Academic tone refers to the distinctive style and demeanor employed by college-level academic writers. An academic voice emphasizes specific elements appropriate for scholarly essays, including:

• • Relative objectivity
  • Precision
  • Conservative language usage

While these factors cater to the needs and expectations of an academic audience such as professors, peers, and colleagues, developing sophisticated vocabulary and using complex sentence structures will further enhance the quality of an academic voice. This can be achieved with practice and self-learning. In upper division and graduate courses, mastery of academic tone is crucial.