Writing in a scholarly tone can feel tricky at first, especially if you’re used to casual essays, text messages, or discussion posts. The good news is that it’s less about sounding “academic” and more about learning a few clear habits that make your writing stronger and more professional. Let’s take a look at how to write in a scholarly tone (and what to avoid).
What Is a Scholarly Tone?
A scholarly tone is basically the fancy, formal way academics write when they want to sound professional. It’s all about being objective and backing up everything you say with solid evidence and research – no personal opinions or emotional stuff allowed. And, yes, slang and colloquialisms are not allowed here.
What Are the Characteristics of Scholarly Writing?
Scholarly writing has a few key traits that set it apart from everyday writing. Once you recognize them, it becomes easier to adjust your own style. Let’s go through the big ones.
Formal Tone
A formal tone avoids contractions (like don’t or can’t), slang, or casual phrases. It keeps your writing polished without drifting into stiff or pompous territory.
Example – Informal:
“I don’t think Shakespeare was trying to say that life is pointless, but maybe he just wanted people to chill out a bit.”
Example – Formal:
“Shakespeare’s text does not suggest that life is meaningless; rather, it reflects his interest in urging the audience to adopt a reflective approach to existence.”
The second version has no slang, no contractions, and the phrasing makes it easier for a reader to follow the argument.
Objective Tone
An objective tone means keeping your emotions and personal biases out of the way. Instead of writing how you feel, you present facts, research, or logical reasoning.
Example – Emotive:
“It’s absolutely terrible how social media ruins people’s lives. I can’t stand how toxic it is.”
Example – Objective:
“Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows a correlation between high social media use and increased symptoms of depression among young adults.”
See the difference? The first is a rant, the second relies on credible evidence.
Third Person Narrative Voice
In scholarly writing, third person point of view is preferred. That means using words like he, she, they, or the researcher rather than I or you. It creates distance between the writer and the subject, which makes the writing seem more professional.
Example – First Person:
“I think my experiment worked because I set up the equipment carefully.”
Example – Third Person:
“The experiment produced accurate results due to careful preparation of the equipment.”
The third-person version highlights the work itself, not the writer’s opinion about it.
Based on Evidence
One of the pillars of scholarly writing is backing up claims with reliable sources.
You’re not just saying something because you feel it’s true; you’re showing evidence that others can check. Academic journals, peer-reviewed articles, and respected books are your best bet.
When you use research in your writing, you need to give credit through citations. The style you use depends on your subject area:
- APA (American Psychological Association): Common in the social sciences. Example: (Smith, 2021, p. 45).
- MLA (Modern Language Association): Often used in literature and humanities. Example: (Smith 45).
- Chicago: Popular in history and some humanities. Instead of in-text citations, it usually relies on footnotes or endnotes.
Each style has its quirks, so double-check the guide for your subject. The important thing is consistency; once you choose a style, use the same one throughout the whole text.
If you are using AI, don’t forget to fact-check it.
Proper Grammar and Punctuation
This part sounds obvious, but mistakes in grammar and punctuation can make even the strongest argument look weak. Misusing commas, writing run-on sentences, or forgetting subject-verb agreement can pull focus away from your ideas.
It doesn’t mean your writing needs to be flawless from the first draft (most good papers go through several rounds of editing). Reading your work aloud is a simple trick that helps you catch awkward phrasing or missing words.
Common Slip-Ups to Avoid
- Using first person when third person is expected.
- Adding too many descriptive adjectives instead of facts.
- Leaning on sources like Wikipedia instead of peer-reviewed research.
- Forgetting to proofread for grammar and punctuation.
- Mixing citation styles within the same paper.
AI Prompt for Scholarly Tone
You are an editor. Your task is to change the provided text below to have a scholarly tone.
Ensure the following:
- Make sure to have a formal and objective tone
- Maintain a neutral stance
- Remove and correct clichés, colloquialisms, and slang
- Eliminate personal pronouns. Only use third person of view
- Highlight sentences or paragraphs that need citation
- Format the text: [AP/APA/MLA/Chicago]
Text: [input text] Writing With a Scholarly Tone Made Simple
Getting comfortable with a scholarly tone takes practice, but it’s a skill that pays off across subjects.
The best way to improve is through small, consistent adjustments: swap casual phrases for precise wording, double-check your citations, and read your work as if you were grading it yourself. Over time, these habits make the shift from casual to scholarly almost automatic.