ABSTRACT
There are many good writers among academics. Academic writing as an institution, however, has traditionally discouraged good writing. Peer-reviewed scholarly publications—both journals and books—demand precise technical language and strict adherence to organizational formats that are more concerned with the appearance of rigor than with good style. As a result, academic writing is often dry, impersonal, dispassionate, and full of jargon. Thankfully, there are exceptions. More and more ethnographers are realizing that good writing can allow research to be broadly accessible and enjoyable, and more and more academic books are being published with public audiences as the main readership target.
