Academic Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Another common mistake that you should avoid, when doing academic writing, is the incorrect use of ITS and IT'S. ITS is a possessive word for something that belongs to the non-specific gender - like "its value", or "The tiger raised its paw". IT'S, on the other hand, means IT IS, it is a conjunction of sorts "It's getting colder and colder" meaning "It is getting colder and colder." So watch out for this common mistake and avoid making it.

You should also avoid the poor use of paragraph breaks - ideally, each paragraph should be devoted to one succinct idea. If you are changing the idea or the thought, then start a new paragraph. Don't make the mistake of handing in a paper with too few paragraph breaks.

A general rule to follow is that every page of a double-spaced paper should have at least one paragraph break.

Don't make the mistake of failing to meet the page limit. For instance, if your professor has asked for a coursework seven pages long, don't hand in one that is five or six pages long.

Also, don't try to increase the font size to make the number of pages larger - most professors are wary of this tactic and in most cases, they will tell you what font and size to use. (Generally, it is Times New Roman size 12).

Use your commas correctly; use them to denote pauses, read the sentences out loud to see if it sounds right. Don't use run-on sentences (two complete clauses in one sentence) - be careful to keep the punctuation correct, and don't use comma splices.

Reading up on these common mistakes and making conscious efforts to avoid them can go a long way in helping you present a much better paper.