Writing Book 4 · Lesson 16

Phrasal verbs in academic English — meet the words

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

The words

put forward
suggest
sum up
say it shortly
break down
split into parts
account for
explain
refer to
point at
go through
look at each

Watch how it is built

1put forward means about the same as suggest.
She put forward a new idea.
2sum up means about the same as say it shortly.
To sum up, plants need light and water.
3break down means about the same as split into parts.
Break the problem down into steps.

Two ways to say it

✗ She suggest a new idea. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ She put forward a new idea. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Does the meaning survive if I change one word?”

Remember

More phrases that behave as one word.

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