All professionals in academic circles, from physicists to literary historians, have to write about their research, theories, and discoveries. It's not only a part of being a student; it's also a part of being an academic professional.

Academic writing sometimes seems like a tricky task because most disciplines want you to use certain conventions. As with any other writing project, you should read papers and books in the relevant discipline before writing your own papers. This will help you get a feel for some of the conventions and practices specific to your field. This chapter will of course cover some of those conventions, but it would be impossible to cover every usage in every field. Being familiar with writing in your discipline will be an invaluable skill for all academic writing.

If you are a student, remember that your most important aid for writing is your professor. No book can help explain the questions and topics proposed by your professor. Most professors are happy to be able to discuss with you the documentation, subject, or problems specific to your paper.

The “voice” of your paper is also important to consider. The hard sciences tend to be much less personal in their writing, achieving a feeling of greater objectivity. In the humanities, writings tend to be more informal, often using first-person and second-person pronouns (e.g.; I, we; you).

Some professors are adamant about the voice you use in your paper. If you are unfamiliar with the publication or professor's preferences, it is a good idea to ask directly.