In an era where generative AI can produce polished essays and reports in seconds, students and educators alike are facing a pivotal question: If a machine can write for us, why should we bother developing our own craft? The answer lies not merely in the output, but in the cognitive development that occurs during the process of writing. As educational institutions grapple with the integration of AI, there is a growing consensus that the act of writing is inseparable from the act of thinking.
The Cognitive Case for Writing
Educational policy must recognize that writing is a form of inquiry, not just a task for assessment. When students outsource their writing to AI, they risk more than just academic integrity; they risk a decline in critical thinking. Writing acts as a mirror to the mind, allowing individuals to organize their thoughts, develop arguments, and express their unique identity. If we allow efficiency to trump authenticity, we lose the very mechanism by which we learn to think clearly. As educators, we must emphasize that writing is the cultivation of a “singular voice”—a cognitive asset that AI cannot replicate because it lacks the lived experience and intentionality that define human perspective.
The Verb as a Pedagogical Tool
For students preparing for high-stakes examinations or academic research, the “power of the word” remains the most effective tool for clarity. Pulitzer Prize winner Sarah Kaufman, in her work Verb Your Enthusiasm, provides a roadmap for sharpening academic prose. Her central thesis—that verbs are the engines of meaning—is a vital lesson for academic writing.
In formal assessments, students often default to “be” and “do” verbs, resulting in passive, lifeless prose. By teaching students to replace vague verbs with specific, active alternatives, educators can help them improve their clarity and conciseness. For instance, shifting from “Mistakes were made”—a classic example of passive voice used to obscure accountability—to active phrasing forces students to confront their logic and take responsibility for their claims. In the context of academic policy, advocating for the active voice is not just a stylistic preference; it is a commitment to transparency and direct communication.
Moving Beyond Academic “Banalities”
Curriculum design should discourage the use of jargon-heavy, “fancy” verbs that often plague undergraduate writing. Terms like “utilise,” “elucidate,” or “ameliorate” are frequently used to sound sophisticated, yet they often obscure the writer’s meaning. Learning to write effectively involves replacing these with direct, punchy verbs. Furthermore, institutional writing centers should encourage students to avoid hollow “corporate-speak”—such as “moving the needle” or “raising the bar”—unless those phrases are supported by granular detail. The goal of education is to equip students with the ability to convey complex ideas simply and effectively, rather than masking a lack of substance with linguistic flourish.
Policy for an AI-Influenced Future
As we navigate a post-AI educational landscape, we must guard against the “decline of writing” as warned by critics like Bret Stephens. Digital tools have already contributed to a decline in sustained reading; we cannot allow AI to replicate this by eroding the discipline of sustained writing.
To adapt, examination boards and educational institutions should move toward assessments that require students to demonstrate their process—such as reflection papers, in-class writing under constrained time limits, and oral defenses of their arguments. By incentivizing the “effort” of writing, we ensure that students do not surrender their sense of self to a machine.
Mastering the verb is, ultimately, about mastery of thought. When a student chooses the perfect verb, it “clicks like a lock,” securing an idea firmly in the reader’s mind. In a future saturated with automated text, the ability to write with precision and authenticity will be the ultimate competitive advantage for the next generation. To write is to think, and to think is to retain one’s agency in an increasingly automated world.
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