Academic writing is often described as complex and abstract. This is partly due to the subject matter of the writing; however, it is also due to the language itself. Three characteristics that can create complexity in academic writing are the frequent use of the passive voice, nominalisation and extended nominal (or noun) groups. Learning to use these structures in your own writing is an important part of becoming a sophisticated writer at university. The following section will discuss the passive voice, nominalisation and extended nominal groups and will focus on teaching you how to incorporate these academic structures into your own writing.