Useful Lists
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A List of Words and Phrases for Connecting Ideas
As well as using simple conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or) to link ideas, academic writers have available
to them a broad range of more sophisticated words and phrases. Some of the more commonly used
ones are listed below.
Words and phrases which Words or phrases Subordinators: express
link ideas across two which precede a noun relationships within one
sentences1 phrase2 sentence (with two clauses)3
Addition also in addition to
moreover
in addition
furthermore
Adversativity yet despite although
however in spite of even though
nevertheless
on the other hand
Aspect in this respect
in other respects
from this perspective
Clarification that is
in other words
Consequence thus
hence
therefore
as a result
consequently
Contrast however unlike while
in contrast in contrast to whereas
on the other hand
Illustration for example
for instance
Reason due to as
owing to since
because of because
on account of
Sequence firstly
first of all
secondly
finally
in conclusion
1
He did not sleep very much. However, he still managed to pass the exam.
He did not sleep very much; however, he still managed to pass the exam.
2
Despite the lack of sleep, he still managed to pass the exam.
He still managed to pass the exam despite the lack of sleep.
3
Even though he was unable to sleep, he still managed to pass the exam.
He still managed to pass the exam even though he was unable to sleep.
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A List of Commonly Used Verbs
The tables below contain a list of verbs that can be found in academic writing. The list, which is
organised alphabetically, only includes the more generic and commonly used verbs. Note that British
spellings are used. Most of the verbs below are found in the Academic Phrasebank and a small
number of additional verbs have been drawn from Coxhead’s Academic Word List.
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist/awl-headwords
A arise claim consume devote exacerbate
abandon arrange clarify contradict differ examine
accelerate ascertain classify contrast differentiate exceed
accentuate assay code contribute diminish exclude
accept assemble coincide control discover execute
access assert collapse convene discriminate exemplify
accommodate assess collect converse discuss exist
accompany assign commence convert display experience
accomplish assist comment convince displace experiment
account for associate commit cooperate dispute explain
accumulate assume communicate coordinate dissect explore
achieve assure compare counteract dispose express
acknowledge attach compensate correspond distinguish extend
acquire attain compile corroborate divide extract
adapt attempt complement cover document extrapolate
add to attend complete create draft
adopt attract compose credit draw from F
address attribute comprehend criticise draw together fabricate
adjust automate comprise critique draw (up)on facilitate
administer avoid compute draw up fail
advocate concede D drive familiarise
affect B conceive date find
aggravate base on concentrate deal with E fluctuate
aggregate benefit conceptualise debate edit focus
agree boost concern decline elicit format
aid broaden conclude decrease eliminate formulate
allocate brief conduct deduce elucidate foster
allow bring about confer defend embody found
alter confine define embrace
amend C confirm delay emerge G
amplify calculate conflict demonstrate employ gain
analyse capture conform denote enable gather
anonymise carry out confound deny encompass gauge
anticipate cast doubt on connect depress encourage generalise
append categorise consent derive engage generate
apply cause consider describe enhance grade
appraise caution consist design ensure grant
appreciate cease constitute detect equate grasp
approach challenge constrain deter establish group
approve change contradict determine estimate grow
approximate channel construct develop evaluate guarantee
argue cite consult deviate evolve
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H J organise quote reverse synthesise
heighten judge originate question reveal survive
highlight justify outline retrieve suspend
hinder overlap R review
hold L overlook raise revise T
hypothesise label rank rate rise tabulate
lack reach rule out tackle
P
I layer lay out react take into
paraphrase account
identify lead recall S
participate take issue
ignore lecture recognise search with
pay attention
illustrate level off to recommend secure target
impair limit perceive record seek tend
impede link perform recover select terminate
implement list perpetuate recruit separate test
implicate locate persist reduce sequence throw up
imply persuade refer serve tie together
impose M pinpoint refine set out trace
improve maintain pioneer reflect set up transfer
incline manipulate play a role refuse shed light on transform
include match plot regard shift transcribe
incorporate maximise point to/ register show translate
measure towards regulate signify
increase transmit
mediate point out reinforce simplify
include treat
mention popularise reject simulate
indicate trigger
migrate pose relate skew
induce postulate
influence minimise relax solve U
mislead prepare release source
inhibit underestimate
model precede relinquish speculate
initiate undergo
moderate preclude rely specify
infer underlie
modify predict remain speed up
influence understand
monitor prescribe remedy state
innovate undertake
present remark stimulate
input unify
N presume remind stress
insert use
negate prevent remove structure
insist utilise
neglect prioritise renew struggle
inspect proceed
instruct normalise repeat subdivide V
note prohibit report subject to
integrate validate
notify project represent submit
intensify value
promote require subscribe
interact vary
O prompt research substantiate
interfere violate
observe propose reside substitute
interpret visualise
obstruct proscribe resolve succeed
intervene prove
interview obtain respond suffer W
occupy provide restate suggest
introduce weaken
occur publish restore summarise
invest withstand
offer pursue restrain supplement
investigate witness
invoke offset restrict support
involve operate Q result from surrender
isolate oppose qualify result in survey
order quantify retain sustain
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A List of Commonly Confused Words
Your spellchecker will only indicate words that are misspelt which it does not recognise. However, if
the word that you have misspelt is correct when it has a different meaning, the spellchecker will not
show you the correct form of the word you want. In these cases, the writer has to know the correct
spelling. The list below contains words which are commonly misspelt, as well as words which may be
spelt correctly but which are simply confused.
abbreviation/acronym
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a
letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase. Dr. and Prof. are common examples. An
acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. These
elements in turn form a new word: NATO, Benelux, UNESCO.
affect/effect
Affect is a verb, e.g. A affects B;
Effect is a noun and is therefore, in its singular form, always used after an article/determiner (‘an’ or
‘the’/’this’), e.g. The Greenhouse Effect.
compliment/complement
Compliment (verb) means to praise someone. Complement (verb) means to complete or add
something in a way that usually improves it. Both words can also be used as nouns.
comprise/consist
Both words mean ‘to be made up of’, but only consist is accompanied by of.
discrete/discreet
Discrete is an adjective which means ‘separate’ or ‘distinct’. Discreet is an adjective which means ‘to
keep silent or tactful about something’.
formerly/formally
Formerly means ‘earlier’. Formally means ‘conventionally’ or ‘officially’.
i.e./e.g.
i.e. is the abbreviation for id est which mean ‘that is’ or ‘in other words’.
e.g. is the abbreviation for exempli gratia which has the same meaning as ‘for example’ and ‘for
instance’.
its/it's
its – without an apostrophe - is a possessive determiner similar to 'my' or 'your' .
it's is a contracted form of 'it is' or 'it has' . Note, however, that contracted forms are avoided in
academic writing.
later/latter
Later is an adverb which means ‘at an advanced point of time’. Latter is an adjective used to refer to
an item listed in a text. It means ‘most recently mentioned’; in other words, the last item.
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practice/practise
In British English, practice is a noun and practise is a verb. American English allows both spellings for
both forms.
precede/proceed
The verb precede means ‘to come before’. The verb proceed means ‘to go forward’ or ‘to begin to
carry out’.
principle/principal
Principle is a noun which means ‘a basic belief, theory or rule’. Principal is an adjective which means
‘main’ or ‘most important’; it can also refer to a head teacher of a school or college, in which case it
is a noun.
there/their
There is used to indicate the existence of something, e.g. There are two famous football teams in
Manchester. The word their is used to indicate possession, i.e. if something belongs to someone or
something.
prescribe/proscribe
The verb prescribe means to advise or authorise the use of something. The verb proscribe means to
forbid or to restrict.
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The Word Evidence and some of its Common Collocations
The word evidence can be found in many sections of Academic Phrasebank, particularly in those
sections which relate the main parts of a research paper, dissertation or thesis. In academic
writing, the word has a precise meaning: it refers to information that has been systematically
collected and analysed using well-described and approved methods, and which - following analysis
and discussion - is then shared with other researchers through publication. Academic writers
critically examine the research evidence of others in their field. They then build on this by
contributing their own research evidence (findings) to that existing body of knowledge. Words
which are often used in conjunction with the word evidence, i.e. its collocations, are listed below.
Adjectives denoting type of evidence
clinical
archival
indirect
historical
empirical
statistical
anecdotal evidence
supporting
documentary
experimental
archeological
observational
epidemiological
Commonly used adjectives and adverbs denoting strength of evidence
weak.
flimsy.
limited.
inconsistent.
unconvincing.
very controversial.
current
quite
The existing evidence for X is
rather
available
particularly clear.
strong.
convincing.
persuasive.
compelling.
encouraging.
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Commonly used premodifying adjectives denoting strength of evidence
no*
little
scant
limited
insufficient
some*
growing
mounting
emerging
increasing evidence that …
There is
accumulating evidence to suggest that …
good
strong
robust
ample
reliable
sufficient
convincing
widespread
considerable
*no and some are not adjectives
Commonly used adverbs and verbs with evidence
shows that …
suggests that …
confirms that …
here casts doubt on …
above clearly indicates …
thus far points to a need for …
The evidence presented up to now supports the view that …
in this paper provides some support for …
in this thesis raises important questions about …
in this review highlights the important role that …
has three important policy implications.
challenges our current understanding of …
indicates a need to monitor and improve …
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