Building Academic Vocabulary

Essential Words for Academic Writing

Academic Word Families

Focus on high-frequency academic words that appear across disciplines. The Academic Word List (AWL) contains 570 word families commonly used in academic texts.

Transition Words by Function

• Adding: Furthermore, moreover, in addition, additionally


• Contrasting: However, nevertheless, conversely, although


• Causing: Therefore, consequently, as a result, thus


• Exemplifying: For example, specifically, to illustrate


• Concluding: In conclusion, overall, to summarize

Vocabulary Building Strategies

• Read academic papers in your field regularly


• Keep a vocabulary journal with new words and example sentences


• Practice using new words in your own writing within 24 hours


• Learn word families: analyze, analysis, analytical, analytically


• Use our paraphrasing tool to see alternative ways to express ideas