Skip to main content Skip to navigation

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 Skills Forge 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 Book
Creative Writing to Deal with Writer's Block 05/06/2026 11.00-12.30 Book
Writing Proposals and Abstracts 10/06/2026 14.00-15.30 Book
Writing and Giving Conference Papers 11/06/2026 10.30-12.00 Book
Writing Introductions and Conclusions 22/06/2026 15.00-16.30 Book
Advanced Writing: How to Edit Effectively 24/06/2026 10.30-12.00 Book
Write More This Week: action planning for the week ahead 29/06/2026 11.00-12.30 Book
       
Writing Tips (45-60min Sessions)
Focus on Style: How to be more Detailed 04/06/2026 13.30-14.30 Book
The passive voice: what is it and when should I use it? 24/06/2026 13.00-14.00 Book
Focus on Style: Differences between British & American Writing 26/06/2026 13.00-14.00 Book
Punctuation: an overview 01/07/2026 11.00-12.00 Book
Writing Hypotheses: the conditional, the future perfect, the subjunctive 03/07/2026 13.00-14.00 Book
Focus on Style: How to Sound more Sophisticated 11/07/2026 11.00-12.00 Book
       

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 Classics

Writing Resources

Referencing Style Guide

University of Warwick

Also

6 Minute Grammar Podcasts

Thesis Whisperer

Write that journal article in seven days( Thesis Whisperer)

Pat Thompson Blog and BlueSky

@patthomson.bsky.social

Writing Advice from University of Toronto

POWA Paradigm Online Writing Advice

Learning English for Academic Purposes LEAP

Further support across Warwick

In addition to the support from the RDO and the PhD in Second language, you may find these resources useful:

Write Right : Academic Writing Moodle (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

The Academic Skills Moodle. A resource for UG & PGT but might have something useful ( Archive)

Academic Writing for PGT & UG

Return to the Researcher Development Online page.

Let us know you agree to cookies