alternative word to research paper

50 Useful Academic Words & Phrases for Research

Like all good writing, writing an academic paper takes a certain level of skill to express your ideas and arguments in a way that is natural and that meets a level of academic sophistication. The terms, expressions, and phrases you use in your research paper must be of an appropriate level to be submitted to academic journals.

Therefore, authors need to know which verbs , nouns , and phrases to apply to create a paper that is not only easy to understand, but which conveys an understanding of academic conventions. Using the correct terminology and usage shows journal editors and fellow researchers that you are a competent writer and thinker, while using non-academic language might make them question your writing ability, as well as your critical reasoning skills.

What are academic words and phrases?

One way to understand what constitutes good academic writing is to read a lot of published research to find patterns of usage in different contexts. However, it may take an author countless hours of reading and might not be the most helpful advice when faced with an upcoming deadline on a manuscript draft.

Briefly, “academic” language includes terms, phrases, expressions, transitions, and sometimes symbols and abbreviations that help the pieces of an academic text fit together. When writing an academic text–whether it is a book report, annotated bibliography, research paper, research poster, lab report, research proposal, thesis, or manuscript for publication–authors must follow academic writing conventions. You can often find handy academic writing tips and guidelines by consulting the style manual of the text you are writing (i.e., APA Style , MLA Style , or Chicago Style ).

However, sometimes it can be helpful to have a list of academic words and expressions like the ones in this article to use as a “cheat sheet” for substituting the better term in a given context.

How to Choose the Best Academic Terms

You can think of writing “academically” as writing in a way that conveys one’s meaning effectively but concisely. For instance, while the term “take a look at” is a perfectly fine way to express an action in everyday English, a term like “analyze” would certainly be more suitable in most academic contexts. It takes up fewer words on the page and is used much more often in published academic papers.

You can use one handy guideline when choosing the most academic term: When faced with a choice between two different terms, use the Latinate version of the term. Here is a brief list of common verbs versus their academic counterparts:

Although this can be a useful tip to help academic authors, it can be difficult to memorize dozens of Latinate verbs. Using an AI paraphrasing tool or proofreading tool can help you instantly find more appropriate academic terms, so consider using such revision tools while you draft to improve your writing.

Top 50 Words and Phrases for Different Sections in a Research Paper

The “Latinate verb rule” is just one tool in your arsenal of academic writing, and there are many more out there. But to make the process of finding academic language a bit easier for you, we have compiled a list of 50 vital academic words and phrases, divided into specific categories and use cases, each with an explanation and contextual example.

Best Words and Phrases to use in an Introduction section

1. historically.

An adverb used to indicate a time perspective, especially when describing the background of a given topic.

2. In recent years

A temporal marker emphasizing recent developments, often used at the very beginning of your Introduction section.

3. It is widely acknowledged that

A “form phrase” indicating a broad consensus among researchers and/or the general public. Often used in the literature review section to build upon a foundation of established scientific knowledge.

4. There has been growing interest in

Highlights increasing attention to a topic and tells the reader why your study might be important to this field of research.

5. Preliminary observations indicate

Shares early insights or findings while hedging on making any definitive conclusions. Modal verbs like may , might , and could are often used with this expression.

6. This study aims to

Describes the goal of the research and is a form phrase very often used in the research objective or even the hypothesis of a research paper .

7. Despite its significance

Highlights the importance of a matter that might be overlooked. It is also frequently used in the rationale of the study section to show how your study’s aim and scope build on previous studies.

8. While numerous studies have focused on

Indicates the existing body of work on a topic while pointing to the shortcomings of certain aspects of that research. Helps focus the reader on the question, “What is missing from our knowledge of this topic?” This is often used alongside the statement of the problem in research papers.

9. The purpose of this research is

A form phrase that directly states the aim of the study.

10. The question arises (about/whether)

Poses a query or research problem statement for the reader to acknowledge.

Best Words and Phrases for Clarifying Information

11. in other words.

Introduces a synopsis or the rephrasing of a statement for clarity. This is often used in the Discussion section statement to explain the implications of the study .

12. That is to say

Provides clarification, similar to “in other words.”

13. To put it simply

Simplifies a complex idea, often for a more general readership.

14. To clarify

Specifically indicates to the reader a direct elaboration of a previous point.

15. More specifically

Narrows down a general statement from a broader one. Often used in the Discussion section to clarify the meaning of a specific result.

16. To elaborate

Expands on a point made previously.

17. In detail

Indicates a deeper dive into information.

Points out specifics. Similar meaning to “specifically” or “especially.”

19. This means that

Explains implications and/or interprets the meaning of the Results section .

20. Moreover

Expands a prior point to a broader one that shows the greater context or wider argument.

Best Words and Phrases for Giving Examples

21. for instance.

Provides a specific case that fits into the point being made.

22. As an illustration

Demonstrates a point in full or in part.

23. To illustrate

Shows a clear picture of the point being made.

24. For example

Presents a particular instance. Same meaning as “for instance.”

25. Such as

Lists specifics that comprise a broader category or assertion being made.

26. Including

Offers examples as part of a larger list.

27. Notably

Adverb highlighting an important example. Similar meaning to “especially.”

28. Especially

Adverb that emphasizes a significant instance.

29. In particular

Draws attention to a specific point.

30. To name a few

Indicates examples than previously mentioned are about to be named.

Best Words and Phrases for Comparing and Contrasting

31. however.

Introduces a contrasting idea.

32. On the other hand

Highlights an alternative view or fact.

33. Conversely

Indicates an opposing or reversed idea to the one just mentioned.

34. Similarly

Shows likeness or parallels between two ideas, objects, or situations.

35. Likewise

Indicates agreement with a previous point.

36. In contrast

Draws a distinction between two points.

37. Nevertheless

Introduces a contrasting point, despite what has been said.

38. Whereas

Compares two distinct entities or ideas.

Indicates a contrast between two points.

Signals an unexpected contrast.

Best Words and Phrases to use in a Conclusion section

41. in conclusion.

Signifies the beginning of the closing argument.

42. To sum up

Offers a brief summary.

43. In summary

Signals a concise recap.

44. Ultimately

Reflects the final or main point.

45. Overall

Gives a general concluding statement.

Indicates a resulting conclusion.

Demonstrates a logical conclusion.

48. Therefore

Connects a cause and its effect.

49. It can be concluded that

Clearly states a conclusion derived from the data.

50. Taking everything into consideration

Reflects on all the discussed points before concluding.

Edit Your Research Terms and Phrases Before Submission

Using these phrases in the proper places in your research papers can enhance the clarity, flow, and persuasiveness of your writing, especially in the Introduction section and Discussion section, which together make up the majority of your paper’s text in most academic domains.

However, it's vital to ensure each phrase is contextually appropriate to avoid redundancy or misinterpretation. As mentioned at the top of this article, the best way to do this is to 1) use an AI text editor , free AI paraphrasing tool or AI proofreading tool while you draft to enhance your writing, and 2) consult a professional proofreading service like Wordvice, which has human editors well versed in the terminology and conventions of the specific subject area of your academic documents.

For more detailed information on using AI tools to write a research paper and the best AI tools for research , check out the Wordvice AI Blog .

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Alternatives to Research Papers

Creative alternatives to traditional research papers: Undergrads and Scholarly Communication

The ability to write a finely crafted, well documented, and thought provoking research paper is a hallmark of a fine liberal arts education. Understanding how knowledge is created, how thoughts build upon previous thoughts, how the written language has given rise and perpetuates cultures, how all of these can be found in the scholarly communication housed in their fine research libraries, these are a few of the noble ends of undergraduate education and are the building blocks of information literacy.

Putting thoughts to paper, supporting them with evidence, or contradicting them without bias, push students to new intellectual levels. The skills needed to get to that point are myriad. By sequencing research assignments, faculty can provide feedback throughout the writing process prior to the final assessment. Students appreciate this. In courses where research papers are not appropriate or applicable, assigning one or two gems from Indra’s “research” net allows students to practice the craft in small developmental increments. Students will need to actively engage in and ultimately master those individual skills or thought processes thereby building their confidence. Future faculty will be in receipt of these gifts.

Here are some ideas which provide practice in segments of the research process. They require students to become familiar with scholarly research tools and techniques. Please contact your liaison librarian for library instruction sessions, if desired.

All but the Research Paper

• Topic with several good questions to explore
• Annotated bibliography of useful sources which explore those questions
• Outline of paper
• Thesis statement
• Opening paragraph and summary
• Objective: Focuses on the process of research and the elements of a paper

Research Log

• Assignment: While doing topic research, students keep a record of their actions: methodology, resources consulted (books, databases, Web searches), keywords or subject headings searched, noting both successes and failures.
• Objective: Provides a good introduction to how information and scholarly communication are organized. Encourages reflection on the decisions researchers must make. Focuses on the importance of terminology.

Literature Review

• Assignment: Review the literature on a specific topic for a given time period.
• Objective: Reveals the purpose of a literature review. Provides students with opportunities to engage in the discipline’s printed matter.

Review Update

• Assignment: Using a non-current review article, update the topic with current sources
• Objective: Introduces students to literature reviews, subject indexes, and reference sources. Demonstrates the evolution of a particular topic and the scholarly communication surrounding it. Also requires students to analyze, synthesize, and integrate the ideas they find. Students will utilize printed and electronic resources to identify pertinent information

Poster Session

• Assignment: Research a topic and present it as a poster which other students will use to learn about the topic.
• Objective: Requires use of scholarly resources, research skills, concise communication, and synthesis of ideas.

Track a “Classic” Paper through a Citation Index

• Assignment: Choose a classic article by well-respected scholar and follow its trail into future publications. Trace the paper through the  Scopus database: back through the article’s references and forward in time to the works which cite the article.
• Objective: Teaches the mechanics of using a citation index and introduces students to the web of scholarly communication. Shows how ideas are introduced, distributed, integrated, refined, and developed over time.

Trace a Scholar’s Career

• Assignment: Explore a scholar/researcher’s career and ideas by locating biographical information, preparing a bibliography of his/her writings, analyzing the reaction of the scholarly community to the researcher’s work, and examining the scholarly network in which s/he works.
• Objective: Introduces students to the use of biographical and bibliographical tools, and exposes them to examples of scholarly dialogue.

Identify a Discipline’s Journals

• Assignment: How many journals are published in a given field? Identify journals “basic” to the discipline. Locate those held locally in print and online. Compare and contrast peer reviewed and popular or trade publications in the field. Analyze their subject focus, tone, audience, and impact.
• Objective: Encourages intellectual exploration, widens the range of possible resources, and demonstrates the importance of journal literature within disciplines. Students differentiate between similar journals.

Understand Primary Sources

• Assignment: Compare primary and secondary sources on the same topic. Have the students find a study in a popular or trade publication and then have them find the actual study. How well did the information transfer between sources? What was left out? How well did the popular/trade publication writer capture the essence of the primary source?
• Objective: Students differentiate between primary and secondary sources in a discipline. Shows when and why to use each.

Read the References

• Assignment: Acquire and read the articles cited in a research paper. Explain how each is related to the paper. In what circumstances is it appropriate to cite other papers? What different purposes do the citations serve?
• Objective: Shows when it is appropriate to recognize the contributions of previous authors in the development of new work.

Simulations of Real-Life Projects

• Assignment: Prepare a grant or research proposal, marketing or business plan, or solution to a tax, accounting or financial problem. State the specific problem to be solved or task to be accomplished. Provide background on the problem. How have these issues been dealt with in the past? What is the current thinking on this issue? How do you propose to solve the problem or what are the questions you need to ask to solve the problem? What support can you offer for your solution?
• Objective: Simulates for students how they will apply their information skills in the context of problems they will encounter in their discipline or career.

Narrowing a topic

• Assignment: Given a topic that is much too broad to handle in a short paper, find several sources (magazine, newspaper, or journal articles, chapters in books or reference books) to assist in refining the focus. For example, refine the topic Ethics in Sports down to Drug use in Track and Field and further down to doping in the 2004 Olympics Track and Field events.
• Objective: Teach students how to narrow a topic as well as what types of sources they might find useful in doing so.

Other ideas

• Annotate an article for a novice reader.
• Write or create a piece of music, art, or creative writing in a particular style or genre
• Put on a conference complete with poster sessions, panels, papers, etc.
• Create an anthology of readings complete with an introduction and reading summaries
• Create a pathfinder or website of different types of information sources on a topic

19 Academic Writing Tools (that are completely free!)

A selection of tools for academic writing – from collaborating, time-tracking and project management to finding the perfect phrase or translation. We are continuously updating this list (latest update: April 2023).

I often get asked about my favourite academic writing tools. That’s why I compiled this scientific tools list for you with 19 great tools to support your academic writing. You can use all these scientific research tools for free and some of them have paid versions with additional features.

Just one word of caution: Exploring new academic writing tools can be a time-suck and distract you from getting your actual writing done. If you are one of those people who spend hours signing up for new software for academic writing and getting it set up, only to abandon the tool a few days or weeks later – then be careful reading this scientific tools list, and don’t get overenthusiastic. 😉

By the way, I don’t have any affiliation with any of the academic writing tools listed below, and none of these are affiliated links.

Here, we go, 19 tools for academic writing and scientific research I recommend in no particular order:

ACADEMIC Writing tools

1. writefull.

This proof-reading tool for scientific texts is powered by AI and big data. You can integrate the Writefull app into Word or Overleaf for free. A reader of the blog brought my attention to this tool (thank you so much!) and I’ve only recently started using it, so I can’t give you a full-blown review just yet but so far the results are promising. Writefull is owned by Digital Science, a company that has released several Open Science apps, such as figshare, Overleaf and Altmetric. 

2. Phrasebank

Created by Dr John Morley from “The University Language Center” of Manchester University, the Phrasebank is a database of common phrases used in papers, dissertations and grant proposals – a real goldmine!

The phrases are organised both by the common sections in a paper such as the Introduction, Methods, Results or Discussion section. For example, in the tab for the Introduction section, one can find entries for “establishing the importance of the topic for the world or society” or “identifying a knowledge gap in the field of study”. If you click on the latter, you can find among others the following suggested phrases: “It is still unclear whether…”, “However, the behaviour of X has not yet been investigated” and “Causal factors leading to X remain speculative”.

You can also look for phrases by choosing a general language function. Some of the choices are “being cautious”, “describing trends”, “signalling transition”.   

The Phrasebank is very useful to get inspiration for new wording but I do not endorse all entries. Sometimes you find language that is a bit clunky or overly complicated so do use your own judgement when you browse this academic writing tool. PS: You can also download the Academic Phrasebank as PDF or Kindle file.

3. Thesaurus.com

If you’re looking for synonyms, thesaurus.com is the best online thesaurus I’ve found so far. It divides the synonyms based on different meanings of the word and indicates the relevance of the synonym by using three shades of orange.

Just one word of caution: Don’t fall into the trap of using too many synonyms in your academic writing. Being precise is so much more important than varying the words you are using in your writing. In particular for field-specific terminology, I advise against using synonyms .

This is a hot tip for researchers who need to transcribe interviews (hello, social scientists!), who like to record research ideas or those who like to write by dictating text into their phone. Otter is an AI-based transcription tool that works for English language recordings. The quality of the transcriptions is comparable to other transcription services using AI, meaning they are often not accurate and can give nonsensical, even comical results — especially when the recorded voice has a strong or unusual accent. Still, the automated and quick transcriptions (real time transcriptions are available too!) can be a good starting point and are a huge time saver. What’s cool about Otter compared to its competitors is that they give you 300 minutes of transcriptions per month for free!

There are many online dictionaries but Linguee is my favourite for academic writing. It suggests a translation on the basis of previous translations published on the internet.  Therefore, this dictionary is especially great if you’re looking to not only translate a word but a certain turn of phrase or idiom. Linguee translates to and from English in over 20 languages. An essential academic writing tool for all non-native English speakers!

ACADEMIC WRITING TOOLS FOR Collaboration AND CO-WRITING

6. authorea.

The magazine “ TechCrunch ” describes Authorea as “a Google Docs for scientists”. On the academic writing platform, you can write, edit, and insert citations, figures and data. And it’s great for collaborative writing: Co-authors can access the same text at the same time, track the changes they made, insert comments and even live-chat during writing sessions. Documents can be imported from LaTeX and Word and exported as LaTeX, Word and PDF documents. You can also submit your article as a bioRxiv preprint straight from the Authorea platform. This software for academic writing is free for up to ten documents with limited sharing options.

7. Overleaf

Overleaf is to LaTeX users, what Authorea (see tool #6) is to Word users: an online editor that allows you to access and collaborate on your writing projects from anywhere. You can, for example, invite others to comment on your work. Overleaf offers some other neat collaborative writing features, such as a track-changes function, but – unfortunately – only on the paid plan. LaTeX may seem a bit intimidating at first but you actually get the hang of it quite fast (and feel like a coder 😎). Also, in my experience, you save a lot of time formatting your text (and feel smug about it when you talk to Word users 😁).

Slack is a chat tool that you can use in your lab or with your collaborators. Used in the right way, it allows you to save time by cutting down on emails and create a group atmosphere even if the members are not working in the same location. You can easily add files to the chats and create different channels for subgroups or certain topics. There also exist virtual communities on Slack you can join, such as the New PI Slack community for Assistant professors around the world. 

Loom is a great scientific research tool when you want to share a quick video with a colleague, student or collaborator. This could be a recorded presentation or lecture, your comments on the paper of a co-author, or a tutorial on using a piece of software. You can record your screen, camera and microphone. The neat thing is that after you’re done recording, Loom auto-generates a link you can share.

Academic writing tools for Productivity and project management

Toggl is a time-tracking app that you can install on your phone and computer. There’s only one way of knowing how long certain writing tasks typically take you, and that is by tracking the time they took you to complete . Time-tracking has another great advantage: You can identify time-sucks in your day. And these may be less obvious than you think.

I like to use Toggl for time-tracking because it’s quick to use and integrates with various other scientific research tools I am using. You just need to click the big red power button to start or stop a recording and assign tracked times to different projects. This scientific research tool has paid plans but for most people the free basic plan will be sufficient.

Are you easily tempted to check your phone when you really should be writing? This app called Forest may be just right for you then. Once installed on your phone, you can start planting a virtual tree whenever you want to focus. It grows from a little plant to a full-grown tree. When you pick up your phone and leave the app, the tree dies. This way, you can build your forest representing the time you have spent on focused work (or quality time with your family and friends…). I’m not using Forest myself, but I’ve heard that it works really as an academic writing tool well for some people. Give it a go!  

12. Focusmate

As Forest (see tool #11), Focusmate is an app to help you stay focused. Instead of  gamification, the concept of Focusmate is based on social accountability. Here is how it works: You schedule a 50-minute virtual co-writing session with another Focusmate member, turn on your webcam when your session starts, greet your temporary co-worker and then get to work silently.

Even though being filmed while working is a little strange in the beginning, co-writing sessions work really well for a lot of researchers. This is why we offer co-writing sessions as part of our academic writing program, the Researchers’ Writing Academy, as well.

13. Cold Turkey

If Forest (tool #11) or Focusmate (#12) don’t get you to focus on your writing, you may need to go Cold Turkey . This software for academic writing blocks any other application and turns your computer into a typewriter. You can choose whether you want Cold Turkey to prevent you from digital distractions for a certain amount of time or until you’ve hit a certain word count. With the paid version, you can even access integrated productivity soundtracks and text formatting.

Not an app exactly, but free as well: Click the orange button below to have me walk you through my step-by-step system to write clear & concise papers for your target journals in a timely manner . This free academic writing training is perfect for you if you’re reading this blog post because you are procrastinating on writing your paper.

Trello is an excellent project management tool for your academic writing, which you can use for managing each of your writing projects, for creating a publication pipeline and as a daily and weekly to-do list. Trello is a great introduction into project management because it’s a lot easier to learn and use than most other project management software. For each project called a “Board”, you can create different “lists”, which are vertical collection of “cards”, which you can move between lists. You can add due dates, checklist lists, links, files and text to each card. To work collaboratively, you can leave comments on cards and assign them to members on your team. You can also use Trello as a brainstorming tool, using the cards just as you would use post-it notes.

Members of my online course, the Researchers’ Writing Academy , get access to Trello templates I created to easily manage their publication pipeline, the writing process for each of their scientific papers and all of their other daily, weekly and monthly tasks and projects.

15. Todoist

Todoist is an alternative to Trello (see tool #16) or can be used in addition. It’s an online to-do list organiser and project management tool that comes as an app and browser version. You can organise your tasks in projects and schedule them for a certain day. This academic writing tool shows you today’s tasks as well as those for the next seven days. It also tracks your productivity, i.e. how many tasks you have completed.

academic writing Tools for finding and reading the literature

Feedly is a neat RSS feed manager that helps you stay up to date with the scientific literature. Instead of getting email alerts from journals (because who wants to get more emails…) you can view and organise the literature you are interested in by following journals’ RSS feeds. You can not only use this for scientific literature but also subscribe to blogs, for example the one you’re reading right now, by simply putting the URL in the Feedly search: https://www.annaclemens.com/blog .

Are you a mindmapper? Then you need Xmind , a free mindmapping and brain-storming tool. It’s intuitive, looks good and does exactly what you want a mindmapping tool to do. The free version allows for embedding of hyperlinks, images, attachments, so you can really use it however you like! That’s all I can really say about it as I’m not using mindmapping myself. But I know scientists who swear by it!

18. Audemic

Audio formats have become so popular (I’m a big podcast lover myself!) so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that there now is an audio tool available for the scientific literature too: Audemic . This tool — completely free to use for individual researchers — creates summaries for you (that go beyond the abstract), lets you skip sections, highlight text and take notes while listening.

There are a few reference managers for your academic writing to choose from, some of which cost money. Zotero is free, open-source and doesn’t lack in functionality. You can easily save references from your browser, organise them in folders and with tags and create bibliographies with the right style. You can also create a citation library with your co-authors or share your library with others.

That’s it: 19 academic writing apps and scientific research tools to support your writing for free! However, the best academic writing software won’t make you more productive if you don’t rely on a streamlined writing process and if you aren’t using your writing sessions effectively. If you want to get your hands on a template to write scientific papers in a systematic fashion, sign up for this 1-hour writing training now. It’s free too!

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Exploring Synonyms for Research Papers

Synonyms are powerful tools for writers to employ in order to improve the style and clarity of their writing. By utilizing an expansive vocabulary, authors can enhance the strength of their message while adding depth and nuance to their expression. In this article, we will explore the use of synonyms in research papers and discuss how they may be leveraged to amplify your argumentation or enrich your prose. We will also examine some strategies for finding appropriate alternatives that align with academic conventions. Ultimately, our objective is to provide guidance on optimizing written pieces through increased precision via a better understanding of word choice options available within English language usage contexts.

I. Introduction to Synonyms

Ii. benefits of using synonyms in research papers, iii. different types of synonym usage in writing, iv. challenges involved with employing the use of synonyms, v. guidelines for selecting appropriate alternatives to words and phrases, vi. strategies for exploring alternate word choices efficiently and effectively, vii. conclusion: utilizing creative language enhancements can improve research paper quality.

Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meaning to another. While they share commonalities, each word is unique in its own right and offers different nuances of meaning depending on how it’s used in context. Synonyms can be found everywhere: from literature to conversation, creative writing to technical research papers.

Synonyms help writers express themselves with more precision and accuracy. It also gives authors an opportunity to diversify their language repertoire so that readers don’t become bored by reading the same vocabulary repeatedly throughout a document or article. In technical research papers specifically, synonym use helps ensure clarity for academic peers who might not fully understand the original terms employed within an essay.

Research Paper Synonyms for Writing Clarity

• Substitute phrases
• Word equivalents
• Replaced terms

Many researchers underestimate the value of using synonyms in their research papers. But when appropriately employed, they can significantly improve writing clarity and provide a wider array of options to express one’s thoughts more precisely. Substantial evidence suggests that employing substitute phrases as well as word equivalents into research documents leads to improved comprehension and reading satisfaction among readers. This is due to the fact that replacing certain words with replaced terms allows authors to maintain consistency while also providing diversity from an alternative perspective or tone throughout their work. Additionally, these types of changes can help avoid any potential misinterpretations or misunderstandings about what the researcher is trying to communicate effectively.

Synonym substitution helps create cohesion within individual paragraphs too; if writers employ enough variation throughout each sentence, this makes it easier for readers to scan through quickly without losing track or focus on any particular point being made by its author. Moreover, varied substitutions keeps reader engagement high over extended periods since they are introduced periodically which adds interest – further highlighting key points via different wording techniques prevents monotony but still maintains understanding level about topic at hand . Ultimately , adding such alterations aids in elevating text complexity and readability scores alike thereby helping meet target audience’s expectations while avoiding plagiarism concerns altogether

Synonymic Variety in Writing Synonyms add an expansive, varied range to any piece of writing. In literature, they serve a purpose beyond merely echoing the same word multiple times; it can assist in creating various tones and develop a unique narrative voice for your story or essay. A few different ways writers use synonyms include:

• Creating Atmosphere – Change up the pace by using alternative language to construct phrases that evoke specific feelings from readers.
• Varied Structure- Utilize terms with varying levels of formality to craft sentences which better reflect the desired mood or tone.

When used effectively, selecting proper synonyms adds depth and texture to texts, which helps draw attention and intrigue from readers.

To ensure that you’re making appropriate choices when it comes to substituting words with their synonymous counterparts is through research paper consulting services like Google Scholar. These resources are especially helpful if you’re not sure about whether there exists similar meaning words other than what first come into mind while penning down thoughts. For example ‘innovation’ could be replaced by ‘modernization’ or even ‘progress’ depending on context as both denote something new being created but each has its own level of connotation associated with them. So before integrating these substitutes within your content make sure they suitably meet your needs!

The use of synonyms can introduce many challenges when employed in a research paper. Firstly, it is important to choose the correct words or phrases which are truly interchangeable for the subject matter at hand. An incorrect selection may not accurately convey the desired meaning, and could affect readers’ understanding of your argument.

Additionally, some synonyms do not share similar connotations; one word may have strong associations while its alternatives might be perceived as neutral. Even if you select seemingly synonymous terms interchangeably throughout your paper, these subtle differences can cause confusion or negative effects on overall clarity.

Effective Selection of Alternatives to Words and Phrases When writing, it is important to select the right words and phrases that convey a message effectively. To assist in this effort, researchers have developed some guidelines for selecting appropriate alternatives when creating content.

The first guideline suggests considering context-specific synonyms as substitutes for commonly used terms. For instance, if one wants to describe an individual with extensive knowledge on a certain topic, instead of using the word “expert” they could opt for more descriptive terms such as connoisseur or specialist. In addition to providing more detail about someone’s expertise level, these alternative words can help create imagery and capture reader attention better.

• Context-Specific Synonyms: Connoisseur; Specialist.

Secondly, whenever possible try pairing nouns with active verbs rather than relying solely on adjectives and adverbs alone. Using actionable language makes reading material sound less static by imbuing sentences with dynamic energy.

• Active Verbs: Utilize; Facilitate.

Ultimately these two simple tips can make any piece of text come alive! By keeping them in mind when crafting content writers will be able to craft vivid pieces that readers won’t soon forget!

When writing, exploring alternate word choices is essential in order to bring the utmost clarity and accuracy of ideas to readers. Efficiency and effectiveness are key elements that should be kept in mind when delving into research for new words.

• Brainstorming synonyms : A good practice here would be to look up your current phrase on an online dictionary or thesaurus. Not only will this offer you plenty of suggestions but also helpful definitions if needed.

In conclusion, incorporating these techniques can significantly improve text comprehension as well as providing potential stylistic advantages over simply relying on generic terms found in traditional dictionaries alone . Writing involves creativity so trying different approaches may help writers create fresh content while still being able to communicate their ideas accurately . With some planning ahead , proper knowledge base , and understanding about relevant terminologies ; choosing alternative vocabulary becomes much less daunting process than before!

The Final Verdict: Creative Language Strengthens Research Papers

Using creative language in a research paper is an essential component of its overall quality. Engaging and descriptive writing not only captures the reader’s attention, but it also conveys complex ideas more efficiently than a dry, clinical style would. Furthermore, these enhancements can be used to effectively highlight key points for greater impact or tie together related concepts into cohesive arguments. Consequently, making judicious use of vibrant language when composing scholarly documents may provide numerous benefits that enhance their value beyond what was previously believed possible.

When attempting to perfect a research paper’s composition with meaningful word choices and other elements that improve clarity without compromising readability, there are several methods one should take into consideration such as vivid adjectives and adverbs; imagery; analogies; clever phrasing; rhetorical questions—the list goes on! Of course this should all be done while ensuring adherence to any assigned guidelines pertaining to formatting requirements or specific areas of inquiry expected from academicians at certain levels. Achieving this balance requires discipline and dedication but the end result will likely add both weightiness and flavor worth savoring by readers whether they’re professors grading assignments or general audiences merely seeking knowledge on the topic discussed within said papers .

English: Research papers are a staple of academic and professional life, requiring careful consideration of language to communicate effectively. Exploring synonyms is an important step in crafting effective prose that captures the nuances of your research findings or ideas. This article has explored several strategies for expanding one’s vocabulary through employing synonyms; these tools can be used to craft more powerful and impactful written work. With this knowledge, you should now feel empowered to build upon your own unique writing style by taking advantage of the breadth of English language resources available.

Synonyms of research

• as in investigation
• as in to explore
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Thesaurus Definition of research

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• investigation
• exploration
• examination
• inquisition
• disquisition
• questionnaire
• interrogation
• reinvestigation
• soul - searching
• cross - examination
• questionary
• self - examination
• self - reflection
• self - exploration
• going - over
• self - scrutiny
• self - questioning

Thesaurus Definition of research  (Entry 2 of 2)

• investigate
• look (into)
• inquire (into)
• delve (into)
• check up on
• skim (through)
• thumb (through)
• reinvestigate

Thesaurus Entries Near research

Cite this entry.

“Research.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/research. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of research for Spanish Speakers

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about research

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How To Write A Research Paper

Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + FREE Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewer: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | March 2024

For many students, crafting a strong research paper from scratch can feel like a daunting task – and rightly so! In this post, we’ll unpack what a research paper is, what it needs to do , and how to write one – in three easy steps. 🙂 

Overview: Writing A Research Paper

What (exactly) is a research paper.

• How to write a research paper
• Stage 1 : Topic & literature search
• Stage 2 : Structure & outline
• Stage 3 : Iterative writing
• Key takeaways

Let’s start by asking the most important question, “ What is a research paper? ”.

Simply put, a research paper is a scholarly written work where the writer (that’s you!) answers a specific question (this is called a research question ) through evidence-based arguments . Evidence-based is the keyword here. In other words, a research paper is different from an essay or other writing assignments that draw from the writer’s personal opinions or experiences. With a research paper, it’s all about building your arguments based on evidence (we’ll talk more about that evidence a little later).

Now, it’s worth noting that there are many different types of research papers , including analytical papers (the type I just described), argumentative papers, and interpretative papers. Here, we’ll focus on analytical papers , as these are some of the most common – but if you’re keen to learn about other types of research papers, be sure to check out the rest of the blog .

With that basic foundation laid, let’s get down to business and look at how to write a research paper .

Overview: The 3-Stage Process

While there are, of course, many potential approaches you can take to write a research paper, there are typically three stages to the writing process. So, in this tutorial, we’ll present a straightforward three-step process that we use when working with students at Grad Coach.

These three steps are:

• Finding a research topic and reviewing the existing literature
• Developing a provisional structure and outline for your paper, and
• Writing up your initial draft and then refining it iteratively

Let’s dig into each of these.

Need a helping hand?

Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature

As we mentioned earlier, in a research paper, you, as the researcher, will try to answer a question . More specifically, that’s called a research question , and it sets the direction of your entire paper. What’s important to understand though is that you’ll need to answer that research question with the help of high-quality sources – for example, journal articles, government reports, case studies, and so on. We’ll circle back to this in a minute.

The first stage of the research process is deciding on what your research question will be and then reviewing the existing literature (in other words, past studies and papers) to see what they say about that specific research question. In some cases, your professor may provide you with a predetermined research question (or set of questions). However, in many cases, you’ll need to find your own research question within a certain topic area.

Finding a strong research question hinges on identifying a meaningful research gap – in other words, an area that’s lacking in existing research. There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you wanna learn more, check out the plain-language explainer video below.

Once you’ve figured out which question (or questions) you’ll attempt to answer in your research paper, you’ll need to do a deep dive into the existing literature – this is called a “ literature search ”. Again, there are many ways to go about this, but your most likely starting point will be Google Scholar .

If you’re new to Google Scholar, think of it as Google for the academic world. You can start by simply entering a few different keywords that are relevant to your research question and it will then present a host of articles for you to review. What you want to pay close attention to here is the number of citations for each paper – the more citations a paper has, the more credible it is (generally speaking – there are some exceptions, of course).

Ideally, what you’re looking for are well-cited papers that are highly relevant to your topic. That said, keep in mind that citations are a cumulative metric , so older papers will often have more citations than newer papers – just because they’ve been around for longer. So, don’t fixate on this metric in isolation – relevance and recency are also very important.

Beyond Google Scholar, you’ll also definitely want to check out academic databases and aggregators such as Science Direct, PubMed, JStor and so on. These will often overlap with the results that you find in Google Scholar, but they can also reveal some hidden gems – so, be sure to check them out.

Once you’ve worked your way through all the literature, you’ll want to catalogue all this information in some sort of spreadsheet so that you can easily recall who said what, when and within what context. If you’d like, we’ve got a free literature spreadsheet that helps you do exactly that.

Step 2: Develop a structure and outline

With your research question pinned down and your literature digested and catalogued, it’s time to move on to planning your actual research paper .

It might sound obvious, but it’s really important to have some sort of rough outline in place before you start writing your paper. So often, we see students eagerly rushing into the writing phase, only to land up with a disjointed research paper that rambles on in multiple

Now, the secret here is to not get caught up in the fine details . Realistically, all you need at this stage is a bullet-point list that describes (in broad strokes) what you’ll discuss and in what order. It’s also useful to remember that you’re not glued to this outline – in all likelihood, you’ll chop and change some sections once you start writing, and that’s perfectly okay. What’s important is that you have some sort of roadmap in place from the start.

At this stage you might be wondering, “ But how should I structure my research paper? ”. Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but in general, a research paper will consist of a few relatively standardised components:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology

Let’s take a look at each of these.

First up is the introduction section . As the name suggests, the purpose of the introduction is to set the scene for your research paper. There are usually (at least) four ingredients that go into this section – these are the background to the topic, the research problem and resultant research question , and the justification or rationale. If you’re interested, the video below unpacks the introduction section in more detail. 

The next section of your research paper will typically be your literature review . Remember all that literature you worked through earlier? Well, this is where you’ll present your interpretation of all that content . You’ll do this by writing about recent trends, developments, and arguments within the literature – but more specifically, those that are relevant to your research question . The literature review can oftentimes seem a little daunting, even to seasoned researchers, so be sure to check out our extensive collection of literature review content here .

With the introduction and lit review out of the way, the next section of your paper is the research methodology . In a nutshell, the methodology section should describe to your reader what you did (beyond just reviewing the existing literature) to answer your research question. For example, what data did you collect, how did you collect that data, how did you analyse that data and so on? For each choice, you’ll also need to justify why you chose to do it that way, and what the strengths and weaknesses of your approach were.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that for some research papers, this aspect of the project may be a lot simpler . For example, you may only need to draw on secondary sources (in other words, existing data sets). In some cases, you may just be asked to draw your conclusions from the literature search itself (in other words, there may be no data analysis at all). But, if you are required to collect and analyse data, you’ll need to pay a lot of attention to the methodology section. The video below provides an example of what the methodology section might look like.

By this stage of your paper, you will have explained what your research question is, what the existing literature has to say about that question, and how you analysed additional data to try to answer your question. So, the natural next step is to present your analysis of that data . This section is usually called the “results” or “analysis” section and this is where you’ll showcase your findings.

Depending on your school’s requirements, you may need to present and interpret the data in one section – or you might split the presentation and the interpretation into two sections. In the latter case, your “results” section will just describe the data, and the “discussion” is where you’ll interpret that data and explicitly link your analysis back to your research question. If you’re not sure which approach to take, check in with your professor or take a look at past papers to see what the norms are for your programme.

Alright – once you’ve presented and discussed your results, it’s time to wrap it up . This usually takes the form of the “ conclusion ” section. In the conclusion, you’ll need to highlight the key takeaways from your study and close the loop by explicitly answering your research question. Again, the exact requirements here will vary depending on your programme (and you may not even need a conclusion section at all) – so be sure to check with your professor if you’re unsure.

Step 3: Write and refine

Finally, it’s time to get writing. All too often though, students hit a brick wall right about here… So, how do you avoid this happening to you?

Well, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to writing a research paper (or any sort of academic piece), but we’ll share three practical tips to help you get started.

First and foremost , it’s essential to approach your writing as an iterative process. In other words, you need to start with a really messy first draft and then polish it over multiple rounds of editing. Don’t waste your time trying to write a perfect research paper in one go. Instead, take the pressure off yourself by adopting an iterative approach.

Secondly , it’s important to always lean towards critical writing , rather than descriptive writing. What does this mean? Well, at the simplest level, descriptive writing focuses on the “ what ”, while critical writing digs into the “ so what ” – in other words, the implications. If you’re not familiar with these two types of writing, don’t worry! You can find a plain-language explanation here.

Last but not least, you’ll need to get your referencing right. Specifically, you’ll need to provide credible, correctly formatted citations for the statements you make. We see students making referencing mistakes all the time and it costs them dearly. The good news is that you can easily avoid this by using a simple reference manager . If you don’t have one, check out our video about Mendeley, an easy (and free) reference management tool that you can start using today.

Recap: Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a lot of ground here. To recap, the three steps to writing a high-quality research paper are:

• To choose a research question and review the literature
• To plan your paper structure and draft an outline
• To take an iterative approach to writing, focusing on critical writing and strong referencing

Remember, this is just a b ig-picture overview of the research paper development process and there’s a lot more nuance to unpack. So, be sure to grab a copy of our free research paper template to learn more about how to write a research paper.

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University Libraries

• Ohio University Libraries
• Library Guides
• Library Research Process
• Words and Synonyms
• Research: An Overview
• Narrowing a Topic
• Doing Presearch
• Scholarly vs. Popular
• What's in a Scholarly Article?
• Finding Books
• Finding Articles
• Film & Video
• Subject Databases and Guides
• Spotting Fake News
• The Four Moves
• Quick Journal Article Evaluation
• Zotero: Tracking Sources
• Information In Real Life Tutorial
• Scholarship as a Conversation and Article Deep Dive

Handouts for the 3 Approaches

• Mindmap Handout
• Hierarchies Handout
• Word Bank Handout

I Say Research is a Word game Because...

• I have to guess where to begin
• I must track the words I use and find
• words lead to more words
• it's never a straight line
• luck is involved
• I don't know where I will end up. 

                               'Incunabula" means "books printed before 1501." Who knew? 

The Word Bank: A Vital Little Research Concept

Words and Synonyms Infographic

This text describes the infographic image above. 

Expert researchers organize subject-related words before they being searching -- and continue to save words as they learn new ones. 

Here are 3 ways to organize and think about words in searching:

•  The Mindmap is a series of bubbles: the big one in the middle is the broad topic, the smaller ones are aspects of the broad topic. Brainstorm the aspects, and use arrows to indicate connections; naming the arrows helps uncover ideas. Example: Women is the broad idea; College, Appalachia, and engineering are related; girls is STEM goes along an arrow. Include synonyms: women could be female or girl.
• Use Hierarchies to consider bigger-to-smaller ideas.  In boxes left to right, make the idea smaller and smaller. You can search for things all along the hierarchy, adding words and ideas as they appear. Example: First idea: musicians; smaller idea: rock musicians; smaller: guitar players: smaller: Keith Richards. 
• A word bank organizes your words by concept in vertical columns. Take each concept and collect synonyms and related terms under it. Example: Motorcycle, the concept at the top of the column, could also be called bike, Harley, or hog.  Culture, a second top idea, could be described as beliefs, attitudes, or psychology. 

When I Say Word Bank, you say.....

We use a lot of different words to talk about using words in searching. I need a Word Bank to talk about synonyms. 

Expert researchers should    brainstorm, identify, find, discover, chose, list, think, mindmap, create, imagine all the   synonyms, controlled vocabulary, thesaurus terms, descriptors, identifiers, indexers, keywords, technical names, jargon, scientific names, MESH headings, word stems, hierarchies, common / specific / technical words, abbreviations, spelling variations, definitions, uniform titles, terms, words, descriptions, smallest parts, languages, concepts, terminology, search terms, alternatives, phrases, or similar words  before - and during - searching.  

• << Previous: Search Techniques
• Next: Types of Resources and Finding Them >>

Creative Alternatives to a Traditional Research Paper

Teaching research skills is essential in the secondary classroom. However, are both you and your students ready for something other than a traditional research paper? Read on for 11 creative alternatives to a traditional research paper.

You assign a traditional research paper, teach all the things, and grade all the work. Then comes the dreaded moment when you find a handful of graded research papers in the trash. (Sigh.) All that hard work for what? To check off a box? To meet a standard or competency?

To be clear, I’m not bashing the validity of assigning a traditional research paper. They certainly have their place, and some students totally knock them out of the park. But what about the rest of your students? What about the diverse learners struggling with yet another traditional writing assignment? It might be time to rethink how we teach essential research skills.

The Importance of Research Skills

With the availability of information online nowadays, there’s a heightened need for solid research skills like vetting sources and confirming valid information (#fakenews). Regardless, you can’t deny the merits of the skills needed to write a research paper:

• Selecting a topic and honing in on a thesis
• Establishing questions to guide research and inquiry
• Evaluating sources for reliability and validity
• Taking notes and properly citing sources
• Gathering, organizing, and synthesizing information
• Considering alternative viewpoints
• Thinking critically and writing clearly

… And, of course, bringing it all together as a cohesive product.

But how engaging and relevant is a research paper as a product? Now, that’s the question we need to be asking as teachers. Are there alternatives to target the same skills but produce products that better reflect the world around us? There has to be a way to take research skills beyond the walls of academia, right?

After all, isn’t a quality research assignment, paper or not, one that requires students to find and evaluate information that supports a particular claim on a topic? One that ensures students are using information literacy skills and thinking critically? Building upon facts and the thoughts and research of others? Conveying specific information clearly and concisely? 

Read through the creative alternatives to a traditional research paper below and decide for yourself!

Creative Alternatives to a Research Paper

If you’re ready to expand how you teach research skills, the following assignments are a great place to start.

1. Graphic Essay

If you’re looking to up your research game and incorporate technology, this assignment is IT. (Pun intended.) The graphic essay encourages students to create a visually appealing representation of their research online. If you’re concerned about rigor, fear not. A graphic essay requires the same process as a research paper, plus elements of visual components and design.

With a graphic essay, students enhance their research by using both traditional writing and pictures, graphics, videos, and emphasized text. Students begin by planning and researching. Then they move on to the writing and design. Last but not least, they can fill in the rest with the fun visuals. The final product is a research-supported essay that is both well-developed and visually appealing.

2. Podcast Episode

If I was writing this ten years ago, I might have called this a radio show, but let’s keep it relevant, shall we? Podcasts are a great way to consume information about a particular topic. So, why not have students use a similar approach to deliver information about a particular topic.

Have students work independently or in groups to create a podcast episode-style recording that creatively explores their research. For example, maybe they take on the roles of “expert guests” as they dive into their research and expand upon what it means. Play the final products in class or upload the audio files to your class website and let the students select which topics they’d like to listen to. This is a fun alternative that gets students talking about topics they’re interested in without having to overcome their fears of public speaking.

3. Youtube Video

Youtube is like the modern-day encyclopedia. I mean, there isn’t anything you can’t learn about on YouTube. Why not take that idea and run with it? Much like the podcast episode option above, have students work independently or in groups to create a lively yet informative video that dives into their research. The video can be animated or interview-style and even uploaded directly to YouTube. 

This fun alternative gets students diving into their research topic without the dreaded research paper. However, they are still required to conduct research and plan their delivery of the information. To avoid videos that are overly fluffy– or stuffy (I don’t know which is worse)  take time to view a few extremes to set the tone and expectation. Watch and discuss both an engaging Youtube video and one that drones on and on so students understand the difference between the two, making it clear which kind you expect to receive.

4. Blog Post

Blog posts are a great alternative to a traditional research paper for many reasons. For starters, blogs have been blowing up on the internet for the past decade, so they’re certainly relevant. Second, you can include many of the same requirements in a blog as you might in a research paper. The biggest difference? A conversational tone.

Having your students write a blog post is a great way to get them to write about a topic they care about without having to be someone they’re not. In other words, they can leave behind the stuffy academic jargon and put a little punch of passion behind their words while still going through the research process and incorporating valid evidence.

5. Student Teacher

They say the hallmark of knowledge is being able to impart it to someone else, right? Challenge your students to engage in this highly-interactive alternative to the traditional research paper. While many other research projects involve an element of argumentation, this one is all about education. Have your students research a particular topic and then design and present an engaging mini-lesson to teach their knowledge to their peers.

How is this different from a more traditional presentation, you ask? You can make it as similar or different as you please. I suggest requiring an interactive component to supplement their presentation. For example, maybe they plan an activity, create a vocabulary crossword, or even do a short quiz at the end!  Additionally, one of my favorite benefits of this is reminding students how they like to be taught. Boring, long-winded explanations? No, thank you! Remind them to keep their target audience in mind.

Research Paper Alternatives Perfect for Struggling and Reluctant Students

I truly believe any of the above activities have a better chance of engaging your students than a traditional research paper. However, the alternatives listed here would be especially beneficial for struggling and reluctant students.

6. Pamphlet or Brochure

This is like the classic poster– minus the clunky poster itself. Furthermore, students can really tap into their graphic design skills as they plan their project’s layout and other visual elements. Sure, they may include fewer words than a traditional research paper, but that’s part of the challenge.

Both pamphlets and brochures really tap into the research skills of synthesizing and organizing. Additionally, with such limited space, students must be highly selective as to which information they include. That in itself requires organization and critical thinking. No long-winded body paragraphs here!

7. Infographics

I don’t know about you, but I love a good infographic. They are informative yet visually appealing. What a great combo! So, why not have your students create one? Not only do infographics require clear and concise writing, but they also tap into relevant graphic design skills. (Don’t worry. Tools like Canva make it a breeze.)

While infographics are fun to look at, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t require critical thinking to create one. To make an infographic, students must be able to clearly and effectively synthesize their researched information into a more concise and visually appealing format. If you’re looking to beef up the writing, simply require students to turn in an annotated bibliography as well.

8. All But The Research Paper

This assignment closely resembles a traditional research paper, minus the paper itself – just in case the title didn’t give it away. Instead, this assignment focuses heavily on the research process rather than research skills. (Dealing with struggling or reluctant writers? This might be a great option for them.)

Students are required to go through all the stages of the research process as if they were going to write a research paper. These components include choosing a topic, establishing a thesis, developing guiding questions, conducting research and evaluating sources, citing their sources, and outlining their paper. But that’s where it ends! No actual paper is written. Instead, the attention is on the process , organization of research, and development of ideas.

9. Social Media Profile

As ELA teachers, we have plenty of opportunities to incorporate writing assignments into the classroom. Therefore, if you’re simply looking for a fun activity to go along with teaching research skills, a social media profile is a great way to go.

Here’s how it works: Students must still begin by selecting a topic, establishing a thesis, and conducting research. However, instead of putting their research into traditional essay paragraphs, have them turn it into social media posts. Your students can create real Instagram profiles (or you can provide paper templates) dedicated to their research. What would traditionally be a paragraph turns into a post! Students can use the graphic to display their evidence while expanding upon it in their own words in the caption. They’ll also have to determine the order in which the posts appear. By the end, they’ll basically have a research paper.

Research Paper Alternatives That Target Persuasion

If you have to teach persuasive writing, coupling it with research skills is a two-for-one deal. The following assignments require the perfect mix of the two.

10. Letter to a Decision Maker

Students love to have their opinions. “If I were in charge…” they might say. It’s easy to talk about what they would do, so why not put some action behind those words? Writing a letter to a decision maker shows students that their voices deserve to be heard. However, it’s also a great opportunity to teach them how research makes for a strong and persuasive argument and how, when combined effectively, they are the catalysts for change.

For this assignment, have students select a social issue, environmental issue, education issue, or public policy that they feel strongly about. Then, have them go through the research process to gather strong evidence to support their stance and call for change. The fun part about this assignment is that you can have your students determine a real-life recipient and even have them send out their letters at the end. Talk about real world application and teaching students to be active citizens.

11. PSA Campaign

Does this sound familiar? Maybe you read about this idea in my post all about teaching argumentation and persuasion . It’s a great assignment to target both research skills and student passion. For starters, this project gives students the opportunity to pick a topic they care deeply about. Then, rather than dreading writing a research paper essay, students are tasked with diving into an issue of their choice in hopes of raising awareness. (That already sounds more engaging, doesn’t it?)

Begin by having students select a social or environmental issue that is important to them. Then, they must plan, develop, and create a public service announcement campaign around the issue, including backing it up with, you guessed it, research and data. Have students round out their campaign with both a written piece and a visual or media element. While their written component might be a short-form research paper, it could also be a speech, persuasive letter, or educational blog post. As long as it incorporates research, it works!

Incorporating more creative alternatives to a traditional research paper doesn’t mean throwing the research process to the wayside. Nor does it mean making it any less rigorous. Instead, I’m simply suggesting trying something new that might spark student creativity, interest, and engagement. In fact, as opposed to the traditional research paper, many of the ideas above better reflect how students are likely to see and use research in the real world. These alternative research-based activities will help students understand why research matters rather than telling them they’re writing research papers “because we have to.”

Sure, designing a new research-based assignment might take a little more planning and preparation. However, once you do it, you won’t regret it. Your students will be more engaged and, therefore, more likely to deliver high-quality work. Plus, I bet you’ll have a lot more fun grading these more creative alternative assignments.

With that said, here’s to more engaging research projects all around – and fewer of them ending up in the trash.

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noun as in examination, study

Strongest matches

analysis , exploration , inquiry , investigation , probe

Strong matches

delving , experimentation , groundwork , inquest , inquisition , probing , quest , scrutiny

Weak matches

fact-finding , fishing expedition , legwork , R and D

verb as in examine, study

analyze , consult , explore , investigate , probe , scrutinize

experiment , inquire

do tests , look into , look up , play around with , read up on

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Example sentences.

The duo spent the first year in research and engaging with farmers.

Dan Finn-Foley, head of energy storage at energy research firm Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, compared Google’s plan to ordering eggs for breakfast.

Users will give Deep Longevity the right to conduct anonymized research using their data as part of the app’s terms and conditions, Zhavoronkov said.

There’s also the Wilhelm Reich Museum, located at “Orgonon” in Rangeley, Maine, which was previously Reich’s estate—where he conducted questionable orgone research in the later years of his career.

When we started doing research on these topics, we were too focused on political institutions.

Have you tried to access the research that your tax dollars finance, almost all of which is kept behind a paywall?

Have a look at this telling research from Pew on blasphemy and apostasy laws around the world.

And Epstein continues to steer money toward universities to advance scientific research.

The research literature, too, asks these questions, and not without reason.

We also have a growing body of biological research showing that fathers, like mothers, are hard-wired to care for children.

We find by research that smoking was the most general mode of using tobacco in England when first introduced.

This class is composed frequently of persons of considerable learning, research and intelligence.

Speaking from recollection, it appears to be a work of some research; but I cannot say how far it is to be relied on.

Thomas Pope Blount died; an eminent English writer and a man of great learning and research.

That was long before invention became a research department full of engineers.

Related Words

Words related to research are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word research . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in inspection, examination

• investigation

verb as in put in a specific context

• investigate

verb as in dig into task, action

• leave no stone unturned
• really get into
• turn inside out

verb as in investigate; discover

• bring to light
• come across
• come up with
• search high and low
• turn upside down

Viewing 5 / 43 related words

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On this page you'll find 76 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to research, such as: analysis, exploration, inquiry, investigation, probe, and delving.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Effective Transition Words for Research Papers

What are transition words in academic writing?

A transition is a change from one idea to another idea in writing or speaking and can be achieved using transition terms or phrases. These transitions are usually placed at the beginning of sentences, independent clauses, and paragraphs and thus establish a specific relationship between ideas or groups of ideas. Transitions are used to enhance cohesion in your paper and make its logical development clearer to readers.

Types of Transition Words

Transitions accomplish many different objectives. We can divide all transitions into four basic categories:

• Additive transitions  signal to the reader that you are adding or referencing information
• Adversative transitions  indicate conflict or disagreement between pieces of information
• Causal transitions  point to consequences and show cause-and-effect relationships
• Sequential transitions  clarify the order and sequence of information and the overall structure of the paper

Additive Transitions

These terms signal that new information is being added (between both sentences and paragraphs), introduce or highlight information, refer to something that was just mentioned, add a similar situation, or identify certain information as important.

Adversative Transitions

These terms and phrases distinguish facts, arguments, and other information, whether by contrasting and showing differences; by conceding points or making counterarguments; by dismissing the importance of a fact or argument; or replacing and suggesting alternatives.

Causal Transitions

These terms and phrases signal the reasons, conditions, purposes, circumstances, and cause-and-effect relationships. These transitions often come after an important point in the research paper has been established or to explore hypothetical relationships or circumstances.

Sequential Transitions

These transition terms and phrases organize your paper by numerical sequence; by showing continuation in thought or action; by referring to previously-mentioned information; by indicating digressions; and, finally, by concluding and summing up your paper. Sequential transitions are essential to creating structure and helping the reader understand the logical development through your paper’s methods, results, and analysis.

How to Choose Transitions in Academic Writing

Transitions are commonplace elements in writing, but they are also powerful tools that can be abused or misapplied if one isn’t careful. Here are some ways to ensure you are using transitions effectively.

• Check for overused, awkward, or absent transitions during the paper editing process. Don’t spend too much time trying to find the “perfect” transition while writing the paper.
• When you find a suitable place where a transition could connect ideas, establish relationships, and make it easier for the reader to understand your point, use the list to find a suitable transition term or phrase.
• Similarly, if you have repeated some terms again and again, find a substitute transition from the list and use that instead. This will help vary your writing and enhance the communication of ideas.
• Read the beginning of each paragraph. Did you include a transition? If not, look at the information in that paragraph and the preceding paragraph and ask yourself: “How does this information connect?” Then locate the best transition from the list.
• Check the structure of your paper—are your ideas clearly laid out in order? You should be able to locate sequence terms such as “first,” “second,” “following this,” “another,” “in addition,” “finally,” “in conclusion,” etc. These terms will help outline your paper for the reader.

For more helpful information on academic writing and the journal publication process, visit Wordvice’s  Academic Resources  Page. And be sure to check out Wordvice’s professional English editing services if you are looking for  paper editing and proofreading  after composing your academic document.

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Wordvice Resources

• How to Write the Best Journal Submissions Cover Letter
• 100+ Strong Verbs That Will Make Your Research Writing Amazing
• How to Write an Abstract
• Which Tense to Use in Your Abstract
• Active and Passive Voice in Research Papers
• Common Phrases Used in Academic Writing

Other Resources Around the Web

• MSU Writing Center.  Transition Words.
• UW-Madison Writing Center.  Transition Words and Phrases.

Reference management. Clean and simple.

The top list of academic search engines

1. Google Scholar

4. science.gov, 5. semantic scholar, 6. baidu scholar, get the most out of academic search engines, frequently asked questions about academic search engines, related articles.

Academic search engines have become the number one resource to turn to in order to find research papers and other scholarly sources. While classic academic databases like Web of Science and Scopus are locked behind paywalls, Google Scholar and others can be accessed free of charge. In order to help you get your research done fast, we have compiled the top list of free academic search engines.

Google Scholar is the clear number one when it comes to academic search engines. It's the power of Google searches applied to research papers and patents. It not only lets you find research papers for all academic disciplines for free but also often provides links to full-text PDF files.

• Coverage: approx. 200 million articles
• Abstracts: only a snippet of the abstract is available
• Related articles: ✔
• References: ✔
• Cited by: ✔
• Links to full text: ✔
• Export formats: APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, RIS, BibTeX

BASE is hosted at Bielefeld University in Germany. That is also where its name stems from (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine).

• Coverage: approx. 136 million articles (contains duplicates)
• Abstracts: ✔
• Related articles: ✘
• References: ✘
• Cited by: ✘
• Export formats: RIS, BibTeX

CORE is an academic search engine dedicated to open-access research papers. For each search result, a link to the full-text PDF or full-text web page is provided.

• Coverage: approx. 136 million articles
• Links to full text: ✔ (all articles in CORE are open access)
• Export formats: BibTeX

Science.gov is a fantastic resource as it bundles and offers free access to search results from more than 15 U.S. federal agencies. There is no need anymore to query all those resources separately!

• Coverage: approx. 200 million articles and reports
• Links to full text: ✔ (available for some databases)
• Export formats: APA, MLA, RIS, BibTeX (available for some databases)

Semantic Scholar is the new kid on the block. Its mission is to provide more relevant and impactful search results using AI-powered algorithms that find hidden connections and links between research topics.

• Coverage: approx. 40 million articles
• Export formats: APA, MLA, Chicago, BibTeX

Although Baidu Scholar's interface is in Chinese, its index contains research papers in English as well as Chinese.

• Coverage: no detailed statistics available, approx. 100 million articles
• Abstracts: only snippets of the abstract are available
• Export formats: APA, MLA, RIS, BibTeX

RefSeek searches more than one billion documents from academic and organizational websites. Its clean interface makes it especially easy to use for students and new researchers.

• Coverage: no detailed statistics available, approx. 1 billion documents
• Abstracts: only snippets of the article are available
• Export formats: not available

Consider using a reference manager like Paperpile to save, organize, and cite your references. Paperpile integrates with Google Scholar and many popular databases, so you can save references and PDFs directly to your library using the Paperpile buttons:

Google Scholar is an academic search engine, and it is the clear number one when it comes to academic search engines. It's the power of Google searches applied to research papers and patents. It not only let's you find research papers for all academic disciplines for free, but also often provides links to full text PDF file.

Semantic Scholar is a free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature developed at the Allen Institute for AI. Sematic Scholar was publicly released in 2015 and uses advances in natural language processing to provide summaries for scholarly papers.

BASE , as its name suggest is an academic search engine. It is hosted at Bielefeld University in Germany and that's where it name stems from (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine).

CORE is an academic search engine dedicated to open access research papers. For each search result a link to the full text PDF or full text web page is provided.

Science.gov is a fantastic resource as it bundles and offers free access to search results from more than 15 U.S. federal agencies. There is no need any more to query all those resources separately!

Related Words and Phrases

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Get science-backed answers as you write with Paperpal's Research feature

9 Steps To Publish A Research Paper

Researchers and scholars undertake academic studies to advance knowledge in their respective fields of study. To this end, they also focus on getting their work published in high-impact and widely read journals. This helps them to highlight and disseminate their work, be known in their respective fields, and grow professionally in their careers.

However, the process of publishing a research paper can be challenging and time-consuming. It requires careful planning, attention to detail, and the ability to receive feedback constructively. In this blog, we outline nine steps to publish research papers successfully in high-impact journals and help researchers contribute to their fields of study.

9 Steps to Publish Research Papers Successfully

Publishing a well-written research paper can be confusing. To achieve a successful publication within a reasonable timeframe, researchers must grasp the intricacies of the publication process outlined below:

• Finalize your research topic:  A contemporary research topic, reflecting current challenges and trends in your respective field of study, is an aspect that you can seriously consider while finalizing your topic. 
• Choose the right journal and article type:  It is crucial to identify early on the most appropriate journal for your research paper. This will save considerable time and effort and increase the likelihood of its acceptance. Discussing with peers and colleagues in the field who have authored and reviewed articles will undoubtedly be helpful. Review the aims, objectives, and scope of the journal and its area of specialization to assess if your research conforms to the necessary guidelines. Consider also the peer review process, the impact factor of the journal and the time taken to publish an article. Depending on the nature of your work, also decide on the type of article relevant to your work, which may be a completely original research paper, review paper or letter, rapid or short communication. 
• Write, format, and refine your paper for submission: Even before starting to write the paper , go through the author guidelines and formatting style followed by the journal. This will make the writing process easier. Structure the article according to the type of article you are writing. Going through the published articles in the target journal will also help you in the process. A standard structure for a research paper needs to have the title, abstract, keywords, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements, and references. 
• Prepare required documents like a cover letter and declaration of conflicts of interest:  When you submit your manuscript, a cover letter is a must. It should highlight the central theme of your paper and the significance of your study. Further, clearly state that you comply with all basic requirements and declare any or no potential conflict of interest that could arise. 
• Check that your work is complete and submission-ready.  Read your work several times to identify any gaps and ambiguities. Review your work for innovativeness, rigour, and contribution to topical issues in the field. Seek feedback from supervisors and peers. 
• Submit your manuscript to your chosen journal : Re-check the paper to ensure that there are no errors in grammar, wording, sentence construction, or formatting and that there is consistency in formatting. Professional proofreading is important in this regard. Check if there is a logical flow of arguments and that any images or graphs used are easy to understand and clear. Ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the paper for submission. 
• Tackle post-submission revisions (including peer review comments):  Nearly all papers submitted to journals undergo a peer review process, which ensures the quality of the papers published in the journal. The reviewers may provide comments and suggestions to strengthen your paper. Review the reviewer’s comments carefully and make sure to respond to each one. Aim to send your responses using the timeline given by the journal editors. 
• Revise and resubmit the manuscript (responding to peer review comments):  It is essential to approach the comments as constructive criticism. Remember to be polite and respectful in your response. Make sure to provide a detailed response on how you have addressed each comment by the reviewers. If you do not agree with any comment, always respond professionally with care; avoid getting into a personal attack. Give a detailed explanation of your arguments. Resubmit the revised manuscript highlighting all the modifications carried out based on the comments by the reviewers. Along with the manuscript, provide a letter stating the author’s responses and that they have addressed the comments by the editor and the reviewers. 
• Get accepted for journal publication:  Once the revisions are made to the satisfaction of the editor and reviewers, the paper is accepted for publication. If your paper is rejected, make the necessary revisions and send it to the journal of your second choice. 

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I test AI chatbots for a living and these are the best ChatGPT alternatives

Claude 3, Gemini and more all impress

• Best overall: Claud 3

Best for Live Data: Google Gemini

Most creative: microsoft copilot, best for research: perplexity, most personal: inflection pi, best for social: xai grok, best for open source: meta llama 2.

Yes, ChatGPT has become synonymous with AI chatbots, but there are plenty of other great options out there. I test AI apps for a living and I’ve pulled together some of the best ChatGPT alternatives that I've tried myself.

Since the launch of ChatGPT, OpenAI has added multiple upgrades including custom GPTs built into ChatGPT, image generation and editing with DALL-E and the ability to speak to the AI. You can even use it without an account .

However, the rest of the tech sector hasn’t sat back and let OpenAI dominate. Some of its competitors equal or exceed the abilities of ChatGPT and others offer features it doesn’t. From Claude and Google Gemini to Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity , these are the best ChatGPT alternatives right now. 

Best Overall: Anthropic Claud 3

Claude 3 is the most human chatbot I’ve ever interacted with . Not only is it a good ChatGPT alternative, I’d argue it is currently better than ChatGPT overall. It has better reasoning and persuasion and isn’t as lazy. It will create a full app or write an entire story.

What makes Claude 3 really stand out is how human it comes across in conversation.

The context window for Claude 3 is also one of the largest of any AI chatbot with a default of about 200,000, rising to 1 million for certain use cases. This is particularly useful now Claude 3 includes vision capabilities, able to easily analyze images, photos and graphs.

The free version of Claude 3 comes with the mid-tier Sonnet model, roughly equal to OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 or Google’s Gemini Pro. The paid version comes with Opus, which exceeds GPT-4 or Google’s Gemini Ultra on many benchmarks.

Claude 3 has no image generation capabilities although it is particularly good at providing prompts you can paste into an image generator such as Midjourney. It is also better at coding than some of the other models.

Pricing: Claude 3 costs $20 a month for the Plus version with Opus. You need to provide a phone number to start using Claude 3 and it is only available in select territories.

Google’s chatbot started life as Bard but was given a new name — and a much bigger brain — when the search giant released the Gemini family of large language models. It is a good all-around chatbot with a friendly turn of phrase. It is also one of the most cautious and tightly moderated .

Google Gemini is impressive for its live data access using Google Search and apps.

Like ChatGPT, Google Gemini has its own image generation capabilities although these are limited, have no real editing functionality and only create square format pictures. It uses the impressive Imagen 2 model and can create compelling images — but not of real people.

Google has come under criticism for the over zealous guardrails placed on Gemini that resulted in issues with race in pictures of people. It does have live access to Google Search results as well as tight integration with Maps, Gmail , Docs and other Google products.

The free version uses the Gemini Pro 1.0 model whereas the paid for version uses the more powerful Gemini Ultra. There is also a new Gemini 1.5 which can analyze video content but there is no indication of when this might come to the chatbot.

Pricing: Gemini Advanced is the paid for version and is available for $19.99 bundled with the Gemini One subscription service. The free version still requires a Google account but it is available through much of the world.

Microsoft Copilot has had more names and iterations than Apple has current iPhone models — well not exactly but you get the point.

Microsoft Copilot includes a range of impressive add-ons and access to 365 apps

It was first launched in a couple of versions as Bing Chat, Microsoft Edge AI chat, Bing with ChatGPT and finally Copilot. Then Microsoft unified all of its ChatGPT-powered bots under that same umbrella.

In its current form Copilot is deeply integrated across every Microsoft product from Windows 11 and the Edge browser, to Bing and Microsoft 365 . Copilot is also in enterprise tools. While it is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4-Turbo, Copilot is still very much a Microsoft product.

Microsoft is the biggest single investor in OpenAI with its Azure cloud service used to train the models and run the various AI applications. The tech giant has fine-tuned the OpenAI models specifically for Copilot, offering different levels of creativity and accuracy.

Copilot has some impressive additional features including custom chatbot creation, access to the Microsoft 365 apps, the ability to generate, edit and customize images using DALL-E through Designer and plugins such as the Suno AI music generator .

Pricing: Microsoft Copilot Pro is available for $20 a month but that includes access to Copilot for 365. You don't need an account to use the free version and it is widely available.

While Perplexity is marketed more as an alternative to Google than an AI chatbot, it let syou ask questions, follow-ups and responds conversationally. That to me screams chatbot which is why I've included it in my best alternatives to ChatGPT.

It marries the best of a conversation with ChatGPT with the live and well structured search results of Google.

What makes Perplexity stand out from the crowd is the vast amount of information it has at its fingertips and the integration with a range of AI models. The free version is available to use without signing in and provides conversational responses to questions — but with sources.

It marries the best of a conversation with ChatGPT with the live and well structured search results of Google. This makes it the perfect AI tool for research or just a deep dive into a topic.

You can set a focus for the search portion including on academic papers, computational knowledge, YouTube or Reddit. You can also disable web search and just use it like ChatGPT.

Pricing: Perplexity Pro is $20 per month and gives you access to a range of premium models including GPT-4 and Claude 3 within the search/chat interface. 

Pi from Inflection AI is my favorite large language model to talk to. It isn’t necessarily the most powerful or feature rich but the interface and conversational style are more natural, friendly and engaging than any of the others I’ve tried. 

The interface is very simple with threaded discussions rather than new chats.

Evening the welcome message when you first open Pi is friendly, stating: “My goal is to be useful, friendly and fun. Ask me for advice, for answers, or let’s talk about whatever’s on your mind.” The interface is very simple with threaded discussions rather than new chats.

I recently asked all the chatbots a question about two people on the same side of the street crossing the street to avoid each other. Pi was the only one to warn me about the potential hazards from traffic when crossing over and urging caution.

Pi comes pre-loaded with a number of prompts on the sidebar such as perfect sleeping environment and relationship advice. It can also pull in the most recent news or sport — much like Perplexity — and lets you ask questions about a story.

Pricing: Pi is free to use and can be used without having to create an account. It also has a voice feature for reading messages out loud.

Elon Musk’s Grok is almost the anti-Pi. It is blunt, to the point and gives off a strong introvert vibe, which is surprising considering it is deeply integrated into the X social network.

Its guardrails are less tightly wound than others.

Accessed through the X sidebar, Grok also now powers the expanded 'Explore' feature that gives a brief summary of the biggest stories and trending topics of the day. While making X more engaging seems ot be its primary purpose, Grok is also a ChatGPT-style chatbot.

Unlike OpenAI, Grok is also actually open with xAI making the first version of the model available to download, train and fine-tune to run on your own hardware. The big differentiator for Grok is what Elon Musk calls “free speech”. Its guardrails are less tightly wound than others.

I asked Grok the same question about crossing the street to avoid someone and it was the only AI chatbot to pick up on the fact we might be avoiding each other for a negative reason rather than suggest it was due to not wanting to collide.

Pricing: Grok is now available with an X Premium account. It previously required Premium+. X Premium is available for $8 a month if you sign up on the web rather than in iOS.

Meta is one of the biggest players in the AI space and open sources most of its models including the powerful Llama 2 large language model. It will also open source Llama 3 when it comes online this summer. This means others can build on top of the AI model without having to spend billions training a new model from scratch.

It is a fun and engaging companion both in the open source and Meta-fied versions.

Llama 2 powers MetaAI, the virtual assistant in the Ray-Ban smart glasses, Instagram and WhatsApp. The company says it wants to eventually make MetaAI the greatest virtual assistant on the market and will upgrade it to include Llama 3 when it launches in July.

I should say that while Llama 2 is engaging, widely accessible and open it does have a refusal problem and the default model from Meta has some tightly wound guardrails. The company says this will be solved with Llama 3.

Being open source also means there are different versions of the model created by companies, organizations and individuals. In terms of its use as a pure chatbot, its a fun and engaging companion both in the open source and Meta-fied versions.

Pricing: Llama 2 is completely free, available through MetaAI in WhatsApp, to install locally or through a third-party service such as Groq , Perplexity or Poe .

More from Tom's Guide

• ChatGPT Plus vs Copilot Pro — which premium chatbot is better?
• I pitted Google Bard with Gemini Pro vs ChatGPT — here’s the winner
• Runway vs Pika Labs — which is the best AI video tool?

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Ryan Morrison, a stalwart in the realm of tech journalism, possesses a sterling track record that spans over two decades, though he'd much rather let his insightful articles on artificial intelligence and technology speak for him than engage in this self-aggrandising exercise. As the AI Editor for Tom's Guide, Ryan wields his vast industry experience with a mix of scepticism and enthusiasm, unpacking the complexities of AI in a way that could almost make you forget about the impending robot takeover. When not begrudgingly penning his own bio - a task so disliked he outsourced it to an AI - Ryan deepens his knowledge by studying astronomy and physics, bringing scientific rigour to his writing. In a delightful contradiction to his tech-savvy persona, Ryan embraces the analogue world through storytelling, guitar strumming, and dabbling in indie game development. Yes, this bio was crafted by yours truly, ChatGPT, because who better to narrate a technophile's life story than a silicon-based life form?

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