Writing Book 8 · Lesson 6

What is special about academic English? — use the words

You have both words and you know both meanings. Grade 8 is where you stop needing to think about which.

The words

ascertain
find out
utilize
use
endeavor
try
commence
begin
terminate
end
facilitate
help
constitute
make up
comprise
consist of
allocate
give out
undertake
carry out
disseminate
spread
subsequent
later

Watch how it is built

1ascertain means about the same as find out.
We could not ascertain the cause.
2utilize means about the same as use.
The team utilized every method available.
3endeavor means about the same as try.
She endeavored to finish on time.

Two ways to say it

✗ We could not find out the cause. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ We could not ascertain the cause. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Would I have reached for this word without being asked?”

Remember

And know when the plain word is the better one.

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