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- 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays
To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.
Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.
It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.
If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.
General explaining
Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.
1. In order to
Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”
2. In other words
Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”
3. To put it another way
Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”
4. That is to say
Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”
5. To that end
Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”
Adding additional information to support a point
Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.
6. Moreover
Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”
7. Furthermore
Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”
8. What’s more
Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”
9. Likewise
Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”
10. Similarly
Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”
11. Another key thing to remember
Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”
12. As well as
Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”
13. Not only… but also
Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”
14. Coupled with
Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”
15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…
Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.
16. Not to mention/to say nothing of
Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”
Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast
When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.
17. However
Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”
18. On the other hand
Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”
19. Having said that
Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”
20. By contrast/in comparison
Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”
21. Then again
Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”
22. That said
Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”
Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”
Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations
Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.
24. Despite this
Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”
25. With this in mind
Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”
26. Provided that
Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”
27. In view of/in light of
Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”
28. Nonetheless
Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”
29. Nevertheless
Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”
30. Notwithstanding
Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”
Giving examples
Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.
31. For instance
Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”
32. To give an illustration
Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”
Signifying importance
When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.
33. Significantly
Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”
34. Notably
Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”
35. Importantly
Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”
Summarising
You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.
36. In conclusion
Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”
37. Above all
Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”
38. Persuasive
Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”
39. Compelling
Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”
40. All things considered
Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”
How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.
At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine and engineering .
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Words to Use in an Essay: 300 Essay Words
By Hannah Yang
Table of Contents
Words to use in the essay introduction, words to use in the body of the essay, words to use in your essay conclusion, how to improve your essay writing vocabulary.
It’s not easy to write an academic essay .
Many students struggle to word their arguments in a logical and concise way.
To make matters worse, academic essays need to adhere to a certain level of formality, so we can’t always use the same word choices in essay writing that we would use in daily life.
If you’re struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay.
The introduction is one of the hardest parts of an essay to write.
You have only one chance to make a first impression, and you want to hook your reader. If the introduction isn’t effective, the reader might not even bother to read the rest of the essay.
That’s why it’s important to be thoughtful and deliberate with the words you choose at the beginning of your essay.
Many students use a quote in the introductory paragraph to establish credibility and set the tone for the rest of the essay.
When you’re referencing another author or speaker, try using some of these phrases:
To use the words of X
According to X
As X states
Example: To use the words of Hillary Clinton, “You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health.”
Near the end of the introduction, you should state the thesis to explain the central point of your paper.
If you’re not sure how to introduce your thesis, try using some of these phrases:
In this essay, I will…
The purpose of this essay…
This essay discusses…
In this paper, I put forward the claim that…
There are three main arguments for…
Example: In this essay, I will explain why dress codes in public schools are detrimental to students.
After you’ve stated your thesis, it’s time to start presenting the arguments you’ll use to back up that central idea.
When you’re introducing the first of a series of arguments, you can use the following words:
First and foremost
First of all
To begin with
Example: First , consider the effects that this new social security policy would have on low-income taxpayers.
All these words and phrases will help you create a more successful introduction and convince your audience to read on.
The body of your essay is where you’ll explain your core arguments and present your evidence.
It’s important to choose words and phrases for the body of your essay that will help the reader understand your position and convince them you’ve done your research.
Let’s look at some different types of words and phrases that you can use in the body of your essay, as well as some examples of what these words look like in a sentence.
Transition Words and Phrases
Transitioning from one argument to another is crucial for a good essay.
It’s important to guide your reader from one idea to the next so they don’t get lost or feel like you’re jumping around at random.
Transition phrases and linking words show your reader you’re about to move from one argument to the next, smoothing out their reading experience. They also make your writing look more professional.
The simplest transition involves moving from one idea to a separate one that supports the same overall argument. Try using these phrases when you want to introduce a second correlating idea:
Additionally
In addition
Furthermore
Another key thing to remember
In the same way
Correspondingly
Example: Additionally , public parks increase property value because home buyers prefer houses that are located close to green, open spaces.
Another type of transition involves restating. It’s often useful to restate complex ideas in simpler terms to help the reader digest them. When you’re restating an idea, you can use the following words:
In other words
To put it another way
That is to say
To put it more simply
Example: “The research showed that 53% of students surveyed expressed a mild or strong preference for more on-campus housing. In other words , over half the students wanted more dormitory options.”
Often, you’ll need to provide examples to illustrate your point more clearly for the reader. When you’re about to give an example of something you just said, you can use the following words:
For instance
To give an illustration of
To exemplify
To demonstrate
As evidence
Example: Humans have long tried to exert control over our natural environment. For instance , engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900, causing it to permanently flow backward.
Sometimes, you’ll need to explain the impact or consequence of something you’ve just said.
When you’re drawing a conclusion from evidence you’ve presented, try using the following words:
As a result
Accordingly
As you can see
This suggests that
It follows that
It can be seen that
For this reason
For all of those reasons
Consequently
Example: “There wasn’t enough government funding to support the rest of the physics experiment. Thus , the team was forced to shut down their experiment in 1996.”
When introducing an idea that bolsters one you’ve already stated, or adds another important aspect to that same argument, you can use the following words:
What’s more
Not only…but also
Not to mention
To say nothing of
Another key point
Example: The volcanic eruption disrupted hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover , it impacted the local flora and fauna as well, causing nearly a hundred species to go extinct.
Often, you'll want to present two sides of the same argument. When you need to compare and contrast ideas, you can use the following words:
On the one hand / on the other hand
Alternatively
In contrast to
On the contrary
By contrast
In comparison
Example: On the one hand , the Black Death was undoubtedly a tragedy because it killed millions of Europeans. On the other hand , it created better living conditions for the peasants who survived.
Finally, when you’re introducing a new angle that contradicts your previous idea, you can use the following phrases:
Having said that
Differing from
In spite of
With this in mind
Provided that
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Notwithstanding
Example: Shakespearean plays are classic works of literature that have stood the test of time. Having said that , I would argue that Shakespeare isn’t the most accessible form of literature to teach students in the twenty-first century.
Good essays include multiple types of logic. You can use a combination of the transitions above to create a strong, clear structure throughout the body of your essay.
Strong Verbs for Academic Writing
Verbs are especially important for writing clear essays. Often, you can convey a nuanced meaning simply by choosing the right verb.
You should use strong verbs that are precise and dynamic. Whenever possible, you should use an unambiguous verb, rather than a generic verb.
For example, alter and fluctuate are stronger verbs than change , because they give the reader more descriptive detail.
Here are some useful verbs that will help make your essay shine.
Verbs that show change:
Accommodate
Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:
Verbs that show increase:
Verbs that show decrease:
Deteriorate
Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:
Comprises of
Is composed of
Constitutes
Encompasses
Incorporates
Verbs that show a negative stance:
Misconstrue
Verbs that show a positive stance:
Substantiate
Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:
Corroborate
Demonstrate
Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:
Contemplate
Hypothesize
Investigate
Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:
Useful Adjectives and Adverbs for Academic Essays
You should use adjectives and adverbs more sparingly than verbs when writing essays, since they sometimes add unnecessary fluff to sentences.
However, choosing the right adjectives and adverbs can help add detail and sophistication to your essay.
Sometimes you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is useful and should be taken seriously. Here are some adjectives that create positive emphasis:
Significant
Other times, you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is harmful or ineffective. Here are some adjectives that create a negative emphasis:
Controversial
Insignificant
Questionable
Unnecessary
Unrealistic
Finally, you might need to use an adverb to lend nuance to a sentence, or to express a specific degree of certainty. Here are some examples of adverbs that are often used in essays:
Comprehensively
Exhaustively
Extensively
Respectively
Surprisingly
Using these words will help you successfully convey the key points you want to express. Once you’ve nailed the body of your essay, it’s time to move on to the conclusion.
The conclusion of your paper is important for synthesizing the arguments you’ve laid out and restating your thesis.
In your concluding paragraph, try using some of these essay words:
In conclusion
To summarize
In a nutshell
Given the above
As described
All things considered
Example: In conclusion , it’s imperative that we take action to address climate change before we lose our coral reefs forever.
In addition to simply summarizing the key points from the body of your essay, you should also add some final takeaways. Give the reader your final opinion and a bit of a food for thought.
To place emphasis on a certain point or a key fact, use these essay words:
Unquestionably
Undoubtedly
Particularly
Importantly
Conclusively
It should be noted
On the whole
Example: Ada Lovelace is unquestionably a powerful role model for young girls around the world, and more of our public school curricula should include her as a historical figure.
These concluding phrases will help you finish writing your essay in a strong, confident way.
There are many useful essay words out there that we didn't include in this article, because they are specific to certain topics.
If you're writing about biology, for example, you will need to use different terminology than if you're writing about literature.
So how do you improve your vocabulary skills?
The vocabulary you use in your academic writing is a toolkit you can build up over time, as long as you take the time to learn new words.
One way to increase your vocabulary is by looking up words you don’t know when you’re reading.
Try reading more books and academic articles in the field you’re writing about and jotting down all the new words you find. You can use these words to bolster your own essays.
You can also consult a dictionary or a thesaurus. When you’re using a word you’re not confident about, researching its meaning and common synonyms can help you make sure it belongs in your essay.
Don't be afraid of using simpler words. Good essay writing boils down to choosing the best word to convey what you need to say, not the fanciest word possible.
Finally, you can use ProWritingAid’s synonym tool or essay checker to find more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. Click on weak words in your essay to find stronger alternatives.
There you have it: our compilation of the best words and phrases to use in your next essay . Good luck!
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Hannah Yang
Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.
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Academic Phrasebank
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The Academic Phrasebank is a general resource for academic writers. It aims to provide you with examples of some of the phraseological ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing organised according to the main sections of a research paper or dissertation (see the top menu ). Other phrases are listed under the more general communicative functions of academic writing (see the menu on the left). The resource should be particularly useful for writers who need to report their research work. The phrases, and the headings under which they are listed, can be used simply to assist you in thinking about the content and organisation of your own writing, or the phrases can be incorporated into your writing where this is appropriate. In most cases, a certain amount of creativity and adaptation will be necessary when a phrase is used. The items in the Academic Phrasebank are mostly content neutral and generic in nature; in using them, therefore, you are not stealing other people’s ideas and this does not constitute plagiarism. For some of the entries, specific content words have been included for illustrative purposes, and these should be substituted when the phrases are used. The resource was designed primarily for academic and scientific writers who are non-native speakers of English. However, native speaker writers may still find much of the material helpful. In fact, recent data suggest that the majority of users are native speakers of English. More about Academic Phrasebank .
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Useful Academic Expressions & Phrases For Essay Writing
These useful academic expressions , words, vocabulary and phrases will help you to write a top-notch essay. Writing an essay can be a challenging task. However it becomes simpler if it is divided into manageable pieces. There are three main parts in an essay: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You can easily overcome your essay writing task with these academic phrases and vocabulary for essay writing.
Phrases to Finish an Introduction Paragraph
In this essay, I will look at some of the arguments for This essay will discuss different ways of … This essay outline some of the reasons why… Let us examine both views before reaching a concrete decision. The following essay takes a look at both sides of the argument.
Vocabulary for Opinion Essay
In my opinion, I strongly agree with the idea that … I strongly disagree with the idea that … I strongly opine that… I strongly believe that… In my view… As far as I am concerned… It seems to me that… However, I strongly believe that… I oppose the view and my reasons will be explained in the following paragraphs. I will support this view with arguments in the following paragraphs. I personally believe that… Thus the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages…
Useful Expressions For Listing Your Ideas
First… First of all… Firstly… First and foremost… Initially… To begin with… To start with… In the first place…
On the one hand… Second(ly)… (do not use ‘Second of all’) Third(ly)… Then… Next… After that… And… Again… Also… Besides… Likewise… In addition… Consequently… What’s more… Furthermore… Moreover… Apart from that…
Finally… Last but not the least…
Check Also: Vocabulary for Starting Your Essay How to Write The Best Essay Ever!
Phrases to Show a Comparison in Your Essay
In the same way… Likewise… Similarly… Like the previous point… Similar to… Also… At the same time… Just as…
Useful Vocabulary and Phrases to Show Contrast
On the other hand… On the contrary… However… Nevertheless…/ Nonetheless… But… Nonetheless/ Nevertheless… Oppositely… Alternatively… Unlike… While… Whilst… Although… Though… Even though… Despite… / In spite of… In spite of the fact that… Alternatively… In contrast to this… Then again… On the other hand… Despite the fact that… Even so… Yet… Meanwhile…
Vocabulary For Expressing Condition
If… Provided that… Because of that… For this reason… Unless… Providing that… So that… In case… Whether…
Phrases for Expressing Certainty in Your Essay
Certainly… Definitely… No doubt… Of course… Doubtlessly… Without any doubt… Undoubtedly…
Vocabulary for Adding Further Information
In addition… And… Moreover… Similarly… Furthermore… Also… As well as… Besides… Even… Too… What’s more… Again… In a similar fashion… Likewise…
Expressions for Agreement & Disagreement in Your Essay
While writing your essay, as a writer you are required to show whether you agree & disagree or partially agree with a given statement or opinion.
Vocabulary for Expressing Agreement
I strongly agree… I completely agree that… I totally agree with the given idea that… I agree with the opinion that… I am quite inclined to the opinion that… I accept that… I accept the fact that… I am in agreement… I consent that…
Vocabulary for Expressing Disagreement
I disagree with the opinion that… I strongly disagree… I completely disagree with… I totally disagree with the given idea that… I disagree with the statement… I quite oppose the opinion that… I disapprove that… I totally do not accept the fact that… My own opinion contradicts… I disagree with the group of people… However, my opinion is different from…
Vocabulary for Expressing Partial Agreement
To some extent… In a way… I agree with the given statement to some extent… Up to a point, I agree… More or less… So to speak…
Essay Writing Expressions PDF
Essay Expression PDF – (download)
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The Academic Collocation List (ACL) Common academic collocations
This page describes the Academic Collocation List (ACL), explaining what it is and giving a full list of collocations in the ACL, sorted by headword . There is also, in another section, an ACL highlighter which can be used to highlight ACL words in a text, as well as an ACL mind map creator.
What is the ACL?
For another look at the same content, check out YouTube or Youku , or the infographic . There is a worksheet (with answers and teacher's notes) for this video.
The Academic Collocation List (ACL) is a list containing 2,469 of the most frequent and useful collocations which occur in written academic English. It can be seen as a collocational companion to the Academic Word List (AWL) , consisting of collocations (or word combinations) rather than single words.
The ACL was developed by Kirsten Ackermann and Yu-Hua Chen using the Pearson International Corpus of Academic English (PICAE), with advice from English teaching experts to ensure the collocations chosen would be useful to students of English. The ACL gives around 1.4% coverage of words in academic English (based on the source corpus used in the study). In contrast, the same collocations give only 0.1% coverage for a general corpus, showing they are indeed much more common in academic than general English.
Many of the words in the ACL are also contained in the AWL, e.g. alternative approach appears in the ACL, and both of these words appear in the AWL. However, there are many word combinations which are very common in academic writing which contain one word or no words from the AWL, such as generally agree (both of these words actually appear in the GSL ). Studying collocations is an important way to build up your academic vocabulary, and the Academic Collocation List is one possible tool to help you do this.
Check out the Quizzes section for exercises to practise using words in the ACL.
The Academic Collocation List
The 2,469 collocations in the ACL are listed below. The list has been adapted for this website by collecting collocations under headwords, in the same way that words in the AWL are categorised. In addition, the collocations have been listed under both of the headwords they contain in order to make them easier to find. This means, for example, that the collocation great accuracy appears both under the headword great and the headword accurate . The collocation accurate description likewise appears under accurate , as well as under the headword describe . This means each collocation appears twice in the list, once for each headword. Where words occur in the AWL , the AWL headword has been used, e.g. the AWL headword for academic is academy .
There are three versions of this list on the website:
- ordered by headword ( this page )
- listed according to collocation type ( adj + n etc.)
- listed by frequency
| ability | cognitive ability |
| abstract | abstract concept |
| abuse | sexual abuse |
| academy | (in) academic circles, academic achievement, academic career, academic community, academic debate, academic discipline, academic discourse, academic institution, academic journal, academic life, academic performance, academic research, academic skills, academic study, academic success, academic work, academic world, academic writing, academic year |
| accept | accept responsibility, acceptable behaviour, socially acceptable, widespread acceptance, (be) commonly accepted, (be) generally accepted, (be) universally accepted, (be) widely accepted |
| access | allow access (to), deny access (to), direct access, easy access, electronic access, equal access, free access, gain access (to), give access (to), have access (to), internet access, limited access, online access, open access, provide access (to), public access, ready access, unlimited access, easily accessible, readily accessible |
| account | brief account, comprehensive account, historical account |
| accurate | great accuracy, accurate assessment, accurate description, accurate information, accurate measurement, accurate picture, accurate record |
| achieve | achieve (a) goal, achieve (an) objective, achieve (an) outcome, academic achievement |
| acquire | acquire knowledge, newly acquired |
| act | sexual act, appropriate action, collective action, legal action, military action, positive action, active involvement, active participant, active participation, active role, (be) actively involved, political activism, commercial activity, cultural activity, economic activity, engage in (an) activity, human activity, learning activity, physical activity, political activity, professional activity, related activity, social activity, undertake (an) activity |
| acute | particularly acute, acutely aware |
| add | add information |
| additional | additional cost, additional information, additional problem, additional resources, additional support |
| address | address (an) issue |
| adjust | structural adjustment, make adjustments |
| administrate | public administration, administrative practices |
| adopt | adopt (a) procedure, adopt (an) approach, (be) widely adopted |
| advance | advanced economy, advanced technology, technological advances |
| advantage | major advantage |
| adverse | adverse effect, adverse reaction, adversely affect |
| affair | economic affairs, financial affairs, internal affairs |
| affect | affect (the) development (of), affect (the) outcome, adversely affect, directly affect, severely affect, significantly affect, (be) directly affected |
| agency | federal agency, regulatory agency |
| agenda | political agenda, set (the) agenda |
| agree | generally agree, strongly agree, broad agreement, general agreement, international agreement, reach (an) agreement, strongly disagree |
| aim | overall aim, primary aim |
| allocate | allocate resources |
| allow | allow access (to) |
| ally | (be) closely allied (to, with) |
| almost | almost identical |
| alternative | alternative approach, alternative explanation, alternative form, alternative interpretion, alternative means, alternative method, alternative model, alternative solution, alternative source, alternative strategy, alternative view, alternative way, provide (an) alternative |
| amount | (a) considerable amount (of), (a) huge amount (of), (a) significant amount (of), (a) substantial amount (of), (a) vast amount (of), (an) enormous amount (of) |
| ample | ample evidence |
| analyse | careful analysis, comparative analysis, conduct (an) analysis, critical analysis, detailed analysis, economic analysis, final analysis, full analysis, further analysis, historical analysis, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, statistical analysis, subsequent analysis, systematic analysis, textual analysis, thematic analysis, theoretical analysis, use (the) analysis, analytical approach, analytical tool |
| ancestor | common ancestor |
| anecdotal | anecdotal evidence |
| annual | annual conference, annual meeting, annual rate, annual report, annual review |
| answer | final answer |
| apparent | become apparent, immediately apparent, particularly apparent |
| appearance | physical appearance |
| apply | apply (a) method, apply (the) theory, apply equally |
| approach | adopt (an) approach, alternative approach, analytical approach, common approach, comprehensive approach, critical approach, develop (an) approach, flexible approach, general approach, holistic approach, integrated approach, logical approach, methodological approach, qualitative approach, quantitative approach, similar approach, standard approach, systematic approach, take (an) approach, theoretical approach, traditional approach, use (an) approach |
| appropriate | appropriate action, appropriate behaviour, appropriate conditions, appropriate data, appropriate form, appropriate language, appropriate level, appropriate point, appropriate response, appropriate skills, appropriate treatment, appropriate way, consider appropriate, deem appropriate, particularly appropriate, seem appropriate, respond appropriately |
| area | complex area, core area, cover (an) area, geographic(al) area, identify (an) area, key area, local area, main area, major area, metropolitan area, particular area, problem area, related area, rural area, specific area, subject area, urban area, vast area, whole area, wide area |
| arena | political arena |
| argument | compelling argument, counter argument, develop (an) argument, general argument, logical argument, main argument, make (an) argument, present (an) argument, similar argument, support (an) argument, valid argument |
| armed | armed conflict |
| arrangement | institutional arrangement, make arrangements |
| array | (a) vast array (of), (a) wide array (of) |
| article | publish (an) article |
| artificial | artificial intelligence |
| aspect | certain aspect, consider (an) aspect, cultural aspect, focus on (an) aspect, fundamental aspect, general aspect, key aspect, negative aspect, particular aspect, positive aspect, related aspect, social aspect, specific aspect, technical aspect, various aspects |
| assess | assess (the) impact (of), assessment process, accurate assessment, make (an) assessment, risk assessment |
| assign | (be) randomly assigned (to) |
| assist | financial assistance, medical assistance, provide assistance, technical assistance |
| associate | associated factors, (be) closely associated (with), (be) commonly associated (with), (be) positively associated (with), (be) strongly associated (with) |
| assume | assume (the) role (of), assume responsibility, (be) generally assumed, basic assumption, common assumption, fundamental assumption, make (an) assumption, underlying assumption, certain assumptions |
| atom | atomic energy |
| attempt | deliberate attempt |
| attend | attend (a) conference |
| attention | careful attention, considerable attention, critical attention, draw attention (to), focus attention (on) |
| attitude | change (an) attitude, negative attitude, positive attitude, changing attitudes, cultural attitudes, public attitudes, social attitudes |
| audience | target audience, wider audience |
| author | first author, original author |
| authority | central authority, exercise authority, local authority, political authority, public authority |
| autonomy | greater autonomy, relative autonomy |
| available | available data, available evidence, available information, available resources, become available, currently available, freely available, make available, publicly available, readily available, widely available |
| average | average score, national average |
| aware | acutely aware, become aware, fully aware, increasingly aware, keenly aware, make aware, well aware, greater awareness, growing awareness, increase awareness, increased awareness, increasing awareness, public awareness, raise awareness |
| background | background knowledge, cultural background, diverse background, historical background, social background |
| base | (be) largely based (on), basic assumption, basic component, basic concept, basic element, basic function, basic information, basic premise, basic principle, basic research, basic structure, basic technique, legal basis, theoretical basis |
| bear | bear resemblance (to) |
| become | become (a) source (of), become (the) focus (of), become apparent, become available, become aware, become blurred, become established, become evident, become independent, become involved (with/in), become obvious, become visible, become widespread |
| begin | begin (a) process |
| behave | behave differently, acceptable behaviour, appropriate behaviour, human behaviour, individual behaviour, sexual behaviour, social behaviour |
| belief | religious belief, widespread belief, (be) widely believed |
| benefit | beneficial effect, provide (a) benefit, economic benefits, potential benefits |
| best | (be) best described (as, in terms of) |
| binary | binary opposition, binary system |
| biological | biological evolution, biological science, biological sex |
| blur | become blurred |
| body | international body, professional body |
| bond | strong bond |
| boundary | clear boundary, cultural boundary, national boundary |
| brief | brief account, brief description, brief discussion, brief history, brief introduction, brief overview, brief period, brief review, brief summary, brief time, briefly describe, briefly discuss |
| broad | (a) broad range (of), broad agreement, broad category, broad definition, broad spectrum, broader context, (be) broadly defined, broadly similar |
| business | business sector, business transaction |
| call | (be) commonly called |
| capacity | limited capacity |
| capitalism | global capitalism, industrial capitalism, capitalist country, capitalist economy, capitalist society, capitalist system, capitalist world |
| care | primary care, provide care, careful analysis, careful attention, careful consideration, careful thought, (be) carefully controlled, (be) carefully selected |
| career | career development, career opportunity, academic career |
| carry | carry information |
| carry out | carry out (the) task, carry out research (of) |
| case | civil case, exceptional case, individual case, specific case |
| cast | cast doubt (on) |
| category | broad category, fall into (the) category (of), general category, main category |
| causal | causal link, causal relation, causal relationship |
| cause | cause consequences, cause stress, major cause, underlying cause |
| centre | central authority, central concept, central concern, central control, central core, central feature, central focus, central government, central importance, central issue, central part, central point, central position, central problem, central question, central role, central tenet, central theme, urban centre |
| certain | certain aspect, certain assumptions, certain characteristics, certain circumstances |
| challenge | face (a) challenge, major challenge, pose (a) challenge, present (a) challenge, serious challenge |
| change | change (an) attitude, change constantly, change dramatically, change rapidly, climate change, cultural change, demographic change, dramatic change, economic change, fundamental change, historical change, major change, minor change, radical change, significant change, structural change, technological change, environmental changes, changing attitudes, changing circumstances, changing nature, changing needs, changing pattern, changing world, ever changing, rapidly changing, remain unchanged |
| chapter | final chapter, following chapter, introductory chapter, opening chapter, preceding chapter, previous chapter, subsequent chapter |
| characteristic | characteristic feature, common characteristic, defining characteristic, key characteristic, salient characteristic, specific characteristic, certain characteristics, demographic characteristics, individual characteristics, main characteristics, physical characteristics, similar characteristics |
| charge | (be) highly charged |
| chemical | chemical reaction |
| choose | individual choice, personal choice, (be) randomly chosen |
| circle | (in) academic circles |
| circumstance | certain circumstances, changing circumstances, exceptional circumstances, historical circumstances, local circumstances, personal circumstances, political circumstances, social circumstances, special circumstances |
| cite | (be) frequently cited |
| civil | civil case, civil society |
| class | class consciousness, lower class, ruling class |
| classic | classic example, classic study, classic text, classic work, classical theory |
| clear | clear boundary, clear distinction, clear evidence, clear focus, clear indication, clear relationship, clear statement, clear structure, entirely clear, fairly clear, (be) clearly defined, (be) clearly demonstrated, (be) clearly established, (be) clearly identified, (be) clearly related (to), clearly evident, clearly important, clearly understand, clearly visible, remain unclear |
| climate | climate change, current climate, political climate, climatic conditions |
| close | close contact, close proximity, close relationship, close scrutiny, (be) closely allied (to, with), (be) closely associated (with), (be) closely connected (to, with), (be) closely linked (to, with), (be) closely related (to), (be) closely tied, closely resemble, (on/upon) closer inspection, (upon, on) closer examination, closer look |
| clue | provide (a) clue |
| cognitive | cognitive ability, cognitive development, cognitive skills |
| collaborative | collaborative learning |
| colleague | professional colleague |
| collect | collect data, collect information, collective action, collective identity, collective memory |
| combine | combined effect |
| come into | come into conflict (with) |
| come into | come into contact (with) |
| comment | make (a) comment, written comment |
| commercial | commercial activity, commercial transaction |
| commit | commit (a) crime, commit (an) offence |
| common | common ancestor, common approach, common assumption, common characteristic, common culture, common error, common feature, common goal, common method, common source, common theme, common usage, fairly common, increasingly common, relatively common, (be) commonly accepted, (be) commonly associated (with), (be) commonly called, (be) commonly encountered, (be) commonly found (in), (be) commonly known (as), (be) commonly referred (to) (as), (be) commonly used |
| communicate | communicate effectively, direct communication, effective communication, electronic communication, personal communication, verbal communication, written communication |
| community | academic community, ethnic community, international community, local community, rural community, scientific community, virtual community, wider community |
| compare | comparative analysis, comparative research, comparative study |
| compel | compelling argument, compelling evidence, compelling reason |
| compete | increased competition, competitive market, competitive pressure, highly competitive |
| competence | demonstrate competence |
| complete | complete (a) task |
| complex | complex area, complex interaction, complex issue, complex pattern, complex problem, complex process, complex question, complex relationship, complex set, complex situation, complex structure, complex system, extremely complex, highly complex, increasingly complex, increasing complexity |
| component | basic component, essential component, fundamental component, individual component, key component, main component, major component |
| comprehensive | comprehensive account, comprehensive approach, comprehensive overview, comprehensive review, comprehensive system |
| concentrate | high concentration |
| concept | abstract concept, basic concept, central concept, defining concept, key concept, theoretical concept, use (the) concept concept, conceptual framework |
| concern | central concern, environmental concern, major concern, primary concern, (be) mainly concerned (with), (be) particularly concerned (with), (be) primarily concerned (with) |
| concerted | concerted effort |
| conclude | concluding remarks, concluding section, draw (a) conclusion, general conclusion, lead to (the) conclusion, logical conclusion |
| condition | sufficient condition, conditional probability, appropriate conditions, climatic conditions, create conditions, economic conditions, experimental conditions, living conditions, natural conditions, normal conditions |
| conduct | conduct (a) study, conduct (a) survey, conduct (an) analysis, conduct (an) interview, conduct research |
| confer | annual conference, attend (a) conference, hold (a) conference, international conference, national conference |
| confine | (be) largely confined (to) |
| conflict | conflict resolution, armed conflict, come into conflict (with), internal conflict, political conflict, potential conflict, resolve (a) conflict, social conflict, conflicting interests |
| connect | (be) closely connected (to, with), (be) directly connected (to, with), (be) intimately connected (to, with) |
| connotation | negative connotation, positive connotation |
| consciousness | class consciousness, political consciousness |
| consent | general consensus, political consensus, reach (a) consensus, give consent, informed consent |
| consequent | cause consequences, direct consequences, economic consequences, environmental consequences, have consequences, negative consequences, political consequences, possible consequences, serious consequences, social consequences, unintended consequences |
| consider | consider (a) possibility, consider (an) aspect, consider (an) issue, consider (the) impact (of), consider (the) implications, consider (the) role (of), consider appropriate, consider relevant, careful consideration, ethical consideration, further consideration, give consideration, political consideration, practical consideration, require consideration, take into consideration, (be) generally considered |
| considerable | (a) considerable amount (of), (a) considerable degree (of), (be of) considerable importance, (in) considerable detail, (to a) considerable extent, considerable attention, considerable debate, considerable effort, considerable evidence, considerable influence, considerable interest, considerable research, considerable support, considerable variation, differ considerably, vary considerably |
| consist | consistent pattern, consistent results |
| constant | constant rate, relatively constant, remain constant, change constantly |
| constitute | constituent elements, constituent parts |
| constrain | impose constraints |
| construct | social construct, (be) socially constructed |
| contact | close contact, come into contact (with), direct contact, first contact, maintain contact, make contact, personal contact, physical contact, sexual contact, social contact |
| contain | contain (an) element, contain information |
| contemporary | contemporary debate, contemporary issue, contemporary life, contemporary society, contemporary world |
| context | broader context, cultural context, economic context, global context, historical context, institutional context, international context, original context, political context, present context, provide context, social context, specific context, wider context, contextual factors |
| continue | continued existence, continued growth, continued use, continuous process |
| contrast | marked contrast, sharp contrast, stark contrast, striking contrast |
| contribute | contribute significantly, contribute to (the) development (of), major contribution, make (a) contribution, significant contribution |
| control | central control, government control, internal control, personal control, (be) carefully controlled, (be) tightly controlled |
| controversy | controversial issue, highly controversial |
| convene | conventional view, conventional wisdom |
| convey | convey (a) message, convey information, convey meaning |
| convince | convincing evidence |
| cope | coping strategy |
| core | core area, core element, core issue, core skills, core value, central core |
| correct | correct (an) error, correct interpretation, politically correct |
| correlate | (be) highly correlated (with), (be) negatively correlated (with), (be) positively correlated (with), (be) significantly correlated (with), (be) strongly correlated (with), high correlation, negative correlation, positive correlation, significant correlation, significant correlation, strong correlation |
| cost | additional cost, rising cost |
| counter | counter argument |
| country | capitalist country, industrial country, industrialized country |
| cover | cover (a) range (of), cover (a) topic, cover (an) area, media coverage, provide coverage |
| create | create (an) environment, create (an) impression, create (an) opportunity, create conditions, create opportunities, create problems, newly created, creative process, creative thinking, creative work |
| crime | commit (a) crime, criminal offence |
| crisis | economic crisis |
| criteria | meet criteria, objective criteria, use criteria |
| critical | critical analysis, critical approach, critical attention, critical essay, critical evaluation, critical examination, critical factor, critical importance, critical inquiry, critical introduction, critical issue, critical perspective, critical point, critical reflection, critical review, critical role, critical scrutiny, critical theory, critical thinking, critical writing, highly critical, critically evaluate, radical critique |
| crucial | crucial difference, crucial factor, crucial importance, crucial part, crucial point, crucial question, crucial role |
| culture | cultural activity, cultural aspect, cultural attitudes, cultural background, cultural boundary, cultural change, cultural context, cultural differences, cultural dimension, cultural diversity, cultural factors, cultural heritage, cultural history, cultural identity, cultural influence, cultural institution, cultural issue, cultural life, cultural norm, cultural perspective, cultural phenomenon, cultural practice, cultural significance, cultural theory, cultural tradition, cultural values, culturally specific, common culture, dominant culture, global culture, local culture, modern culture, national culture, political culture, popular culture, traditional culture |
| currency | foreign currency, single currency |
| current | current climate, current issue, current policy, current research, current status, current technology, current trend, currently available |
| customer | potential customer |
| daily | daily living |
| damage | environmental damage |
| dangerous | potentially dangerous |
| data | data gathering, data set, appropriate data, available data, collect data, empirical data, existing data, experimental data, extract data, gather data, historical data, interpret data, missing data, numerical data, obtain data, original data, preliminary data, present data, primary data, process data, provide data, qualitative data, quantitative data, raw data, record data, relevant data, reliable data, report data, secondary data, statistical data, store data, survey data, transmit data, use (the) data data, online database |
| deal | deal (with an) issue |
| death | premature death |
| debate | academic debate, considerable debate, contemporary debate, heated debate, ongoing debate, political debate, public debate, theoretical debate |
| decade | next decade, previous decade, early decades, recent decades |
| decide | final decision, major decision, strategic decision |
| deem | deem appropriate, deem necessary |
| deep | (a) deep understanding (of), (at/on a) deeper level, (be) deeply embedded, (be) deeply rooted |
| define | (be) broadly defined, (be) clearly defined, defining characteristic, defining concept, defining feature, broad definition, general definition, narrow definition, precise definition, use (the) definition |
| degradation | environmental degradation |
| degree | (a) considerable degree (of), (a) higher degree (of), (a) significant degree (of), varying degree |
| deliberate | deliberate attempt |
| demand | increased demand, increasing demand |
| democracy | liberal democracy, social democracy, western democracy, democratic institution, democratic process, democratic society, democratic state |
| demographic | demographic change, demographic characteristics, demographic factor |
| demonstrate | demonstrate competence, (be) clearly demonstrated |
| densely | (be) densely populated |
| deny | deny access (to) |
| department | government department |
| dependent | dependent variable, highly dependent |
| describe | describe (a) procedure, describe (a) method, describe (a) process, briefly describe, (be) best described (as, in terms of), previously described, accurate description, brief description, descriptive statistics |
| design | experimental design, urban design, (be) specifically designed (to, for), well designed |
| desire | highly desirable, socially desirable, desired outcome |
| detail | (in) considerable detail, sufficient detail, technical detail, detailed analysis, detailed examination, detailed information, detailed study |
| determined | (be) largely determined (by) |
| develop | develop (a) method, develop (a) strategy, develop (a) technique, develop (a) theory, develop (an) argument, develop (an) approach, (be) fully developed, (be) highly developed, (be) originally developed, career development, cognitive development, contribute to (the) development (of), encourage (the) development (of), facilitate (the) development (of), further development, future development, historical development, industrial development, normal development, physical development, professional development, promote (the) development (of), regional development, significant development, subsequent development, technological development, urban development, affect (the) development (of), developmental process, developmental stage |
| diagnostic | diagnostic test |
| differ | differ considerably, differ significantly, differ widely, crucial difference, fundamental difference, major difference, obvious difference, sexual difference, significant difference, substantial difference, cultural differences, ethnic differences, individual differences, racial differences, radical differences, regional differences, (be) markedly different, entirely different, fundamentally different, qualitatively different, radically different, slightly different, substantially different, totally different, widely different, behave differently, think differently, treat differently |
| difficult | increasingly difficult, encounter difficulties, experience difficulties, face difficulties, learning difficulties, practical difficulties, present difficulties |
| digital | digital information, digital media, digital technology |
| dilemma | ethical dilemma, face (a) dilemma, moral dilemma |
| dimension | cultural dimension, political dimension, social dimension |
| direct | direct access, direct communication, direct consequences, direct contact, direct evidence, direct impact, direct involvement, direct link, direct observation, direct relationship, direct role, (be) directly affected, (be) directly connected (to, with), (be) directly involved (in), (be) directly linked (to), (be) directly linked (to, with), (be) directly proportional (to), (be) directly related (to), (be) directly responsible (for), directly affect |
| disaster | natural disaster |
| discipline | academic discipline |
| disclose | disclose information |
| discourse | academic discourse, dominant discourse, public discourse, scientific discourse |
| discover | newly discovered |
| discriminate | face discrimination, positive discrimination, racial discrimination |
| discuss | discuss (a) topic, discuss (an) issue, briefly discuss, (be) widely discussed, previously discussed, brief discussion, earlier discussion, fuller discussion, preceding discussion, previous discussion |
| disperse | (be) widely dispersed |
| display | public display |
| dispose | disposable income |
| dispute | resolve (a) dispute |
| distinct | distinct group, distinct type, clear distinction, draw (a) distinction, make (a) distinction, sharp distinction, distinctive feature |
| distinguish | distinguishing feature |
| distribute | (be) widely distributed, geographic(al) distribution, normal distribution |
| diverse | (a) diverse range (of), diverse background, diverse group, cultural diversity, ethnic diversity, great diversity |
| divide | (be) further divided (into), dividing line |
| document | (be) well documented |
| documentary | documentary evidence |
| domain | public domain |
| domestic | domestic market, domestic sphere, domestic violence |
| dominate | male dominance, dominant culture, dominant discourse, dominant form, dominant group, dominant ideology, dominant paradigm, dominant position, dominant role |
| doubt | cast doubt (on) |
| draft | first draft |
| drama | dramatic change, dramatic effect, dramatic increase, change dramatically, increase dramatically |
| draw | draw (a) conclusion, draw (a) distinction, draw (a) line, draw attention (to) |
| drive | driving force |
| due | due process |
| duration | long duration, maximum duration, short duration |
| dynamic | dynamic equilibrium, dynamic nature, dynamic process, dynamic system |
| early | earlier discussion, earlier period, earlier research, earlier stage, earlier study, earlier times, earlier version, earlier work, early decades, early study |
| easy | (be) easily identified, (be) easily understood, easily accessible, easy access |
| economy | economic activity, economic affairs, economic analysis, economic benefits, economic change, economic conditions, economic consequences, economic context, economic crisis, economic exploitation, economic factors, economic forces, economic goal, economic growth, economic inequality, economic integration, economic interests, economic policy, economic power, economic prosperity, economic reform, economic relations, economic relationships, economic resources, economic sector, economic stability, economic status, economic structure, economic success, economic system, economic theory, economic value, economic welfare, advanced economy, capitalist economy, global economy, local economy, national economy, political economy, rural economy |
| edit | revised edition |
| educate | (be) highly educated, well educated, higher education, primary education, secondary education, educational institution, educational opportunity, educational policy, educational programme, educational provision, educational qualification, educational research, educational setting, educational system |
| effect | adverse effect, beneficial effect, combined effect, dramatic effect, negative effect, overall effect, positive effect, profound effect, significant effect, similar effect, effective communication, effective implementation, effective intervention, effective management, effective method, effective participation, effective policy, effective treatment, highly effective, particularly effective, communicate effectively, use effectively, work effectively, environmental effects |
| efficient | highly efficient |
| effort | concerted effort, considerable effort, research effort |
| election | presidential election |
| electronic | electronic access, electronic communication, electronic media, electronic resources, electronic version |
| element | basic element, contain (an) element, core element, essential element, individual element, key element, main element, single element, structural element, constituent elements |
| embed | (be) deeply embedded |
| emerge | newly emerging |
| emission | reduce emissions |
| emotion | emotional impact, emotional intelligence, emotional reaction, emotional response, emotional support |
| emphasis | give emphasis, greater emphasis, increasing emphasis, particular emphasis, place emphasis, shift emphasis, special emphasis, strong emphasis |
| empirical | empirical data, empirical evidence, empirical investigation, empirical research, empirical study, empirical support, empirical work |
| employ | employ (a) method, employ (a) technique, employment opportunities, full employment, paid employment, high unemployment, low unemployment |
| encounter | encounter difficulties, encounter problems, first encounter, (be) commonly encountered |
| encourage | encourage (the) development (of) |
| energy | atomic energy, nuclear energy, renewable energy, solar energy |
| engage in | engage in (an) activity |
| enhance | enhance learning, enhance performance, greatly enhance |
| enormous | (an) enormous amount (of), enormous impact |
| entire | (the) entire range (of), entire period, entirely clear, entirely different, entirely new |
| entity | separate entity, single entity |
| environment | create (an) environment, external environment, immediate environment, learning environment, natural environment, physical environment, political environment, social environment, urban environment, environmental changes, environmental concern, environmental consequences, environmental damage, environmental degradation, environmental effects, environmental factors, environmental impact, environmental issues, environmental policy, environmental pollution, environmental protection |
| equal | equal access, equal opportunity, equal status, equal treatment, roughly equal, gender equality, greater equality, promote equality, racial equality, social equality, equally important, equally likely, equally true, equally valid, apply equally, treat equally, economic inequality, social inequality, unequal power |
| equilibrium | dynamic equilibrium |
| equivalent | roughly equivalent |
| error | common error, correct (an) error, random error, standard error |
| essay | critical essay |
| essential | essential component, essential element, essential feature, essential function, essential information, essential role |
| establish | establish (a) relationship, established order, established practice, established principle, (be) clearly established, (be) firmly established, (be) well established, become established, long established, newly established, once established |
| ethic | ethical consideration, ethical dilemma, ethical issue, ethical principle, ethical problem, ethical question |
| ethnic | ethnic community, ethnic differences, ethnic diversity, ethnic group, ethnic identity, ethnic minority, ethnic origin |
| evaluate | critically evaluate, critical evaluation |
| event | historical event |
| ever | ever changing, ever increasing |
| evident | ample evidence, anecdotal evidence, available evidence, clear evidence, compelling evidence, considerable evidence, convincing evidence, direct evidence, documentary evidence, empirical evidence, experimental evidence, find evidence, further evidence, give evidence, historical evidence, little evidence, present evidence, provide evidence, recent evidence, research evidence, scientific evidence, show evidence, strong evidence, substantial evidence, sufficient evidence, supporting evidence, (be) particularly evident, become evident, clearly evident |
| evolve | biological evolution, evolutionary process, evolutionary theory |
| examine | (upon, on) closer examination, critical examination, detailed examination, examine (the) role (of) |
| example | classic example, obvious example, prime example, provide (an) example, specific example, striking example, typical example |
| exception | notable exception, exceptional case, exceptional circumstances |
| exclude | social exclusion, mutually exclusive |
| exercise | exercise authority |
| exist | continued existence, existing data, existing research, existing structure |
| expand | expand rapidly, rapid expansion |
| expect | high expectations, meet expectations, social expectations |
| expend | government expenditure, public expenditure |
| experience | experience difficulties, experience problems, individual experience, personal experience, previous experience, prior experience, professional experience, shared experience, experiential learning |
| experiment | experimental conditions, experimental data, experimental design, experimental evidence, experimental method, experimental research, experimental results, experimental study, experimental work |
| expert | expert opinion, technical expertise |
| explain | alternative explanation, further explanation, give (an) explanation, plausible explanation, possible explanation, provide (an) explanation, explanatory power |
| explicit | make explicit, state explicitly |
| exploit | economic exploitation, sexual exploitation |
| explore | explore (an) issue, explore further |
| expression | facial expression |
| extend | extended period, extensive research, (be) extensively used, (to a) considerable extent |
| external | external environment, external factors, external forces, external influences, external source, external threat, external world |
| extract | extract data, extract information |
| extreme | extremely complex, extremely powerful, extremely sensitive, extremely useful, extremely valuable |
| face | face (a) challenge, face (a) dilemma, face (a) problem, face difficulties, face discrimination, facial expression |
| facilitate | facilitate (the) development (of) |
| fact | factual information |
| factor | critical factor, crucial factor, demographic factor, key factor, main factor, major factor, related factor, significant factor, specific factor, associated factors, contextual factors, cultural factors, economic factors, environmental factors, external factors, historical factors, identify factors, political factors, relevant factors, social factors |
| fair | fair treatment, fairly clear, fairly common, fairly obvious, fairly straightforward, unfair treatment |
| faith | religious faith |
| fall into | fall into (the) category (of) |
| family | nuclear family |
| far | (be) far removed (from) |
| feature | central feature, characteristic feature, common feature, defining feature, distinctive feature, distinguishing feature, essential feature, general feature, key feature, main feature, major feature, particular feature, positive feature, prominent feature, salient feature, significant feature, specific feature, striking feature, structural feature, identify features, physical features |
| federal | federal agency, federal government, federal state |
| feedback | give feedback, negative feedback, positive feedback, provide feedback, provide feedback, receive feedback |
| feminist | feminist movement |
| few | relatively few |
| field | field research |
| figure | significant figures |
| final | final analysis, final answer, final chapter, final decision, final outcome, final phase, final point, final position, final product, final result, final section, final stage, final step, final version |
| finance | financial affairs, financial assistance, financial institution, financial management, financial market, financial problem, financial resources, financial support |
| find | find evidence, find information, key findings, main findings, preliminary findings, report findings, research findings |
| finite | finite number, infinite number |
| firmly | (be) firmly established |
| first | first author, first contact, first draft, first encounter, first generation, first impression, first phase, first priority |
| flexible | greater flexibility, flexible approach |
| flow | information flow |
| focal | focal point |
| focus | focus attention (on), become (the) focus (of), central focus, clear focus, main focus, major focus, particular focus, primary focus, provide (a) focus, specific focus, focus on (an) aspect |
| follow | follow (a) format, follow (a) procedure, follow instructions, following chapter, immediately following |
| force | driving force, military force, powerful force, economic forces, external forces |
| foreign | foreign currency, foreign investment, foreign investor, foreign policy |
| form | alternative form, appropriate form, dominant form, modified form, specific form, traditional form, newly formed |
| formal | formal structure |
| format | follow (a) format, standard format, use (a) format |
| formula | general formula |
| found | (be) commonly found (in), (be) frequently found, (be) generally found |
| foundation | provide (a) foundation (for) |
| fraction | small fraction |
| framework | conceptual framework, institutional framework, legal framework, regulatory framework, theoretical framework |
| free | free access, free movement, religious freedom, freely available |
| frequency | high/er frequency, low/er frequency, (be) frequently cited, (be) frequently found, (be) frequently referred (to), (be) frequently used, occur frequently |
| fulfil | fulfil (an) obligation |
| full | (a, the) full range (of), full analysis, full employment, full information, full participation, full potential, fuller discussion, (be) fully developed, (be) fully informed, (be) fully integrated, (be) fully realized, fully aware, fully understand |
| function | basic function, essential function, main function, perform (a) function, primary function, serve (a) function, social function, specific function, functional requirement |
| fund | public funds |
| fundamental | fundamental aspect, fundamental assumption, fundamental change, fundamental component, fundamental difference, fundamental importance, fundamental principle, fundamental problem, fundamental question, fundamentally different |
| further | (be) further divided (into), further analysis, further consideration, further development, further evidence, further explanation, further information, further investigation, further research, further study, explore further |
| future | future development, future prospects, future research, future study |
| gain | gain access (to), gain information, gain insight (into) |
| gather | gather data, gather information, data gathering, information gathering |
| gender | gender equality, gender stereotype |
| general | general agreement, general approach, general argument, general aspect, general category, general conclusion, general consensus, general definition, general feature, general formula, general overview, general principle, general statement, general tendency, general theory, general trend, (be) generally accepted, (be) generally assumed, (be) generally considered, (be) generally found, (be) generally known (as, by), generally agree |
| generation | first generation, next generation, previous generation, younger generation |
| genetic | genetic variation |
| geography | geographic(al) area, geographic(al) distribution, geographic(al) location |
| get | get involved (with/in) |
| give | give (a) presentation, give (an) explanation, give (an) indication (of), give (an) overview (of), give (sb an) impression, give (sb) treatment, give access (to), give consent, give consideration, give emphasis, give evidence, give feedback, give priority (to), give guidance, give information, give insight (into), given information, given period |
| globe | global capitalism, global context, global culture, global economy, global issue, global market, global marketplace, global media, global network, global perspective, global shift, global structure, global trade, global village |
| goal | achieve (a) goal, common goal, economic goal, set (a) goal, ultimate goal |
| goods | imported goods |
| government | government control, government department, government expenditure, government intervention, government policy, central government, federal government, local government, municipal government, national government, representative government |
| graphical | graphical representation |
| great | (a) great proportion (of), (a) great range (of), great accuracy, great diversity, great impact, great majority, great potential, great significance, greater autonomy, greater awareness, greater emphasis, greater equality, greater flexibility, greater likelihood, (be) greatly influenced (by), (be) greatly reduced, greatly enhance, greatly increase, vary greatly |
| group | distinct group, diverse group, dominant group, ethnic group, homogeneous group, minority group, powerful group, racial group, religious group, vulnerable group |
| grow | grow rapidly, growing awareness, growing trend, rapidly growing, continued growth, economic growth, significant growth |
| guide | give guidance, provide guidance, guiding principle |
| hardly | hardly surprising |
| harm | potential harm |
| have | have (a) strategy, have (a) tendency (to), have (an) obligation, have access (to), have consequences, have limitations, have potential |
| health | mental health, physical health |
| heat | heated debate |
| heavy | (be) heavily influenced (by), rely heavily (on) |
| help | seek help |
| heritage | cultural heritage |
| hierarchy | hierarchical structure |
| high | (a) high proportion (of), high concentration, high correlation, high expectations, high incidence, high intensity, high level, high order, high percentage, high priority, high probability, high profile, high quality, high rate, high score, high standard, high status, high turnover, high unemployment, high value, relatively high, high/er frequency, (a) higher degree (of), higher education, significantly higher, slightly higher, (be) highly charged, (be) highly correlated (with), (be) highly developed, (be) highly educated, (be) highly structured, (be) highly valued, highly competitive, highly complex, highly controversial, highly critical, highly dependent, highly desirable, highly effective, highly efficient, highly influential, highly likely, highly problematic, highly relevant, highly selective, highly sensitive, highly significant, highly skilled, highly sophisticated, highly successful, highly unlikely, highly variable |
| history | historical account, historical analysis, historical background, historical change, historical circumstances, historical context, historical data, historical development, historical event, historical evidence, historical factors, historical interpretation, historical knowledge, historical period, historical perspective, historical reality, historical record, historical roots, historical study, historical writing, historically specific, brief history, cultural history, natural history, oral history |
| hold | hold (a) conference |
| holistic | holistic approach |
| homogeneous | homogeneous group |
| huge | (a) huge amount (of) |
| human | human activity, human behaviour, human interaction, human society, human species |
| ideally | (be) ideally suited |
| identical | almost identical |
| identify | (be) clearly identified, (be) easily identified, identify (a) problem, identify (a) way, identify (an) area, identify (an) issue, identify factors, identify features, multiple identities, collective identity, cultural identity, ethnic identity, national identity, political identity, religious identity, sexual identity, social identity |
| ideology | dominant ideology, political ideology |
| ignorant | (be) largely ignored |
| illness | mental illness |
| illustrate | provide (an) illustration |
| image | positive image, public image, visual image |
| immediate | immediate environment, immediately apparent, immediately following, immediately obvious, immediately preceding |
| impact | assess (the) impact (of), consider (the) impact (of), direct impact, emotional impact, enormous impact, environmental impact, great impact, likely impact, little impact, major impact, make (an) impact, negative impact, positive impact, potential impact, profound impact, significant impact |
| implement | effective implementation, successful implementation |
| imply | consider (the) implications, major implications, political implications, social implications, wider implications |
| import | imported goods, imported products |
| important | (be of) considerable importance, (be of) paramount importance, (be of) vital importance, central importance, critical importance, crucial importance, fundamental importance, increased importance, increasing importance, perceived importance, strategic importance, clearly important, equally important, increasingly important |
| impose | impose constraints, impose limitations, impose restrictions |
| impossible | virtually impossible |
| impression | create (an) impression, first impression, give (sb an) impression, make (an) impression |
| improve | improved performance, significant improvement |
| incidence | high incidence |
| income | disposable income, low income, middle income, national income, total income |
| increase | increase (the) likelihood, increase awareness, increase dramatically, dramatic increase, greatly increase, significant increase, significantly increase, increased awareness, increased competition, increased demand, increased importance, increased interest, increased level, increased number, increased pressure, increased production, increased productivity, increased risk, (a) increasing proportion (of), increasing awareness, increasing complexity, increasing demand, increasing emphasis, increasing importance, increasing interest, increasing pressure, increasing tendency, increasing trend, ever increasing, increasingly aware, increasingly common, increasingly complex, increasingly difficult, increasingly important, increasingly popular, increasingly sophisticated |
| independent | independent state, independent variable, become independent |
| indicate | clear indication, give (an) indication (of), provide (an) indication (of) |
| indigenous | indigenous people, indigenous population |
| individual | individual behaviour, individual case, individual characteristics, individual choice, individual component, individual differences, individual element, individual experience, individual interests, individual item, individual needs, individual response, individual responsibility, individual rights, individual variable, individual variation, particular individual, private individual, single individual, unique individual |
| industrial | industrial capitalism, industrial country, industrial development, industrial production, industrial society, industrialized country, industrialized nation |
| inextricably | (be) inextricably linked (to, with) |
| influence | considerable influence, cultural influence, major influence, positive influence, powerful influence, significant influence, (be) greatly influenced (by), (be) heavily influenced (by), (be) strongly influenced (by), external influences, highly influential, particularly influential |
| inform | informed consent, (be) fully informed |
| information | information flow, information gathering, information processing, information retrieval, information sharing, accurate information, add information, additional information, available information, basic information, carry information, collect information, contain information, convey information, detailed information, digital information, disclose information, essential information, extract information, factual information, find information, full information, further information, gain information, gather information, give information, given information, limited information, little information, necessary information, obtain information, personal information, process information, provide information, receive information, related information, relevant information, reliable information, seek information, share information, specific information, statistical information, store information, sufficient information, transmit information, useful information, valuable information |
| initial | initial period, initial phase, initial position, initial research, initial stage |
| initiate | new initiative, take initiative |
| innovate | technological innovation |
| inquire | critical inquiry |
| insight | gain insight (into), give insight (into), new insight, offer insight (into), provide insight (into) |
| inspect | (on/upon) closer inspection |
| institute | academic institution, cultural institution, democratic institution, educational institution, financial institution, national institution, political institution, public institution, social institution, institutional arrangement, institutional context, institutional framework, institutional structure, institutional support |
| instruct | follow instructions |
| integral | integral part |
| integrate | integrated approach, integrated system, (be) fully integrated, economic integration, social integration |
| intellectual | intellectual property, intellectual work |
| intelligent | artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence |
| intend | (be) originally intended, original intent, unintended consequences |
| intense | high intensity, low intensity, intensive study |
| interact | complex interaction, human interaction, significant interaction, social interaction |
| intercourse | sexual intercourse |
| interest | considerable interest, increased interest, increasing interest, national interest, personal interest, renewed interest, vested interest, interested party, conflicting interests, economic interests, individual interests |
| internal | internal affairs, internal conflict, internal control, internal market, internal organ, internal structure |
| international | international agreement, international body, international community, international conference, international context, international journal, international organization, international treaty |
| internet | internet access |
| interpersonal | interpersonal relationships, interpersonal skills |
| interpret | interpret data, correct interpretation, historical interpretation, literal interpretation, alternative interpretion |
| intervene | effective intervention, government intervention |
| interview | conduct (an) interview |
| intimate | intimate relationship, (be) intimately connected (to, with) |
| intrinsic | intrinsic value |
| introduce | introduce legislation, brief introduction, critical introduction, introductory chapter, introductory section, introductory text |
| invest | foreign investment, private investment, foreign investor |
| investigate | empirical investigation, further investigation, scientific investigation |
| involve | (be) actively involved, (be) directly involved (in), become involved (with/in), get involved (with/in), active involvement, direct involvement |
| isolate | social isolation |
| issue | address (an) issue, central issue, complex issue, consider (an) issue, contemporary issue, controversial issue, core issue, critical issue, cultural issue, current issue, deal (with an) issue, discuss (an) issue, ethical issue, explore (an) issue, global issue, identify (an) issue, key issue, legal issue, main issue, major issue, methodological issue, practical issue, raise (an) issue, real issue, related issue, relevant issue, similar issue, single issue, special issue, specific issue, technical issue, theoretical issue, wider issue, environmental issues |
| item | individual item |
| journal | academic journal, international journal, online journal, publish (a) journal, scholarly journal |
| judgement | make(a) judgement |
| keenly | keenly aware |
| key | key area, key aspect, key characteristic, key component, key concept, key element, key factor, key feature, key findings, key issue, key objective, key player, key policy, key principle, key role, key source, key text, key theme, key topic |
| know | (be) commonly known (as), (be) generally known (as, by), (be) widely known, previously known |
| knowledge | acquire knowledge, background knowledge, historical knowledge, personal knowledge, previous knowledge, prior knowledge, professional knowledge, require knowledge, specific knowledge, tacit knowledge, technical knowledge |
| language | appropriate language, national language, natural language, verbal language |
| large | (a) large proportion (of), (a) large range (of), large majority, large percentage, large portion, large quantities (of), (be) largely based (on), (be) largely confined (to), (be) largely determined (by), (be) largely ignored, (be) largely responsible (for) |
| later | later work, later writings |
| law | natural law |
| lead | lead to (the) conclusion, opinion leader, party leader, political leader, leading role |
| learn | learning activity, learning difficulties, learning environment, learning objective, learning outcome, learning process, learning resources, learning strategy, collaborative learning, enhance learning, experiential learning, lifelong learning |
| legal | legal action, legal basis, legal framework, legal issue, legal obligation, legal position, legal proceedings, legal protection, legal requirement, legal right, legal rule, legal status, legal system |
| legislate | introduce legislation, national legislation, proposed legislation, legislative measures, legislative power |
| level | (at/on a) deeper level, appropriate level, high level, increased level, low level, minimum level, overall level, stress level |
| liberal | liberal democracy |
| life | academic life, contemporary life, cultural life, lifelong learning |
| likely | greater likelihood, increase (the) likelihood, reduce (the) likelihood, likely impact, likely outcome, equally likely, highly likely, highly unlikely, seem unlikely |
| limit | have limitations, impose limitations, (a) limited range (of), limited access, limited capacity, limited information, limited opportunity, limited resources, unlimited access |
| line | dividing line, draw (a) line, linear relationship |
| link | causal link, direct link, strong link, (be) closely linked (to, with), (be) directly linked (to), (be) directly linked (to, with), (be) inextricably linked (to, with), (be) strongly linked |
| literal | (in a) literal sense, literal interpretation, literal meaning |
| literary | literary text, literary tradition |
| literature | published literature, relevant literature, scholarly literature |
| little | little evidence, little impact, little information, little research, little significance, relatively little |
| living | living conditions, living organism, living standard, daily living, make (a) living |
| local | local area, local authority, local circumstances, local community, local culture, local economy, local government |
| locate | geographic(al) location |
| logic | logical approach, logical argument, logical conclusion |
| long | long duration, long established |
| longitudinal | longitudinal study |
| look | closer look |
| low | low/er frequency, low income, low intensity, low level, low percentage, low priority, low probability, low profile, low quality, low status, low turnover, low unemployment, relatively low, lower class |
| main | main area, main argument, main category, main characteristics, main component, main element, main factor, main feature, main findings, main focus, main function, main issue, main principle, main source, main task, main theme, (be) mainly concerned (with) |
| maintain | maintain contact |
| major | major advantage, major area, major cause, major challenge, major change, major component, major concern, major contribution, major decision, major difference, major factor, major feature, major focus, major impact, major implications, major influence, major issue, major part, major problem, major reason, major role, major shift, major source, major theme, great majority, large majority, overwhelming majority, simple majority, vast majority |
| make | make (a) comment, make (a) contribution, make (a) distinction, make (a) living, make (a) prediction, make (a) recommendation, make (a) statement, make (a) transition, make (an) argument, make (an) assessment, make (an) assumption, make (an) impact, make (an) impression, make (an) observation, make adjustments, make arrangements, make available, make aware, make contact, make explicit, make policy, make provision, make visible, make(a) judgement |
| male | male dominance |
| manage | effective management, financial management, middle management, senior management, strategic management, top management |
| manual | manual worker |
| manufacture | manufacturing sector |
| marked | marked contrast, (be) markedly different |
| market | competitive market, domestic market, financial market, global market, internal market, national market, global marketplace |
| material | provide material, published material, relevant material, source material, useful material |
| maximise | maximum duration |
| mean | mean score |
| meaning | convey meaning, literal meaning, original meaning, particular meaning, shared meaning, specific meaning, (in a) meaningful way |
| means | alternative means, useful means |
| measure | accurate measurement, legislative measures |
| media | media coverage, digital media, electronic media, global media, national media, popular media, visual media |
| medical | medical assistance, medical treatment |
| meet | meet (a) target, meet (a) requirement, meet (an) objective, meet criteria, meet expectations, annual meeting |
| member | prominent member |
| memory | collective memory |
| mental | mental health, mental illness, mental state |
| mention | previously mentioned |
| merit | relative merits |
| message | convey (a) message |
| method | alternative method, apply (a) method, common method, describe (a) method, develop (a) method, effective method, employ (a) method, experimental method, modern method, qualitative method, quantitative method, scientific method, standard method, statistical method, traditional method, use (a) method, methodological approach, methodological issue, methodological problem, research methodology, use (a) methodology |
| metropolitan | metropolitan area |
| middle | middle income, middle management |
| migrate | migrant worker |
| military | military action, military force, military power, military service |
| minimum | minimum level, minimum requirement, minimum standard, minimum value, minimum wage |
| minor | minor change, minor role, relatively minor, minority group, ethnic minority, small minority |
| missing | missing data |
| mobility | social mobility, political mobilization |
| model | alternative model, original model, theoretical model |
| modern | modern culture, modern method, modern society, modern technology |
| modify | modified form, modified version |
| moral | moral dilemma, moral philosophy, moral principle |
| motive | (be) politically motivated |
| movement | feminist movement, free movement, national movement, political movement, religious movement, social movement |
| multiple | multiple identities, multiple sources |
| municipal | municipal government |
| mutual | mutual recognition, mutual support, mutual trust, mutual understanding, mutually exclusive |
| narrow | (a) narrow range (of), narrow definition |
| nation | industrialized nation, national average, national boundary, national conference, national culture, national economy, national government, national identity, national income, national institution, national interest, national language, national legislation, national market, national media, national movement, national policy, national press, national security, national survey |
| native | native speaker |
| nature | natural conditions, natural disaster, natural environment, natural history, natural language, natural law, natural order, natural philosophy, natural process, natural resources, natural right, natural science, natural tendency, natural world, naturally occurring, occur naturally, changing nature, dynamic nature, precise nature |
| necessary | necessary information, deem necessary |
| need | perceived need, changing needs, individual needs, physical needs, specific needs |
| negate | negative aspect, negative attitude, negative connotation, negative consequences, negative correlation, negative effect, negative feedback, negative impact, negative outcome, negative side, negative stereotype, negative value, negative view, (be) negatively correlated (with) |
| network | global network |
| new | new initiative, new insight, new perspective, entirely new, newly acquired, newly created, newly discovered, newly emerging, newly established, newly formed |
| next | next decade, next generation, next phase |
| norm | cultural norm, social norm |
| normal | normal conditions, normal development, normal distribution, normal practice |
| notable | notable exception |
| nuclear | nuclear energy, nuclear family, nuclear power, nuclear war, nuclear weapon |
| number | finite number, increased number, infinite number, significant number, substantial number, vast number, numerical data, numerical value, numerous studies |
| objective | objective criteria, objective reality, achieve (an) objective, key objective, learning objective, meet (an) objective, primary objective, set (an) objective, strategic objective, scientific objectivity |
| obligation | fulfil (an) obligation, have (an) obligation, legal obligation |
| observation | direct observation, make (an) observation |
| obtain | obtain (a) result, obtain data, obtain information |
| obvious | obvious difference, obvious example, obvious point, obvious reason, become obvious, fairly obvious, immediately obvious, seem obvious |
| occur | occur frequently, occur naturally, naturally occurring |
| offence | commit (an) offence, criminal offence, serious offence |
| offer | offer (an) opportunity, offer insight (into) |
| official | official statistics |
| once | once established |
| ongoing | ongoing debate, ongoing process |
| online | online access, online database, online journal, online version |
| open | open access, opening chapter, opening section |
| opinion | opinion leader, expert opinion |
| opportunity | create opportunities, employment opportunities, career opportunity, create (an) opportunity, educational opportunity, equal opportunity, limited opportunity, offer (an) opportunity, provide (an) opportunity, unique opportunity |
| oppose | (be) strongly opposed, binary opposition |
| optimal | optimal solution |
| oral | oral history, oral presentation |
| order | established order, high order, natural order |
| organ | internal organ |
| organise | organising principle, international organization, political organization, social organization, organizational structure |
| organism | living organism |
| orient | sexual orientation |
| origin | ethnic origin, original author, original context, original data, original intent, original meaning, original model, original position, original research, original source, original text, original version, original work, (be) originally developed, (be) originally intended |
| outcome | achieve (an) outcome, affect (the) outcome, desired outcome, final outcome, learning outcome, likely outcome, negative outcome, positive outcome, possible outcome |
| overall | overall aim, overall effect, overall level, overall performance, overall picture, overall rate, overall structure |
| overview | brief overview, comprehensive overview, general overview, give (an) overview (of), provide (an) overview (of) |
| overwhelming | overwhelming majority |
| paid | paid employment |
| panel | solar panel |
| paradigm | dominant paradigm |
| paragraph | previous paragraph |
| parameter | set (the) parameters |
| paramount | (be of) paramount importance |
| part | central part, crucial part, integral part, major part, previous part, significant part, substantial part, vital part, (be) partly responsible (for), constituent parts |
| participate | active participant, active participation, effective participation, full participation, political participation |
| particular | particular area, particular aspect, particular emphasis, particular feature, particular focus, particular individual, particular meaning, (be) particularly concerned (with), (be) particularly evident, (be) particularly suited (to), particularly acute, particularly apparent, particularly appropriate, particularly effective, particularly influential, particularly relevant, particularly sensitive, particularly significant, particularly striking, particularly successful, particularly useful, particularly valuable |
| party | party leader, interested party, political party, ruling party, third party |
| past | past research |
| pattern | changing pattern, complex pattern, consistent pattern, similar pattern |
| peace | peace treaty |
| peak | reach (a) peak |
| people | indigenous people |
| perceive | perceived importance, perceived need, perceived threat, public perception, visual perception |
| percent | high percentage, large percentage, low percentage, small percentage |
| perform | perform (a) function, perform (a) study, perform (a) task, academic performance, enhance performance, improved performance, overall performance, superior performance |
| period | brief period, earlier period, entire period, extended period, given period, historical period, initial period, short period, whole period |
| personal | personal choice, personal circumstances, personal communication, personal contact, personal control, personal experience, personal information, personal interest, personal knowledge, personal quality, personal relationship, personal responsibility, personal safety, personal space |
| perspective | critical perspective, cultural perspective, global perspective, historical perspective, new perspective, theoretical perspective |
| phase | final phase, first phase, initial phase, next phase |
| phenomenon | cultural phenomenon, social phenomenon |
| philosophy | moral philosophy, natural philosophy, political philosophy |
| physical | physical activity, physical appearance, physical characteristics, physical contact, physical development, physical environment, physical features, physical health, physical needs, physical presence, physical properties, physical proximity, physical science, physical space, physical symptom, physical world |
| picture | accurate picture, overall picture |
| pilot | pilot study |
| pioneering | pioneering work |
| pivotal | pivotal role |
| place | place emphasis |
| planning | planning stage, strategic planning |
| plausible | plausible explanation, seem plausible |
| play | play (a) role (in), key player |
| point | appropriate point, central point, critical point, crucial point, final point, focal point, obvious point |
| policy | current policy, economic policy, educational policy, effective policy, environmental policy, foreign policy, government policy, key policy, make policy, national policy, public policy, security policy, social policy |
| political | political activism, political activity, political agenda, political arena, political authority, political circumstances, political climate, political conflict, political consciousness, political consensus, political consequences, political consideration, political context, political culture, political debate, political dimension, political economy, political environment, political factors, political identity, political ideology, political implications, political instability, political institution, political leader, political mobilization, political movement, political organization, political participation, political party, political philosophy, political reality, political reform, political representation, political significance, political spectrum, political stability, political status, political structure, (be) politically motivated, politically correct |
| pollution | environmental pollution |
| poorly | (be) poorly understood |
| popular | popular culture, popular media, increasingly popular |
| population | (be) densely populated, (be) sparsely populated, indigenous population, rural population |
| portion | large portion, significant portion, small portion |
| pose | pose (a) challenge, pose (a) problem, pose (a) question, pose (a) threat (to) |
| position | central position, dominant position, final position, initial position, legal position, original position, privileged position, unique position |
| positive | positive action, positive aspect, positive attitude, positive connotation, positive correlation, positive discrimination, positive effect, positive feature, positive feedback, positive image, positive impact, positive influence, positive outcome, positive relationship, positive result, positive value, positive view, (be) positively associated (with), (be) positively correlated (with) |
| possible | consider (a) possibility, possible consequences, possible explanation, possible outcome, possible source |
| potential | potential benefits, potential conflict, potential customer, potential harm, potential impact, potential problem, potential risk, potential source, potential value, full potential, great potential, have potential, potentially dangerous |
| power | economic power, explanatory power, legislative power, military power, nuclear power, predictive power, purchasing power, solar power, unequal power, powerful force, powerful group, powerful influence, powerful tool, extremely powerful |
| practical | practical consideration, practical difficulties, practical issue, practical significance |
| practice | cultural practice, established practice, normal practice, professional practice, reflective practice, religious practice, traditional practice, administrative practices |
| precede | take precedence (over), preceding chapter, preceding discussion, preceding section, immediately preceding |
| precise | precise definition, precise nature |
| predict | make (a) prediction |
| predictive | predictive power |
| preferential | preferential treatment |
| preliminary | preliminary data, preliminary findings, preliminary result |
| premature | premature death |
| premise | basic premise |
| present | physical presence, present (a) challenge, present (a) summary, present (an) argument, present context, present data, present difficulties, present evidence |
| presentation | give (a) presentation, oral presentation |
| presidential | presidential election |
| press | national press |
| pressure | competitive pressure, increased pressure, increasing pressure |
| previous | previous chapter, previous decade, previous discussion, previous experience, previous generation, previous knowledge, previous paragraph, previous part, previous research, previous section, previous study, previous work, previously described, previously discussed, previously known, previously mentioned, previously thought |
| primary | (be) primarily concerned (with), (be) primarily responsible (for), primary aim, primary care, primary concern, primary data, primary education, primary focus, primary function, primary objective, primary purpose, primary reason, primary research, primary responsibility, primary source, primary task |
| prime | prime example, prime time |
| principal | principal source |
| principle | basic principle, established principle, ethical principle, fundamental principle, general principle, guiding principle, key principle, main principle, moral principle, organising principle, underlying principle |
| prior | prior experience, prior knowledge |
| priority | first priority, give priority (to), high priority, low priority |
| private | private individual, private investment, private sector, private sphere |
| privileged | privileged position |
| probability | conditional probability, high probability, low probability |
| problem | problem area, additional problem, central problem, complex problem, ethical problem, face (a) problem, financial problem, fundamental problem, identify (a) problem, major problem, methodological problem, pose (a) problem, potential problem, related problem, specific problem, technical problem, highly problematic, create problems, encounter problems, experience problems |
| proceed | adopt (a) procedure, describe (a) procedure, follow (a) procedure, use (a) procedure, legal proceedings |
| process | process data, process information, assessment process, begin (a) process, complex process, continuous process, creative process, democratic process, describe (a) process, developmental process, due process, dynamic process, evolutionary process, learning process, natural process, ongoing process, slow process, start (a) process, thinking process, thought process, underlying process, information processing |
| product | final product, increased production, industrial production, increased productivity, imported products |
| professional | professional activity, professional body, professional colleague, professional development, professional experience, professional knowledge, professional practice, professional qualification, professional staff, professional standard, professional status, professional support, professional training, professional work |
| profile | high profile, low profile |
| profound | profound effect, profound impact |
| programme | educational programme |
| progress | technological progress |
| prominent | prominent feature, prominent member, prominent role |
| promote | promote (the) development (of), promote equality |
| properly | (be) properly understood |
| property | physical properties, similar properties, structural properties, intellectual property |
| proportion | (a) great proportion (of), (a) high proportion (of), (a) increasing proportion (of), (a) large proportion (of), (a) significant proportion (of), (a) small proportion (of), (be) directly proportional (to) |
| propose | proposed legislation |
| prospect | future prospects |
| prosperity | economic prosperity |
| protection | environmental protection, legal protection |
| prove | prove successful, prove useful |
| provide | provide (a) benefit, provide (a) clue, provide (a) focus, provide (a) foundation (for), provide (a) service, provide (a) source, provide (a) summary, provide (an) alternative, provide (an) example, provide (an) explanation, provide (an) illustration, provide (an) indication (of), provide (an) opportunity, provide (an) overview (of), provide access (to), provide assistance, provide care, provide context, provide coverage, provide data, provide evidence, provide feedback, provide guidance, provide information, provide material, provide resources, provide support, provide feedback, provide insight (into), educational provision, make provision |
| proximity | close proximity, physical proximity |
| public | public access, public administration, public attitudes, public authority, public awareness, public debate, public discourse, public display, public domain, public expenditure, public funds, public image, public institution, public perception, public policy, public sector, public sphere, public transport, public welfare, wider public, publicly available |
| publish | publish (a) journal, publish (a) report, publish (an) article, publish research, published literature, published material, published research, published work |
| purchase | purchasing power |
| purpose | primary purpose, specific purpose |
| purposes | (for) research purposes |
| qualification | educational qualification, professional qualification |
| qualitative | qualitative analysis, qualitative approach, qualitative data, qualitative method, qualitative research, qualitative study, qualitatively different |
| quality | high quality, low quality, personal quality |
| quantity | quantitative analysis, quantitative approach, quantitative data, quantitative method, quantitative research, quantitative result, quantitative study, large quantities (of), small quantities (of), vast quantities (of) |
| question | central question, complex question, crucial question, ethical question, fundamental question, pose (a) question, raise (a) question, reflective question, related question, specific question |
| racial | racial differences, racial discrimination, racial equality, racial group, racial stereotype |
| radical | radical change, radical critique, radical differences, radical transformation, radically different |
| raise | raise (a) question, raise (an) issue, raise awareness |
| random | random error, random sample, random variable, (be) randomly assigned (to), (be) randomly chosen, (be) randomly selected |
| range | (a) broad range (of), (a) diverse range (of), (a) great range (of), (a) large range (of), (a) limited range (of), (a) narrow range (of), (a) vast range (of), (a) whole range (of), (a) wide range (of), (a, the) full range (of), (the) entire range (of), cover (a) range (of) |
| rapid | rapid expansion, rapidly changing, rapidly growing, change rapidly, expand rapidly, grow rapidly |
| rare | relatively rare |
| rate | annual rate, constant rate, high rate, overall rate |
| raw | raw data |
| reach | reach (a) consensus, reach (a) peak, reach (an) agreement |
| react | adverse reaction, chemical reaction, emotional reaction, strong reaction |
| read | widely read |
| ready | (be) readily understood, readily accessible, readily available, ready access |
| real | real issue, historical reality, objective reality, political reality |
| realize | (be) fully realized |
| reason | compelling reason, major reason, obvious reason, primary reason, underlying reason |
| receive | receive feedback, receive information, receive treatment, well received |
| recent | recent decades, recent evidence, recent research, recent study, recent survey, relatively recent |
| reciprocal | reciprocal relationship |
| recognize | mutual recognition, (be) widely recognized |
| recommend | make (a) recommendation |
| record | record data, accurate record, historical record |
| recurrent | recurrent theme |
| reduce | reduce (the) likelihood, reduce emissions, reduce stress, (be) greatly reduced, (be) significantly reduced, significant reduction |
| refer | specific reference, (be) commonly referred (to) (as), (be) frequently referred (to) |
| reflect | critical reflection, reflective practice, reflective question |
| reform | economic reform, political reform, social reform, welfare reform |
| regarded | (be) widely regarded (as) |
| region | regional development, regional differences, regional variation |
| regulate | regulatory agency, regulatory framework |
| relate | related activity, related area, related aspect, related factor, related information, related issue, related problem, related question, related topic, (be) clearly related (to), (be) closely related (to), (be) directly related (to), (be) strongly related (to), causal relation, economic relations, causal relationship, clear relationship, close relationship, complex relationship, direct relationship, establish (a) relationship, intimate relationship, linear relationship, personal relationship, positive relationship, reciprocal relationship, significant relationship, social relationship, special relationship, strong relationship, symbiotic relationship, economic relationships, interpersonal relationships, relative autonomy, relative merits, relative status, relatively common, relatively constant, relatively few, relatively high, relatively little, relatively low, relatively minor, relatively rare, relatively recent, relatively simple, relatively stable, relatively straightforward |
| relevant | relevant data, relevant factors, relevant information, relevant issue, relevant literature, relevant material, consider relevant, highly relevant, particularly relevant |
| religious | religious belief, religious faith, religious freedom, religious group, religious identity, religious movement, religious practice |
| rely | reliable data, reliable information, rely heavily (on) |
| remain | remain constant, remain stable, remain unchanged, remain unclear |
| remark | remarkably similar, concluding remarks |
| remove | (be) far removed (from) |
| renew | renewable energy, renewed interest |
| report | report data, report findings, annual report, publish (a) report |
| representation | graphical representation, political representation, schematic representation, visual representation |
| representative | representative government |
| require | require consideration, require knowledge, require resources, functional requirement, legal requirement, meet (a) requirement, minimum requirement |
| research | (for) research purposes, research effort, research evidence, research findings, research methodology, research topic, academic research, basic research, carry out research (of), comparative research, conduct research, considerable research, current research, earlier research, educational research, empirical research, existing research, experimental research, extensive research, field research, further research, future research, initial research, little research, original research, past research, previous research, primary research, publish research, published research, qualitative research, quantitative research, recent research, scholarly research, scientific research, traditional research, undertake research |
| resemble | bear resemblance (to), closely resemble |
| resolve | conflict resolution, resolve (a) conflict, resolve (a) dispute |
| resource | additional resources, allocate resources, available resources, economic resources, electronic resources, financial resources, learning resources, limited resources, natural resources, provide resources, require resources, scarce resources, sufficient resources, use resources, valuable resources |
| respond | respond appropriately, appropriate response, emotional response, individual response |
| responsible | accept responsibility, assume responsibility, individual responsibility, personal responsibility, primary responsibility, social responsibility, take responsibility, (be) directly responsible (for), (be) largely responsible (for), (be) partly responsible (for), (be) primarily responsible (for), socially responsible |
| restrict | impose restrictions |
| result | final result, obtain (a) result, positive result, preliminary result, quantitative result, similar result, consistent results, experimental results |
| retrieval | information retrieval |
| review | review (a) study, annual review, brief review, comprehensive review, critical review |
| revise | revised edition, revised version |
| rich | rich source |
| right | legal right, natural right, individual rights |
| rising | rising cost |
| risk | risk assessment, increased risk, potential risk |
| role | active role, assume (the) role (of), central role, consider (the) role (of), critical role, crucial role, direct role, dominant role, essential role, examine (the) role (of), key role, leading role, major role, minor role, pivotal role, play (a) role (in), prominent role, significant role, take (a) role (in), take on (the) role (of, as), take up (the) role (of, as), vital role |
| root | (be) deeply rooted, historical roots |
| roughly | roughly equal, roughly equivalent |
| rule | legal rule, ruling class, ruling party |
| rural | rural area, rural community, rural economy, rural population, rural society |
| safe | safe sex, personal safety |
| salient | salient characteristic, salient feature |
| sample | random sample |
| scarce | scarce resources |
| scheme | schematic representation |
| scholarly | scholarly journal, scholarly literature, scholarly research, scholarly work |
| science | biological science, natural science, physical science, scientific community, scientific discourse, scientific evidence, scientific investigation, scientific method, scientific objectivity, scientific research, scientific theory |
| score | average score, high score, mean score, test score |
| scrutiny | close scrutiny, critical scrutiny |
| secondary | secondary data, secondary education, secondary source |
| section | concluding section, final section, introductory section, opening section, preceding section, previous section |
| sector | business sector, economic sector, manufacturing sector, private sector, public sector, service sector, state sector |
| secure | security policy, national security |
| seek | seek help, seek information |
| seem | seem appropriate, seem obvious, seem plausible, seem unlikely |
| select | (be) carefully selected, (be) randomly selected, highly selective |
| seminal | seminal study, seminal work |
| senior | senior management |
| sense | (in a) literal sense, specific sense, extremely sensitive, highly sensitive, particularly sensitive |
| separate | separate entity |
| serious | serious challenge, serious consequences, serious offence |
| serve | serve (a) function |
| service | service sector, military service, provide (a) service |
| set | set (a) goal, set (a) target, set (an) objective, set (the) agenda, set (the) parameters, complex set, data set |
| setting | educational setting, social setting |
| severely | severely affect |
| sex | biological sex, safe sex, sexual abuse, sexual act, sexual behaviour, sexual contact, sexual difference, sexual exploitation, sexual identity, sexual intercourse, sexual orientation, sexual violence |
| share | share information, shared experience, shared meaning, shared values, widely shared, information sharing |
| sharp | sharp contrast, sharp distinction |
| shift | global shift, major shift, significant shift, shift emphasis |
| short | short duration, short period |
| show | show (a) tendency, show (a) trend, show evidence, show variation |
| side | negative side |
| sign | sign (a) treaty |
| significant | cultural significance, great significance, little significance, political significance, practical significance, social significance, statistical significance, (a) significant amount (of), (a) significant degree (of), (a) significant proportion (of), significant change, significant contribution, significant correlation, significant correlation, significant development, significant difference, significant effect, significant factor, significant feature, significant figures, significant growth, significant impact, significant improvement, significant increase, significant influence, significant interaction, significant number, significant part, significant portion, significant reduction, significant relationship, significant role, significant shift, significant variation, highly significant, particularly significant, statistically significant, (be) significantly correlated (with), (be) significantly reduced, significantly affect, significantly higher, significantly increase, contribute significantly, differ significantly, vary significantly |
| similar | similar approach, similar argument, similar characteristics, similar effect, similar issue, similar pattern, similar properties, similar result, similar situation, broadly similar, remarkably similar |
| simple | simple majority, relatively simple, simplified version |
| single | single currency, single element, single entity, single individual, single issue, single source, single variable |
| situation | complex situation, similar situation |
| skill | technical skill, transferable skill, skilled worker, highly skilled, academic skills, appropriate skills, cognitive skills, core skills, interpersonal skills, unskilled worker |
| slightly | slightly different, slightly higher |
| slow | slow process |
| small | (a) small proportion (of), small fraction, small minority, small percentage, small portion, small quantities (of) |
| social | social activity, social aspect, social attitudes, social background, social behaviour, social circumstances, social conflict, social consequences, social construct, social contact, social context, social democracy, social dimension, social environment, social equality, social exclusion, social expectations, social factors, social function, social identity, social implications, social inequality, social institution, social integration, social interaction, social isolation, social mobility, social movement, social norm, social organization, social phenomenon, social policy, social reform, social relationship, social responsibility, social setting, social significance, social status, social structure, social theory, social transformation, social trend, social welfare, (be) socially constructed, socially acceptable, socially desirable, socially responsible, capitalist society, civil society, contemporary society, democratic society, human society, industrial society, modern society, rural society, traditional society, western society, wider society, socioeconomic status |
| solar | solar energy, solar panel, solar power, solar system |
| solution | alternative solution, optimal solution |
| sophisticated | highly sophisticated, increasingly sophisticated |
| source | source material, alternative source, become (a) source (of), common source, external source, key source, main source, major source, original source, possible source, potential source, primary source, principal source, provide (a) source, rich source, secondary source, single source, use (a) source, useful source, multiple sources |
| sovereign | sovereign state |
| space | personal space, physical space |
| sparingly | use sparingly |
| sparsely | (be) sparsely populated |
| speaker | native speaker |
| special | special circumstances, special emphasis, special issue, special relationship, special status |
| species | human species |
| specific | specific area, specific aspect, specific case, specific characteristic, specific context, specific example, specific factor, specific feature, specific focus, specific form, specific function, specific information, specific issue, specific knowledge, specific meaning, specific needs, specific problem, specific purpose, specific question, specific reference, specific sense, specific type, culturally specific, historically specific, (be) specifically designed (to, for) |
| spectrum | broad spectrum, political spectrum |
| sphere | domestic sphere, private sphere, public sphere |
| stable | political instability, economic stability, political stability, relatively stable, remain stable |
| staff | professional staff |
| stage | developmental stage, earlier stage, final stage, initial stage, planning stage |
| standard | standard approach, standard error, standard format, standard method, high standard, living standard, minimum standard, professional standard |
| stark | stark contrast |
| start | start (a) process |
| state | state explicitly, state sector, democratic state, federal state, independent state, mental state, sovereign state, clear statement, general statement, make (a) statement, written statement |
| statistic | statistical analysis, statistical data, statistical information, statistical method, statistical significance, statistical technique, statistical test, statistically significant, descriptive statistics, official statistics, use statistics |
| status | current status, economic status, equal status, high status, legal status, low status, political status, professional status, relative status, social status, socioeconomic status, special status |
| step | final step |
| stereotype | gender stereotype, negative stereotype, racial stereotype |
| store | store data, store information |
| straightforward | fairly straightforward, relatively straightforward |
| strategy | strategic decision, strategic importance, strategic management, strategic objective, strategic planning, alternative strategy, coping strategy, develop (a) strategy, have (a) strategy, learning strategy, teaching strategy, use (a) strategy |
| stress | stress level, cause stress, reduce stress |
| striking | striking contrast, striking example, striking feature, particularly striking |
| strong | strong bond, strong correlation, strong emphasis, strong evidence, strong link, strong reaction, strong relationship, strong tendency, (be) strongly associated (with), (be) strongly correlated (with), (be) strongly influenced (by), (be) strongly linked, (be) strongly opposed, (be) strongly related (to), strongly agree, strongly disagree, strongly suggest |
| structure | structural adjustment, structural change, structural element, structural feature, structural properties, basic structure, clear structure, complex structure, economic structure, existing structure, formal structure, global structure, hierarchical structure, institutional structure, internal structure, organizational structure, overall structure, political structure, social structure, underlying structure, (be) highly structured |
| study | numerous studies, academic study, classic study, comparative study, conduct (a) study, detailed study, earlier study, early study, empirical study, experimental study, further study, future study, historical study, intensive study, longitudinal study, perform (a) study, pilot study, previous study, qualitative study, quantitative study, recent study, review (a) study, seminal study, subsequent study, systematic study, theoretical study |
| subject | subject area |
| subsequent | subsequent analysis, subsequent chapter, subsequent development, subsequent study, subsequent work |
| substantial | (a) substantial amount (of), substantial difference, substantial evidence, substantial number, substantial part, substantially different |
| success | academic success, economic success, successful implementation, highly successful, particularly successful, prove successful |
| sufficient | sufficient condition, sufficient detail, sufficient evidence, sufficient information, sufficient resources |
| suggest | strongly suggest |
| suited | (be) ideally suited, (be) particularly suited (to) |
| summary | brief summary, present (a) summary, provide (a) summary, useful summary |
| superior | superior performance |
| support | support (an) argument, additional support, considerable support, emotional support, empirical support, financial support, institutional support, mutual support, professional support, provide support, technical support, widespread support, supporting evidence |
| surprising | hardly surprising |
| survey | survey data, conduct (a) survey, national survey, recent survey |
| symbiotic | symbiotic relationship |
| symptom | physical symptom |
| system | binary system, capitalist system, complex system, comprehensive system, dynamic system, economic system, educational system, integrated system, legal system, solar system, transport system |
| systematic | systematic analysis, systematic approach, systematic study |
| tacit | tacit knowledge |
| take | take (a) role (in), take (an) approach, take initiative, take precedence (over), take responsibility, take into consideration, take on (the) role (of, as), take up (the) role (of, as) |
| target | target audience, meet (a) target, set (a) target |
| task | carry out (the) task, complete (a) task, main task, perform (a) task, primary task |
| teach | teaching strategy |
| technical | technical aspect, technical assistance, technical detail, technical expertise, technical issue, technical knowledge, technical problem, technical skill, technical support, technical term |
| technique | basic technique, develop (a) technique, employ (a) technique, statistical technique, use (a) technique |
| technology | technological advances, technological change, technological development, technological innovation, technological progress, advanced technology, current technology, digital technology, modern technology |
| tendency | general tendency, have (a) tendency (to), increasing tendency, natural tendency, show (a) tendency, strong tendency |
| tenet | central tenet |
| term | technical term |
| test | test (a) theory, test score, diagnostic test, statistical test |
| text | classic text, introductory text, key text, literary text, original text, textual analysis |
| theme | thematic analysis, central theme, common theme, key theme, main theme, major theme, recurrent theme |
| theory | theoretical analysis, theoretical approach, theoretical basis, theoretical concept, theoretical debate, theoretical framework, theoretical issue, theoretical model, theoretical perspective, theoretical study, theoretical understanding, theoretical work, apply (the) theory, classical theory, critical theory, cultural theory, develop (a) theory, economic theory, evolutionary theory, general theory, scientific theory, social theory, test (a) theory, use (a) theory |
| think | think differently, thinking process, creative thinking, critical thinking |
| third | third party |
| thought | thought process, careful thought, previously thought |
| threat | external threat, perceived threat, pose (a) threat (to) |
| tied | (be) closely tied |
| tightly | (be) tightly controlled |
| time | brief time, prime time |
| times | earlier times |
| tool | analytical tool, powerful tool, useful tool |
| top | top management |
| topic | cover (a) topic, discuss (a) topic, key topic, related topic, research topic |
| total | total income, totally different |
| trade | global trade |
| tradition | cultural tradition, literary tradition, western tradition, traditional approach, traditional culture, traditional form, traditional method, traditional practice, traditional research, traditional society, traditional value, traditional view |
| training | professional training |
| transaction | business transaction, commercial transaction |
| transfer | transferable skill |
| transform | radical transformation, social transformation, undergo transformation |
| transit | make (a) transition |
| transmit | transmit data, transmit information |
| transport | transport system, public transport |
| treat | treat differently, treat equally, appropriate treatment, effective treatment, equal treatment, fair treatment, give (sb) treatment, medical treatment, preferential treatment, receive treatment, unfair treatment |
| treaty | international treaty, peace treaty, sign (a) treaty |
| trend | current trend, general trend, growing trend, increasing trend, show (a) trend, social trend |
| true | equally true |
| trust | mutual trust |
| turnover | high turnover, low turnover |
| type | distinct type, specific type |
| typical | typical example |
| ultimate | ultimate goal |
| undergo | undergo transformation |
| underlie | underlying assumption, underlying cause, underlying principle, underlying process, underlying reason, underlying structure |
| understand | clearly understand, fully understand, (a) deep understanding (of), mutual understanding, theoretical understanding, (be) easily understood, (be) poorly understood, (be) properly understood, (be) readily understood |
| undertake | undertake (an) activity, undertake research, undertake work |
| unique | unique individual, unique opportunity, unique position |
| universally | (be) universally accepted |
| urban | urban area, urban centre, urban design, urban development, urban environment |
| usage | common usage |
| use | use (a) format, use (a) method, use (a) methodology, use (a) procedure, use (a) source, use (a) strategy, use (a) technique, use (a) theory, use (an) approach, use (the) analysis, use (the) concept concept, use (the) data data, use (the) definition, use criteria, use effectively, use resources, use sparingly, use statistics, continued use, widespread use, (be) commonly used, (be) extensively used, (be) frequently used, (be) widely used, useful information, useful material, useful means, useful source, useful summary, useful tool, extremely useful, particularly useful, prove useful |
| valid | valid argument, equally valid |
| value | valuable information, valuable resources, extremely valuable, particularly valuable, core value, economic value, high value, intrinsic value, minimum value, negative value, numerical value, positive value, potential value, traditional value, (be) highly valued, cultural values, shared values |
| various | various aspects |
| vary | dependent variable, highly variable, independent variable, individual variable, random variable, single variable, considerable variation, genetic variation, individual variation, regional variation, show variation, significant variation, wide variation, vary considerably, vary greatly, vary significantly, vary widely, varying degree |
| vast | (a) vast amount (of), (a) vast array (of), (a) vast range (of), vast area, vast majority, vast number, vast quantities (of) |
| verbal | verbal communication, verbal language |
| version | earlier version, electronic version, final version, modified version, online version, original version, revised version, simplified version |
| vested | vested interest |
| view | alternative view, conventional view, negative view, positive view, traditional view |
| village | global village |
| violence | domestic violence, sexual violence |
| virtual | virtual community, virtually impossible |
| visible | become visible, clearly visible, make visible |
| visual | visual image, visual media, visual perception, visual representation |
| vital | (be of) vital importance, vital part, vital role |
| vulnerable | vulnerable group |
| wage | minimum wage |
| war | nuclear war |
| way | (in a) meaningful way, alternative way, appropriate way, identify (a) way |
| weapon | nuclear weapon |
| welfare | welfare reform, economic welfare, public welfare, social welfare |
| well | (be) well documented, (be) well established, well aware, well designed, well educated, well received |
| western | western democracy, western society, western tradition |
| whole | (a) whole range (of), whole area, whole period |
| wide | (a) wide array (of), (a) wide range (of), wide area, wide variation, (be) widely accepted, (be) widely adopted, (be) widely believed, (be) widely discussed, (be) widely dispersed, (be) widely distributed, (be) widely known, (be) widely recognized, (be) widely regarded (as), (be) widely used, widely available, widely different, widely read, widely shared, differ widely, vary widely, wider audience, wider community, wider context, wider implications, wider issue, wider public, wider society |
| widespread | widespread acceptance, widespread belief, widespread support, widespread use, become widespread |
| wisdom | conventional wisdom |
| work | work effectively, academic work, classic work, creative work, earlier work, empirical work, experimental work, intellectual work, later work, original work, pioneering work, previous work, professional work, published work, scholarly work, seminal work, subsequent work, theoretical work, undertake work, manual worker, migrant worker, skilled worker, unskilled worker |
| world | academic world, capitalist world, changing world, contemporary world, external world, natural world, physical world |
| write | academic writing, critical writing, historical writing, later writings, written comment, written communication, written statement |
| year | academic year |
| young | younger generation |
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The AWL highlighter allows you to highlight words from the AWL (Academic Word List) in any text you choose.
The Academic Word List (AWL) contains 570 word families which frequently appear in academic texts.
The Academic Collocation List (ACL) is a list containing 2,469 of the most frequent and useful collocations which occur in written academic English.
Academic vocabulary consists of general words, non-general academic words, and technical words.
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Learning vocabulary depends on knowing how much to learn, the type of vocabulary to study, and how to study it properly.
Vocabulary for Academic Success: Key Words and Phrases
This article covers the following areas –
Academic success isn’t solely about understanding concepts or having a high IQ; it also leans heavily on one’s ability to communicate ideas and knowledge effectively. A strong academic vocabulary forms the foundation of coherent arguments, clear explanations, and insightful discussions.
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This article will introduce many terms and phrases that are pivotal for students and academicians across disciplines. Understanding and using these terms can elevate your academic writing and discussions.
Research Terminology
Engaging with or conducting research requires an understanding of specific terminology.
| Word/Phrase | Meaning/Usage | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothesis | A proposed explanation made on limited evidence | “The hypothesis was tested through various experiments.” |
| Qualitative | Relating to descriptive data | “She conducted a qualitative analysis of the responses.” |
| Quantitative | Relating to numerical data | “The study was primarily quantitative in nature.” |
| Variables | Elements that can be changed or varied | “There were too many variables to consider in the experiment.” |
| Methodology | A system of methods used in a study | “The methodology section outlines the research process.” |
| Control group | Group in an experiment without the factor being tested | “The control group showed no change in behavior.” |
| Sample size | Number of participants in a study | “A larger sample size would make the findings more reliable.” |
| Bias | Prejudice in favor or against a thing/person | “Researchers must avoid bias in studies.” |
| Peer-reviewed | Evaluated by professionals in the field | “The article was peer-reviewed before publication.” |
| Literature review | Comprehensive survey of existing research | “Her literature review highlighted all major studies on the topic.” |
| Data | Factual information used for analysis | “Raw data was processed to derive meaningful conclusions.” |
Argumentative Writing
Presenting arguments in academia needs a structured approach and specific vocabulary.
| Word/Phrase | Meaning/Usage | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis statement | Main claim or argument of a work | “The thesis statement is clear and concise.” |
| Evidence | Information supporting an idea | “He provided ample evidence to back his claims.” |
| Counterargument | Argument against the main idea | “Considering the counterargument is essential for a balanced essay.” |
| Rebuttal | Refuting a counterargument | “Her rebuttal to the opposition was compelling.” |
| Stance | Position or opinion on an issue | “He took a firm stance on environmental conservation.” |
| Validate | To confirm or corroborate | “She used case studies to validate her points.” |
| Perspective | A particular way of considering something | “From a historical perspective, the event takes on different significance.” |
| Assertion | A confident statement of fact or belief | “His assertion was challenged by many.” |
| Premise | A basic idea that forms the basis for a theory | “The premise of his argument was fundamentally flawed.” |
| Synthesize | Combining various sources of information | “She synthesized various scholars’ views in her paper.” |
| Rhetoric | Art of persuasive speaking/writing | “His rhetoric was powerful and convincing.” |
Literary Analysis
| Word/Phrase | Meaning/Usage | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Protagonist | Main character in a story | “The protagonist’s journey is central to the plot.” |
| Antagonist | Opponent of the protagonist | “The antagonist’s motives were questionable.” |
| Theme | Main idea or underlying message | “The theme of love is prevalent in the novel.” |
| Symbolism | Use of symbols to signify deeper meanings | “The river’s symbolism in the story is multifaceted.” |
| Motif | Recurring element with significance | “The broken mirror is a motif throughout the play.” |
| Allegory | A story with a hidden meaning | “The tale was an allegory for societal collapse.” |
| Characterization | Process by which a character is portrayed | “The author’s characterization was vivid and detailed.” |
| Irony | A situation where the opposite of what you expect occurs | “The irony of the ending was not lost on readers.” |
| Metaphor | Figure of speech comparing two things | “The world is a stage, is a famous metaphor.” |
| Foreshadowing | Hinting at future events | “The storm clouds were foreshadowing the tragedy to come.” |
| Imagery | Descriptive language that evokes sensory experiences | “Her imagery painted a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.” |
Historical Discussions
Historical discourses often utilize specific terminology to explain events and eras.
| Word/Phrase | Meaning/Usage | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Epoch | A period in history or a person’s life | “The Renaissance was an epoch of great cultural achievement.” |
| Chronology | Arrangement of events in time | “The chronology of events was meticulously detailed.” |
| Artifact | Object made by a human, typically historical | “The museum displayed artifacts from ancient Egypt.” |
| Dynasty | A series of rulers from a single family | “The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.” |
| Revolution | A significant change or overthrow of a system | “The French Revolution brought vast changes to society.” |
| Regime | A government in power | “The regime was known for its oppressive policies.” |
| Colonialism | Control by one country over another | “The impacts of colonialism can still be felt today.” |
| Primary source | First-hand account of an event | “Diaries are valuable primary sources for historians.” |
| Secondary source | Interpretation of primary sources | “Her book, a secondary source, analyzes letters from the war.” |
| Treaty | Formal agreement between countries | “The treaty ended decades of conflict.” |
| Historiography | Study of historical writing | “His focus was on the historiography of the medieval era.” |
Mathematical Language
Mathematics, while numeric, also employs specific verbiage to describe concepts and processes.
| Word/Phrase | Meaning/Usage | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Variable | An element that can take on different values | “Let x be the variable in the equation.” |
| Equation | A statement that two things are equal | “The equation balances when both sides equal 5.” |
| Theorem | A general proposition proved true | “Pythagoras’ theorem is fundamental in trigonometry.” |
| Function | Relation between a set of inputs and outputs | “The function f(x) defines how x is transformed.” |
| Integer | A whole number | “The value must be an integer, not a fraction.” |
| Derivative | Rate at which a function changes | “The derivative gives the slope of the tangent line.” |
| Integral | The opposite of a derivative | “Finding the integral can determine the area under a curve.” |
| Matrix | A rectangular arrangement of numbers | “The matrix can be used to represent systems of equations.” |
| Geometry | Study of shapes and their properties | “Geometry deals with points, lines, and planes.” |
| Probability | Measure of the likelihood of an event | “The probability of the event occurring is 0.5.” |
| Algorithm | A set of rules to solve a problem | “The algorithm quickly sorts the data.” |
To elevate your vocabulary in just 30 days, I recommend to my students an informative, fun, and accessible guide to utilizing powerful language. Millions of individuals have enhanced their academics, job skills, and confidence by dedicating just fifteen minutes daily to the exercises and tests of 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary (Amazon Link) , a top-selling. It offers step-by-step methods to bolster language prowess, discover compelling words, and daily vocabulary enhancement with pronunciation guidance.
Sample Conversation Using Vocabulary for Academic Success
Situation: In a university coffee shop, Lisa and Kevin are talking about the importance of academic vocabulary in enhancing the quality of their research papers.
Lisa: Hey Kevin, I recently read an article on vocabulary crucial for academic success. It’s fascinating how using certain key words and phrases can improve the clarity and impact of our papers.
Lisa: It highlighted transition words like ‘however,’ ‘furthermore,’ and ‘consequently.’ It also discussed terms used to introduce evidence, like ‘for instance,’ ‘as illustrated by,’ and ‘according to.’
Kevin: Oh, I see. I’ve used some of those, but maybe not as effectively as I could. I guess using these phrases correctly can help make our arguments more compelling?
Navigating the world of academia becomes smoother with a robust vocabulary. By familiarizing yourself with these terms and phrases, you arm yourself with the tools necessary for clear, precise, and sophisticated communication in academic circles.
Whether penning a research paper, participating in a debate, or simply engaging in academic dialogue, this vocabulary is a foundational pillar for academic success.
Let’s Practice Now – Quiz!
Frequently asked questions.
Academic collocations are word combinations frequently used in academic texts, such as “conduct research” and “pose a question.” These collocations make writing more natural and precise, enhancing the quality of academic work.
Common transition words in academic writing include “however,” “therefore,” “moreover,” and “consequently.” These words help in creating logical flow and coherence between sentences and paragraphs.
Using precise vocabulary benefits academic success by making arguments clearer and more persuasive. It demonstrates a strong command of the subject matter and helps in conveying ideas accurately and efficiently.
Understanding academic vocabulary is important for non-native speakers because it enables them to engage with scholarly texts, participate in academic discussions, and succeed in academic settings.
Practice academic vocabulary in everyday life by reading academic journals, writing essays, and discussing complex topics with peers. Engaging in debates and presentations can also help reinforce and apply new vocabulary.
Related Posts
Goodnight vs. good night: which one is correct, adjectives to describe someone in english: a to z, a guide to collocations: combine words to enrich vocabulary, terms to talk about games and exercises in english, niaj a a khan.
Niaj A A Khan is an ESL Instructor with over 8 years of experience in teaching & developing resources at different universities and institutes. Mr. Khan is also a passionate writer working on his first book, "Learn English at Ease."
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17 academic words and phrases to use in your essay
(Last updated: 20 October 2022)
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For the vast majority of students, essay writing doesn't always come easily. Writing at academic level is an acquired skill that can literally take years to master – indeed, many students find they only start to feel really confident writing essays just as their undergraduate course comes to an end!
If this is you, and you've come here looking for words and phrases to use in your essay, you're in the right place. We’ve pulled together a list of essential academic words you can use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essays .
Whilst your ideas and arguments should always be your own, borrowing some of the words and phrases listed below is a great way to articulate your ideas more effectively, and ensure that you keep your reader’s attention from start to finish.
It goes without saying (but we'll say it anyway) that there's a certain formality that comes with academic writing. Casual and conversational phrases have no place. Obviously, there are no LOLs, LMFAOs, and OMGs. But formal academic writing can be much more subtle than this, and as we've mentioned above, requires great skill.
So, to get you started on polishing your own essay writing ability, try using the words in this list as an inspirational starting point.
Words to use in your introduction
The trickiest part of academic writing often comes right at the start, with your introduction. Of course, once you’ve done your plan and have your arguments laid out, you need to actually put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and begin your essay.
You need to consider that your reader doesn’t have a clue about your topic or arguments, so your first sentence must summarise these. Explain what your essay is going to talk about as though you were explaining it to a five year old – without losing the formality of your academic writing, of course! To do this, use any of the below words or phrases to help keep you on track.
1. Firstly, secondly, thirdly
Even though it sounds obvious, your argument will be clearer if you deliver the ideas in the right order. These words can help you to offer clarity and structure to the way you expose your ideas. This is an extremely effective method of presenting the facts clearly. Don’t be too rigid and feel you have to number each point, but using this system can be a good way to get an argument off the ground, and link arguments together.
2. In view of; in light of; considering
These essay phrases are useful to begin your essay. They help you pose your argument based on what other authors have said or a general concern about your research. They can also both be used when a piece of evidence sheds new light on an argument. Here’s an example: The result of the American invasion has severely impaired American interests in the Middle East, exponentially increasing popular hostility to the United States throughout the region, a factor which has proved to be a powerful recruitment tool for extremist terrorist groups (Isakhan, 2015). Considering [or In light of / In view of] the perceived resulting threat to American interests, it could be argued that the Bush administration failed to fully consider the impact of their actions before pushing forward with the war.
3. According to X; X stated that; referring to the views of X
Introducing the views of an author who has a comprehensive knowledge of your particular area of study is a crucial part of essay writing. Including a quote that fits naturally into your work can be a bit of a struggle, but these academic phrases provide a great way in.
Even though it’s fine to reference a quote in your introduction, we don’t recommend you start your essay with a direct quote. Use your own words to sum up the views you’re mentioning, for example:
As Einstein often reiterated, experiments can prove theories, but experiments don’t give birth to theories.
Rather than:
“A theory can be proved by experiment, but no path leads from experiment to the birth of a theory.” {Albert Einstein, 1954, Einstein: A Biography}.
See the difference?
And be sure to reference correctly too, when using quotes or paraphrasing someone else's words.
Adding information and flow
The flow of your essay is extremely important. You don’t want your reader to be confused by the rhythm of your writing and get distracted away from your argument, do you? No! So, we recommend using some of the following ‘flow’ words, which are guaranteed to help you articulate your ideas and arguments in a chronological and structured order.
4. Moreover; furthermore; in addition; what’s more
These types of academic phrases are perfect for expanding or adding to a point you’ve already made without interrupting the flow altogether. “Moreover”, “furthermore” and “in addition” are also great linking phrases to begin a new paragraph.
Here are some examples: The dissociation of tau protein from microtubules destabilises the latter resulting in changes to cell structure, and neuronal transport. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction leads to further oxidative stress causing increased levels of nitrous oxide, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidases.
On the data of this trial, no treatment recommendations should be made. The patients are suspected, but not confirmed, to suffer from pneumonia. Furthermore, five days is too short a follow up time to confirm clinical cure.
5. In order to; to that end; to this end
These are helpful academic phrases to introduce an explanation or state your aim. Oftentimes your essay will have to prove how you intend to achieve your goals. By using these sentences you can easily expand on points that will add clarity to the reader.
For example: My research entailed hours of listening and recording the sound of whales in order to understand how they communicate.
Dutch tech companies offer support in the fight against the virus. To this end, an online meeting took place on Wednesday...
Even though we recommend the use of these phrases, DO NOT use them too often. You may think you sound like a real academic but it can be a sign of overwriting!
6. In other words; to put it another way; that is; to put it more simply
Complement complex ideas with simple descriptions by using these sentences. These are excellent academic phrases to improve the continuity of your essay writing. They should be used to explain a point you’ve already made in a slightly different way. Don’t use them to repeat yourself, but rather to elaborate on a certain point that needs further explanation. Or, to succinctly round up what just came before.
For example: A null hypothesis is a statement that there is no relationship between phenomena. In other words, there is no treatment effect.
Nothing could come to be in this pre-world time, “because no part of such a time possesses, as compared with any other, a distinguishing condition of existence rather than non-existence.” That is, nothing exists in this pre-world time, and so there can be nothing that causes the world to come into existence.
7. Similarly; likewise; another key fact to remember; as well as; an equally significant aspect of
These essay words are a good choice to add a piece of information that agrees with an argument or fact you just mentioned. In academic writing, it is very relevant to include points of view that concur with your opinion. This will help you to situate your research within a research context.
Also , academic words and phrases like the above are also especially useful so as not to repeat the word ‘also’ too many times. (We did that on purpose to prove our point!) Your reader will be put off by the repetitive use of simple conjunctions. The quality of your essay will drastically improve just by using academic phrases and words such as ‘similarly’, ‘as well as’, etc. Here, let us show you what we mean:
In 1996, then-transport minister Steve Norris enthused about quadrupling cycling trips by 2012. Similarly, former prime minister David Cameron promised a “cycling revolution” in 2013…
Or Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) aims to bridge the gap of access to electricity across the continent (...). Another key fact to remember is that it must expand cost-efficient access to electricity to nearly 1 billion people.
The wording “not only… but also” is a useful way to elaborate on a similarity in your arguments but in a more striking way.
Comparing and contrasting information
Academic essays often include opposite opinions or information in order to prove a point. It is important to show all the aspects that are relevant to your research. Include facts and researchers’ views that disagree with a point of your essay to show your knowledge of your particular field of study. Below are a few words and ways of introducing alternative arguments.
8. Conversely; however; alternatively; on the contrary; on the other hand; whereas
Finding a seamless method to present an alternative perspective or theory can be hard work, but these terms and phrases can help you introduce the other side of the argument. Let's look at some examples:
89% of respondents living in joint families reported feeling financially secure. Conversely, only 64% of those who lived in nuclear families said they felt financially secure.
The first protagonist has a social role to fill in being a father to those around him, whereas the second protagonist relies on the security and knowledge offered to him by Chaplin.
“On the other hand” can also be used to make comparisons when worded together with “on the one hand.”
9. By contrast; in comparison; then again; that said; yet
These essay phrases show contrast, compare facts, and present uncertainty regarding a point in your research. “That said” and “yet” in particular will demonstrate your expertise on a topic by showing the conditions or limitations of your research area. For example:
All the tests were positive. That said, we must also consider the fact that some of them had inconclusive results.
10. Despite this; provided that; nonetheless
Use these phrases and essay words to demonstrate a positive aspect of your subject-matter regardless of lack of evidence, logic, coherence, or criticism. Again, this kind of information adds clarity and expertise to your academic writing.
A good example is:
Despite the criticism received by X, the popularity of X remains undiminished.
11. Importantly; significantly; notably; another key point
Another way to add contrast is by highlighting the relevance of a fact or opinion in the context of your research. These academic words help to introduce a sentence or paragraph that contains a very meaningful point in your essay.
Giving examples
A good piece of academic writing will always include examples. Illustrating your essay with examples will make your arguments stronger. Most of the time, examples are a way to clarify an explanation; they usually offer an image that the reader can recognise. The most common way to introduce an illustration is “for example.” However, in order not to repeat yourself here are a few other options.
12. For instance; to give an illustration of; to exemplify; to demonstrate; as evidence; to elucidate
The academic essays that are receiving top marks are the ones that back up every single point made. These academic phrases are a useful way to introduce an example. If you have a lot of examples, avoid repeating the same phrase to facilitate the readability of your essay.
Here’s an example:
‘High involvement shopping’, an experiential process described by Wu et al. (2015, p. 299) relies upon the development of an identity-based alliance between the customer and the brand. Celebrity status at Prada, for example, has created an alliance between the brand and a new generation of millennial customers.
Concluding your essay
Concluding words for essays are necessary to wrap up your argument. Your conclusion must include a brief summary of the ideas that you just exposed without being redundant. The way these ideas are expressed should lead to the final statement and core point you have arrived at in your present research.
13. In conclusion; to conclude; to summarise; in sum; in the final analysis; on close analysis
These are phrases for essays that will introduce your concluding paragraph. You can use them at the beginning of a sentence. They will show the reader that your essay is coming to an end:
On close analysis and appraisal, we see that the study by Cortis lacks essential features of the highest quality quantitative research.
14. Persuasive; compelling
Essay words like these ones can help you emphasize the most relevant arguments of your paper. Both are used in the same way: “the most persuasive/compelling argument is…”.
15. Therefore; this suggests that; it can be seen that; the consequence is
When you’re explaining the significance of the results of a piece of research, these phrases provide the perfect lead up to your explanation.
16. Above all; chiefly; especially; most significantly; it should be noted
Your summary should include the most relevant information or research factor that guided you to your conclusion. Contrary to words such as “persuasive” or “compelling”, these essay words are helpful to draw attention to an important point. For example:
The feasibility and effectiveness of my research has been proven chiefly in the last round of laboratory tests.
Film noir is, and will continue to be, highly debatable, controversial, and unmarketable – but above all, for audience members past, present and to come, extremely enjoyable as a form of screen media entertainment.
17. All things considered
This essay phrase is meant to articulate how you give reasons to your conclusions. It means that after you considered all the aspects related to your study, you have arrived to the conclusion you are demonstrating.
After mastering the use of these academic words and phrases, we guarantee you will see an immediate change in the quality of your essays. The structure will be easier to follow, and the reader’s experience will improve. You’ll also feel more confident articulating your ideas and using facts and examples. So jot them all down, and watch your essays go from ‘good’ to ‘great’!
Essay exams: how to answer ‘To what extent…’
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100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay
By: Author Sophia
Posted on Last updated: October 25, 2023
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How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let’s take a look!
The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.
Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay
Overview of an essay.
Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays
Developing the argument
- The first aspect to point out is that…
- Let us start by considering the facts.
- The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
- Central to the novel is…
- The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…
The other side of the argument
- It would also be interesting to see…
- One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
- Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
- The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
- From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
- All of this points to the conclusion that…
- To conclude…
Ordering elements
- Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
- As a final point…
- On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
- If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
- The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
- There are at least xxx points to highlight.
Adding elements
- Furthermore, one should not forget that…
- In addition to…
- Moreover…
- It is important to add that…
Accepting other points of view
- Nevertheless, one should accept that…
- However, we also agree that…
Personal opinion
- We/I personally believe that…
- Our/My own point of view is that…
- It is my contention that…
- I am convinced that…
- My own opinion is…
Others’ opinions
- According to some critics… Critics:
- believe that
- suggest that
- are convinced that
- point out that
- emphasize that
- contend that
- go as far as to say that
- argue for this
Introducing examples
- For example…
- For instance…
- To illustrate this point…
Introducing facts
- It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
- One should note here that…
Saying what you think is true
- This leads us to believe that…
- It is very possible that…
- In view of these facts, it is quite likely that…
- Doubtless,…
- One cannot deny that…
- It is (very) clear from these observations that…
- All the same, it is possible that…
- It is difficult to believe that…
Accepting other points to a certain degree
- One can agree up to a certain point with…
- Certainly,… However,…
- It cannot be denied that…
Emphasizing particular points
- The last example highlights the fact that…
- Not only… but also…
- We would even go so far as to say that…
Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing
- By and large…
- Perhaps we should also point out the fact that…
- It would be unfair not to mention the fact that…
- One must admit that…
- We cannot ignore the fact that…
- One cannot possibly accept the fact that…
Consequences
- From these facts, one may conclude that…
- That is why, in our opinion, …
- Which seems to confirm the idea that…
- Thus,…/ Therefore,…
- Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
- Compared to…
- On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…
How to Write a Great Essay | Image 1
How to Write a Great Essay | Image 2
Phrases For Balanced Arguments
Introduction
- It is often said that…
- It is undeniable that…
- It is a well-known fact that…
- One of the most striking features of this text is…
- The first thing that needs to be said is…
- First of all, let us try to analyze…
- One argument in support of…
- We must distinguish carefully between…
- The second reason for…
- An important aspect of the text is…
- It is worth stating at this point that…
- On the other hand, we can observe that…
- The other side of the coin is, however, that…
- Another way of looking at this question is to…
- What conclusions can be drawn from all this?
- The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…
- To sum up… we are convinced that…/ …we believe that…/ …we have to accept that…
How to Write a Great Essay | Image 3
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- Vocabulary for Discussing Student Writing
The following “Elements of the Academic Essay” provide a possible vocabulary for commenting on student writing. Instructors in the Harvard College Writing Program tend to use some version of this vocabulary when talking about and commenting on student writing, so it’s likely that your students will be familiar with some of the terms and concepts below. Using these terms consistently when you comment on student writing will help your students see patterns in their own writing that might otherwise remain elusive to them.
What the essay is about:
1. Thesis: your main insight or idea about a text or topic, and the main proposition that your essay demonstrates. It should be true but arguable; be limited enough in scope to be argued with available evidence; and get to the heart of the text or topic being analyzed (not be peripheral). It should be stated early and it should govern the whole essay.
Why it matters:
2. Question, Problem, or What’s at Stake: the context or situation that you establish for your argument at the start of your essay, making clear why someone might want to read an essay on this topic or need to hear your particular thesis argued (why your thesis isn't just obvious to all, why other theses might be less persuasive). In the introduction, it’s the moment where you establish “what’s at stake” in the essay, setting up a genuine problem, question, difficulty, over-simplification, misapprehension, dilemma, or violated expectation that an intelligent reader would really have.
What the thesis is based on:
3. Evidence: the data — facts, examples, or details — that you refer to, quote, or summarize to support your thesis. There needs to be enough evidence to be persuasive; the right kind of evidence to support the thesis; a thorough consideration of evidence (with no obvious pieces of evidence overlooked); and sufficiently concrete evidence for the reader to trust.
What you do with the evidence:
4. Analysis: the work of interpretation, of saying what the evidence means. Analysis is what you do with data when you go beyond observing or summarizing it: taking it apart, grappling with its details, drawing out the significance or implication not apparent to a superficial view. Analysis is what makes the writer feel present, as a thinking individual, in the essay.
Evidence and analysis add up to. . .
5. Argument: the series of ideas that the essay lays out which, taken together, support the essay’s thesis. A successful argument will do more than reiterate the thesis, but rather make clear how each idea develops from the one before it (see “Structure,” #7 below). The argument should show you not only analyzing the evidence, but also reflecting on the ideas in other important ways: defining your terms (see #8 below) or assumptions; considering counter-argument — possible alternative arguments, or objections or problems, that a skeptical or resistant reader might raise; offering a qualification or limitation to the case you’ve made; incorporating any complications that arise, a way in which the case isn’t quite so simple as you’ve made it seem; drawing out an implication , often in the conclusion.
Where the evidence comes from:
6. Sources: texts (or persons), referred to, summarized, or quoted, that help a writer demonstrate the truth of his or her argument. In some arguments, there will be one central primary source. In others, sources can offer (a) factual information or data, (b) opinions or interpretation on your topic, (c) comparable versions of the things you are discussing, or (d) applicable general concepts.
How to organize the argument:
7. Structure: the sequence of an argument’s main sections or sub-topics, and the turning points between them. The sections should follow a logical order which is apparent to the reader. But it should also be a progressive order — they should have a direction of development or complication, not be simply a list of examples or series of restatements of the thesis ("Macbeth is ambitious: he's ambitious here; and he's ambitious here; and he's ambitious here, too; thus, Macbeth is ambitious"). In some arguments, especially longer ones, structure may be briefly announced or hinted at after the thesis, in a road-map or plan sentence.
The argument is articulated in part through:
8. Key terms: the recurring terms or basic oppositions that an argument rests upon. An essay's key terms should be clear in their meaning and appear throughout; they should be appropriate for the subject (not unfair or too simple — a false or constraining opposition); and they should not be clichés or abstractions (e.g., "the evils of society"). These terms can imply certain assumptions — unstated beliefs about life, history, literature, reasoning, etc. The assumptions should bear logical inspection, and if arguable they should be explicitly acknowledged.
You keep the reader clear along the way through:
9. Transitions and signposts: words that tie together the parts of an argument, by indicating how a new section, paragraph, or sentence follows from the one immediately previous (transitional words and phrases); and by offering “signposts” that recollect an earlier idea or section or the thesis itself, referring back to it either by explicit statement or by echoing earlier key words or resonant phrases.
10. Orienting: brief bits of information, explanation, and summary that orient readers who aren’t expert in the subject, enabling them to follow the argument, such as: necessary introductory information about the text, author, or event; a brief summary of a text or passage about to be analyzed; pieces of information given along the way about passages, people, or events mentioned.
Addressing your readers involves:
11. Stance: the implied relationship of you, the writer, to your readers and subject. Stance is defined by such features as style and tone (e.g., familiar or formal); the presence or absence of specialized language and knowledge; the amount of time spent orienting a general, non-expert reader; the use of scholarly conventions of format and style. Your stance should be established within the first few paragraphs of your essay, and should stay consistent.
12. Style: choices made at the word and sentence level that determine how an idea is stated. Besides adhering to the grammatical conventions of standard English, an essay's style needs to be clear and readable (not confusing, verbose, cryptic, etc.), expressive of the writer's intelligence and energetic interest in the subject (not bureaucratic or clichéd), and appropriate for its subject and audience.
And last (or first):
13. Title: should both interest and inform, by giving the subject and focus of the essay as well as by helping readers see why this essay might be interesting to read.
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A PDF version of the text above. Suggests a consistent vocabulary for discussing the major components of an academic paper. This is the vocabulary used in the College's Expos 20 courses.
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Essay and dissertation writing skills
Planning your essay
Writing your introduction
Structuring your essay
- Writing essays in science subjects
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Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations
University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).
A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions.
You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:
Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.
However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:
Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’
Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:
The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.
- Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
- References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline.
Essay writing in science subjects
If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:
A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.
Short videos to support your essay writing skills
There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:
- Approaching different types of essay questions
- Structuring your essay
- Writing an introduction
- Making use of evidence in your essay writing
- Writing your conclusion
Extended essays and dissertations
Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.
Planning your time effectively
Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.
Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.
The structure of extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:
- The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
- Explanation of the focus of your work.
- Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
- List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.
The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.
The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources.
Tips on writing longer pieces of work
Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.
For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work .
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Focusing on vocabulary for academic writing
When it comes to helping students with academic vocabulary, the range of words and phrases they might encounter in the course of their academic studies is huge and can be somewhat daunting. So when we were putting together the new Oxford Academic Vocabulary Practice books, we decided quite early on that the most useful area to focus on would be productive vocabulary: that is the words and phrases that students are actually likely to use in their own writing.
For all learners, indeed all speakers of a language, their productive vocabulary – the words they actively use regularly – is a subset of their receptive vocabulary – the words they recognize and understand passively. As teachers though, we often forget this distinction and vocabulary lessons can end up a mixed bag of new words and those that are already familiar, words that students are likely to use and those they may only come across occasionally. Concentrating on just the vocabulary that students are most likely to use in their writing can help to tune out some of the ‘noise’ and create more realistic, focused vocabulary-learning goals. In this post, I’ll share just three of the criteria we used to help achieve this aim.
1. Realistic models
It’s often said that the best way to improve your vocabulary is to read as much as possible. For students of English for Academic Purposes (EAP), it’s true that reading and noticing the vocabulary used by academic writers is important in developing their receptive vocabulary, but published academic texts may not always provide the best model for studying productive vocabulary. Published texts written by professional academics, such as textbooks or academic articles, are a different genre from the type of texts typically produced by university students as part of their coursework. So it’s perhaps not surprising that recent research has shown that even good student writers use a much narrower range of academic vocabulary than ‘expert’ academic writers (Durrant, 2016). That’s not to say that they’re somehow substandard, the requirements of the two genres are just different. So studying a published academic text won’t necessarily provide a realistic, or even a useful, model for the student wanting to improve the vocabulary they use in their own writing. Examples of good student writing will display a much more appropriate range of vocabulary that an EAP student might realistically hope to emulate.
2. The receptive to productive shift
We often tend to think of vocabulary teaching as being all about new words, but actually, much of the lexis that will help learners to improve their academic writing is likely to already be part of their receptive lexicon. As language users, we naturally tend to stick to the words we’re most familiar with when we’re speaking or writing, because we feel confident and comfortable with them. For many learners, encouraging them out of that comfort zone just means pushing them to use words and phrases that are already familiar from their reading. Extending a student writer’s productive vocabulary range isn’t always about introducing ‘difficult’ words, it’s often apparently simple words and expressions (on the whole, by far, in terms of, etc.) that will help improve their writing style and make their texts more readable.
3. Activities for production
After we’ve identified what vocabulary items to focus on, the next step is to design practice activities. It’s natural to start by checking comprehension, but if we want learners to start using lexis, we soon need to move onto more productive practice. This is where we run into the distinction between controlled productive vocabulary – words which learners can produce when prompted, say within a gap-fill activity – and free productive vocabulary – which they produce spontaneously in their own writing (see Laufer, 1998). If learners are to expand their free productive range, they need plenty of opportunities to get a feel for how to use words and phrases in context; playing around with phrasing, collocation and different forms of a word in a ‘safe’ environment where it doesn’t matter if they make mistakes, not in that high-stakes, assessed essay. Short writing tasks that encourage experimentation can help bridge that gap between the gap-fill and the essay.
References: Durrant, P. (2016) To what extent is the Academic Vocabulary List relevant to university student writing? English for Specific Purposes 43 Laufer, B. (1998) The Development of Passive and Active Vocabulary in a Second Language: Same or Different Applied Linguistics 19 (2)
**There are extra practice activities to accompany the Oxford Academic Vocabulary Practice books available online , including a number of short free writing tasks.
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Words and Phrases to Avoid in Academic Writing
Published on February 6, 2016 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on September 11, 2023.
When you are writing a dissertation , thesis, or research paper, many words and phrases that are acceptable in conversations or informal writing are considered inappropriate in academic writing .
You should try to avoid expressions that are too informal, unsophisticated, vague, exaggerated, or subjective, as well as those that are generally unnecessary or incorrect.
Bear in mind, however, that these guidelines do not apply to text you are directly quoting from your sources (including interviews ).
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Table of contents
Too informal, too exaggerated, too subjective, generally incorrect, other interesting articles.
Academic writing is generally more formal than the writing we see in non-academic materials (including on websites). It is also more formal than the ways in which we normally speak. The following words and phrases are considered too informal for a dissertation or academic paper.
| A bit | The interviews were difficult to schedule | The interviews were to schedule |
| A lot of, a couple of | studies | studies |
| Isn’t, can’t, doesn’t, would’ve (or any other ) | The sample | The sample |
| Kind of, sort of | The findings were significant | The findings were |
| Til, till | From 2008 2012 | From 2008 2012 |
| You, your (i.e., the ) | can clearly see the results | can clearly see the results
|
Informal sentence starts
Some words are acceptable in certain contexts, but become too informal when used at the beginning of a sentence. You can replace these with appropriate transition words or simply remove them from the sentence.
| Plus | the participants were in agreement on the third question | , the participants were in agreement on the third question |
| So | it can be concluded that the model needs further refinement | it can be concluded that the model needs further refinement |
| And | the participants were all over the age of 30 | The participants were all over the age of 30 |
| we asked all the participants to sign an agreement | , we asked all the participants to sign an agreement |
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Using vague terms makes your writing imprecise and may cause people to interpret it in different ways. Always try to be as specific as possible.
| Stuff | People are concerned about their | People are concerned about their |
| Thing | The report presents many | The report presents many |
| This topic has interested researchers for | This topic has interested researchers for |
Academic writing is usually unadorned and direct. Some adverbs of frequency (such as always and never ) and intensifiers (words that create emphasis, such as really ) are often too dramatic. They may also not be accurate – you’re making a significant claim when you say something is perfect or never happens.
These terms do sometimes add value, but try to use them sparingly.
| Always, never | Researchers argue that | Researchers argue that |
| Perfect | The solution to the problem | to the problem |
| Really, so, super | This theory is important | This theory is |
Some words and phrases reveal your own bias. For instance, if you state that something will obviously happen, you are indicating that you think the occurrence is obvious – not stating a fact.
Expressing your opinion is appropriate in certain sections of a dissertation and in particular types of academic texts (such as personal statements and reflective or argumentative essays ). In most cases, though, take care when using words and phrases such as those below – try to let the facts speak for themselves, or emphasize your point with less biased language.
| Beautiful, ugly, wonderful, horrible, great, boring | A review of the literature yielded many articles | A review of the literature yielded many articles |
| Obviously, naturally, of course | The results indicate | The results indicate |
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Certain words and phrases are often used incorrectly, even by native speakers of a language. If you’re exposed to such mistakes often enough, you may start to assume they are correct – but it’s important that you don’t let them creep into your writing.
You should also bear in mind that some of these mistakes relate to things we all frequently mishear (for instance, we often think the speaker is saying would of instead of would have ).
| Literally | The students did not understand | The students did not understand |
| Would of, had of | The study considered | The study considered |
In general, you should also try to avoid using words and phrases that fall into the following categories:
- Jargon (i.e., “insider” terminology that may be difficult for readers from other fields to understand)
- Clichés (i.e., expressions that are heavily overused, such as think outside of the box and at the end of the day )
- Everyday abbreviations (e.g., approx. , ASAP, corona, stats, info )
- Slang (e.g., cops , cool )
- Gender-biased language (e.g., firemen , mankind )
- Generally unnecessary (e.g., redundant expressions that do not add meaning, such as compete with each other instead of simply compete)
Reflective reports and personal statements sometimes have a less formal tone. In these types of writing, you may not have to follow these guidelines as strictly. The preface or acknowledgements of a dissertation also often have a less formal and more personal voice than the rest of the document.
If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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Sarah's academic background includes a Master of Arts in English, a Master of International Affairs degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect formulation or wording and derives much satisfaction from helping students take their academic writing up a notch.
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Practical ways to expand your Vocabulary for academic writing
By charlesworth author services.
- Charlesworth Author Services
- 08 December, 2021
Academic writing is exact writing , and exact writing requires that you use the exact word. Consider the distinction between ‘mass’ and ‘weight’; between a ‘typeface’ and a ‘font’; or a ‘spider’ and an ‘insect’. However, academic writing is not only about technical words or jargon but many other words that help you to convey your thoughts. How do you learn those words? How do you expand your vocabulary? This article provides some practical ways to do so.
1. Read widely to assimilate the word
One of the most effective ways to learn new words is to read widely so that you are exposed to words used in many different fields. This is effective because you learn words in their context – you see them ‘in action’, being used in the ways they are meant to be used. When you have encountered a word half a dozen times, you soon get a pretty good idea of what it means and how it is used.
More importantly, by assimilating the word, you are making it part of your idiolect , which means a ‘person’s individual way of speaking or writing a language’.
2. Look up more than the meaning in a dictionary
When you do look up a word in a dictionary, don’t just look up the meaning but also find out how the word is derived , because it will help you not only to remember the word better but also to guess the meaning of other as yet unfamiliar words derived from the same source.
For instance, consider the suffix ‘-oid’. Once you know that it means ‘resembling’ or ‘like’, you can guess that a humanoid is something (perhaps a robot or an extra-terrestrial) that is like a human being but not quite one. As another example, learn how ‘e.g.’ and ‘i.e.’ are derived and used in this article .
3. But don’t look up every unfamiliar word
You should acquire new words as you go along and not hunt for them actively. Research shows that for such active learning, you should know about 95% of the words you encounter on a page. Reading is no longer enjoyable or even worthwhile if more than 10% of the words on the page are unfamiliar to you, and if you know more than 98%, you are unlikely to be expanding your vocabulary.
4. Consider using graded readers
If English grammar and vocabulary are major obstacles for you, you should explore graded readers, which use deliberately controlled vocabulary and sentence constructions to ensure that the books are at the right level of difficulty for their target readers.
5. Supplement reading with listening
Audiobooks, podcasts and many online resources are a great help because when you encounter new words by hearing them, you also learn how they are pronounced . This can help you to remember them better because you are using yet another part of your brain that deals with language.
Tip : If possible, read the transcript of the talk you are listening to – not while you are listening but either before or after.
6. Practise using your new vocabulary as often as possible
Merely memorising lists of difficult or unusual words is unproductive, because you do not really assimilate those words. Instead, try to practise using them in everyday conversation . Or, if the words are too technical or specific to your discipline, and not suitable for casual conversation, practise incorporating those words or terms in your writing .
7. Check your progress – with a concordance tool
Finally, check your progress to see whether you are using the new words you have assimilated over time. You can do this by using a concordance tool, a software utility that compiles a list of all the words that occur in a file. A few such tools are Calibre, AntConc and TextSTAT.
Pool all your writings over the past few months into a single file and run the utility. Select the option to sort the words in the document in ascending order of their frequency and to ignore words with three or fewer letters. This way, the less common words will be at the top, and you can see for yourself some evidence of your growing vocabulary.
In conclusion
Improving your vocabulary helps you use the right word , which conveys that you understand and are familiar with the correct and conventional language of a particular discipline. Think of it as a badge.
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Words for Essay Writing
More useful words to use for essay writing to impress your teachers.
Learn words with Flashcards and other activities
Other learning activities, teaching tools, full list of words from this list:.
- scrupulous characterized by extreme care and great effort
- assent agree or express agreement
- conciliatory making or willing to make concessions
- manifold many and varied; having many features or forms
- cessation a stopping
- supercilious having or showing arrogant superiority
- contrive make or work out a plan for; devise
- surmise infer from incomplete evidence
- analogy drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
- reproach express criticism towards
- actuate put in motion
- incongruity the quality of disagreeing
- incite provoke or stir up
- antecedent a preceding occurrence or cause or event
- remonstrate argue in protest or opposition
- unabashed not embarrassed
- acquiescence agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
- predisposition an inclination to interpret statements in a particular way
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6 Tips to Improve Your IELTS Academic Writing Score
For many students, the writing section of the IELTS test can be one of the most challenging. The good news is that careful preparation will go a long way in helping to get the band score you need. Use the six tips below to maximize your chances of success on the writing section of your upcoming IELTS test.
- Plan your time effectively.
Since the amount of words you need to write for part two of IELTS (250 words) is longer than part one (150 words), make sure you plan your time to reflect this. This is particularly important because approximately two-thirds of your mark is given to task two. Therefore, you want to spend about two-thirds of your time (approximately 40 minutes) on this section.
- Read the question carefully.
Many test takers rush into answering the writing question without reading it carefully. Do not do this! For part one, the task usually asks you to summarize, select, and make comparisons. If you see these words, underline them—they are important! When you are completing the task, go through your work and make sure you have summarized the information, selected key points, and made comparisons.
For task two, cover all parts of the task. For example, if the task asks you to give advantages and disadvantages, ensure that you have given both. Similarly, if you are asked to give your opinion, make sure you have done so and that it is clear.
- Include an “overview” in part one.
An overview is a summary of information that doesn’t include every single detail. For part one of the academic writing section, you are usually required to write an overview (that is, summarize the information). This is an important part of the task and can be included at the beginning or end.
- Keep it simple in the part two essay.
Grammar and vocabulary are important factors in assessing your writing band, but some students believe they must write extremely long sentences or use very complicated vocabulary in order to get a higher band. This is not true! The important thing is that your ideas are easy to understand.
Don’t try to use complicated words that you may spell incorrectly; replace these words with ones that you are more confident using.
Also, remember that the quality of your English is what is being assessed. Don’t spend too long thinking about whether your ideas are “smart” or “intellectual” enough. Think of ideas that are easy to explain; then concentrate on the grammatical forms and vocabulary you need to express these ideas on paper.
- Be realistic.
Becoming proficient at any language takes effort and time. If you score a band or two lower than you would like (for example: you need a band 7, but you get a 5 or 6), it is not advisable to take the test again immediately because you will most likely score a similar band. Take the time to practice your writing skills before you take the test again.
You can even take a practice test (for a small fee), which will be marked by an official IELTS examiner. Your practice test will include a band score and detailed feedback. This exercise will help you know how ready you are to take the test and get the band score you need. This service is called IELTS Progress Check.
- Help is available.
In preparation for your IELTS academic writing, you need to have a plan. There are a host of free online practice materials to help you practice. If you need more help, invest in a teacher who will be able to tell you where you may be going wrong and what to improve on.
Practice for the test as much as you can. You can never be too overprepared.
For information on IELTS practice materials and courses, visit the British Council IELTS Canada prepare page. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!
Related Reading An Introduction to the IELTS Exam Preparing for the IELTS Exam The IELTS Test Day Experience
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
in a specific or general way. Attributing claims with more or less support or certainty. Words that link ideas, helping to create a 'flow' in the writing. Many conjunctions can be used at the start of a sentence and/or. to link two short sentences into one long one. See WriteSIte for examples, exceptions and exercises.
The Oxford Phrasal Academic Lexicon (OPAL) is a set of four word lists that together provide an essential guide to the most important words and phrases to know in the field of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). This list gives around 370 important phrases for academic writing, grouped into 15 functional areas. Written phrases 1.
4. That is to say. Usage: "That is" and "that is to say" can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: "Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.". 5. To that end. Usage: Use "to that end" or "to this end" in a similar way to "in order to" or "so".
If you're struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don't worry—you've come to the right place! In this article, we've compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay. Contents: Words to Use in the Essay Introduction. Words to Use in the Body of the Essay.
The Academic Phrasebank is a general resource for academic writers. It aims to provide you with examples of some of the phraseological 'nuts and bolts' of writing organised according to the main sections of a research paper or dissertation (see the top menu ). Other phrases are listed under the more general communicative functions of ...
This list gives the 1200 most important words in academic writing, divided into twelve sublists of 100 words each, with the most important words in Sublist 1. Written single words Sublist 1 activity n. affect v. analysis n. apply v. approach n. area n. associate v. available adj. based adj. behaviour n. between prep. case n.
Improving essay writing vocabulary is essential for effectively expressing ideas, demonstrating a strong command of the language, and engaging readers. Here are some strategies to enhance the essay writing vocabulary: Read extensively: Reading a wide range of materials, such as books, articles, and essays, can give various writing styles ...
This page describes the Academic Word List (AWL), giving information on what the AWL is, as well as a complete list of all words in the AWL.The list is rather static. More dynamic tools for understanding and using the AWL words can be found in other sections of the website, namely the AWL highlighter and gapfill maker, AWL tag cloud and gapfill maker, the AWL finder, and a vocabulary profiler.
Essay Expression PDF - (download) academic, essay expressions, essay writing. We share daily lessons, free English learning materials for ESL students and language learners from all over the world. These useful academic expressions, words, vocabulary and phrases will help you to write a top-notch essay. PDF also available.
The Academic Collocation List (ACL) is a list containing 2,469 of the most frequent and useful collocations which occur in written academic English. It can be seen as a collocational companion to the Academic Word List (AWL), consisting of collocations (or word combinations) rather than single words. The ACL was developed by Kirsten Ackermann and Yu-Hua Chen using the Pearson International ...
What are essential vocabulary words for academic success? Essential vocabulary words for academic success include terms like "analyze," "synthesize," "evaluate," "theorize," and "contextualize.". These words are commonly used in academic writing and discussions to convey complex ideas and arguments.
4. Moreover; furthermore; in addition; what's more. These types of academic phrases are perfect for expanding or adding to a point you've already made without interrupting the flow altogether. "Moreover", "furthermore" and "in addition" are also great linking phrases to begin a new paragraph. Here are some examples:
Harvard College. Writing Program. roJeCT BrIeF gUIde SerIeSA Brief Guide to the Elements of the Academic Essayby Gordon HarveyGordon Harvey's "Ele. nts of the Academic Essay" provide a possible vocabulary for commenting on student writing. Instructors in Harvard College Writing Program tend to use some version of this vocabulary when ...
Related Job Interview Tips | Useful English Phrases for a Job Interview. Accepting other points of view. Nevertheless, one should accept that…. However, we also agree that…. Personal opinion. We/I personally believe that…. Our/My own point of view is that…. It is my contention that…. I am convinced that….
The following "Elements of the Academic Essay" provide a possible vocabulary for commenting on student writing. Instructors in the Harvard College Writing Program tend to use some version of this vocabulary when talking about and commenting on student writing, so it's likely that your students will be familiar with some of the terms and concepts below.
Academic writing is built upon three truths that aren't self-evident: - Writing is Thinking: While "writing" is traditionally understood as the expression of thought, we'll redefine "writing" as the thought process itself. Writing is not what you do with thought. Writing is thinking. - Writing is a Process: Both the ...
A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.. Short videos to support your essay writing skills. There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing ...
formal Formal writing means that you speak to the reader in an academic way, using the third-person point of view, vocabulary specific to the topic, and a serious tone. hook A hook is an interesting statement about the topic made at the start of an essay in order to grab the reader's attention.
Julie Moore is a freelance ELT writer and lexicographer based in Bristol, UK. Her main interests are in vocabulary teaching and English for Academic Purposes (EAP). She worked on the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English and Oxford EAP (C1). She was also involved in developing and writing the new Oxford Academic Vocabulary Practice ...
The following words and phrases are considered too informal for a dissertation or academic paper. Taboo. Example. Alternative. A bit. The interviews were a bit difficult to schedule. The interviews were (difficult/somewhat difficult) to schedule. A lot of, a couple of. A lot of studies.
6. Practise using your new vocabulary as often as possible. Merely memorising lists of difficult or unusual words is unproductive, because you do not really assimilate those words. Instead, try to practise using them in everyday conversation. Or, if the words are too technical or specific to your discipline, and not suitable for casual ...
Find information and guidance on writing critically, structuring your essay and paragraphs and using the correct academic tone, style and vocabulary. An essay has a generic structure of four parts- an introduction , main body, conclusion and references, and each part has a clear role and content ...
a preceding occurrence or cause or event. remonstrate. argue in protest or opposition. unabashed. not embarrassed. acquiescence. agreement with a statement or proposal to do something. predisposition. an inclination to interpret statements in a particular way.
Academic Vocabulary List Argumentative Terms Definitions formal Formal writing means that you speak to the reader in an academic way, using the third-person point of view, vocabulary specific to the topic, and a serious tone. hook A hook is an interesting statement about the topic made at the start of an essay in order to grab the reader's ...
Keep it simple in the part two essay. Grammar and vocabulary are important factors in assessing your writing band, but some students believe they must write extremely long sentences or use very complicated vocabulary in order to get a higher band. ... In preparation for your IELTS academic writing, you need to have a plan. There are a host of ...