[31] Tricky pair: affect/effect
When you talk about influence, effect is a noun, and affect is a verb:
a. Differences in social status may affect participants’ answers, which will have a significant effect on the results.
b. The effects of the diet affected participants in different ways.
Effect as a verb means to cause something to happen (e.g.: effect a peace settlement, effect lasting change).
[32] Tricky pair: actual/current
Remember: Actual (=real), which means present in many languages, cannot replace current.
[33] Tricky pair: its/it’s
Don’t confuse its (possessive adjective) with it’s (it is):
It’s an interesting study, and its aim is to discuss the main tenets of Smith’s theory.
[34] Tricky pair: consist/comprise
Both consist and comprise are used to describe what something is ‘made of.’ Comprise is more formal than consist and doesn’t take of in the active voice:
Section one consists of/comprises (NOT “comprises of”) ten multiple choice questions.
Comprised of is possible in the passive voice:
This paper is comprised of five sections.
[35] Key word: framework
The word framework (=basic structure) is very common in academic writing. It can be used in a number of ways:
a. This study is flawed and lacks a conceptual framework.
b. The agreement provides a legal framework for reciprocity.
c. The author provides no theoretical framework for her study.
d. The framework for this analysis was structured around existing research.
[36] Key word: broad
Other words you can use with broad include range of…, array of…, scope of…, overview of…
[37] Linking ideas: regarding
Besides regarding, you can use with regard to or in regard to. As regards is slightly less formal. “In regards to” and “with regards to” are considered non-standard.
[38] Key word: key
You can use key to describe a number of things: a key issue, factor, point, role, word, concept.
[39] Tricky word: discuss
Discuss is NOT followed by the preposition about:
In section two, we discuss (NOT “discuss about”) the most relevant findings.
[40] Tricky pair: both of which/all of which
Both of which refers to two things, while all of which refers to three or more things:
a. The other studies, both of which were conducted in the USA, produced similar results.
b. This paper comprises three parts, all of which are interconnected.
Notice the punctuation:
a. CORRECT: Two studies were reported, both of which were controlled trials.
b. WRONG: Two studies were reported. Both of which were controlled trials.
c. CORRECT: Two studies were reported. Both of them were controlled trials.
d. WRONG: Two studies were reported, both of them were controlled trials.
[41] Tricky pair: remainder/remaining
Don’t confuse remainder (noun) with remaining (adjective):
a. In the remainder of this article, I will turn my attention to…
b. In the remaining sections, I will discuss…
[42] Key word: in-depth
In-depth is very common in academic writing. It can be used in a number of ways:
a. In this study we carried out an in-depth analysis of statistical data regarding the impact of the initiative.
b. The book provides an in-depth framework for understanding modern politics.
c. The role of flower therapy is explained in-depth at the end of this chapter.