Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Marybeth Gasman writes about racism, philanthropy, HBCUs & faculty. Those who know me know I always encourage academics to write ...

Universities are repositories of fascinating ideas. So why is academic writing so boring? Leonard Cassuto thinks it’s all a matter of keeping in mind that good writing is about keeping the reader ...

Brian Connolly’s defense of one variety of academic writing — the “turgid and impenetrable” kind — is unconvincing (“Everyone Hates Academic Writing. They’re Wrong.” The Chronicle Review, April 1).

Finally, I can provide my graduate students with an impassioned defense of unclear academic writing. I give my students readings on how to produce clear academic writing. I show them how to make ...

Undergraduates need them for graduate-school applications; PhD students and postdocs use them to apply for fellowships and jobs; senior scientists often have to have them to apply for awards and ...