What Is an Academic Voice? A Guide for Doctoral Writers
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What “academic voice” means, its six key features, before-and-after examples, and practical ways to develop your own scholarly voice in a dissertation.
What is an academic voice?
Your academic (or scholarly) voice is the way you sound on the page when you write as a member of a research community. It is formal, precise, objective and evidence-based, but it is still your voice. You are not simply reporting what others have said. You show your own judgment about the evidence and your own contribution to the conversation (Graff & Birkenstein, 2021).
A strong academic voice tells your committee that you can think and write like a scholar in your field. A weak one sounds either too casual, like conversation, or too hidden, like a string of quotations with no author present.
Six features of an academic voice
| Feature | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | No slang, contractions or casual phrases | “does not” rather than “doesn’t”; “many” rather than “a lot of” |
| Precise | Specific words and numbers instead of vague ones | “42% of participants” rather than “a lot of people” |
| Objective | Claims based on evidence, not personal feelings | “The findings suggest…” rather than “I feel that…” |
| Evidence-based | Claims supported by credible, cited sources | “…(Smith & Lee, 2023)” |
| Appropriately cautious (hedged) | Claims stated at the strength the evidence allows | “may contribute to” rather than “proves” |
| Authoritative | Confident synthesis and analysis in your own words | “Taken together, these studies indicate…” |
Before and after
| Not academic | Academic voice |
|---|---|
| “Burnout is a huge problem and nurses are totally stressed out these days.” | “Burnout affects a substantial proportion of the nursing workforce and is associated with turnover intention and reduced quality of care (Author, Year).” |
| “I think telehealth is the best way to help rural patients.” | “Telehealth may improve access for rural patients, although evidence on long-term outcomes remains limited.” |
| “Smith (2020) said… Jones (2021) said… Lee (2022) said…” | “Several studies have linked mentoring to retention among new graduates (Jones, 2021; Lee, 2022; Smith, 2020); however, few have examined…” |
Common voice problems
- Too conversational: rhetorical questions (“Have you ever wondered…?”), exclamation marks, “you.”
- Too emotional or absolute: “always,” “never,” “obviously,” “proves.”
- Too wordy: “due to the fact that” (use “because”), “in order to” (use “to”).
- Anthropomorphism: APA advises against giving human actions to things, as in “The study felt…” (APA, 2020). Studies can find or show, but not feel.
- Missing voice: paragraphs made entirely of quotations or summaries, with no analysis. See How to balance scholarly voice with citing research.
Can I use “I”?
Yes, when it fits. APA 7 encourages first person to describe your own actions as a researcher, as in “I conducted semi-structured interviews,” rather than awkward phrases such as “the researcher” (APA, 2020). Avoid using “I” to state opinions (“I believe that…”). Check your program’s preferences, because some still prefer third person. For more, see Should I write my dissertation in passive or active voice?
How to develop your academic voice
- Read like a writer. Study how authors in top journals in your field introduce sources, state claims and hedge.
- Collect useful phrases, such as “Building on…,” “In contrast to…” and “These findings extend…”. The University of Manchester’s Academic Phrasebank is a helpful free resource.
- Take a position. After every source or group of sources, ask “So what?” and write your interpretation.
- Revise for tone. Read your draft aloud and mark anything that sounds like speech, emotion or overstatement.
- Ask for feedback specifically on voice from your chair or the writing center.
Conclusion
An academic voice is formal, precise, cautious and evidence-based, yet clearly your own. It develops through reading, practice and revision. Next: Should I write my dissertation in passive or active voice?
Doctoral Writing series
- Series introduction
- How to Introduce Your Doctoral Thesis: Writing a Strong Dissertation Introduction (Chapter 1)
- Formatting Your Dissertation: APA 7 Rules, Section Order and Checklist
- Table of Contents in a Dissertation: What It Is and How to Create One
- What Is an Academic Voice? A Guide for Doctoral Writers (you are here)
- Should I Write My Dissertation in Passive or Active Voice?
- General Paragraph Structure in Thesis Writing: The MEAL Plan
- Long Versus Short Sentences When Writing Your Dissertation
- Best Ways to Create Transitions Between Ideas in Your Dissertation
- Analyzing vs. Synthesizing Ideas: Key Differences for Doctoral Writing
- Reference Page Do's and Don'ts: APA 7 Reference List for Your Dissertation
- What Are High-Quality Resources for a Thesis Paper?
- How to Balance Scholarly Voice with Citing Research
- Common Writing Challenges Doctoral Students Struggle With (and How to Overcome Them)
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2021). “They say / I say”: The moves that matter in academic writing (5th ed.). W. W. Norton.
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