Final answer:
Academic English is best described as rigorous due to its strict adherence to formal rules of grammar, vocabulary, and syntax, ensuring clarity and precision in scholarly communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best term to describe academic English is rigorous. Academic English is characterized by adherence to strict standards of grammar, vocabulary, and syntax, and is used in formal, scholarly environments. It is a standardized form of English that contrasts with less formal varieties used in everyday conversation.
In academic settings, writing and speech tend to follow specific criteria that pertain to the discipline being studied. This structured approach to language ensures clarity, precision, and validity in academic discourse. Unlike with more tolerant forms of English, which may permit a broader range of expressions and slackening of rules, rigorous academic English demands high standards of correctness and formality.
Understanding and applying the principles of academic English can give students new linguistic identities, allowing them to become adept at producing texts like exemplary lab reports or becoming emerging researchers. This formal dialect is essential for students to master in order to meet the professional standards expected in their educational journey and subsequent career paths.