Academic vocabulary

Academic vocabulary is the set of words used in essays, textbooks and exam questions in every subject: ⟦analyse⟧, ⟦evaluate⟧, ⟦significant⟧, ⟦consequently⟧. Knowing them helps you understand questions and write clearly.

Key facts

  • Command words in questions tell you what to do: ⟦analyse⟧ (look at the parts in detail), ⟦evaluate⟧ (judge how good or important), ⟦justify⟧ (give reasons), ⟦summarise⟧ (give the main points briefly).
  • Describing words: ⟦significant⟧ (important or large enough to notice), ⟦relevant⟧ (connected to the topic), ⟦crucial⟧ (extremely important), ⟦approximately⟧ (roughly).
  • Linking words to add a point: ⟦furthermore⟧, ⟦moreover⟧, ⟦in addition⟧. To show a contrast: ⟦however⟧, ⟦nevertheless⟧, ⟦whereas⟧.
  • Linking words to show a result: ⟦consequently⟧, ⟦therefore⟧, ⟦as a result⟧, ⟦thus⟧.
  • Research words: ⟦hypothesis⟧ (an idea to test), ⟦method⟧ (how you do it), ⟦evidence⟧ (facts that show something is true), ⟦conclude⟧ (decide from the facts). British spelling: ⟦analyse⟧, ⟦emphasise⟧; American: ⟦analyze⟧, ⟦emphasize⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

What does the question want? ⟦Evaluate the plan to close the library.⟧

  1. ⟦Evaluate⟧ means judge how good or important something is.
  2. Give points for and against, then a judgement.

Answer: Judge how good the plan is, with reasons for and against.

Example 2

Choose the linking word: ⟦The road was icy. ___, several cars crashed.⟧ (⟦However⟧ / ⟦Consequently⟧)

  1. The crashes happened because of the ice.
  2. That is a result, so ⟦Consequently⟧.

Answer: ⟦Consequently⟧

Example 3

Replace the everyday word with an academic one: ⟦The results show a big change.⟧

  1. ⟦big⟧ is vague and informal.
  2. ⟦significant⟧ means large enough to matter.

Answer: ⟦The results show a significant change.⟧