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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.

Aprovecho este ejemplo para insistir en lo que os contaba en la entrada pasada:

sentido común por encima de todo. Esta última frase por ejemplo es de nota, pero

puede pasar a jugar en tu contra si luego tu vocabulario se limita a usar good plan,

bad weather, nice food. Hace falta ser (o al menos parecer) coherente con el nivel

de vocabulario mostrado a lo largo de toda la redacción y, clave, NO FALLAR en el

registro formal/informal. Si usas esta expresión para recomendar a un amigo tuyoque se compre unas zapatillas frente a otras, es para no seguir leyendo. Es lo que

me han enseñado y a mí me fue fenomenal

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 fromthe

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.



ertainty & 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

onmedicine 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 McCluhan examined the influence of the media on modern society.



Marshall McCluhan showed how the media have an enormous influence

onmodern 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 thelocal 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 landarea.



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.



To care for the injured animals

He doesn’t care that his aggressive behaviour…

WAY

Everyone was getting in his way

I can’t imagine him going out of his way to help anyone else

None of them knew the way to the museum

STEPS

He must take urgent steps to stop that.

I climbed the final steps of the lighthouse

You should retrace your steps and go back to camp

STOOD

The song stood a good chance of being a hit

Being the one with accent, I stood out amongst the othersMy parents stood by me all the time I was in prison

CLAIM

No one will claim responsibility

PARTY

They are planning to postpone their house-warming party

There is little support within the party for a change of leadership

The restaurant got very busy when a coach party arrived full of people

QUESTION

Before we close the meeting I’d like to raise the question of punctuality in the office.

The press are calling into question Government claims that…

The company claim there is absolutely no question of making anybody redundant.

DROP

I’m driving into town and can drop you off at the station if you need a lift.

Can we just drop the subject and talk about something else, please.

Temperatures are likely to drop to below freezing tonight.

AVOIDED

She avoided her friends from home

The car just avoided hitting a lamppost

We’d have enjoyed the play more if we hadn’t avoided the f irst act

TERMS

Harry has already spent two terms at the college

The speaker used technical terms

He must understand all the terms laid down in the agreement



MOVE

This piece of music never fails to move me

They are planning to move to Australia

The club intends to move the date for the annual dinner

FAIR

They are looking for a woman with fair hair

There is a fair chance that he’ll pass

The weather will be fair today

I’ll do my fair share of the work

It would be fair to say that we played very badly

SHOWED

Mrs Lorenzo showed me a copy of the book

The results showed that… Petra showed no interest in science

POINT

You will have to do it at some point

To get to the point of the lesson

Politeness isn’t really his strong point

TAKE

The government needs to take major decisions

It doesn’t take much intelligence to realise that…

All we can do is take our accountant’s advice

CLEAR

The organisation of ideas in my essay was clear

The secret of a clear skin is drinking water

The road was clear of traffic

BREAK

The band got its first big break in 2003

Unless there’s a break in the weather

They went to Spain for a short breakWELL

She can’t behave well during the lessons

Everyone speaks very well of him

He knows his subject very well

COUNT

His inexperience may count against him

I can always count on him

Mary should count herself lucky not to have been sacked



HIGH

To be in high spirits

He has held a high position in local government

Because of the high winds

SEE

Please see that the door is locked

We’ll have to see whether or not

We went last night to see Hamlet

I’m going to see Lucia later

I’ll see what can I do

I can see your point

BURST A burst tyre

The river burst its banks

They suddenly burst into laughter

ACCOUNT

She gave a very interesting account of her trip to Tibet

To open a bank account

To take into account

MEMORY

To create a statue in memory of the late Prime Minister.

This computer is so much faster since we added extra memory

I have no memory whatsoever of much before the age of five.

SCENE

The police have sealed off the crime scene

In the opening scene of the play we see…

Our reporter is at the scene now and we can speak to her live.

PRACTICE

Tom has his own legal practice in the centre of town.I haven’t ridden a bike for years so I’m probably a bit out of practice

He told me how much he wanted to put the things he’s learnt into practice

EYE

Can you keep an eye on my bags?

To thread the cotton through the eye of the needle

We are looking for someone who has an eye for design

FREE

You’re free to choose which module to study



The service is entirely free of charge

I’ve been completely free from pain

POSITION

John has just taken up the position of Marketing Manager at a local college.

He put me in a really difficult position asking for money

The yoga teacher told everyone to remain in a standing position for 30”.

CHARGE

Apparently, the police are going to charge the man with assault

I had to charge the battery of my car as it had gone flat.

The company have to outline how much they will charge for the work.

VIEW

I gave my view of the portrayal of the main character in the film.

There was a wonderful view from the hotel windowHe couldn’t see the game as his view was blocked by the people in front.

SENSE

I had a real sense of achievement when I passed the exams.

I don’t see the sense of going all the way into town

Paul has a great sense of humour

FAULT

It wasn’t my fault – the vase just fell off the table.

The manager is always finding fault with people

There was a fault with the computer and we had to take it back to the shop

DISTANT

In the not too distant future

I’m a little worried about Steve lately as he seems so distant

he travels to distant galaxies in search of other life forms.

RESPECT

I am writing with respect to our recent meeting on 21st May.

The match has been cancelled out of respect for the death of the Manager.

Students in Spain have more respect for teachers than they do here.

ROUGH

We went over the rough ground

Could you give me a rough idea?

The sea is too rough to go swimming

SHORT

It’s only a short drive to the station

I’m about 20€ short It was very short notice



JOIN

Why don’t you join a sports club?

You’ll have to join that queue

Would you like to join us for a drink?

RELIABLE

Peter’s very reliable

A regular and reliable bus service

This computer programme is not reliable

DO

This car can do 200kmh

A week by the sea will do them good

I could do with some help

SHARP That knife is very sharp

We are coming to a sharp bend in the road

There has been a sharp increase in food prices

SHAKE

Shake the bottle well

He started to shake with fear

She had to shake him violently to wake him up

POOR

A poor area of the town

The plumber did a poor job

I’ve got a very poor memory

SUPPORT

Which team do you support?

He has a family to support

Not many people support the government’s proposal

RANGE

A huge mountain range divides the two countriesA very wide range of goods

These missiles have a range of 600kms

MIND

Mind the step!

Would you mind doing something for me?

As it’s on my mind, I’d better tell you

SEASON

A season ticket



The first match of the season

The holiday season

ORDERED

We sat down and ordered the meal

To be ordered alphabetically

We’ve ordered a new computer

PICKED

He hasn’t been picked for the team

Freshly picked strawberries

He picked up the letter and read it

TRIAL

He had to stand trial for assault

I learnt through trial and errorWe’ve got this photocopier on trial for a month

TRANSFORMATIONS

1. There were a lot of things that we had to think about before… (obliged)

1′. There were several things that we were obliged to take into consideration

before…

2. Do you think you could help me? (wondering)

2′. I was wondering if you could give me a hand

3. I know that it was wrong of me to shout in front of (raised)

3′. I know that I should not have raised my voice in front of

4. If you need any help, you can always call me (hesitate)

4′. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to call me.

5. It hasn’t rained quite as much this year as in previous years (slightly)

5′. This year, it has rained slightly less than it did in previous years

6. Unless the weather improves, they will have to stop the tennis match(mean)

6′. If the weather doesn’t get better, it will mean stopping the tennis match7. I don’t mind whether … (difference)

7′. It doesn’t make any difference to me whether…

8. It’s possible that the thieves entered the building… (broken)

8′. The thieves may have broken into the building…

9. Sarah cried her eyes out immediately she was told she failed the exam (tears)

9′. Sarah broke down in tears as soon as she heard she had failed the exam

10. The government recently said our problems are the fault of the lalala (blame)

10′. The government has placed the blame on lalala for our problems



11. You led me to believe the job was mine if I wanted it (impression)

11′. I was (given/under/left with) the impression that the job…

12. He would never have guessed that… (little)

12′. Little did he know/realize that…

13. Feel free to phone if you have any further problems (hesitate)

13′. Do not hesitate to call us /give us a call if you…

14. When you decide what you want to do please let us know (made)

14′. When you have made up your mind what you want…

15. Do you mind if I come over to see you later? (objection)

15′. Do you have any objection to me coming over to see you later?

16. How can I make him understand that… (get)

16’. How can I get it/the message across (to him) that…

17. They still haven’t carried out a full assessment of the effects (been)17’. The effects have yet not been fully assessed by them

18. John was surprised when he won the election and became President (rather)

18’. John was rather taken aback when he was elected as President

19. The police now think he invented the story to protect his girlfriend (made)

19’. He is now thought to have made up the story to protect his girlfriend

20. To repair and redecorate their house next month (up)

20’. To have their house cleaned up by next month

21. He thinks his girlfriend does not appreciate him (granted)

21’. He dislikes not being granted by her girlfriend

22. They have postponed the meeting until January (been)

22’. The meeting has been put off until January

23. We need at least six people to help us (no)

23’. No less than six people are required to help us

24. A common belief is that British people cannot speak foreign languages very well

(weak)

24’. British people are commonly believed to be weak in speaking foreignlanguages

25. You could have been seriously injured not wearing a seatbelt (think)

25’. You must think yourself lucky you weren’t seriously injured not wearing a

seatbelt

26. Would you give us your answer as soon as possible (convenience)

26’. Please respond at your earliest convenience

27. The hotel was further away from the beach than was claimed (nowhere)

27’. The hotel was nowhere near as close to the beach as they claimed



28. I wasn’t expecting my colleagues to organise… (taken)

28’. I was taken aback (by surprise) when my colleagues organised…

29. It is no likely to happen, but if you’re not satisfied… (event)

29’. In the unlikely event that you’re not satisfied…

30. It’s one thing to think there’s a demand for your product and another to…

(world)

30’. There’s a world of difference between thinking there’s a demand…and

(another –ing)

32. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise it was so late (track)

32’. Sorry, I lost track of the time

33. Apparently, the restaurant in town has been bought by someone else (under)

33’. I hear that the restaurant in town is under new management34. Brian was really interested in North American history in his school days

(interest)

34’. Brian had an interest in North American history…

35. When it comes to population, Beijing’s is much bigger than Auckland’s

(populated)

35’. Beijing is much more populated than Auckland

36. The manager should think about experience when hiring new staff

(consideration)

36’. The manager should take experience into consideration when…

37. The anti-smoking advertisement does not stop people from smoking

(ineffective)

37’. The anti-smoking advertisement is ineffective at stopping people from

smoking

38. She has learnt a substantial amount from her university course (gained)

38’. She has gained a substantial amount of knowledge from…

39. It is a good idea to learn Chinese to improve your future job prospects (taking)

39’. Taking up Chinese is a good way to enhance your work opportunities40. When I realised what had happened, I became quite afraid (overcome)

40’. I was overcome with fear when I worked out what had occurred

41. We saw the litter on the ground and picked it up and put it in the bin

(hesitation)

41’. We grabbed the rubbish off the ground and threw it in the bin

withouthesitation

42. Do you think you could give me a hand to move the sofa? (mind)

42’. Would you mind giving me a hand to move the sofa



43. Can you possibly get me the work as soon as possible. (appreciate)

43’. I would appreciate it if you could get the work to me as soon as possible.

44. Apparently, they’re planning on rerouting the traffic to reduce congestion.

(drawn)

44’. Plans are being drawn up to reroute the traffic to reduce congestion

45. It was a mistake not to write the telephone number down. (point)

45’. I should have made a point of writing down the telephone number.

61. He was surprised to be offered a place in the course (came)

61’. The offer of a place in the course came as a surprise to him

62. If he doesn’t get that job, who knows what he’ll do (knowing)

62’. If he doesn’t get that job, there is no knowing what he’ll do

63. “Do you want to go and see the new play at the …?” Petra asked her friend(interested)

63’. Petra asked her friend whether she was interested in going to see…

64. She hasn’t written to me recently (heard)

64’. I have not heard from her for/in a while

65. They put Roger in charge of health and safety (made)

65’. Roger was made responsible for health and safety

66. You may not get the job (cost)

66’. It may cost you the job

67. The company is almost certain to get the contract (every)

67’. The company stands every chance of getting the contract

68. Her sister is the only person to know (apart)

68’. Nobody apart from her sister knows

69. He would have called yesterday if he had had more time (short)

69’. He didn’t call yesterday because he was short of time

70. He has the ability to become world judo champion (capable)

70’. He is capable of winning the world championship in judo

71. He was asked to give an explanation for making the mistake (why)71’. He was asked to explain why he made the mistake

72. He didn’t mention that (reference)

72’. He didn’t make any reference to that

73. She was very pleased to be given an award (delight)

73’. Much to her delight she was given the award

74. Sam never thought of asking me for my advice (occurred)

74’. It never occurred to Sam to ask me for advice

61. He was surprised to be offered a place in the course (came)

61’. The offer of a place in the course came as a surprise to him



62. If he doesn’t get that job, who knows what he’ll do (knowing)

62’. If he doesn’t get that job, there is no knowing what he’ll do

63. “Do you want to go and see the new play at the …?” Petra asked her friend

(interested)

63’. Petra asked her friend whether she was interested in going to see…

64. She hasn’t written to me recently (heard)

64’. I have not heard from her for/in a while

65. They put Roger in charge of health and safety (made)

65’. Roger was made responsible for health and safety

66. You may not get the job (cost)

66’. It may cost you the job

67. The company is almost certain to get the contract (every)67’. The company stands every chance of getting the contract

68. Her sister is the only person to know (apart)

68’. Nobody apart from her sister knows

69. He would have called yesterday if he had had more time (short)

69’. He didn’ t call yesterday because he was short of time

70. He has the ability to become world judo champion (capable)

70’. He is capable of winning the world championship in judo

71. He was asked to give an explanation for making the mistake (why)

71’. He was asked to explain why he made the mistake

72. He didn’t mention that (reference)

72’. He didn’t make any reference to that

73. She was very pleased to be given an award (delight)

73’. Much to her delight she was given the award

74. Sam never thought of asking me for my advice (occurred)

74’. It never occurred to Sam to ask me for advice