The key difference between academic text and non-academic text is that academic text is intended for the scholarly and research community in society, whereas non-academic text is intended for the general public in society. We can divide all texts into two categories: academic and non-academic. Academic texts are for academia, and they are objective, formal, and factual. Non-academic texts, on the other hand, are casual, informal, and personal, and are for the general public.
Key Takeaways
- Academic texts are critical, objective, and specialized texts written by professionals or experts in a particular field, using formal language and tone.
- Non-academic texts are informal writings dedicated to a lay audience, often emotional, personal, and subjective without any kind of research involved.
- While academic texts are formal and based on facts and evidence, non-academic texts are informal and may contain the writer’s personal opinions or emotions.
What is Academic Text
Academic texts are critical, objective, and specialized texts that are written by professionals or experts in a particular field. They are written in formal language and have a formal style and tone. Since these are objective texts, they are based on facts. The emotions and feelings of the authors are not delivered through them. Academic texts are well-focused, concise, clear, accurate, and well structured. They are based on factual information and evidence, free from repetition, exaggeration, rhetorical questions, and contractions and are always in the third person point of view.
Generally, academic texts debate or provide answers to a specific question in a field. The main purpose of academic texts is to enhance the reader’s understanding of a specific field.
Types of Academic Texts
- Essays
- Textbooks
- Theses
- Case studies
- Reports
- Research articles
How to Write an Academic Text
- Introduction to the topic
- Place the topic in a context
- Background information
- Aim of the text
- Method to fulfill the aim
- The thesis statement or research question
- Findings
- Necessity and the importance of the topic
What is a Non-Academic Text
Non-academic texts are writings that are informal and dedicated to a lay audience. They are emotional, personal, and subjective without any kind of research involving. Therefore, anyone can write a non-academic text. Newspaper articles, e-mail messages, text messages, journal writing, and letters are some examples of non-academic text.
Features of Non-Academic Texts
- Less formal (may include idioms, slangs, contractions)
- Casual language
- Use any point of view
- Opinion-based
- Free of rigid structures
- On general topics
The main purpose of a non-academic text is to inform or persuade readers. They do not contain any citations. The sentences used are short, and the text may or may not be clear and well-structured.
Examples of Non-academic Texts
- Personal journal entries
- Memoirs
- Autobiographical writing
- Letters
- E-mails
- Text messages
What is the Difference Between Academic Text and Non-Academic Text?
The key difference between academic text and non-academic text is that academic text is intended for the scholarly and the research community in society while the non-academic text is intended for the general public in society. While the academic text is formal and factual, the non-academic text is informal and personal. In addition, academic texts always contain citations, whereas non-academic texts may or may not contain citations.
Summary – Academic vs Non-Academic Text
Academic texts are critical, objective, and specialized texts that are written by professionals or experts in a particular field. They are aimed at the academic community. Academic texts are formal, based on facts and evidence, and always contain citations. Non-academic texts, on the other hand, are writings that are informal and dedicated to a lay audience. They are usually on general topics and use casual or colloquial language, and may contain the writer’s personal opinions. This is the summary of the difference between academic text and non-academic text.
