Reader-Friendly Academic Writing (It’s Not Impossible!)

In November, the academic editing book club will meet online to discuss Academic Writing as if Readers Matter, by Leonard Cassuto. This book club is run by the Academic Editing special interest group (SIG), a collaboration of Editors Canada and the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). 

As editors, we’re taught to prioritize the reader. For those of us who have read some form of academic writing, however, it can feel like the reader has been banished to the back of the classroom. Manuscripts are full of dry, jargon-heavy text, which can feel overwhelming. But the landscape is changing.

When I first picked up Academic Writing as if Readers Matter, I was unsure what would transpire. Would author Leonard Cassuto be criticizing my approach to writing or editing? Would his insights actually feel relevant and useful? Would it be dry, like so much academic writing is assumed to be?

Well, reader, I was pleasantly surprised by the contents. My copy of this book is now overrun with page flags (colour coded, of course) that point to concepts or tips that I can apply to my own writing and editorial practice, as well as ideas to share with clients to improve their academic writing.

Cassuto organizes the book into three primary themes: caring for the reader, learning to tell stories and using jargon responsibly.

Writing as an act of care for the reader

The unifying thread through the book is simple: take care of your reader. This shifts standard practice, in which academic writers often write for themselves or other niche experts. 

Cassuto’s main point here is that academics read to gather information. He argues that writers should be generous to their readers by providing the “what is being argued and how” up front and in an easily digestible manner; help ease their cognitive load. 

His argument is validating for editors, as we instinctively advocate for the reader. Cassuto offers us a framework to share with authors who may not see the value of this just yet. The book is packed with practical tips and examples that help both writers and editors understand and justify their approach to writing or editing.

Everything is a story

Storytelling truly is at the heart of this book. Cassuto shows how storytelling and metaphor can make academic text more engaging than writers may have thought possible. 

Those long, dry, jargon-heavy articles and textbooks of yore are no longer the standard. Neutral and impersonal language is no longer the expectation. Credibility comes with experience, engagement and empathy. If academics want to be part of “the conversation” (in whichever field they choose), narrative techniques that challenge the status quo may in fact strengthen their arguments and help them stand out. 

Structure, style, approach and presentation are all explored in depth — I particularly appreciated the sub-sections on introductions, conclusions, paragraphs, sentences and visuals. 

Jargon and language

Though editors are taught to limit jargon, it’s often inevitable in academic writing. Rather than land on one side or the other, Cassuto takes a nuanced approach: don’t banish it entirely, but use it responsibly. 

As editors, we are given permission to approach language and jargon as a matter of judgment rather than a good–bad binary, which invites reflection and gives us a more constructive way to raise the issue with authors. However, Cassuto does warn that usage changes over time, so understanding and defining jargon is critical to caring for the reader. He includes a list of common usage errors that is practical for editors working through academic terms.

Assessing relevance

If you work on developmental or line editing, this book will be valuable not only in understanding how to improve the text but also in sharing tips and clear justifications with your client authors. 

The illustrations alone made it a delight to read (chapter 1 features a detailed illustration of a blue whale, no less), not to mention several valuable graphics and figures. Cassuto truly took his own advice to heart while writing this book; the reader is cared for in every way. Academic Writing as if Readers Matter makes a strong case for reader-centred writing — and as editors we help make that possible in practice.

Join the discussion

Join the academic editing book club on Monday, November 16 at 11 a.m. PCT / 1 p.m. EST for a discussion of this book hosted by Vilja Hulden. Register for the event to join the conversation. 

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