How do I improve my academic writing skills?

The short answer

Academic writing improves through reading good models, deliberate practice, feedback, and revision. Focus on clarity, argument, evidence, and discipline-specific conventions.

Strategies that work

• Read articles in your field and note how arguments are built.
• Write regularly—even short summaries sharpen prose.
• Revise in passes: structure, then clarity, then grammar.
• Use writing centers, peers, or tutors for targeted feedback.
• Build a personal checklist from repeated instructor comments.

Mistakes to avoid

• Trying to sound “fancy” instead of clear.
• Submitting first drafts without revision.
• Ignoring assignment rubrics and genre expectations.

Put it into practice this week

• Revise one paragraph to cut 20% of words while keeping meaning.
• Apply instructor feedback to your next paper explicitly.
• Book a writing review session before your next deadline.