Academic vocabulary
Build the academic vocabulary you need for essays, reports and exams: significant, approach, factor, indicate, consequently, whereas.
In this lesson you will
- Learn high-frequency academic words
- Replace informal words with academic ones
- Use academic word families correctly
Learn
Academic English uses more precise, formal words. Informal → academic: get → obtain; show → demonstrate/indicate; big → significant/substantial; about → approximately; think → consider/argue; help → assist/facilitate.
Key nouns: approach, factor, evidence, impact, issue, trend, concept, strategy, significance. Key verbs: analyse, assess, indicate, contribute, emphasise, establish, reinforce.
Word families: analyse (v) – analysis (n) – analytical (adj); significant – significance – significantly; vary – variation – various – variable.
Precise quantity words: the majority of, a minority of, a proportion of, approximately, a considerable number of. Avoid a lot of, stuff, things, get.
Examples
- The evidence indicates a significant increase in demand.
- This approach has several advantages.
- A considerable number of respondents disagreed.
- Further analysis is required to establish the cause.
Vocabulary
significant
important or large enough to notice
indicate
show or suggest
approach
a way of dealing with something
substantial
large in amount
facilitate
make easier
Practice
Academic version of “The data shows a big rise”:
Speaking
Summarise a study or news article you read recently in a formal style, using at least eight academic words.
Writing
Rewrite this informal paragraph in academic style (100–130 words): “Lots of people use their phones loads. This has got a big effect on how well they sleep. Studies show kids are worse off. We need to do something about it.”
Lesson quiz
Adverb form of “significant”:
Review
Key points
- Replace get/show/big/help with obtain/indicate/significant/facilitate.
- Key nouns: approach, factor, evidence, impact.
- Know word families.
- Use precise quantity phrases.
What you learned
- ✓ I know core academic vocabulary.
- ✓ I can formalise informal language.
- ✓ I use word families correctly.