English Vocabulary in Use Advanced » Unit 79: Academic writing: making sense
The present study was initially thought up in order to validate a new method of enquiry by which genetic information could be used to predict disease. The study goes against the findings of Hill (2009); indeed it would appear to show the opposite of what he claimed. It presents a rather different view of the genetic factors which cause disease. Despite this, the study does not wipe out Hill’s, as his studies served the very important purpose of devising symbols to stand for certain tendencies, in this way facilitating further research._____
If you advocate something, you argue in favour of it: He advocated capital punishment.
If you deduce something, you reach a conclusion by thinking carefully about the known facts: Look at these sentences and see if you can deduce how the imperfect tense is used.
If you infer something, you reach a conclusion indirectly: From contemporary accounts of his research, we can infer that results were slower to come than he had anticipated.
If someone’s work complements someone else’s, it combines well with it so that each piece of work becomes more effective: Elswick’s (2016) research complements that of Johnson (2012).
If someone’s work overlaps with someone else’s work, it partially covers the same material.
You might call someone’s work: empirical [based on what is observed rather than theory], ambiguous [open to different interpretations], coherent [logically structured], comprehensive [covering all that is relevant], authoritative [thorough and expert].
If figures are referred to as arbitrary, they are based on chance or personal choice rather than a system or data that supports them.
Figures that deviate from the norm are different from what is typical.
If statistics distort the picture, they give a false impression.
If you refer to the incidence of something, e.g. a disease, you are talking about how often it occurs.
If something, e.g. the incidence of brown eyes, is predominant, it is the largest in number.
If things, e.g. stages in a process, happen in sequence, they happen in a particular order.
If you want to say that something happens in many places or with many people, you can say that it is widespread, e.g. widespread outbreaks of an illness, widespread alarm.
| academic verb | everyday verb |
| append | add (at the end) |
| conceive | think up |
| contradict | go against |
| demonstrate/indicate | show |
| denote | be a sign of, stand for |
| negate | make useless, wipe out |
| perceive | see |
| reflect upon | think about |
| reside | lie, live |
| trigger | cause |
| utilise | use |
| academic expression | everyday expression |
| an instance of something | an example of something |
| the converse | the opposite |
| crucial | very important |
| notwithstanding | despite this |
| somewhat | rather |
| thereby | in this way |
| whereby | by which (method) |
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for pre-intermediate and intermediate level (B1) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for Upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.