Year 3 · Unit 2 · Lesson 3 of 5
Academic Vocabulary: Write Like a Scholar
"Lots of people think the big problem with plastic is that it stays around for ages."
The idea is fine. How would you rewrite it for an academic essay?
"Many researchers argue that the main problem with plastic is that it persists in the environment for centuries." The idea is the same, but every vague or chatty word has been replaced with a precise, formal one.
Master the essentials
Academic words
Precise, formal words used across subjects.
analyse · significant · impact · factor · evidence · consequence · sustainable · crucial
Formal verbs, not phrasal verbs
Replace everyday phrasal verbs with one formal verb.
find out → discover · go up → increase · cut down → reduce · look into → examine · get rid of → eliminate
Precise, not vague
Swap general words for exact ones.
big → significant · thing → factor · a lot of → a considerable number of · bad → harmful
Word families
Know the verb, noun, adjective and adverb forms.
analyse · analysis · analytical · analytically
Nominalisation
Turn a verb or adjective into a noun to sound more formal.
"Temperatures rose rapidly." → "The rapid rise in temperatures…"
Hedging
Make cautious claims when evidence is not certain.
may · might · tends to · suggests · appears to
Collocations
Words that naturally go together.
pose a threat to · play a role in · raise awareness of · have an impact on
Avoid in formal essays
Contractions, slang and speaking directly to "you".
"don't" → "do not" · "kids" → "young people"
See it done
1. Make it academic: "Scientists found out that the sea is getting warmer, which is really bad for coral."
"Scientists have discovered that ocean temperatures are rising, which poses a serious threat to coral reefs." Phrasal verb → formal verb; vague "really bad" → a precise collocation.
2. Nominalise: "The population grew quickly, so the city needed more water."
"Rapid population growth increased the city's demand for water." Two verbs became noun phrases, making the sentence shorter and more formal.
Common mistake: Using long words without knowing their exact meaning: "The impact of pollution is very analytical." An academic word used wrongly costs more marks than a simple word used correctly.
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the most suitable word or sentence for formal, academic writing.
1.The most formal replacement for "went up" in "Prices went up last year" is:
Correct. "Rose" is a single, formal verb.
Not quite. "Rose" is a single, formal verb. Answer: A. rose.
Not quite. "Rose" is a single, formal verb. Answer: A. rose.
Not quite. "Rose" is a single, formal verb. Answer: A. rose.
2."We need to ___ the amount of waste we produce."
Not quite. "Reduce" is the formal verb for "cut down". Answer: B. reduce.
Correct. "Reduce" is the formal verb for "cut down".
Not quite. "Reduce" is the formal verb for "cut down". Answer: B. reduce.
Not quite. "Reduce" is the formal verb for "cut down". Answer: B. reduce.
3.Which word is a noun?
Not quite. Analysis is the noun; analyse is the verb. Answer: C. analysis.
Not quite. Analysis is the noun; analyse is the verb. Answer: C. analysis.
Correct. Analysis is the noun; analyse is the verb.
Not quite. Analysis is the noun; analyse is the verb. Answer: C. analysis.
4."Air pollution ___ a serious threat to public health."
Not quite. The collocation is "pose a threat". Answer: D. poses.
Not quite. The collocation is "pose a threat". Answer: D. poses.
Not quite. The collocation is "pose a threat". Answer: D. poses.
Correct. The collocation is "pose a threat".
5.The most precise replacement for "a lot of" in an essay is:
Not quite. The others are informal. Answer: B. a considerable number of.
Correct. The others are informal.
Not quite. The others are informal. Answer: B. a considerable number of.
Not quite. The others are informal. Answer: B. a considerable number of.
6.Which sentence uses hedging?
Not quite. "May" makes a cautious claim. Answer: C. Heavy phone use may affect concentration..
Not quite. "May" makes a cautious claim. Answer: C. Heavy phone use may affect concentration..
Correct. "May" makes a cautious claim.
Not quite. "May" makes a cautious claim. Answer: C. Heavy phone use may affect concentration..
7."The ___ of the new law was a fall in littering."
Correct. A noun is needed after "the": consequence.
Not quite. A noun is needed after "the": consequence. Answer: A. consequence.
Not quite. A noun is needed after "the": consequence. Answer: A. consequence.
Not quite. A noun is needed after "the": consequence. Answer: A. consequence.
8.Which is a nominalised version of "Forests are disappearing quickly"?
Not quite. The verb "disappear" becomes the noun "disappearance". Answer: B. The rapid disappearance of forests.
Correct. The verb "disappear" becomes the noun "disappearance".
Not quite. The verb "disappear" becomes the noun "disappearance". Answer: B. The rapid disappearance of forests.
Not quite. The verb "disappear" becomes the noun "disappearance". Answer: B. The rapid disappearance of forests.
9.Which word best replaces "bad" in "Plastic is bad for marine life"?
Not quite. "Harmful" is precise and formal. Answer: C. harmful.
Not quite. "Harmful" is precise and formal. Answer: C. harmful.
Correct. "Harmful" is precise and formal.
Not quite. "Harmful" is precise and formal. Answer: C. harmful.
10.Which sentence suits an academic essay?
Not quite. It is formal, precise and impersonal. Answer: D. Water scarcity affects millions of people worldwide..
Not quite. It is formal, precise and impersonal. Answer: D. Water scarcity affects millions of people worldwide..
Not quite. It is formal, precise and impersonal. Answer: D. Water scarcity affects millions of people worldwide..
Correct. It is formal, precise and impersonal.
Upgrade the paragraph
Rewrite this paragraph in an academic style. Then compare with the model below.
"Loads of kids are on their phones all the time. This is really bad because they don't sleep enough. Schools should do something about it."
Model. "A large number of young people spend considerable time on their phones. This may be harmful, as research suggests that heavy screen use can reduce sleep. Schools could play a role in raising awareness of the issue."
Next: the Lesson 3 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.