Weighing things up

1. advantage /disadvantage
The great advantage of digital cameras is that there is no
film to process.
A major disadvantage of these vaccines is that they are very
expensive to produce.
Despite the initial outlay, the long-term advantages of this
proposal clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
2. good point
One of the good points about the book’s design is that it is
easy to use.
3. the good/great/best thing about (rather informal)
The good thing about cycling to work is that you don’t get
stuck in traffic jams.
4. drawback (= a disadvantage in the context of other
advantages)
This method produces by far the most accurate results, but
its major drawback is that it can be very time-consuming.
Agreeing/Partly agreeing
1. agree (+ that / + on) agree ON, agree ON, agree
ON….”IN” caca!
Most experts agree that dieting needs to be accompanied by
regular exercise.
Most experts agree on the need for dieting to be
accompanied by regular exercise.
2. share sb’s view/concerns
I share her concerns about the lack of women in high
academic positions.
A lot of people share the view that tourism will have a
negative impact on the island.
3. there is some truth in the argument that…
There is some truth in the argument that there is a link
between violence on our TV screens and violence on our
streets.
4. there is (general/widespread) agreement (+that /
+on) (agreement is uncountable, so no “a”)
Today there is general agreement that climate change is a
major concern.
Today there is widespread agreement on the need for
action on climate change.
5. there is a widely held view/belief that… (belief is countable,
so “a” is necessary)
There is a widely held belief that body heat is lost mostly
through the head.
6. widely/generally accepted
It is now widely accepted that the universe began with the
so-called Big Bang.

Aim or purpose
● aim (to do)
This paper aims to show the influence of technology on the
work of artists
● achieve/attain a goal
It took Mandela over forty years to achieve his goal of a
democratic South Africa.
● have intention of +ING
Rafsanjani claimed that Iran had no intention of developing
nuclear weapons.

Causes
● make (without “to”)
She could always make me laugh.
What makes young people commit crime?
The government’s economic policies have made it unpopular
with voters.
The invention of the washing machine made people’s lives a
lot easier.
● cause (sth + to do): Generalmente se usa para cosas
negativas
The crisis caused oil prices to rise dramatically.
High fat diets can cause heart disease.
● lead to
This research could eventually lead to a cure for many
serious illnesses.
Overfishing has led to a collapse in the numbers of tuna and
cod in the Atlantic.
● trigger: Disparar en el sentido de iniciar, provocar.
The First World War was triggered by the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo.
● arise from
Inter-ethnic unrest in central Asia is just one of the problems
arising from the breakup of the Soviet Union.
● be a (major/key) factor in
Public outcry against the cuts was a major factor in the
government’s decision to rethink their austerity measures.
Her lack of good looks was, paradoxically, a key factor in her
success – millions of people saw her as a kind of anti-celebrity.
The study tried to identify the key factors affecting
economic change.
● source
Housework can become a major source of conflict between
couples.
The fact that the two words are so similar can be a source of
confusion.

Certainty & Uncertainty

● certain (that / to do)
It now seems certain that life exists elsewhere in the
universe.
The committee are almost certain to accept the proposal.
● there is no doubt that / there is no denying the fact that
There is no doubt that there is a link between smoking and
lung cancer.
However irritating his arrogance may be, there is no denying
the fact that he is a brilliant player.
● not sure / unsure
I am not sure whether this story is true or not.
The police are still unsure about exactly what happened.

Comparing & Contrasting

● compared to/with; in comparison to/with
Compared to most other European capitals, Vienna has a low
crime rate.
In the Philippines wages are very low in comparison with the
US.
● unlike – a diferencia de…
Unlike his brother, he has no interest in music.
The drug has almost no side effects, unlike other drugs that
are used to treat this illness.
● in contrast to / by contrast (with comma)
In contrast to the south, the north of the country has a low
unemployment rate.
The north of the country has a low unemployment rate. By
contrast, in the south many people are desperate to find
work.
● make/draw a distinction between
It is important to make a distinction between allowing a
patient to die comfortably, and actively helping them to do so.

Subjects and topics

● as for (to introduce a subject which is connected with
what you were saying before)
You can ask the others, but as for me, I’ll be busy in the
office.
As for racism, much progress has been made, but there is
still much to do.
● focus on
In this report I will focus on the three main search engines
currently in use.

Concluding
● the main conclusion to be drawn… is that…
The main conclusion to be drawn from this discussion is
that the best way to help slow readers is to help them
recognise individual words.
● in this… I have tried/attempted to…
In this report, I have attempted to demonstrate why
improved training is the best solution to the current problem

Disagreeing
● disagree /not agree
Scientists disagree about what causes the anomalies.
Scientists do not agree as to the source of the anomalies.
I strongly disagree with his views on immigration.
● take issue with
I feel that I must take issue with her argument that
television violence leads to higher crime rates.
● controversial
The cultivation of genetically modified crops is a highly
controversial issue.

Effects
● effect(s) (of sth) (on sth)
She was one of the first scientists to study the effects of
radiation on the human body.
The kind of food we eat has a significant effect on our mental
ability.
Recent developments in nanotechnology will have far-
reaching effects on medicine and other fields.
● impact (of sth) (on sth)
His work had an enormous impact on the study of genetics.
Population growth will have a profound impact on world
demand for food.
● influence (of sth) (on sth)
Marshall McLuhan examined the influence of the media on
modern society.
Marshall McLuhan showed how the media have an enormous
influence on modern society.
● repercussions
The recent scandal could have serious repercussions for her
political career.
● implications
The results of the study will have important implications for
educational policy.

Emphasising
● it should be noted that
It should be noted that the research in this area is still at an
early stage.
● it is worth bearing in mind that / Please bear in mind that
It is worth bearing in mind that 90% of the scientists
researching herbicides in the USA are employed by chemical
companies.
● vital/essential
These insects play a vital part in the food chain.
It is essential that the work is carried out as soon as
possible.
● especially/particularly
Unemployment figures have been rising, especially in the
north.
Alcohol consumption has increased, particularly among
young women.
● above all
Cycling is pollution-free, cheap, and above all, healthy.
● draw attention to
The study was one of the first to draw attention to the
problems faced by the disabled.

Explaining
● This means that / which means that (with reference to
what has just been said)
Computer technology is constantly being improved. This
means that anything you buy will be out of date within a few
months. (Two sentences separated by a full stop)
There is a shortage of doctors, which means that patients
often have to wait a long time for treatment. (One sentence,
divided in half by a comma)
● in other words
We want to know if she has the right skills, experience and
attitude – in other words, can she do the job?
● to put it simply
For all the skill of the artists of ancient Egypt, they were bound
by rigid conventions in which foreshortening and perspective
played no role. To put it simply, they did not depict the world
as it is seen.
● the purpose of… is to outline
The purpose of the first chapter is to outline the basic
principles which form the foundation of the English legal
system.

A selection of important linking words & expressions

● apart from
Apart from one or two minor errors, this is an excellent
essay.
It rained on the last day, but apart from that, we had
wonderful weather.
● reason (for sth)
The German economy recovered from the recession more
quickly than elsewhere in Europe. The reason for this was
large-scale investment on the part of China.
There are good reasons for believing that the new material,
graphene, will revolutionise the computer industry.
● due to / owing to (+ noun phrase)
The number of songbirds has declined. This is partly due to
modern farming methods.
Owing to lack of public interest, the programme was
abandoned.
● argument(s)
There are strong environmental arguments for reducing car
use and promoting public transport.
● whereas / while
Most urban housing in Spain is in the form of large blocks of
flats, whereas in Britain the norm is individual houses, usually
with at least two floors.
Some people visit their doctor once every few weeks, while
others may not visit theirs in years.
● otherwise
The committee needs to act quickly, otherwise there could be
a serious problem.
The local people are glad the tourists are here. Otherwise,
there would be no jobs.
● in case
Doctors have to take out insurance to protect themselves in
case they are sued.
Make sure to take some proof of identity in case we get
stopped at the border.
● on (the) one hand / on the other hand (things to be
balanced against each other)
On the one hand, celebrities owe their wealth and success to
being in the public eye. On the other, everyone is entitled to
their own private life.
● as a result
Strong winds had brought down trees and power lines, and as
a result none of the local trains were running.
Some people suffer from stress at work and become ill as a
result.
● as follows
The aims of this report are as follows: to set out the ideas
behind the proposed new development, to summarise local
opinion about it, and to suggest ways of reducing its impact on
the environment.
Making Generalisations
● most
Most people would agree that the law needs changing. (not
“most of the people”)
Pero OJO!!
Most of the class are women. (most people or things in a
group)
Most of the research (in this area) supports this point of
view.
● mostly / mainly / largely
The people who use the early-morning shuttle flights are
mostly businessmen.
Apart from the Nile valley, Egypt is mainly desert.
Their attempts were largely unsuccessful.
● generally/broadly speaking / as a rule
Generally speaking, girls outperform boys at school.
The surface of Mercury can, broadly speaking, be divided
into two types of land area.
As a rule, snakes have simple teeth, all roughly the same
shape.
● on the whole / by and large
On the whole, the system worked well apart from a few
minor setbacks.
The scheme was, by and large, a success.

Problems and Solutions

● solve & resolve
Aprovecho para dejaros las collocations típicas con estas dos
palabras:
- Solve collocates most often with problem
- Resolve collocates with a much wider range of nouns such
as issue, matter, conflict, dispute, contradictions, difficulties,
ambiguities, etc. and only sometimes with problem.
The sooner this problem is solved, the better.
The crisis/issue was resolved by negotiations.
● setback
The peace talks suffered a major setback when a bomb
exploded outside the conference hotel.
● pitfall (= a trap that you can easily fall into if you are not
careful)
This book shows you how to avoid the usual pitfalls when
you are at an interview.
● solution
In this report, I shall outline the main causes of air pollution
and attempt to put forward some possible solutions.
● answer
People have been struggling with this problem for a long time,
but no one has yet come up with an answer.

Reporting what other people say

● point out
- Used to show that you agree with the person/people
mentioned.
As Rachel Carson points out in her book “Silent Spring”,
chemical use in farming is destroying the countryside.
Many writers have pointed out that globalization, hyper-
competition and the Internet are constantly reshaping markets
and businesses.
● claim
- Used to show that you doubt or disbelieve the person/people
mentioned.
Es decir, usando “claim” tú das a entender que no te crees
demasiado lo que dice, sería como decir: “Fulanito asegura
que ha visto OVNIS” en lugar de “Fulanito ha visto OVNIS”. En
castellano, solemos usar la primera forma para insinuar que
nosotros no le damos mucha credibilidad.
Some people have claimed that Kennedy was killed by the
CIA.
Indian military scientists are studying an 82-year-old who
claims he has not had any food or drink for 70 years.
An Ohio man claims to have captured evidence of UFOs.
● argue
Rousseau argued that all men were created equal.
Skeptics have long argued that there are other explanations
for climate change than man-made CO2.

Talking about related/unrelated things

● (there is a) connection/link between
Studies in the 1960s showed that there was a link between
smoking and lung cancer.
Historically, there is a close connection between
productivity and welfare.
● there is no relation / no connection between
There is clearly no connection between a person’s gender
and their ability to do the job.
It can be concluded that there is no relation between
learning styles and academic achievement.
● have nothing to do with
Intelligence has nothing to do with common sense.
The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics
is itself a political attitude.
● be beyond/outside the scope of
These debates are beyond the scope of this essay.

Talking about results / findings

● suggest
Recent research strongly suggests that high protein diets
are in fact bad for you.
New evidence suggests that humans existed on Earth much
earlier than was previously thought.
● findings
Her findings show that regular exercise can prevent some of
the diseases that are common in old age.