Writing Book 4 · Lesson 10

Phrasal verbs in academic English — use the words

Some meanings live in a group of words, not in any one of them.

The words

carry out
do
point out
show
set out
begin to
bring about
cause
look into
study
build on
add to

Watch how it is built

1carry out means about the same as do.
We carried out the test twice.
2point out means about the same as show.
The author points out one problem.
3set out means about the same as begin to.
We set out to measure rainfall.

Two ways to say it

✗ We carried out the test twice. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ We carried out the test twice. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Have I kept the whole phrase exactly?”

Remember

Keep the phrase whole.

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