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Would it be appropriate to use the verb skyrocket in an academic paper? It sounds very colloquial to me, but as I'm not a native speaker I'm not sure.

If not, what is a good synonym I could use?

This is the sentence:

Managers’ decisions can be effective, and make profits and productivity skyrocket [...]
Tommaso Amici
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  • I'd avoid it. But this is just a matter of opinion, whichever way one feels. – FumbleFingers Oct 26 '15 at 17:49
  • If I use "increase dramatically", wouldn't somebody say it is too colloquial? It is just an opinion. I don't see any reason why you cannot use it. –  Oct 26 '15 at 17:51
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    I guess it is in fact a matter of opinion. I'll use it. Thanks. – Tommaso Amici Oct 26 '15 at 18:13
  • or "rise sharply/steeply/exponentially". – Graffito Oct 26 '15 at 18:40
  • Academic writing is not meant to be colorful; it's meant to be precise and clear. Using a sparkly metaphor like skyrocket is nice, but exactly what are the facts, please? And just what is the trajectory? And how unusual is that? Etc. If you use a term that just says "Ooooh" instead of advancing the point (there has to be a point, or it isn't academic writing), it's not considered kosher. – John Lawler Oct 26 '15 at 18:43
  • What field? Physics? Probably not. Sociology? Maybe. Lit-crit? Surely. – deadrat Oct 26 '15 at 18:47
  • Added more info to the OP. – Tommaso Amici Oct 26 '15 at 18:55
  • I think it might be appropriate in a synopsis or summary, but not in the body of the paper. – Hot Licks Oct 26 '15 at 19:44
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    Yes, it's in the introduction. I ended up using "skyrocket". – Tommaso Amici Oct 26 '15 at 19:49

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:n article in the Stanford Law Review is entitled: Mental Hospitalization of Troublesome Youth: An Analysis of Skyrocketing Admission Rates; an article in Rangelands is entitled Skyrocketing trade deficits coupled with depletion of oil and natural gas ...; an article in Phi Beta Kappan is entitled The Cost of Skyrocketing Teacher Absenteeism; an article in Reference & User Services Quarterly contains the sentence: "The intellectual life of retired faculty members, whose numbers will skyrocket in the coming years, can be ..."; an article in The American Journal of Economics and Sociology contains the sentence: "Land prices are a key element in the skyrocketing cost of both housing and food"; etc., etc. In short: It is not merely acceptable; it is also common.