Formalism refers to the excessive focus on academic structure, presentation, and stylistic conventions — often at the expense of substance, originality, or clarity.

• Strict adherence to format (e.g., IMRaD structure, citation style, abstract templating) regardless of whether it adds value.
• Overuse of jargon to sound authoritative rather than to explain.
• Obsessive referencing to appear well-read while avoiding saying anything new.
• Superficial methodological sections inserted to meet reviewer expectations without real critical analysis.
• Aesthetic polish used to compensate for conceptual emptiness.

A paper filled with technically correct language, beautiful figures, and perfectly structured sections — yet lacking a clear question, hypothesis, or contribution.

Formalism:

• Rewards style over insight.
• Shields unoriginal or mediocre work from scrutiny.
• Encourages careerism, where researchers aim to publish “correctly” instead of meaningfully.
• Creates barriers to interdisciplinary or outsider contributions.

• Mediocrity
• Academic Theater
• Unoriginal
• Careerism
• Factory-Made Science

Bottom line: *Formalism is the art of looking academic without necessarily being meaningful — a well-dressed void in the guise of scholarship.*