The Analysis of the Structural and Functional Characteristics of Four-Word Clusters in Experts and Students’ Academic Writing in Linguistics

This study examines the structural and functional characteristics of four-word clusters in the academic writing of expert and student writers within the field of linguistics. Using a self-compiled corpus and AntConc software, the researcher extracted and analyzed four-word clusters, identifying distinct usage patterns between the two groups. Expert writers showed a strong preference for noun phrase clusters and research-oriented bundles, indicating advanced linguistic competence and a focus on detailed research descriptions. In contrast, student writers demonstrated a more balanced structural distribution and a higher use of text-oriented and participant-oriented bundles, suggesting emerging academic writing proficiency. These findings highlight the need for targeted academic writing instruction, emphasizing noun phrase clusters and research-oriented bundles to guide students towards a more sophisticated writing style. This research provides insights into the teaching of academic English, supporting students’ development of more expert-like linguistic practices.