Writing Book 6 · Lesson 8

Phrasal verbs in academic English — bring the words back

You have met these and used them; now you use them where they actually belong.

The words

put down to
explain by
stem from
come from
touch on
mention briefly
dwell on
spend long on
branch out
expand into
center on
be mainly about
follow up
look further
weigh up
compare

Watch how it is built

1put down to means about the same as explain by.
They put the change down to rainfall.
2stem from means about the same as come from.
The error stems from poor measuring.
3touch on means about the same as mention briefly.
The chapter touches on climate.

Two ways to say it

✗ They put the change down to rainfall. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ They put the change down to rainfall. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Is this the exact word, or the nearest one I already knew?”

Remember

Some phrasal verbs belong in academic writing. These are them.

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