ACADEMIC VOCABULARY
1. Neutral vs academic
In writing, academics u rather formal expressions uncommon in everyday language.
NEUTRAL FORMAL NEUTRAL FORMAL
in short, briefly in sum, to sum up only solely
basically esntially mainly, mostly primarily
almost, more or less virtually try attempt
2. Nouns referring to ideas and phenomena
(environmental) issues, (Darwin’s) theory, the model of (how elements relate to each other), the nature of(intelligence), the principle(of least effort), the pattern(of results), a feature(of the new SW), beyond the scope of (this essay), perspectives/views on, rearch into, (new) approach to
3. Verbs for structuring academic problems
discuss (a problem), investigate (attitudes), illustrate (a point), conduct (a t of experiments), consider (advantages and disadvantages), analy (recent events), demonstrate (the ability),
identify (constants and variables), support or challenge (a statement), examine (the situation), provide (statistical evidence), include (a discussion), affect (growth), develop (methods), establish (the quality of), account for (the decrea), prent (data), approach (a problem), describe (the situation), explore (the relationship between), emphasi (the importance of training)
4. Adjectives
A.+prepositions: relative, relevant, specific, common, appropriate to, characteristic, typical of
A.-opposites:abstract (problem) x concrete (examples), simple (issue) x complex (circumstances), accurate (picture) x inaccurate (asssments), rough (estimates) x preci (calculations) specific (problem) x general (terms)
A.-combinations with nouns:apparent (discrepancy), potential (problem), principal (cau), rigourous (methodology)
5. Adverbs
comparatively/relatively,especially/particularly, primarily, mostly/largely, directly-indirectly, somewhat-considerably, esntially, approximately-precily, rarely-frequently, eventually (in the end, after some time), ultimately (finally, after other steps have been completed), generally-specifically, merely, hardly ever, simply (plainly, easily or absolutely, undoubtedly)
6. Phrasal verbs
often have one-word synonyms, which are usually of Latin origin and are more formal than their phrasal verb equivalents but both are appropriate when writing or speaking about academic subjects. Vary your language by using both.
PHRASAL VERB SYNONYM PHRASAL VERB SYNONYM
put forward (a theory) prent, propo point up highlight
carry out (rearch) conduct t out (to do sth) aim
make up constitute t out describe
Be made up of consist of go into discuss
point out obrve go against not be in agreement with
7. Nouns and the words they combine with
N. + adjectives
contact – uful, valuable, personal, constant, clo, frequent, intermittent
debate – considerable, heated, inten, public, animated
elements – crucial, decisive, fundamental, conflicting, constituent
phenomenon – common, isolated, natural, recent, universal
results – conflicting, in/conclusive, unforeen, preliminary, encouraging
role – decisive, challenging, influential, key, major
sample – random, reprentative
< terms – absolute, relative, general, practical
way – alternative, efficient, practical, convenient, proper, acceptable
N. + verbs
contact – come into c. with, establish, maintain, break off, lo
debate – engage in, contribute to, d. surrounding an issue
elements – combine, differentiate, discern,
phenomena – obrve, investigate, explain
results – collect, question, invalidate, falsify, publish
role – define, strenghten, play, take on
sample – take, provide, analy
way – discover, devi, work out, develop
8. Adjectives + nouns
Adjectives of importance + nouns
important – aspect, contribution, difference, implications, point, question, reason, element significant – increa, reduction, number, proportion
major/minor - role, changes, problem, factor, issue, concern, difference, theme, contribution, point
enormous/considerable – amount, expansion, number, range, diversity, differnece, variation, extent, degree, impact, power, influence, significance, interest
particular – interest, attention, significance, importance, concern
Adjectives of frequency + nouns
Widespread – belief, acceptance, support, opposition, assumption, u.
Common (frequent) – experience, practice, u, concern
(shared) – knowledge, ground, feature, interest
Specific – context, information, ca, type, form, purpo, characteristics, conditions, example. Othe
r adjective + noun combinations
Inevitable combines with words relating to results or changes – conquence, outcome, collap, decline, conflict, effect, developments
Explicit combines with words relating to how things are prented – reference, statements, comparison, account, mention
Relevant combines with words relating to evidence – data, documents, information, details, factors 9. Verbs + nouns + adverbs
Verb Noun Adverbs
to be bad on rearch, theory, story,
mainly, partly, looly
hypothesis
to associate with word, idea, theorem, term generally,commonly, invariably
to discuss idea, problem, issue, question,
at length, briefly, thoroughly
topic, theme
to establish relationship, connection firmly, clearly, conclusively
to examine facts, evidence, effects, aspects briefly, critically, thoroughly
clearly, convincingly
to demostrate existence, need, effects,
importance
clearly, correctly, cloly
to identify caus, factors, issues,
properties, needs, approach,
origin
10. Prepositional phras
IN conjuction, in comparison, in line with; in general, in particular; in addition to, in spite of, in terms of; in some ways, in turn, in most respects;
ON the whole, on the one hand ... on the other hand; on the basis of, on behalf of
w ith the exception of; as a result (of), at this point/stage; for the most part
11. Verbs + prepositions
to draw, comment, concentrate, focus, rely/rest on
to be expod, attributed, traced, to amount, attend (deal with, give one’s attention) to
to associate, provide, couple, equip with
to depart, benefit, exclude from
to write, speak of (rather formal), convince, dispo of
to account arch, call argue for
12. Nouns + prepositions
book, article, essay, lecture, project, assignment about, on
rearch, investigation, insight, inquiry into
analysis, examination, exploration, study, issue of
problem, difficulty of, with
reason, motivation, rationale for
look, attempt at
changes, differences, increa, decrea in
influence, emphasis, effect on
basis, idea, lack, means of
reason, need, basis, ca, preference for
relation, approach, respon, attention to
attitude, tendency, move, progress to/towards
principle, assumptions, rationale, logic behind
relationship, difference, distinction between
13. Referring to source materials
The… literature suggests that, the … draws its data from/draws primarily on, veral condary sources were also consulted, … proved a valuable resource, I also surveyed the literature on, I directly/indirectly cite tho works which, an extensive body of literature exists on, as noted, is often attributed to, …. Is dealt with in, … is treated parately from the main body of…
14. Degrees of certainty
Being tentative
There is some evidence that…, it can be argued that…, it may not be the ca that…, it would em/appear that…, we can presume that…, there ems/appears to be some evidence that…, we can draw the tentative conclusion that…
It is true or almost true
It is undoubtedly true that…, it is, of cour…, it is evident that…, the rearch will probably lead to…, there is a tendency for…, there is every likelihood that…
The writer is unsure
… has allegedly come to some…conclusions, … is reportedly…
15. Criticism of/ reference to an author
… asrts/claims/believes that, in his/her view, … touches on, … calls for,
… underestimates/overestimates, ignores, … is not persuasive, … does not ring true, wor, the evidence is … at best
16. Organizing your writing
Working through a list of different things – firstly, condly, thirdly, next, lastly/finally Changing topic/bringing in new points / we now/ let us (now) turn to
Referring forward – below, in the next ction, later,
Referring back - above, in the preceding ction, earlier, as we have en
Referring to examples, diagrams, pages / as can bee en, e, for example
Source: McCarthy, Michael, O’Dell, Felicity. Academic Vocabulary in U. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008
