________.

Subsequent

Instead of 'often', academic texts use the adverb __________.

Frequently

Instead of 'quick', academic vocabulary employs __________.

Rapid / Expeditious

Instead of 'right', academic writing uses __________.

Accurate / Precise

Rather than 'sad', formal discourse describes circumstances as __________.

Deplorable / Lamentable

Instead of 'same', academic writing uses __________.

Equivalent / Identical

Rather than 'secret', academic terminology prefers __________.

Clandestine / Covert

Instead of 'sometimes', formal prose uses __________.

Occasionally

Instead of 'too much', formal descriptions use __________.

Excessive

Rather than 'wrong', academic writers choose __________.

Erroneous / Inaccurate

As a transitional connector, instead of 'also', use __________.

Furthermore / In addition

As a connector, instead of 'anyway', academic writing employs __________.

Nevertheless / Notwithstanding

To link contrasting ideas instead of 'but', use __________.

However / Conversely

Instead of the conversational connector 'by the way', formal writing uses __________.

Incidentally

Instead of concluding with 'in the end', academic texts use __________.

Ultimately

When giving examples, instead of 'like', use __________.

Such as / Namely

To indicate consequence, instead of 'so', academic writing uses __________.

Consequently / Therefore