Academic Writing: Phrasal Verbs

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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic of phrasal verbs in the context of academic writing?

  • They consist of just one word.
  • They are always too informal for academic contexts.
  • They can be used properly to impress graders. (correct)
  • They should only be used in everyday conversations.

What does the phrasal verb 'account for' mean?

  • To record a situation.
  • To calculate expenses.
  • To consider something in your thought process. (correct)
  • To justify an action.

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for 'carry out'?

  • Perform
  • Execute
  • Investigate (correct)
  • Conduct

What does the phrase 'cut back on' imply?

<p>To reduce consumption. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In academic writing, which of the following phrasal verbs would be used to express the action of postponing something?

<p>Put off (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrasal verb means to disregard something as a possibility?

<p>Rule out (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'take into consideration' imply?

<p>To include something in a decision-making process. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following phrasal verbs suggests acting without the luxuries of something?

<p>Do without (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of 'ruling out' an option?

<p>Identifying an option as impossible (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'put off' something?

<p>To postpone or delay an event (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action did the speaker take after speaking to the neighbor and landlord?

<p>He called the police (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the speaker encouraged to use phrasal verbs in writing?

<p>They can enhance vocabulary scores (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the speaker imply about informal or slang phrasal verbs?

<p>They should be avoided in formal writing (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the speaker's frustration with the neighbor?

<p>Frequent parties and loud music (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'not ruling out' signify in negotiations?

<p>Leaving an option available for consideration (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What suggestion is made regarding the use of phrasal verbs in writing?

<p>Use them only if they are formal (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'account for' in financial planning?

<p>Include all relevant factors in calculations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the phrase 'carry out'?

<p>To execute or perform a task (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When someone 'looks into' something, what are they doing?

<p>Investigating to find more information (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is 'cut back on' different from 'cut down'?

<p>Cut back on indicates spending less but still spending (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'do without' something?

<p>To be successful or survive without it (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'follow through' imply in the context of completing tasks?

<p>To complete a task or keep a promise (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to frown upon something?

<p>To disapprove or view it negatively (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When might someone 'resort to' an action?

<p>When all other options have been exhausted (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a 'surprise expense'?

<p>Emergency car repair (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In financial contexts, 'cut down' usually refers to what action?

<p>Reducing total expenses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'collocations' refer to in language usage?

<p>Commonly used phrases or word pairs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'carry out an experiment' means what?

<p>To conduct or perform an experiment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a 'cutback' in a business context?

<p>A reduction in expenses leading to job losses (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Account for

To consider something when making a plan or a decision.

Take into account

To include something when making a decision or judgment. It emphasizes considering a factor.

Carry out

To do or complete a specific task or project.

Look into

To investigate or explore a topic or issue.

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Find out

To discover or find out information about something.

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Cut down

To reduce or decrease something (often usage or consumption).

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Do without

To avoid or go without something.

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Follow through

To follow through with a commitment or plan.

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Rule out

To completely reject or exclude an option, making it impossible.

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Put off

To postpone or delay an event or action to a later time.

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Resort to

To take action, especially legal action, because other options have failed.

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Accept

To accept or agree to a condition or demand, even if it's not ideal.

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Say

To make a statement or express an opinion, especially in a public forum.

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Negotiate

To negotiate or discuss terms and conditions with someone in order to reach an agreement.

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Use

To use or employ something, such as a strategy, skill, or resource.

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Complain

To complain or express dissatisfaction about something to someone in authority.

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Cut down on

To reduce or decrease.

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Frown upon

To disapprove of or consider something unacceptable.

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Cut back

To reduce something, often expenses.

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Cutbacks

The act of reducing something, often expenses.

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Collocations

A group of words that typically go together to form a particular expression.

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Attack

To verbally attack another person.

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Study Notes

Academic Writing: Phrasal Verbs

  • Phrasal verbs are acceptable and even beneficial in academic writing, unlike popular belief.
  • Phrasal verbs, a combination of verb and preposition, often have specialized meanings in academic settings

Common Phrasal Verbs for Academic Writing

  • Account for: Consider something when making plans or budgets; synonymous with "take into account"
  • Take into account/consideration: Include something in your thought process for planning or budgeting (similar to "account for")
  • Carry out: To perform an action, especially in experiments or other specific contexts
  • Look into/find out: Investigate to discover additional information (synonyms to one another)
  • Cut down/cut back on: Reduce spending or lessen involvement in something ("cut back" also functions as a noun — "cutback")

Less Common, Yet Beneficial Phrasal Verbs

  • Do without: Have the ability to succeed or survive without something
  • Follow through: Complete a task; keep a promise
  • Frown upon: Disapprove or not accept something; not generally a bad thing, just unpopular
  • Resort to: Use something as a final option, often not desired but necessary
  • Rule out: Consider something impossible, make it unavailable as an option.
  • Put off: Postpone to a later time

Avoiding Common Mistakes

  • Be aware of the distinction between phrasal verbs and their individual parts of speech (noun/verb) to correctly use them.
  • Be careful not to mix up similar-sounding phrasal verbs like "look into" and "look out."
  • Use collocations (word groupings) properly to enhance academic writing. Avoid mixing up phrasal verbs and find the best fit for context.

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