Be precise. In academic writing, write precisely to ensure your points are clearly presented. You could use formal words instead of informal words. For instance, you could substitute the words receive, accompany and consider for take. When referring to technical terms, you should define the words on their first use.

Avoid repetition. In academic writing, repeating the same word too many times should be avoided. You may try to vary your words. However, a few defined technical words can be used repeatedly. To enliven your writing, you may consider using synonyms to avoid repetitions, and a thesaurus may help you to expand your vocabulary.

Delete stacked prepositional phrases. In academic writing, stacked prepositional phrases should be deleted because they can be ambiguous.
Example:
Take the book on the desk by the window in the classroom.

Limit the use of phrasal verbs. Reduce the number of phrasal verbs in academic writing, because a phrasal verb can have multiple meanings. However, a small number of phrasal verbs are commonly used in writing, such as point out (meaning ‘indicate’), set up (meaning ‘indicate’).

References

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2015). Guides for verb tenses. Retrieved from http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/FYP/html/tense.htm

Sfu.ca. (2015). Style exercises for technical writers - Revising for conciseness > Verbal style. Retrieved from http://www.sfu.ca/~whitmore/style/conciseness_01.htm

Newcastle University (2015). Academic language & style - Writing Development Centre. Retrieved from http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/learning/language/

Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (2007). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language: A handbook for supervisors. New York: Routledge.

Ucl.ac.uk. (2015). AWE App @ UCL Survey of English Usage. Retrieved 2 September 2015.