Writing Book 8 · Lesson 9

Phrasal verbs in academic English — use the words

You have met these and used them with help. Now you use them with none.

The words

bear out
confirm
hinge on
depend entirely
gloss over
skip too fast
tease out
separate carefully
map onto
match
factor in
include
boil down to
come to
head off
prevent
flesh out
add detail to
bring to bear
apply
run counter to
go against
pin down
define exactly

Watch how it is built

1bear out means about the same as confirm.
The data bear out the claim.
2hinge on means about the same as depend entirely.
The argument hinges on one fact.
3gloss over means about the same as skip too fast.
The report glosses over the cost.

Two ways to say it

✗ The data confirm the claim. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ The data bear out the claim. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Could I write this sentence with nothing in front of me?”

Remember

These say things no single word says as exactly.

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