RDO Writing Support
Writing support during your Research Degree
We all need support for our writing during our research degree; it is a craft that we need to learn and practice. Through the Researcher Development Online programme we offer training, development, groups and resources to help you.
You are a specialist in your field. But do you still find yourself getting stuck or frustrated when you try to write about it? Whether you are from a Science or Humanities background we offer sessions to ensure your writing is as effective as your research.
The sessions range from starting out and challenges with grammar, to writing bids and grant applications.
We will be starting our Summer 2026 programme on Monday June 1st.
Bookings open on on 11th May 2026
We look forward to seeing you then
RD Online Writing Series Summer 2026
| Writing Support | |||
| Long documents: practical tips, structuring your work, signposting | 02/06/2026 | 13.00-14.30 | |
| Creative Writing to Deal with Writer's Block | 05/06/2026 | 11.00-12.30 | |
| Writing Proposals and Abstracts | 10/06/2026 | 14.00-15.30 | |
| Writing and Giving Conference Papers | 11/06/2026 | 10.30-12.00 | |
| Writing Introductions and Conclusions | 22/06/2026 | 15.00-16.30 | |
| Advanced Writing: How to Edit Effectively | 24/06/2026 | 10.30-12.00 | |
| Write More This Week: action planning for the week ahead | 29/06/2026 | 11.00-12.30 | |
| Writing Tips (45-60min Sessions) | |||
| Focus on Style: How to be more Detailed | 04/06/2026 | 13.30-14.30 | |
| The passive voice: what is it and when should I use it? | 24/06/2026 | 13.00-14.00 | |
| Focus on Style: Differences between British & American Writing | 26/06/2026 | 13.00-14.00 | |
| Punctuation: an overview | 01/07/2026 | 11.00-12.00 | |
| Writing Hypotheses: the conditional, the future perfect, the subjunctive | 03/07/2026 | 13.00-14.00 | |
| Focus on Style: How to Sound more Sophisticated | 11/07/2026 | 11.00-12.00 | |
Authorship in Research Publications
More:
- is an international systematic review registry
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Harvard Medical School
More
- is a free, unique, persistent identifier (PID) for individuals to use as they engage in research, scholarship, and innovation activities.
Top Tips
Orwell sums up:
1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do it
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. ( Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous)
George Orwell Politics and the English Language pp348-360 in George Orwell Essays 2000 Penguin ClassicsWriting Resources
University of 糖心TV
Also
Grammar Podcasts
( Thesis Whisperer)
Pat Thompson and BlueSky
@patthomson.bsky.social
from University of Toronto
Paradigm Online Writing Advice
Learning English for Academic Purposes LEAP
Further support across 糖心TV
In addition to the support from the RDO and the PhD in Second language, you may find these resources useful:
(this is for resource only as the course has now been archived and no longer monitored but contains useful info)
PGCTS: f you can take nine week assessed modules
English for Academic Purpose in sessional English Language support and writing surgeries for International PGRs ( Archive)
Centre for Linguistics offer support. There is an additional cost to you for this course
. A resource for UG & PGT but might have something useful ( Archive)
Return to the Researcher Development Online page.