The Impact of Using Ellipsis and Substitution in Academic Writing

Abstract

This study investigates an important area of English language teaching and learning. It examines the present situation of teaching and learning ellipsis and substitution, the problems that encountered by students when writing English texts and the learners' proficiency level of writing skills when they are in the final year at Alzaeim Alazhari University, Sudan University of Science and Technology and Omdurman Islamic University. Thus, this study focuses on the problems facing the students in writing English texts properly using ellipsis and substitution appropriately at university level. It is firstly hypothesized that Sudanese EFL university students have many problems in writing, most notably in using ellipsis and substitution. Secondly, Sudanese EFL university students do not use ellipsis and substitution appropriately. Thirdly, there is an apparent weakness in Sudanese university students' written work due to their inability to apply ellipsis and substitution adequately. Finally, Sudanese EFL University students differ to a large degree in achieving ellipsis and substitution in their texts. To confirm or reject the hypotheses of the study the researcher used one tool; a test for final year students. The sample of the study was consisted of 100 students. The data collected from these participants were statistically analyzed and the results were obviously discussed. The results of the study prove that some of the students lack the ability to write appropriately and accurately and some of them don’t know the correct use of ellipsis and substitution so as to write cohesive texts. Moreover, the findings of the study confirm that there is an apparent weakness in Sudanese University students' written work due to their inability to apply ellipsis and substitution adequately.