There are many word lists for general and academic English study. This page describes
the most important ones, first giving an
overview of the different types of word list, then presenting a
more detailed summary of individual lists.
The summary contains links to other pages on the site which have more detail of each list and (often) a complete copy of the list itself.
There is a companion page in this section which gives
information on why word lists are important (and tips on how to use them).
[Note: Links to other pages are in blue, links to other parts of this page are in red.]
Types of word list
Word lists can be divided into three types, namely
general word lists and
academic word lists, although as will be explained below, academic lists can be sub-divided into
general academic lists and
field-specific (i.e. subject-specific) academic lists.
An additional way to classify word lists is those which contain only single words (the majority of the lists are this type), and
multi-word lists. A final way to classify lists is written vs. spoken. Most of the lists that exist are
for written English, though many of the multi-word lists include both a spoken and written component.
General word lists (single words)
Interest in word lists began with studies of core or general vocabulary, that is, words having high frequency across a wide range of
texts. The first general word list to have important use in language study was the
General Service List (GSL), created by Michael West in 1953.
This list has been used to design EFL materials and courses, and, despite its age, it is probably still the most widely used list of general vocabulary.
Originally consisting of 2000 words (called headwords) and their corresponding word families, it was revised in 1995 by Bauman and Culligan,
with an increase in the number of headwords from 2000 to 2284.
One criticism of the GSL is its inclusion of too many low frequency words, some of which are a product of its age (e.g. shilling, headdress, cart, servant) while
excluding more recent vocabulary (e.g. computer, television, Internet). A second criticism is that it uses word families. The assumption behind the use of
word families is that once one word is known, other members of the family can be easily recognised; however, this may not always be the case. Examples of
distantly related word family pairs in the GSL are: please/unpleasantly, part/particle and value/invaluable. Additionally, some word
forms are used more frequently than others, and the inclusion of less frequent forms adds an unnecessarily burden to the learning load of students.
These criticisms have led to the creation of two updated versions of the list, both devised in 2013, both called the New General Service List.
Both lists use inflected forms and variant spellings (called lemmas), rather than extended word families.
The first, abbreviated to
NGSL, was developed by Browne, Culligan and Phillips. It is a list of 2801 words which give over 90% coverage.
It was generated from a corpus of 273 million words, 100 times larger than that used for the GSL.
The second list, abbreviated to
new-GSL, was devised by Brezina and Gablasova from a corpus of over 12 billion words.
It consists of 2494 words and gives around 80% coverage.
General word lists (multi-word)
The above are all single word lists. There are several multi-word lists for general vocabulary, such as the
First 100 Spoken Collocations (First 100) by Shin and Nation (2008), and the Phrasal Expressions List (PHRASE List) by Martinez and Schmitt (2012). However,
since none of these is used as a basis for academic word lists, in contrast to the general lists given above, they are not explained here in detail.
Academic word lists (single words)
Researchers have long been interested in defining and isolating academic vocabulary, and there have been many attempts to devise
lists which are of general use to students of academic English.
The first widely used academic word list was the
University Word List (UWL),
created in 1984 by Xue and Nation. It comprises 836 word families, divided into levels based on frequency.
It excludes words from the GSL, and gives 8.5% coverage of academic texts. It was developed by combining four existing lists.
A major update to the UWL came in 2000, when Averil Coxhead, of the University of Wellington, devised the
Academic Word List (AWL). This list
has been hugely influential and is perhaps the most widely known and used academic word list. Like the UWL, it comprises word families and is
divided into levels based on frequency. It gives similar coverage, around 10% of texts; however, it does so using far fewer word families, 570 in total.
Like the UWL, it excludes words from the GSL. It was devised in a more systematic way, using a corpus of texts from a range of academic disciplines.
Although the AWL is still widely used, it has received criticism in a number of areas. One criticism is that it is based on the
GSL, which is a very old list, dating from 1953. A second criticism is that, like the GSL, it uses word families, with the same problems as mentioned for
the GSL above.
In response to these criticisms, other academic word lists have been created. One of these is the
Academic Keyword List (AKL), developed by Paquot in 2010. This
consists of 930 words which appear more frequently in academic texts than non-academic ones, a tendency called keyness,
which leads to the name of the list.
A second list is the
New Academic Word List (NAWL) by
Browne, Culligan and Phillips. This list responds to the criticisms of the AWL by using lemmas rather than word families, and by basing itself on a more
updated general service list, the
NGSL, created by the authors at the same time, in 2013.
A third updated list is the
Academic Vocabulary List (AVL), developed by Gardner and Davies in 2013. This list, which is also lemma-based,
selects academic words by considering their ratio in academic versus non-academic texts, with words needing to occur 1.5 times as often in the
academic texts as in non-academic ones. This is similar to the approach used to devise the AKL (above), and in contrast to lists like the AWL and NAWL which
exclude an existing general service list. In addition, the authors considered the range of words in the academic disciplines used in their corpus,
the dispersion, and discipline measure, which required that words could not occur more than three times the expected frequency in any of
the disciplines. This approach has been influential in the development of other,
field-specific lists, as well as some
technical lists, as explained below.
There are several lists specifically for academic spoken English (as distinct from the spoken components of the multi-word lists, below).
These include the English Spoken Academic Wordlist, devised by Nesi in 2002,
the Academic Spoken Word List (ASWL), devised by Dang et al. in 2017, and
the Vocabulary for Academic Lecture Listening word list (VALL), devised by Thompson in 2015.
Academic word lists (multi-word)
Focusing exclusively on single words can lead learners to overlook valuable multi-word constructions which are commonly used in academic English.
For example, while use of the word thing is generally considered to be poor
academic style, it occurs in several phrases used by expert writers, such as
the same thing as and other things being equal.
Several multi-word lists have been developed for academic English. One is the
Academic Formulas List (AFL), devised by Simpson-Vlach and Ellis in 2009. This list
gives the most common formulaic sequences in academic English, i.e. recurring word sequences three to five words long.
There are three separate lists: one for formulas that are common in both academic spoken and written English (the ‘core’ AFL),
one for spoken English, and one for written English.
Another multi-word list is the
Academic Collocation List (ACL), developed by Ackermann and Chen in 2013. The ACL
contains 2469 of the most frequent and useful collocations which occur in written academic English.
A third list is the
Discourse Connectors List (DCL), devised by Rezvani Kalajahi, Neufeld and Abdullah in 2017. This list
classifies and describes 632 discourse connectors, ranking them by frequency in three different registers (academic, non-academic and spoken).
More recently, there is the
Academic idioms list, developed by Miller in 2019. This gives 170 idioms which are common in spoken academic
English, and 38 which are frequently used in written academic English.
Field-specific academic word lists (single words)
Academic word lists such as the AWL are designed to be used by students of all disciplines. Researchers have found, however, that the AWL and other lists
provide varied coverage in different subject areas. For example, the AWL provides 12.0% coverage of the Commerce sub-corpus used to derive the list,
but only 9.1% for the Science sub-corpus (with only 6.2% for Biology).
Additionally, words in the AWL (and similar lists) occur with different frequencies in different disciplines.
For example, words such as legal, policy, income, finance and legislate,
which all fall in the first (most frequent) sublist of the AWL, may be common in Business or Finance,
but are very infrequent in disciplines such as Chemistry.
Words also have different collocations and meanings across different subject areas. Examples are base, which has a special meaning in Chemistry,
and bug, which has a different meaning in Computer Science than in general English.
Researchers have therefore become increasingly interested in field-specific (i.e. subject-specific) academic lists, in disciplines ranging
from science to business to medicine. These are generally not
technical word lists, since they are intended to comprise academic (sub-technical) vocabulary.
However, not all of them set out to exclude technical words (some actually set out to include them), and even for those that do,
the line between academic and technical words is often blurred.
Broadly speaking, there are three approaches used by researchers when devising field-specific academic lists.
The first of these is to use the GSL and AWL as a starting point, and to devise a third list which supplements the other two. These lists
exclude GSL and AWL words, and, since they are based on word family lists, also comprise word families.
These lists usually replace the ‘A’ of ‘AWL’ with a subject specific letter.
Examples are the
SWL (Science Word List), the
BWL#1 (Business Word List #1), the
Pharmacology Word List and the
CSWL (Computer Science Word List).
The second approach is to assume that learners are already familiar with general vocabulary and to devise a second list which replaces
other academic lists such as the AWL or NAWL for specific subject areas. As such, these lists exclude the GSL (or NGSL), but do not
exclude any other lists such as the AWL.
These lists usually add the subject letter before ‘AWL’ to derive their name.
Examples are the
MAWL (Medical Academic Word List) and the
NAWL (Nursing Academic Word List), both of which exclude the GSL and are word family lists (like the GSL), and the
EAWL (Economics Academic Word List), which excludes the NGSL and is a lemma-based list (like the NGSL).
The third approach is to devise a single, completely independent list, which includes words based on ratio, dispersion, and other measures, in a similar
way the AVL. These lists, which are usually lemma-based, tend to use ‘AVL’ in their name, preceded by an abbreviation for the subject. Examples are the
MAVL (Medical Academic Vocabulary List) and the
CSAVL (Computer Science Academic Vocabulary List). The
Chemistry Academic Word List (CAWL), although it broadly uses
the same approach, uses word families, and also predates the creation of the AVL, and does not follow the same naming pattern.
There are two further lists which deserve mention here. Both have been developed using the same principles as the lists above; however, they
are intended for school-age rather than university students.
The first is the
Middle School Vocabulary Lists (MSVL). These are a series of five lists developed in 2015 by Greene and
Coxhead, along similar lines to Coxhead’s earlier AWL, i.e. by excluding the GSL and working with word families. However, this list is
intended not for students at or preparing for university, but middle school students, and covers technical rather than purely academic vocabulary.
The lists cover the following subjects: English, Health, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science/History.
Another is the
Secondary Schools Vocabulary Lists (SVL). Developed in 2018 by Green and Lambert, the SVL are a series of lists of
discipline-specific words for secondary school education, covering eight core subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geology, History,
Mathematics, and Physics. The lists were devised using methods similar to those used to create the
AVL and the
MAVL, which are lemma-based lists which consider measures such as range and dispersion along with word frequency.
The lists also include word family versions, as well as collocation lists. The SVL are designed to help students in secondary schools improve their
disciplinary literacy.
There are at least two field-specific academic lists of spoken English, both devised by Dang in 2018. They are the Hard Science Spoken Word
List (HSWL), and the Soft Science Spoken Word List (SSWL).
Technical word lists (multi-word)
There have been some attempts to create discipline-specific multi-word lists, using principles employed in the creation of academic lists.
One is the Computer Science Multi-Word List (CSMWL), created by Minshall at the same time as the
Computer Science Word List (CSWL). However, it comprises only 23 items.
Another example is the
Secondary Phrase Lists (SPL), developed in 2018 by Green and Lambert, who also developed the SVL (above).
This is a series of lists, for the same eight subjects as covered by the SVL, presenting noun-noun, adjective-noun, noun-verb, verb-noun and verb-adverb
collocations.
A third, more recent example is the
Nursing Collocation List (NCL), developed in 2020 by Mandić and
Dankić. It comprises 488 collocations which occur frequently in nursing journal articles.
Summary
The following image, and table below, provide an overview of the major word lists. Spoken word lists are only included in the table
(in italics). All word lists (except spoken ones) are explained in more detail later. Note: there is a higher resolution copy of the following image in the
infographics section.
Single word | Multi-word | |
General |
• GSL (General Service List) 1953 • NGSL (New General Service List) 2013 • New-GSL (New General Service List) 2013 |
These exist, but none are used as a basis for academic lists. |
Academic |
• UWL (University Word List) 1984 • AWL (Academic Word List) 2000 • AKL (Academic Keyword List) 2010 • NAWL (New Academic Word List) 2013 • AVL (Academic Vocabulary List) 2013 • English Spoken Academic Wordlist 2002 • ASWL (Academic Spoken Word List) 2017 • VALL (Vocabulary for Academic Lecture Listening word list) 2015 |
• AFL (Academic Formulas List) 2009 • ACL (Academic Collocation List) 2013 • DCL (Discourse Connectors List) 2017 • Academic idioms list 2019 |
Field-specific/ technical |
• SWL (Science Word List) 2007 • BWL#1 (Business Word List #1) 2007 • PWL (Pharmacology Word List) 2007 • MAWL (Medical Academic Word List) 2008 • AgroCorpus List 2009 • BEL (Basic Engineering List) 2009 • BWL#2 (Business Word List #2) 2011 • CSWL (Computer Science Academic Word List) 2013 • CAWL (Chemistry Academic Word List) 2013 • MAVL (Medical Academic Vocabulary List) 2015 • NAWL (Nursing Academic Word List) 2015 • EAWL (Environmental Academic Word List) 2015 • EAWL (Economics Academic Word List) 2019 • CSAVL (Computer Science Academic Vocabulary List) 2021 • MSVL (Middle School Vocabulary Lists) 2015 • SVL (Secondary School Vocabulary Lists) 2018 • HSWL (Hard Science Spoken Word List) 2018 • SSWL (Soft Science Spoken Word List) 2018 |
• CSMWL (Computer Science Multi-Word List) 2013 • SPL (Secondary Phrase Lists) 2018 • NCL (Nursing Collocation List) 2020 |
References
Granger, S., and Larsson, T. (2021), ‘Is core vocabulary a friend or foe of academic writing? Singleword vs multi-word uses of THING’, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 52 (2021) 100999.
Hyland, K. and Tse, P. (2007). ‘Is There an “Academic Vocabulary”?’, TESOL QUARTERLY, Vol. 41, No. 2, June 2007.
Radmila Palinkašević, M.A. (2017), ‘Specialized Word Lists — Survey of the Literature — Research Perspective’, Research in Pedagogy, Vol. 7, Issue 2 (2017), pp. 221-238.
Therova, D. (2020), ‘Review of Academic Word Lists’, The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, Volume 24, Number 1.
Detailed summary of individual lists
Below is more detail about the lists above. The lists are sorted into the following categories:
- General (core) vocabulary single word lists (3 lists)
- Academic single word lists: general purpose (5 lists)
- Academic single word lists: field-specific (14 lists)
- Technical single word lists (2 lists)
- Academic multi-word lists (4 lists)
- Technical multi-word lists (3 lists)
General (core) vocabulary single word lists
The following gives a more detailed summary of the general word lists mentioned on this page. Blue links
are links to other pages (with even more detail, and, often, a copy of the full word list).
Word list | About |
General Service List (GSL) |
Author: West (1953) — Size: 2284 word families — Originally a list of the 2000 most frequent word families in English, covering around 80% of various types of texts. Further divided into the 1K (first 1000 words) and 2K (second 1000). Used as the basis for many graded readers and other ESL/EFL materials. The list was revised in 1995 by Bauman and Culligan, and their revision, which is the version most commonly used, contains 2284 words. — Examples: the, be, of, and, a, to, in, he, have, it |
New General Service List (NGSL) |
Author: Browne, Culligan and Phillips (2013) — Size: 2801 words — The New General Service List (NGSL), an update of the GSL, is a list of 2801 words which comprise the most important high-frequency words in English, giving the highest possible coverage with the fewest possible words. Not to be confused with the new-GSL (below), also developed in 2013, the NGSL gives over 90% coverage of the corpus used. The NGSL was generated from a corpus of 273 million words, 100 times larger than that used for the GSL. Presents only inflected forms, not word families. Used as the basis for other lists, e.g. NAWL. Has yet to have the same influence as the GSL. — Examples: the, be, and, of, to, a, in, have, it, you |
New-General Service List (new-GSL) |
Author: Brezina and Gablasova (2013) — Size: 2494 words — The new-General Service List (new-GSL), an update of the GSL, is a list of 2494 words drawn from four different corpora with a total size of 12 billion words. Not to be confused with the NGSL (above), also developed in 2013, the new-GSL gives around 80% coverage of the corpora used, similar to the GSL, though with fewer words overall, 2494 compared to approximately 4100 for the GSL. The 2494 words comprise a core list of 2122 words, which had a similar rank in all four corpora, plus 378 words which were common in the two more recent corpora. Like the NGSL, it uses lemmas i.e. inflected forms, not word families. Does not (yet) appear to have been used as the basis for other lists, and is yet to have the same influence as the GSL. — Examples: the, be, of, and, a, in, to, have, that, to |
Academic single word lists: general purpose
The following are the general academic word lists mentioned earlier.
Word list | About |
University Word List (UWL) |
Author: Xue and Nation (1984) — Size: 836 word families — One of the first widely used academic word lists, the UWL contains 836 word families divided into levels based on frequency. It excludes words from the GSL, and gives coverage of 8.5% of academic texts. Now largely replaced by the AWL. — Examples: alternative, analyze, approach, arbitrary, assess, assign, assume, compensate, complex, comply |
Academic Word List (AWL) |
Author: Coxhead (2000) — Size: 570 word families — Perhaps the most widely known and used academic word list, the AWL is a list of 570 word families that are not included in the GSL but which appear frequently in academic texts, across a range of disciplines. Divided into 10 sublists based on frequency. It was designed to be an improvement on the UWL, and covers around 10% of words in academic texts: a similar amount to the UWL, but using far fewer word families. — Examples: analyse, approach, area, assess, assume, authority, available, benefit, concept, consist |
Academic Keyword List (AKL) |
Author: Paquot (2010) — Size: 930 words — The Academic Keyword List (AKL) consists of 930 words which appear more frequently in academic texts than non-academic ones. This tendency is called keyness, which leads to the name of the list, since it identifies keywords in academic (vs. non-academic) texts (the AVL, below, uses a similar principle to select words). As such, the AKL does not exclude words from the GSL. 49.6% of words in the AKL appear in the GSL, 38.7% in the AWL, while 11.7% appear in neither list. — Example words: ability, absence, account, achievement, act, accept, account (for), absolute, above, according to |
New Academic Word List (NAWL) |
Author: Browne, Culligan and Phillips (2013) — Size: 963 words — The New Academic Word List (NAWL) is a list of words that frequently appear in academic texts, but which are not contained in the New General Service List (NGSL) (by the same authors). The NGSL and NAWL in combination give 92% coverage of words (86% for the NGSL and 6% for the NAWL). The NAWL differs from the AWL in that it is more up-to-date, using the NGSL rather than the much older GSL as a basis. Additionally, it uses only inflected forms or variant spellings of words, rather than whole word families, meaning that although it has more headwords than the AWL (963 compared to 570), it has fewer word forms overall (2604 compared to 3112). — Example words: repertoire, obtain, distribution, parameter, aspect, dynamic, impact, domain, publish, denote. |
Academic Vocabulary List (AVL) |
Author: Gardner and Davies (2013) — Size: 3015 words — The AVL is a list of 3015 academic words derived from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). The list excludes general high-frequency words as well as subject-specific (technical) words, though not by directly excluding any existing list. Key features of the list are ratio (words needed to occur 1.5 times as often in academic texts as in non-academic ones), range (words needed to occur frequently in at least seven of nine academic disciplines), dispersion (words needed to be evenly dispersed among the disciplines) and discipline measure (words could not occur more than three times the expected frequency in any of the disciplines). Like the NAWL and in contrast to the AWL, the AVL is based on words and inflected forms, not word families. — Example words: study, group, system, social, provide, however, research, level, result, include. |
Academic single word lists: field-specific
The following are the field-specific lists mentioned earlier.
Word list | About |
Science Word List (SWL) |
Author: Coxhead and Hirsh (2007) — Size: 318 word families — The Science Word List (SWL) provides a list of 318 word families which do not occur in the GSL or AWL but which occur with reasonable frequency and range in written science texts. The authors found that the GSL and AWL in combination give only 80% coverage of science texts, compared to 86.7% for Art, 88.8% for Commerce and 88.5% for Law. The 318 word families in the SWL make up for this shortfall, and provide an extra coverage of 3.79% of the science corpus used to derive the list. In comparison, the SWL gives only 0.61% coverage of an Arts corpus, 0.54% for Commerce and 0.34% for Law, demonstrating that it is a true science list. The SWL is divided into sublists based on frequency, in a similar way to the AWL. It contains 6 sublists, with the first 5 each containing 60 word families, and the last containing 18. — Example words: cell, species, acid, muscle, protein, molecule, nutrient, dense, laboratory, ion. |
Business Word List #1 (BWL#1) |
Author: Konstantakis (2007) — Size: 560 word families — This is the first of two lists called Business Word List (BWL); the second is considered later. To compile the list, the author used a corpus of 33 popular Business English course books published between 1986 and 1996. The list consists of 560 word families, comprising 480 word families selected according to range (needed to occur in at least five of the text books), supplemented by a further 80 word families selected for frequency (needed to appear at least 10 times). The list excludes GSL and AWL words, and therefore provides a third, more specialised and business-oriented list for students. The BWL provided 2.79% coverage of the texts. A separate list of common abbreviations was compiled, which added a further 0.30% coverage. These two lists, together with the GSL and AWL, provided 93.47% coverage, although the author noted that, if proper names and nationalities were included (e.g. London, Mexican), the coverage reached 95.65%, which is above the 95% minimum comprehension threshold. The list is presented in alphabetical order, without frequencies. — Example words: above-mentioned, accessories, acid, adverse, aerospace, after-sales, agenda, aggressive, aircraft, airline. |
Pharmacology Word List (PWL) |
Author: Fraser (2007) — Size: 601 word families — The PWL is intended to provide a list of words which are common in the field of pharmacology, but which are not contained in the GSL or AWL. The PWL gives around 13% coverage of pharmacology journal articles, and 15% coverage of pharmacology textbooks. — Example words: abbreviation, abnormality, abolish, absorb, abuse, accumbens, acetonitrile, acetate, acetylcholine, acid. |
Medical Academic Word List (MAWL) |
Author: Wang, Liang, and Ge (2008) — Size: 623 word families — The Medical Academic Word List (MAWL) was developed from a study of a 1.09 million-word corpus of medical research articles from online resources. It contains 623 word families, and has a coverage of 12.24% of words in the corpus. The MAWL was developed in a similar way to the AWL (Academic Word List), by first eliminating words from the GSL (General Service List). In addition, members of the word family needed to occur in at least half of the 32 subject areas of the corpus, and occur at least 30 times in the corpus. It provides an alternative to the AWL for medical students. — Example words: cell, data, muscular, significant, clinic, analyze, respond, factor, method, protein. |
AgroCorpus List |
Author: Martínez, Beck, and Panza (2009) — Size: 92 word families — The AgroCorpus List is a subset of the AWL, and consists of the word families that were found to be most frequent in an 826,416-word corpus of agriculture research articles. — Example words: environmental, accumulation, region, variation, chemical. |
Basic Engineering List (BEL) |
Author: Ward (2009) — Size: 299 words — The Basic Engineering List (BEL), developed from a corpus of 250,000 words from 25 engineering textbooks, is intended to serve as a foundation for students in reading English language engineering textbooks. The list is purposely short and non-technical in nature, and focuses on word types rather than lemmas or families in order to encourage a focus on individual words. — Examples words: system, calculate, value, flow, process, column, factors. |
Business Word List #2 (BWL#2) |
Author: Hsu (2011) — Size: 426 word families — This is the second of two lists called Business Word List (BWL); the first is considered above. This BWL gives 426 word families which occur frequently in business texts, but which are not general words. This list used a different approach to other specialist lists, by excluding the first 3000 word families from the BNC (British National Corpus), rather than excluding other word lists. The author used a corpus which consisted of business research articles across 20 business subject areas. The word families were chosen by range and frequency in the corpus and accounted for 5.66% of words. The words in the BWL are listed according to which 1000 word section of the BNC they appear in (BNC 4th 1000, BNC 5th 1000, etc.), then by frequency in the business corpus. Range (number of articles they occur in) is also given. As such, this BWL is more detailed than the first one. — Example words: asset, audit, statistic, review, transact, network, database, acquire, interact, construct |
CSWL (Computer Science Word List) |
Author: Minshall (2013) — Size: 433 word families — This Computer Science Word List (CSWL) was designed for use by non-native English speakers studying computer science in UK universities. It was developed from a corpus of 3.66 million words from journal articles and conference proceedings covering 10 sub-disciplines of computer science as defined by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). In combination with the GSL and AWL, the CSWL gave 95.11% coverage of the corpus. — Example words: accelerate, activate, acyclic, adversary, affine, afore, algebra, algorithm, align, alphabet. |
CAWL (Chemistry Academic Word List) |
Author: Valipouri and Nassaji (2013) — Size: 1400 word families — The Chemistry Academic Word List (CAWL) was developed for EFL graduate Chemistry students. It comprises word families which occur frequently in Chemistry research articles. It includes both general and academic words, since many high frequency words have different meanings, frequencies and collocations in specialist contexts. Of the 1400 word families in the CAWL, 683 are from the GSL, 327 are from the AWL, while the remaining 390 occur in neither list. In total, the CAWL gives 81.18% coverage of the CRAC (Chemistry Research Article Corpus) used to derive the list. — Example words: use, show, react, results, solve, spectrum, can, form, temperature, high. |
Medical Academic Vocabulary List (MAVL) |
Author: Lei and Liu (2015) — Size: 819 words — The Medical Academic Vocabulary List (MAVL) was developed based on a study of a 2.7 million-word corpus of medical academic English and a 3.5 million-word corpus of medical English textbooks. The coverage of the MAVL in the two corpuses was 19.44% and 20.18% respectively. The MAVL can be contrasted with the earlier Medical Academic Word List (MAWL), developed in 2008, in four ways. First, unlike the MAWL, which used only medical academic English texts, the MAVL used both medical academic English texts alongside medical English textbooks to develop the list. Second, unlike the MAWL, the MAVL did not exclude high frequency (general) words. Third, the MAVL is lemma-based not word family based. Fourth, it provides greater coverage, with the MAVL covering 19.44% of words in medical academic English texts, compared to 10.52% for the MAWL, and 20.18% of words in medical English textbooks, in contrast to 12.97% for the MAWL. — Example words: abdominal, ability, abnormal, abnormality, absence, absent, absolute, absorption, accord, accumulate. |
NAWL (Nursing Academic Word List) |
Author: 2015 — Size: 676 word families — The Nursing Academic Word List (NAWL) contains the most frequent nursing words in a one million word corpus (called the NRAC) consisting of 252 English online nursing research articles. It is intended for graduate nursing students who need to read and publish nursing articles in English. The NAWL covers 13.64% of the NRAC. Not to be confused with the New Academic Word List (above), also abbreviated NAWL. — |
Environmental Academic Word List (EAWL) |
Author: Liu and Han (2015) — Size: 458 word families — Not to be confused with the Economics Academic Word List, also abbreviated, EAWL (below), the Environmental Academic Word List (EAWL) is intended for environmental science learners. The list gives 15.43% coverage of the 862,242 word corpus used to derive the list, compared to 12.82% for the AWL. — |
Economics Academic Word List (EAWL) |
Author: O’Flynn (2020) — Size: 887 words — The Economics Academic Word List (EAWL) is a list of words which frequently appear in economics texts, but which are not contained in the New General Service List (NGSL). The 887 words of the EAWL are divided into 9 sublists based on frequency. The EAWL, which, like the NGSL, is lemma-based, makes up around 5.5% of the words in university economics texts in English, based on a corpus study of texts ranging from economics journal articles to economics dissertations. Not to be confused with the Environmental Academic Word List, also abbreviated, EAWL (above). — Example words: administrative, aggregate, agriculture, allocation, aspect, audit, authority, best, better, calculation. |
Computer Science Academic Vocabulary List (CSAVL) |
Author: Roesler (2021) — Size: 1606 words — The Computer Science Academic Vocabulary List (CSAVL) comprises two lists for use by Computer Science undergraduate students in the US. The first list gives 904 words, while the second supplementary list, CSAVL-S, gives more technical words. Words were chosen by frequency, range, dispersion and other criteria from a corpus of Computer Science textbooks and journal articles, and together give 19.90% coverage of a second corpus used to evaluate the list. This list, which is a stand-alone list, contrasts with the CSWL, which is intended as a third, supplementary list to the GSL and AWL. — Example words: system, data, algorithm, such, base, node, model, case, program, information. |
Technical single word lists
There are two important technical lists, both for school age students, which use the similar methodology to derive them as the other lists
on this page.
Word list | About |
Middle School Vocabulary Lists (MSVL) |
Author: Greene and Coxhead (2015) — Size: 600-800 word families per subject — The Middle School Vocabulary Lists (MSVL) are a series of lists developed in 2015 by Greene and Coxhead, covering English, Health, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science/History. The lists were developed from a corpus of 109 textbooks for grades 6-8 (11-14 years old). Like the AWL, the MSVL excludes words from the GSL and uses a word family approach. Text coverage of the lists is between 5.83% (Social Studies/History) and 10.17% (Science). — Example words [Health]: drug, physical, alcohol, stress, goal Example words [Mathematics]: equate, graph, area, fraction, chapter. |
Secondary School Vocabulary Lists (SVL) |
Author: Green and Lambert (2018) — Size: Varies, from 253 words (Mathematics) to 880 words (Biology) — The Secondary School Vocabulary Lists (SVL) is a series of lists of discipline-specific words for secondary school education, covering eight core subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geology, History, Mathematics, and Physics. The list was devised using methods similar to those used to create the AVL and the MAVL. The SVL does not present a single list. Rather, it comprises three different types of word list for eight different subjects, and therefore presents 24 lists in total. The three different list types are: lemma lists (sorted by frequency); word family lists (also sorted by frequency, of all words in the family); and collocation lists (the most common 10 word associations for each). — Example words [Biology]: cell, blood, plant, enzyme, molecule. Example words [Economics]: price, cost, demand, rate, firm. |
Academic multi-word lists: general purpose
The following are the general academic multi-word lists mentioned earlier.
Word list | About |
Academic Formulas List (AFL) |
Author: Simpson-Vlach and Ellis (2009) — Size: 607 formulas — The Academic Formulas List (AFL) contains the most common formulaic sequences in academic English, i.e. recurring word sequences three to five words long. There are three separate lists: one for formulas that are common in both academic spoken and academic written language (the core AFL, 207 entries), one for formulas which are used frequently in academic spoken English (200 entries), and one for those which are used frequently in academic written English (also 200 entries). — Examples [core]: in terms of, at the same time, from the point of view, in order to Examples [spoken]: be able to, blah blah blah, this is the, you know what I mean Examples [written]: on the other hand, due to the fact that, it should be noted |
Academic Collocation List (ACL) |
Author: Ackermann and Chen (2013) — Size: 2469 collocations — The Academic Collocation List (ACL) contains 2469 of the most frequent and useful collocations which occur in written academic English. It was developed using the Pearson International Corpus of Academic English (PICAE), with advice from English teaching experts to ensure the collocations chosen would be useful to students of English. The ACL gives around 1.4% coverage of words in academic English, in contrast to only 0.1% coverage for a general corpus. — Example collocations: cognitive ability, abstract concept, sexual abuse, (in) academic circles, accept responsibility, allow access (to), brief account, great accuracy, achieve (a) goal, acquire knowledge. |
Discourse Connectors List (DCL) |
Author: Rezvani Kalajahi, Neufeld and Abdullah (2017) — Size: 632 discourse connectors — The Discourse Connector List (DCL) classifies and describes 632 discourse connectors, ranking them by frequency in three different registers (academic, non-academic and spoken registers) in two different corpora, namely the BNC (British National Corpus) and COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English). — Examples: and, or, as, if, when, also, however, after, even, because. |
Academic Idioms list |
Author: Miller (2019) — Size: 170 idioms (spoken), 38 idioms (written) — The academic idioms list is derived from the British Academic Spoken English (BASE) corpus for spoken texts and the Oxford Corpus of Academic English (OCAE) corpus for written texts. Only idioms with a frequency of more than 1.2 per million words in the BASE corpus were included. Together the list accounts for approximately 0.1% of words in academic English. — Examples [written]: on the other hand, in (the) light of, on the one hand, in the hands of, bear in mind Examples [spoken]: the balance of power, at the end of the day, the bottom line, take on board, by and large |
Academic multi-word lists: field-specific
There appear to be no field-specific, academic multi-word lists at present.
Technical multi-word lists
The following are technical multi-word lists.
Word list | About |
Computer Science Multi-Word List (CSMWL) |
Author: Minshall (2013) — Size: 23 collocations — The Computer Science Multi-Word List (CSMWL) was developed by Minshall at the same time as the CSWL. It comprises only 23 items (listed in full below). — Complete list of CSMWL collocations: control flow graph, data flow, data mining, data set, data structure, data transfer, lower bound, flash memory, execution time, garbage collection, machine learning, operating system, polynomial time, response time, scratch pad, search engine, social network, software development, software engineer, steady state, upper bound, user interface, virtual machine. |
Secondary Phrase Lists (SPL) |
Author: Green and Lambert (2018) — Size: Size varies according to list — The Secondary Phrase Lists (SPL) was developed by Green and Lambert at the same time as the SVL. It comprises collocations for the same eight subjects as covered by the SVL. — Example collocations [Biology]: carbon dioxide, amino acids, water potential, blood cells Example collocations [Economics]: demand curve, interest rate, supply curve, price level |
Nursing Collocation List (NCL) |
Author: Mandić and Dankić (2020) — Size: 488 collocations — The Nursing Collocation List (NCL) is a list of 488 collocations which occur frequently in nursing journal articles. It was developed using the nursing scientific article corpus (NSAC), which consisted of 1.1 million words drawn from 262 nursing articles, from ten prominent nursing journals, all published in 2017 or 2018. The list includes only noun-adjective collocations (254, or 52.1% of the total) and noun-noun collocations (234, or 47.9%), since these are the most common in nursing articles. — Example collocations: alcohol abuse, open access, action research, acute care, medication adherence, chemotherapy administration, hospital admission, adverse effect, age group, significant amount. |
There should be more efficient ways to do this than my below code. It utilizes service from Dictionary.com.
You can use it as a function in worksheet, say you have «pizza» in A1, then in A2, you use =DictReference(A1)
to show the definition. However I only coded it to return the first definition.
Option Explicit
Const URL_SEARCH = "http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/<WORD>?s=t"
Function DictReference(ByVal SearchWord As Variant) As String
On Error Resume Next
Dim sWord As String, sTxt As String
sWord = CStr(SearchWord)
With CreateObject("WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5.1")
.Open "GET", Replace(URL_SEARCH, "<WORD>", sWord), False
.Send
If .Status = 200 Then
sTxt = StrConv(.ResponseBody, vbUnicode)
' The definition of the searched word is in div class "def-content"
sTxt = Split(sTxt, "<div class=""def-content"">")(1)
sTxt = Split(sTxt, "</div>")(0)
' Remove all unneccessary whitespaces
sTxt = Replace(sTxt, vbLf, "")
sTxt = Replace(sTxt, vbCr, "")
sTxt = Replace(sTxt, vbCrLf, "")
sTxt = Trim(sTxt)
' Remove any HTML codes within
sTxt = StripHTML(sTxt)
Else
sTxt = "WinHttpRequest Error. Status: " & .Status
End If
End With
If Err.Number <> 0 Then sTxt = "Err " & Err.Number & ":" & Err.Description
DictReference = sTxt
End Function
Private Function StripHTML(ByVal sHTML As String) As String
Dim sTmp As String, a As Long, b As Long
sTmp = sHTML
Do Until InStr(1, sTmp, "<", vbTextCompare) = 0
a = InStr(1, sTmp, "<", vbTextCompare) - 1
b = InStr(a, sTmp, ">", vbTextCompare) + 1
sTmp = Left(sTmp, a) & Mid(sTmp, b)
Loop
StripHTML = sTmp
End Function
(«Iversen’s method»)
A word list technique is in its most common form a list of words in a target language with one translation of each word into another language, here called the base language. However, you can use short idiomatic word combinations instead of single words, or you can give more than one translation into the base language, and it will still be a word list. You can also add short morphological annotations, but there isn’t room for examples or long comments in a typical word list. Lists of complete sentences with translations are not word lists.
There are also word lists with just one language (frequency lists) or with more than two languages. The so called Swadesh lists (named after Morris Swadesh) contain corresponding lexical items from a number of languages, typical 100 or 200 items chosen among the most common words. Both these lists can be valuable for a language learner who wants to make sure that s(he) covers the basic vocabulary of a target language.
Dictionaries can be seen as sophisticated word lists, where the target items (lexemes) are put in alphabetical order, and where the semantic span of each lexeme is illustrated through the use of multiple translations, explanations and examples, sometimes even quotes. In addition good dictionaries give morphological information about both the target language and the base language words. However the amount of information in dictionaries varies, and the most basic pocket dictionaries are hardly more than alphabetized word lists.
Using word lists[]
The most conspicuous use of word lists is the one in text books for language learners, where the new words in each lesson are summarized with their translations. However they are also an important element of language guides used by tourists who don’t intend to learn the language of their destination, but who need to communicate with local people. In both cases the need to cover all possible meanings of each foreign word is minimized because only some of them are relevant in the context, — in contrast, a dictionary should ideally cover as much ground as possible because the context is unknown.
Using word lists outside those situations has been frowned upon for several reasons which will be discussed below. However they can be a valuable tool in the acquisition of vocabulary, together with other systems such as flash cards. The method that is described below was introduced by Iversen in the how-to-learn-all-languages forum as a refinement of the simple word lists, and it was invented because he found that simple word lists weren’t effective when used in isolation (except for recuperation of half forgotten vocabulary).
Links:
[Super-fast vocabulary learning techniques, many pages]
[Iversen’s thread in the forum ]
Methodology[]
One basic tenet of the method is that words shouldn’t be learnt one by one, but in blocks of 5-7 words. The reason is that being able to stop thinking about a word and yet being able to retrieve it later is an essential part of learning it, and therefore it should be trained already while learning the word in the first place. Normally people will learn a word and its translation by repetition: cheval horse, cheval horse, cheval horse… (or horse cheval cheval cheval cheval….), or maybe they will try to use puns or visual imagery to remember it. These techniques are still the ones to use with each word pair, but the new thing is the requirement that you learn a whole block of words in one go. The number seven has been chosen because most people have an immediate memory span of this size. However with a new language where you have problems even to pronounce the words or with very complicated words you may have to settle for 5 or even 4 words, — but not less than that.
Another basic tenet is that you should learn the target language words with their translations first, but immediately after you should practice the opposite connection: from base language to target language. And a third important tenet is that you MUST do at least one repetition round later, preferably more than one. Without this repetition your chances of keeping the words in your long time memory will be dramatically reduced.
This is the practical method: Take a sheet of paper and fold it once (a normal sheet of paper is too cumbersome, and besides you need too many words to fill it out). If you have a very small handwriting you can draw lines to divide it as shown as b) below, otherwise divide it into two columns as shown under a). The narrow columns are for repetition (see below). Lefthanders may invert the order of the columns if that feels more comfortable. Blue: target language, red: base language. Curvy top: original column, triangle top: repetition column
Now take 5-7 words from your source and write them under each other in the leftmost third of the left column. Don’t write their translations yet, but use any method in your book to memorize the meanings of these 5-7 words (repetition, associations), — if you want to scribble something then use a separate sheet. Only write the translations when you are confident that you can write translations for all the words in one go. And use a different color for the translations because this will make it easier to take a selective glance at your lists later. If you do fail one item then look it up in your source, but wait as long as possible to write it down — postponement is part of the process that forces your brain to move the word into longterm memory.
OK, now study these words and make sure that you remember all the target language words that correspond to the translations. When you are confident that you know the original target words for every single translation you cover the target column and ‘reconstruct’ its content from the translations. Once again: If you do fail one item then look it up in your source, but wait as long as possible to write it down (for instance you could do it together with the next block) — the postponement is your guarantee that you can recall the word instead of just keeping it in your mind. So now you have three columns inside the leftmost column, and you are ready to proceed to the next block of 5-7 words. Continue this process until the column is full.
There isn’t room for long expressions, but you can of course choose short word combinations instead of single words. It may also be worth adding a few morphological annotations, but this will vary with the language. For instance you could put a marker for femininum or neuter at the relevant nouns in a German wordlist, — but leave out masculinum because most nouns are masculine and you need only to mark those that aren’t. Likewise it might be a good idea to indicate the consonant changes used for making aorists in Modern Greek, but only when they aren’t self evident. In Russian you should always try to learn both the imperfective and the corresponding perfective verb while you are at it, and so forth. You can’t and you shouldn’t try to cram everything into your word lists, but try to find out what is really necessary and skip the details and the obvious.
Sources[]
You can get your words from several kinds of sources. When you are a newbie you will probably have to look up many words in anything you read in the target language. If you write down the words you look up then these informal notes could be an excellent source, — even more so because you have a context here, and it would be a reasonable assumption that words you already have met in your reading materials stand a good chance of turning up again and again in other texts. Later, when you already have learned a lot of words, you can try to use dictionaries as a source. This is not advisable for newbies because most of the unknown words for them just are meaningless noise, but when you already know part of the vocabulary of the language (and have seen, but forgotten countless words) chances are that even new unknown words somehow strike a chord in you, and then it will be much easier to remember them. You can use both target language dictionaries and base language dictionaries, — or best: do both types and find out what functions best for you.
Repetition[]
As mentioned above repetition is an indispensable part of the process, and it should be done the next day (preferably) or just later on the same day. The repetition can of course be done in several ways, but in the two layouts above there are special columns for this purpose, — it is easier to keep track of your repetitions when they are on the same sheets as the original wordlists. However these column are only subdivided in two parts, one for the words in the base language, the other for the target language words. So you copy 5-7 base language words from the original wordlist, cover the source area and try to remember the original target language words. If you can’t then feel free to peek, but — as usual — don’t write anything before you can write all 5-7 words in one go. An example with Latin and English words:
Addendum ccccccc
The combined layout was the one I developed when I had used three-column wordlists for a year or so and found out that I had a tendency to postpone the revision — having it on the same sheet as the original list would show me exactly how far I had done the revision, and I would only have to rummage around with one sheet. And for wordlists based on dictionaries or premade wordlists (for instance from grammars) it is still the best layout. But I have since come to the conclusion that it isn’t the most logical way to do the revision for wordlists based on texts, especially those which I had studied intensively and maybe even copied by hand. Here the smart way to work is to go back to the original text (or the copy) and read it slowly and attentively while asking myself if I know and really understood each and every word. I had put a number of words on a wordlist because I didn’t know them so if I now could understand them without problems in the context then I would clearly have learnt something — and I would also get the satisfaction of being able to read at least one text freely in the target language. If a certain word still didn’t appear as crystal clear to me then it would just have to go into my next wordlist for that language. So now I have dropped the repetition columns for text based wordlists.
Then what about later repetitions? After all, flash cards, anki and goldlists all operate with later repetitions. Personally I believe more in doing a proper job in the first round (where there actually are several ‘micro-repetitions’ involved), but it may still be worth once in a while to peruse an old wordlist. My advice here is: write the foreign words down, but only with translation if you feel that a certain word isn’t absolutely well-known — which will happen with time no matter which technique you have used. The format doesn’t matter, but writing is better than just reading — and paradoxically it will also feel more relaxed because you don’t have to concentrate as hard when you have something concrete like pencil and paper to work with.
Memorization techniques and annotations[]
When you write the words in a word list you shouldn’t aim for completeness. If a word has many meanings then you may choose 1 or 2 among them, but filling up the base language column with all sorts of special meanings is not only unaesthetic, but it will also hinder your memorization. Learn the core meaning(s), then the rest are usually derived from it and you can deal with them later. Any technique that you would use to remember one word is of course valid: if you have a ‘funny association’ then OK (but take care that you don’t spend all your time inventing such associations), images are also OK and associations to other words in the same or other languages are OK. The essential thing in the kind of wordlist I propose here is not how you do the actual memorization, but that you are forced to do it several times in a row because of the use of groups, and that you train the recall mechanism both ways.
It will sometimes be a good idea to include simple morphological or syntactical indications. For instance English preposition with verbs, because you cannot predict them. Such combinations therefore should be learnt as unities. For the same reason I personally always learn Russian verbs in pairs, i.e. an imperfective and the corresponding perfective verb(s) together. With strong verbs in Germanic languages you can indicate the past tense vowel (strong verbs change this), and likewise you can indicate what the aorist of Modern Greek verbs look like — mostly one consonant is enough. There is one little trick you should notice: if you take a case like gender in German, then you have to learn it with each noun because the rules are complicated and there are too many exceptions. However most nouns are masculine, so it is enough to mark the gender at those that are feminine or neuter, preferably with a graphical sign (as usual Venus for femininum, and I use a circle with an X over to mark the neutrum). This is a general rule: don’t mark things that are obvious.
Arguments against using word lists[]
Finally: which are the arguments against the methodical use of word lists in vocabulary learning?
One argument has been that languages are essentially idiomatic, and that learning single words therefore is worthless if not downright detrimental. There is a number of very common words in any language where word lists aren’t the best method because they have too many grammatical and idiomatic quirks, — however you will meet these words so often that you will learn them even without the help of word lists. On the other hand most words have a welldefined semantic core use (or a limited number of well defined meanings), and for these words the word list method is a fast and reliable way to learn the basics.
Another argument is that some people need a context to remember words. For these people the solution is to use word lists based on words culled from the books they read.
A third argument is that the use of translations should be avoided at any costs because you should avoid coming in the situation that you formulate all your thoughts in your native language and then translate them into the target language. But this argument is erroneous: the more words you know the smaller the risk that your attempts to think and talk in the target language fail so that you are forced to think in your native language.
A fourth argument: word lists is a method based entirely on written materials, and many people need to hear words to remember them. This problem is more difficult to solve, — you could in principle have lists where the target words were given entirely as sounds (or as sounds with undertexts), but you would have serious problems finding such lists or making them yourself. But listening to isolated spoken words is in itself a dubious procedure because you hear an artificial pronunciation and not the one used in ordinary speech. However the same argument could be raised against any other use of written sources, except maybe listening-reading techniques.
A fifth argument: there is a motivational problem insofar that many people prefer learning languages in a social context, and working with word lists is normally a solitary occupation. It might be possible to invent a game between several persons based upon word lists, but it would not be more attractive or effective than the forced dialogs and drills used in normal language teaching.
Finally an example based on Dutch-Danish and Spanish-Danish (based on an older layout without repetition columns):
Alternatives[]
Of course there are alternatives to wordlists: the most extreme is the exclusive use of graded texts as the most vehement adherents of the natural method propose. I don’t understand their motives, but respect their bravery. However I do understand the unorganized use of dictionaries plus genuine texts, but frankly I think there is room for improvement in that method.
Finally, there are well-structured alternatives like paperbased flashcards and electronic versions of these, all based on the notion of ‘spaced repetition’: Anki, Supermemo. However I can’t give advice concerning these systems because I haven’t tried them myself.
Main source for this article at Iversen’s Guide to Learning Languages (HTLAL forum)
You can customize the appearance of a list by defining your own numbered, bulleted, and multilevel lists. Once you customize them, you can save those settings as a style and use it again and again.
What would you like to do?
-
Define a new bullet format
-
Define a new number format
-
Define a new multilevel list
-
Define a new list style
-
Turn off automatic numbering for lists
-
Related information
Define a new bullet
Do any of the following:
Change the bullet to a symbol
-
Select the text or bulleted list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Bulleted List
, and then click Define New Bullet.
-
Click Symbol and then click the symbol you want to use.
-
Click OK.
Change a bullet to a picture
-
Select the text or bulleted list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Bulleted List
, and then click Define New Bullet.
-
Click Picture and then browse for your picture from a file or Bing Image Search.
-
Click Insert.
-
Review what the picture bullets will look like and click OK to add it or change the picture by repeating steps 3-5.
Change the bullet font
-
Select the text or bulleted list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Bulleted List
, and then click Define New Bullet.
-
Click Font and then change the font properties to be used for the bullet. You can choose settings on the Font tab or Advanced tab:
Tab |
Description |
---|---|
Font tab |
Change the bullet font, style, size, color, underline style, underline color, and effects. |
Advanced tab |
Change the bullet font character spacing and OpenType features. |
Change the bullet alignment
-
Select the text or bulleted list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Bulleted List
, and then click Define New Bullet.
-
Under alignment, choose Left, Centered, or Right.
-
Click OK.
Define a new number format
-
Select the text or numbered list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Numbered List
, and then click Define New Number Format.
-
To change the style, click the down arrow next to Number style and choose numbers, letters, or another chronological format.
-
To change the font size, style, and color, click Font and choose a setting on the Font tab or Advanced tab:.
Tab
Description
Font tab
Change the bullet font, style, size, color, underline style, underline color, and effects.
Advanced tab
Change the bullet font character spacing and OpenType features.
-
To append the numbering with a dash, parentheses, or another value, enter it in the Number format field.
-
To change the number alignment, choose Left, Centered, or Right under Alignment.
-
Click OK.
Define a new multilevel list
-
Select the text or numbered list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Multilevel List
, and then click Define New Multilevel List.
-
Expand the Multilevel list dialog box by clicking More in the lower left corner.
-
Choose the list level to modify by selecting it in the list. 1 is selected by default.
-
Choose where you would like to apply your changes by clicking Whole list, This point forward, or Current paragraph.
-
To use an existing style in Word for each level in the list, choose a style under Link level to style.
-
Choose the number to show in the gallery. Level 1 is shown by default.
-
Give the multilevel list a name in the ListNum field list name. This name will appear wherever you see the Listnum field.
-
To append the numbered list with a dash, parentheses, or another value, enter it in the Number format field.
-
To change the font size, style, and color, click Font and choose a setting on the Font tab or Advanced tab:.
Tab
Description
Font tab
Change the bullet font, style, size, color, underline style, underline color, and effects.
Advanced tab
Change the bullet font character spacing and OpenType features.
-
To change the style, click the down arrow next to Number style and choose numbers, letters, or another chronological format. Specify a level number to include this from.
-
Choose the number to start the list at. The default value is 1. To restart numbering after a specific level, select the Restart List After check box and choose a level in the list.
-
Select Legal Style Numbering to enforce a legal style on the multilevel list.
-
To change the number alignment, choose Left, Centered, or Right under Alignment
-
Specify a value for where to start the alignment and a value for the text indent.
-
To apply these values to the entire list, choose Set for All Levels.
-
Enter a value for what should follow each number, Tab character, Space, or Nothing. Check Add tab stop at and enter a value.
-
Click OK.
Define a new list style
-
Select the text or numbered list you want to change.
-
On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Multilevel List
, and then click Define New List Style.
-
Specify a name for your new list style.
-
Choose the number to start the list at. The default value is 1.
-
Choose a level in the list to apply your formatting.
-
Specify the font face, size, and color for the list style.
-
Change the down arrow to change the style of the numbered list or bulleted list.
-
Choose a symbol for the list.
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Choose an image for the list.
-
Choose to move the indent to the left or the right.
-
Choose to apply these changes to Only in this document or New documents based on this template.
-
To change more formatting settings, click Format and choose Font, Numbering, Text effects, and so forth.
-
Click OK.
Turn off automatic numbering for lists
-
Use one of the following methods, as appropriate for the version of Word you’re using:
Word 2016, Word 2013, or Word 2010
-
Select File, and then from the left pane, select Options.
Word 2007
-
Click the Microsoft Office button, and then select Word Options.
-
-
In the Word Options dialog, in the left pane, select Proofing.
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In the right pane, under AutoCorrect options, select AutoCorrect Options.
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Select the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
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Under Apply as you type, clear the Automatic numbered lists check box, and then select OK.
This list was compiled by Pamela Bogart at the University of Michigan English Language Institute. The list includes most of the 570 headwords of Averil Coxhead’s (2000) Academic Word List. The source of the words here is
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist/awl-headwords. The definitions and examples come from selections made available by vocabulary.com, unless noted otherwise.
The manually-added notes are examples for and from graduate students in various fields at the University of Michigan.
447 words
3,623 learners
Learn words with Flashcards and other activities
Other learning activities
Full list of words from this list:
-
abandon
forsake; leave behind
As people
abandon desktop computers for mobile ones, existing tech companies’ business models are being upended and new companies are blooming.Common academic collocations: abandon a hypothesis, abandon a line of research
COCA (
www.americancorpus.org) indicates academic collocates include decision, efforts, position, policy…i couldn’t find any examples in mechanical engineering, so this might be a verb used more in policy-related fields? -
abstract
existing only in the mind
The other group wrote in a more
abstract, evaluative way, prompted by questions such as “Why did the event happen?Scientific American (Dec 28, 2012)Also a noun. the abstract of an article is a structured summary of its contents. We need to supply abstracts of conference presentations for the conference program or conference proposals sometimes too.
-
access
the right to enter
But one reason may be, paradoxically, greater
access to health insurance.I need to remember to pronounce the /k/ sound in the middle: AEK sess. If not, I sound like I’m saying the verb «assess»
-
accommodate
have room for; hold without crowding
City clerks’ offices around Maine scheduled extra office hours to
accommodate same-sex couples rushing to wed.academic collocations: «accommodate needs,» «designed to accommodate [something]» common nouns that collocate with this verb are «learning, changes, differences» (COCA at
www.americancorpus.org) -
accompany
go or travel along with
Mr. Obama demands that any spending cuts be
accompanied by revenue increases. -
accumulate
get or gather together
Business would still be left with record reserves, much higher than those
accumulated in earlier recessions. -
acknowledge
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality of
Acknowledging differences in work style enables leaders to structure interactions better.
-
acquire
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
The design of the product resembles gadgets made by Nest Labs, the connected home company Google
acquired earlier this year for $3.2 billion.Wall Street Journal (Sep 10, 2014)collocations: acquire a house, knowledge, experience
q is /k/
stress on QUIRE
obtain, get, buy
members of the word family: acquisition (mergers and acquisitions) -
adapt
make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
Japanese officials said
adapting overseas technologies presented a particular challenge. -
adequate
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
Better said it had injected significant funds into the business «without
adequate returns». -
adjust
alter or regulate so as to conform to a standard
-
advocate
speak, plead, or argue in favor of
He was probably best known for his work on heart disease,
advocating prevention through exercise and diet, particularly foods low in animal fat and sodium. -
affect
have an influence upon
Would adding this data to someone’s medical record
affect health insurance rates?Slate (Jan 7, 2013) -
aggregate
a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
Using data from Twitter covering 60,000 trips,
aggregated within a ten mile radius, Fischer created this map of Europe’s transport network. -
allocate
distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose
Existing x86 processor designs
allocate cache on a first come, first served basis, which allows some workloads to monopolize the shared pool.Forbes (Sep 10, 2014)allocate resources
-
alter
cause to change; make different
-
ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
-
analogy
drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
-
annual
occurring every year
-
anticipate
regard something as probable or likely
“We
anticipate some potential short-term disruption,” Mr. Morton said, “but no significant long-term implications.” -
apparent
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
The report of Rain’s
apparent romance with popular South Korean actress Kim Tae-hee, 32, broke in local media on Tuesday. -
append
fix to; attach
The hashtag has been
appended to quite a few approving tweets. -
appreciate
be fully aware of; realize fully
There are, of course, plenty of things to
appreciate about Downton. -
approach
ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem
He said a better understanding of the links between high blood pressure and dementia could be crucial for developing new treatments or
approaches to prevention. -
appropriate
suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
Mr. Frederick said “that kind of legal strategy is perfectly
appropriate.” -
approximate
judge tentatively or form an estimate of
Food technology means they aren’t bad these days, but they’re only going to
approximate the real thing. -
arbitrary
based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
His works are often intentionally placed in unglamorous,
arbitrary surroundings like abandoned buildings, far from the sleek world of urban galleries. -
aspect
a characteristic to be considered
He will oversee all
aspects of marketing for the company, including advertising, brand management, social media, and communications, LivingSocial said on Tuesday. -
assess
estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
Another complexity: most studies
assess maternal drinking through interviews, and pregnant women might lie about or underestimate their consumption out of embarrassment or shame.Scientific American (Jan 4, 2013) -
assign
select something or someone for a specific purpose
A larger staff has been
assigned to the school, she said, including mental health professionals. -
assume
take to be the case or to be true
The market, it is generally
assumed, will eventually drive up wages. -
attach
be in contact with
“Indonesians are religious people, they are very much
attached to their religious teachings, their religious values,” he said. -
attain
gain with effort
He joined the Army near the end of and
attained the rank of staff sergeant, remaining in the United States. -
attribute
a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
Ms. Ora
attributes much of her fashion education to her surroundings. -
authority
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
Soccer
authorities have been helping those banned with getting back on their feet and finding a way back into society. -
behalf
as the agent of or on someone’s part
The husband sits in the dominant, protective role, watching his wife’s efforts on
behalf of the family and taking pride. -
bias
a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
More than 300 political parties contested the last general elections, representing various concerns,
biases, cries for justice and pressure groups. -
brief
give essential information to someone
“Flu vaccines are tough,” Bresee said during a telephone
briefing with reporters. -
bulk
the property possessed by a large mass
Across Portugal, supermarkets and hypermarkets, with their inexpensive packaged goods and
bulk items, continued to gain ground. -
capable
having ability
As John Stuart Mill emphasized many years ago, those who are
capable of supporting themselves should not rely on the habitual aid of others. -
capacity
capability to perform or produce
“The hospitals treating the injured are at maximum
capacity. -
cease
put an end to a state or an activity
The company said it was also temporarily
ceasing sales of modern sporting rifles nationwide. -
channel
transmit or serve as the medium for transmission
Options include
channeling more funds to the banking sector to boost lending, buying government bonds on the secondary market and even reducing foreign currency reserves. -
chart
a visual display of data or information
In some countries, including the largest developing economies in Asia, the G.D.P.
charts show no indication that bad things ever happened. -
cite
make reference to
The ratings agency
cited India’s high saving and investment rates, relatively competitive private sector and diverse economy as rationale behind its decision. -
civil
of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
What followed, officials said, was a remarkable show of international cooperation over Syria’s
civil war. -
clarify
make clear and comprehensible
He later
clarified his meaning and said the media had his misconstrued his comments. -
classic
of recognized authority or excellence
“The Blue Angel,” adapted from Heinrich Mann’s novel “Small Town Tyrant,” is a cinema
classic that made Marlene Dietrich a star. -
code
a set of rules or principles or laws
France’s Civil
Code says one must have another nationality in order to give up French citizenship because it is forbidden to be stateless.New York Times (Jan 3, 2013) -
coherent
marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
That leadership vacuum, Mr. Bealefeld and others said, has inevitably depleted morale and kept the agency from developing a
coherent agenda. -
coincide
happen simultaneously
The cutbacks in education and growing youth unemployment
coincide with two demographic crises facing European governments. -
collapse
break down, literally or metaphorically
The
collapse of Latvia’s largest bank in 1995 wiped out many people’s savings. -
commence
set in motion, cause to start
-
commission
a special group delegated to consider some matter
The
commission collected evidence that showed the authorities discussed covering up killings, including by quickly burying the bodies of victims. -
commit
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
A lawyer for the medical examiner’s office, Mimi Mairs, said the agency had
committed to “leaving no stone unturned in recalling casework she touched.” -
communicate
interchange information or ideas
By introducing the rating system to games that rely on digital distribution, Vance said, developers will be able to better
communicate their nature to consumers. -
community
group of interdependent organisms living in the same region
In November, Hurricane Sandy devastated entire
communities in coastal New York and New Jersey and killed over 100 people. -
compatible
able to exist and perform in harmonious combination
-
compensate
make amends for
The German government has already
compensated Jews who were forced to work in the ghettos. -
compile
get or gather together
Mobile video calling has risen so quickly that industry analysts have not yet
compiled exact numbers. -
complement
something added to embellish or make perfect
Third, in 2008-9, monetary and fiscal policies were
complemented by government capital injections directly into United States and European banks.New York Times (Aug 11, 2011) -
component
one of the individual parts making up a larger entity
Avoiding turnovers, hitting the offensive boards and getting to the free throw line are all key
components of an efficient offense. -
compound
a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
The New England
Compounding Center was shut down, and inspections found extensive contamination. -
comprehensive
including all or everything
“
Comprehensive investigative reports for the four equine fatalities from the inner track meet are being completed by board staff.” -
comprise
be made of
Peck, though, was surprised to learn the other team nicknames used in his league, which was
comprised entirely of white men.Washington Post (Jun 27, 2012) -
conceive
have the idea for
-
concentrate
make denser, stronger, or purer
Mostly we were silent,
concentrating on our steps, but occasionally we would chat. -
concept
an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
There is little technical artistry involved, the focus instead on simple
concepts and difficult execution. -
conclude
bring to a close
Taken together, the reports have led analysts to
conclude that after years of being an economic drag, housing is now contributing to economic growth. -
concurrent
occurring or operating at the same time
Problem solving was
concurrent with physical effort, so the brain must have adapted by developing appropriate regions to enhance neurocognition.New York Times (Sep 15, 2010) -
conduct
the way a person behaves toward other people
For years, lawmakers, urged by the NRA, have placed so-called riders on spending bills that restrict these and other agencies from
conducting such research. -
confer
have a meeting in order to talk something over
He especially prefers having a radiologist on-site because he believes that
conferring in person helps prevent mistaken readings and gets quicker results. -
confine
place limits on
Is erotic sculpture
confined to temples or particular religious cults? -
confirm
establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
The identities have yet to be officially
confirmed, he said. -
conform
be similar, be in line with
In other words, they
conformed to feminine stereotypes. -
consent
give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
Companies also must get parental
consent before using tracking tools such as cookies that peek into children’s IP addresses and device identification numbers. -
considerable
large in number, amount, extent, or degree
In other words, the trial court wanted to treat the mass media like a public utility, which carried
considerable consequences. -
consist
have its essential character
They
consist of arms, elbows and very long finger bones connected by two layers of thin skin. -
constant
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
False reviews are a
constant problem on consumer Web sites. -
constitute
form or compose
The FDA said it is also working on proposed safety regulations targeting imported food – which
constitutes 15% of what’s eaten in the U.S. -
constrain
hold back
Constrained school budgets are likely to prevent any mass hiring or arming of security officers.
-
construct
make by combining materials and parts
He wanted and received some honest feedback to help
construct a game plan that would put them in better positions to succeed. -
consult
get or ask advice from
She said she had decided to step down after
consulting family members and friends. -
consume
use up, as resources or materials
The technology in theory allows for thinner screens that
consume less power. -
contact
be in or establish communication with
Beck made eye
contact with me and nodded. -
contemporary
belonging to the present time
There is, in other words, much to appreciate about
contemporary movies this year. -
context
the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
Geological Survey has posted some useful
context and interpretation. -
contract
a binding agreement that is enforceable by law
Other league business will also resume, including trades and
contract signings. -
contradict
prove negative; show to be false
The C.I.A.’s acting director, Michael Morell, recently
contradicted that, saying harsh techniques did produce some tips that led to Bin Laden. -
contrary
exact opposition
On the
contrary, he wrote, such clauses are used in most debt restructuring exercises, and investors “would expect Greece to use it.” -
contribute
give to some cause
In 2009, researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center reported finding evidence suggesting that the chemicals may also
contribute to obesity in girls. -
controversy
a dispute where there is strong disagreement
But the performance has been clouded by
controversy. -
convene
meet formally
-
converse
carry on a discussion
But people in traditional societies
converse constantly, learning from one another and sharing. -
convert
change the nature, purpose, or function of something
Let us embrace book shelves that
convert to dining room tables. -
convince
make realize the truth or validity of something
They are still not
convinced of Mr. Bozizé’s good will. -
cooperate
work together on a common enterprise or project
We are
cooperating with authorities and conducting a full internal investigation. -
core
the choicest or most vital part of some idea or experience
College admission personnel will focus on your performance in this year’s
core academic classes. -
correspond
be compatible, similar, or consistent
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made the temporary cease-fire by Israel’s airplanes conditional on a
corresponding halt to rocket fire from Gaza. -
create
bring into existence
What started as a few coins to buy one hen ends up
creating jobs for people all over Ghana. -
criterion
the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
Regulators say lenders must consider at least eight
criteria, including a borrower’s credit history, debt obligations, employment status, income and assets. -
crucial
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
Developing Internet programming is a
crucial part of Sony’s future, he said. -
culture
a particular society at a particular time and place
“It was really mixed
cultures growing up,” she said. -
currency
the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used
-
cycle
a periodically repeated sequence of events
But real estate tends to move in longer
cycles, and Mr. Case is still saying now is a good time to buy. -
debate
a discussion with reasons for and against some proposal
“Political capital in the gun
debate only goes so far. -
decade
a period of 10 years
Decades ago, Andrews whittled wood, watching the shavings fall away to reveal something recognizable.
-
decline
grow worse
But there will be less dancing now, because the chickens’ numbers have
declined. -
deduce
conclude by reasoning
-
define
show the form or outline of
Relative greatness can be tricky to
define across tennis eras. -
definite
precise; explicit and clearly defined
While there are no
definite plans yet, “we are looking to broaden our outreach beyond New York,” said Terry Lynam, a spokesman for North Shore.New York Times (Mar 8, 2012) -
demonstrate
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
“Over a century of experience in the United States has
demonstrated the powerful role women’s colleges play in educating women leaders.” -
denote
be a sign or indication of
Heard in that light, the work’s agonized gestures, halting pace and tense silences
denoted courage and ineffable dignity.New York Times (Mar 12, 2012) -
deny
declare untrue; contradict
Both the military and Mr. Qadri have publicly
denied working together. -
depress
push down
«It was the most
depressing meeting ever,» said one attendee who spoke on the condition of anonymity. -
derive
come from
He said his son was «a very simple person at heart» who »
derives pleasures from simple things in life.» -
design
the act of working out the form of something
The previous models had identical
designs that made it easier for bump drafting because the front and rear bumpers lined up squarely.New York Times (Jan 12, 2013) -
detect
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
But soon enough, they
detected something wrong, not least that Mr. Holmes was apparently trying to conceal a handgun. -
device
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
Mr. Scal said wireless fitness
devices were becoming popular because they address basic needs for consumers, unlike another trend seen at the show, enormous televisions. -
devote
dedicate
He says movies based on video games rarely please
devoted fans and could taint the brand. -
differentiate
be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait
“Whirlpool’s key
differentiating points are quality and innovation,” said Mr. Beck, and “the icing is that, hey, we’re made in the United States.” -
dimension
a construct distinguishing objects or individuals
And then there are Houston’s narrow field
dimensions, a factor in United’s struggles this year. -
diminish
decrease in size, extent, or range
The market malfunctions have been assigned part of the blame for the
diminishing amount of trading happening on the nation’s stock exchanges. -
discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
-
displace
cause to move, usually with force or pressure
“There are these young guys in the camps, very well dressed, that are definitely not
displaced persons,” Mr. Goffeau said. -
display
something intended to communicate a particular impression
Eighty of his black-and-white photographs, taken over a 70-year period, will be on
display in this exhibition. -
dispose
throw or cast away
Food trash has to be
disposed of immediately, the futon tucked into its slot every morning, each object stored after use. -
distinct
recognizable; marked
The small plant in Montreal is divided into two
distinct operations. -
distort
twist and press out of shape
But he insists that his work has been intentionally
distorted by critics. -
distribute
give to several people
Mr. Guevara said he believed the institute should stop producing films and be limited to, say, renting out sets and
distributing movies. -
diverse
distinctly dissimilar or unlike
“They represent what New York City is all about: a truly
diverse melting pot.” -
document
writing that provides information
The
document showed that the containers originated in Iran and declared the contents to be “building materials.” -
domain
territory over which rule or control is exercised
He said China’s claims included an area that was “clearly part of the Philippines’ territory and maritime
domain.” -
dominate
be in control
The Chinese economy remains
dominated by manufacturing and factory overcapacity still exists in some sectors. -
draft
any of the various versions in the development of a work
Rethinking Those Words for Screen Any writer knows the sinking feeling: This line, this
draft, this entire project, is not quite working. -
drama
a work intended for performance by actors on a stage
She studied art, music and
drama in high school and later attended Compton Community College. -
duration
the period of time during which something continues
The researchers also found that short sleep
duration and snoring were each independently associated with a greater likelihood of sleepy driving. -
economy
the system of production and distribution and consumption
The Chinese
economy remains dominated by manufacturing and factory overcapacity still exists in some sectors. -
element
one of the individual parts making up a composite entity
The importance of employment for former fighters is acknowledged as an important
element of keeping them from picking up arms again. -
eliminate
end, take out, or do away with
School districts have reported
eliminating thousands of jobs, increasing class sizes and reducing library services and other programs. -
emerge
come out into view, as from concealment
But an
emerging labor shortage, particularly of young workers, has changed that picture. -
emphasis
special importance or significance
Instead, Mr. Langston explained, the
emphasis is on using existing geriatricians as educators and consultants for the generalist physicians who will actually treat older patients. -
empirical
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
The precise impact can only be determined by careful analysis unencumbered by dogmatic beliefs not anchored in
empirical results. -
enable
provide the means to perform some task
New technologies have raised productivity and profits, while
enabling companies to shed workers and slice payroll. -
encounter
a casual or unexpected convergence
Mr. Reimer also reported that both diesel engines shut off around this time, Mr. Sumwalt said, though he
encountered no problems with steering. -
enforce
compel to behave in a certain way
These rules were strictly
enforced using the flight recording equipment they carried. -
enhance
make better or more attractive
Happily, the field is evolving in ways that may
enhance safety. -
enormous
extraordinarily large in size or extent or degree
Some exhibits designed by Gallagher & Associates are less enticing, including
enormous interactive video databases. -
ensure
make certain of
The Interior Department remains focused on
ensuring safe drilling rather than barring drilling off Alaska’s coast. -
entity
that which is perceived to have its own distinct existence
He said about half of all companies today were structured as so-called pass-through
entities. -
environment
the totality of surrounding conditions
“I would rather him be in a classroom
environment,” Ms. Allen said. -
equate
consider or describe as similar or analogous
Bacon said physical activity was important to good health but might not necessarily
equate with weight loss. -
equip
provide with, usually for a specific purpose
Some are getting rid of checkout lanes and registers altogether in favor of roaming clerks
equipped with mobile devices, for instance. -
equivalent
being essentially comparable to something
And 100 half-time employees are considered
equivalent to 50 full-time employees. -
erode
become ground down or deteriorate
“The state’s historical lack of spending has had an
eroding effect on the district,” he said. -
establish
set up or found
The most recent one was
established by Ford Motors in Mountain View, Calif., in June. -
estate
extensive landed property retained by the owner
Today he earns his living in the real
estate market niche known as A.R.V., for “after repair value.” -
estimate
judge tentatively
By some
estimates, half of the nation’s health care plans are run by companies in the Nashville area. -
ethic
the principles of right and wrong for an individual or group
Professor Gillers, the legal
ethics expert, agreed, saying the
ethics rules do not forbid paying for information. -
ethnic
distinctive of the ways of living of a group of people
A vibrant
ethnic melting pot, Marseille is also home to an increasing number of contemporary art and avant-garde performances. -
evaluate
estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
On Wednesday, his office released a statement saying the public prosecutor would
evaluate the commission’s findings. -
eventual
expected to follow in the indefinite future
-
evident
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
In addition, the report’s loss estimates are somewhat surprising given that the loans it examined were made after the mortgage crisis became
evident. -
evolve
undergo development
“This is an
evolving and emerging threat,” he said. -
exceed
be superior or better than some standard
An earlier review by the commission found that credit card tips
exceeded 20 percent in fall 2009. -
exclude
prevent from entering; shut out
The most rigorous Drug Free Sport testing panel
excludes drugs like peptide hormones, stimulants, narcotics and many masking agents. -
exhibit
show; make visible or apparent
Some
exhibits designed by Gallagher & Associates are less enticing, including enormous interactive video databases. -
expand
make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity
American economic output has continued to
expand at a sluggish pace. -
expert
a person with special knowledge who performs skillfully
But even so, such controls have some benefits, public health
experts say. -
explicit
precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
And then there’s the film’s
explicit subject matter. -
exploit
use or manipulate to one’s advantage
But their potential in other subject areas is already being
exploited. -
export
sell or transfer abroad
Such findings have implications for national
export officials. -
expose
show; make visible or apparent
Empty picture frames hang on
exposed brick walls, blank as the mind. -
external
happening or arising outside some limits or surface
“
External demand seems to be holding up better than we had thought,” Mr. Moëc said. -
extract
remove, usually with some force or effort
Green tea
extracts, more richly concentrated with EGCG, may not be much better. -
facilitate
make easier
“We have seen over and over again that states are very eager to
facilitate direct investment promotion efforts,” Mr. Riskind said. -
factor
anything that contributes causally to a result
So other
factors, such as genetics, may be more important for human longevity. -
feature
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
The organic results
featured several Nike entries and various shoe retailers, but no comparison shopping sites, at least not on the first page. -
federal
of a government with central and regional authorities
Currently, people using the card get only one free withdrawal per deposit of
federal funds. -
finance
the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
Some of the student exchanges are
financed by the Erasmus Program, while others rely on joint agreements. -
finite
bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
But a broken bone, unlike stretched ligaments, usually heals completely in a
finite period of time. -
flexible
able to adjust readily to different conditions
Where screens are concerned, apparently, the future remains
flexible. -
fluctuate
move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
This create a
fluctuating magnetic field that generates heat without physical contact. -
focus
the concentration of attention or energy on something
The second half
focused on specific 20th-century songs in the Gilbert and Sullivan style. -
format
the organization of data according to preset specifications
What customers are now seeing reflects changes in the
format of Google results. -
formula
a symbolic representation of the composition of a compound
One former member of the DNA Subcommittee said he was concerned the
formula was based on assumptions, not practice. -
forthcoming
easygoing and open when speaking or sharing information
Reflecting on the match Broad outlined the problem clearly enough but was less
forthcoming about the likely solution.«Forthcoming» also implies that someone will say something that others might be reluctant to say, or that the context might suggest one would be uncomfortable saying.
-
foundation
education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field
The
foundation has grown, supporting visual as well as performing artists and changing its name to the
Foundation for Contemporary Arts. -
framework
the underlying structure
-
function
what something is used for
Her best works
function like brilliant collages, creating meaning through idiosyncratic constellations of references and concepts. -
fund
a reserve of money set aside for some purpose
A year later, he and other enthusiasts received a state charter to start collecting
funds and archival material. -
fundamental
serving as an essential component
“Providing access to the
fundamental technology is entirely different,” he said in an e-mail Friday. -
furthermore
in addition
Furthermore, the train in Europe or Asia is likely to have traveled at much higher speed.
-
gender
properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of sex
Thousands marching for
gender justice on New Years eve.The vocabulary.com definitions of gender lack a common academic use of the word in sociology, anthropology, and other social sciences to denote the socially constructed category of gender identity, e.g. what it means to be «male» or «female» and how something in-between is silently categorized as abnormal.
-
generate
bring into existence
But China is not particularly interested in sharing much of the wealth the railroad would
generate. -
generation
a coming into being
Among them: research showing that boomers are giving their time to community groups at higher rates than past
generations. -
globe
an object with a spherical shape
Some artists have created somewhat darker snow
globes. -
goal
the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve
“
Goals can be extremely effective, depending on how people set and approach them,” he says. -
grade
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
In all, 17,000 students and more than 1,100 teachers would be affected by closings, program changes and new
grade configurations. -
grant
allow to have
-
guarantee
an unconditional commitment that something will happen
He found his previous job within 30 days, picking up a year’s
guaranteed contract work in Hartford. -
guideline
a rule that provides direction for appropriate behavior
Hang gliding became safer as technology improved and training
guidelines were established. -
hierarchy
a series of ordered groupings within a system
-
highlight
move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
One particularly striking finding in their analysis
highlights the power that comes with drawing the maps. -
hypothesis
a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
His
hypothesis was neglected for many years because the methodology for detecting such chemical factors in the living embryo was not yet available.Scientific American (Jan 3, 2013) -
identical
being the exact same one
The previous models had
identical designs that made it easier for bump drafting because the front and rear bumpers lined up squarely.New York Times (Jan 11, 2013) -
identify
give the name or characteristics of
The spokeswoman declined to be
identified by name, citing company policy. -
ideology
an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
Unfortunately, some United States officials are so captured or captivated by the
ideology of modern banking that they want to play along. -
ignorance
the lack of knowledge or education
One thing I felt keenly while reading was the
ignorance of even great minds, based on when they lived in history.New York Times (Jun 6, 2012) -
illustrate
depict with a visual representation
Investigators have so far not linked any historical pipeline problems to malicious cyberactivity, but software malfunctions have
illustrated the potential threat. -
image
a visual representation produced on a surface
Images of a hang glider soaring through the Grand Canyon were offset by reports of dozens of pilots dying each year in accidents.
-
immigrate
come into a new country and change residency
When Mr. Salomon was 19, he
immigrated to the United States; his father worked in a factory in New York City. -
impact
have an effect upon
Whatever the economic
impact of low interest rates, they seem to be helping corporate America. -
implement
apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design
The big idea: Many business leaders struggle with
implementing strategic change. -
implicate
bring into intimate and incriminating connection
The cases involving big banks, he said, lacked sufficient evidence
implicating C.E.Os. -
implicit
suggested though not directly expressed
But he said there was an
implicit understanding that high-ranking officials were off limits. -
imply
express or state indirectly
Foreign exchange reserves have remained largely static for 18 months,
implying that the Chinese central bank has made no major intervention in the currency. -
impose
compel to behave in a certain way
Similar restrictions have been
imposed by the United Kingdom, Chile and Brazil. -
incentive
a positive motivational influence
But using generous economic
incentives and relying on conventions has been called an outdated economic strategy. -
incidence
the relative frequency of occurrence of something
-
incline
lower or bend, as in a nod or bow
Corporations are generally
inclined to settle potential cases because even being indicted can cripple business. -
income
the amount of money one makes over a period of time
Even if
income tax rates are higher later, I think the tax deferral” makes up for that increase. -
incorporate
unite or merge with something already in existence
-
indicate
designate a place, direction, person, or thing
Instead, he
indicated he might have some inside information on who will be. -
individual
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
“Everybody needs to put
individual thoughts behind them,” Smith said. -
induce
cause to act in a specified manner
Ms. Ortega was not in a medically
induced coma. -
inevitable
incapable of being avoided or prevented
But, he said, “In time, as society becomes more comfortable and legal concerns are ironed out, full autonomy will become practical,
inevitable and necessary.” -
infer
conclude by reasoning
-
infrastructure
the basic features of a system or organization
Mongolia’s vast grasslands have long attracted adventure travelers, particularly those willing to go on horseback, but a limited tourism
infrastructure has kept numbers low. -
inherent
existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
But all predictions based on computer projections have
inherent uncertainties. -
inhibit
limit the range or extent of
However, she said that the respondents might have been
inhibited in answering because their interviews were carried out in front of other family members. -
initial
occurring at the beginning
In fact, Emery still has
initial interviews scheduled. -
initiate
set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for
In the last half-dozen presidential campaigns, the news media have attempted to bring more accountability by
initiating ad watches and fact checks. -
injure
cause damage or affect negatively
Players saw Smith benched two months ago because he admitted he was
injured. -
innovate
bring something new to an environment
They are really looking for someone to
innovate in nutrition and hunger solutions. -
insert
put or introduce into something
He said he tried unsuccessfully to
insert renovations into Lincoln Center’s master plan, “but basically the program was over.” -
insight
clear or deep perception of a situation
But he found that being calm, clear and compassionate gave him better
insights and better timing. -
inspect
look over carefully
Accredited outside auditors
inspected the factory on Walmart’s behalf at least twice in 2011, he said. -
instance
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
Research has found, for
instance, that Indian mothers tend to breast-feed boys longer than they do girls, Ms. Anderson said. -
institute
set up or lay the groundwork for
The Electric Power Research
Institute has some advice, none of it encouraging.There is an additional meaning of «institute» not raised in vocabulary.com, that is, to implement.
-
instruct
impart skills or knowledge to
He is not technically an assistant coach, but he helps
instruct the quarterbacks. -
integral
existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
As this season has gone on, it has become more
integral in Seattle’s offense. -
integrate
make into a whole or make part of a whole
This mission is complicated by the fact that Moscow’s ruling class is, in fact, already deeply
integrated into Western Europe. -
integrity
an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting
Engineers determined that weaker ones were originally installed, raising concerns about the structure’s
integrity. -
intelligence
the ability to comprehend
He also noted that to carry out commando raids, the American military needs bases, an
intelligence network and arrangements for medical evacuation. -
intense
extremely sharp
“Currently in China people are unusually sensitive to developments like this, and so the reaction has been quite
intense,” Mr. Zhan said. -
interact
do something together or with others
He clearly enjoyed
interacting with sports fans of Chicago he respects. -
intermediate
around the middle of a scale of evaluation
Has also assumed a bigger role in the passing game, primarily at the
intermediate levels. -
internal
located inward
The
Internal Revenue Service issued guidance to employers to increase withholding from paychecks beginning Tuesday to match new tax rates at every income level. -
interpret
make sense of; assign a meaning to
But people do
interpret and observe religion differently and, as Celtics Coach Doc Rivers noted, a fair number of folks “do work on Christmas.” -
interval
the distance between things
Players who sustained head injuries also received scans at three
intervals after the injuries, with researchers using advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques. -
intervene
get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action
Meanwhile, financial markets remain focused on how the European Central Bank might actually go about
intervening in government bond markets.New York Times (Aug 20, 2012) -
intrinsic
belonging to a thing by its very nature
-
investigate
conduct an inquiry of
Police detectives are
investigating several thefts in at least two precincts that appear to include the same suspects, said Sgt. -
invoke
cite as an authority
Yet the concepts
invoked are often abstract, requiring reflection and explanation. -
involve
contain as a part
Another United States Attorney’s office could reopen that investigation, several lawyers
involved in the case said, although that is unlikely. -
isolate
place or set apart
That damage would have been reduced by about two-thirds if controllers in Houston
isolated the rupture as soon as problems emerged, investigators said. -
issue
some situation or event that is thought about
The big
issues that Nokia faces, he said, are “managing efficiently, building great products and changing the way we operate. -
journal
a periodical dedicated to a particular subject
-
justify
show to be right by providing proof
Justifying her sentence, she noted that the men were driven by financial motives and difficult family circumstances rather than ideology.
-
label
a brief description given for purposes of identification
Ms. Lutz, the Living Essentials spokeswoman, said the bold “No Crash Later” statement on product
labels was followed by a special mark. -
layer
a single thickness of some substance or material
“If Disney can drive more value from existing infrastructure by
layering on technology, that is extremely powerful,” said Mr. Brown of Lo-Q. -
lecture
an educational talk delivered by a teacher in a classroom
But each year, Mr. Wright gives a
lecture on his experiences as a parent of a child with special needs. -
legal
established by or founded upon law or official rules
As required by state law, the patient’s
legal guardian was notified, along with local law enforcement. -
legislate
make laws or bills
But the recently introduced Lisbon Treaty has widened the scope for Brussels to ask member nations to
legislate on criminal matters.New York Times (Dec 8, 2010) -
locate
determine the place of by searching or examining
But no one has ever thought that the fountain might be
located beneath a house in Maine. -
maintain
keep in a certain state, position, or activity
Mr. Sprecher indicated that he was willing to
maintain two headquarters, ICE’s home in Atlanta and the Big Board’s center in New York City. -
major
greater in number or size or amount
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. also is meeting separately Thursday with
major gun retailers, including Wal-Mart. -
manipulate
influence or control shrewdly or deviously
As the financial crisis was heating up, Barclays said it
manipulated rates to increase profits and hide its failing financial health. -
manual
of or relating to the hands
However, back at the other office, Mr. Tuli did point out an engineer who was translating
manuals for companies assembling DataWind tablets in China. -
margin
the boundary line or area immediately inside the boundary
The new military spending bill, known as the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, was passed in both houses of Congress by wide
margins. -
mature
having reached full natural growth or development
Coach Mike Smith said Monday they had learned from and been
matured by their recent disappointments. -
mechanism
device consisting of a piece of machinery
Mr. Kasuri expressed surprise over the government’s failure to install an effective firewall
mechanism despite having months to do so. -
medium
the surrounding environment
Witnesses told local news
media that the helicopter appeared to have exploded after hitting the ground. -
mediate
act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
A few violence interrupters were
mediating between the gangs’ leaders, while the rest worked the crowd, calming people down. -
medical
relating to the study or practice of medicine
But some critics said that poor and uninsured patients sometimes used the emergency room as their primary source of
medical care. -
mental
involving the mind or an intellectual process
Yet Justice Del Giudice, who was scheduled to sentence Mr. Isaac, ordered a
mental health examination instead. -
method
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way
Other schools have also adopted inventive
methods to promote graduating in four years.What’s missing in this definition is «the scientific method,» or the «Methods» section of a research paper.
-
migrate
move from one country or region to another and settle there
Jeffrey Hart is a Briton
migrating back and forth between Canada and the United States on work visas, gaining experience in natural building.New York Times (Aug 20, 2012) -
minimal
the least possible
The fighters are operating on a
minimal budget, eating just one meal a day, he added. -
minimum
the smallest possible quantity
Employees will be given a
minimum 60-day notice before any furlough of longer than 22 days takes place, according to the document. -
minor
inferior in number or size or amount
In my next post, we’ll look at how seemingly
minor details in a transaction, if not handled properly, can make your life miserable. -
mode
how something is done or how it happens
Altogether, shifting transportation
modes would drive up prices, he said, adding, “Rail is not the answer.” -
modify
cause to change; make different
Riders complained about inaccurate
modified schedules on the Web site — a criticism the agency sometimes acknowledged. -
monitor
keep an eye on; keep under surveillance
A screen in one corner relayed footage from the closed circuit cameras installed across the office floors,
monitoring staff activity. -
motive
the reason that arouses action toward a desired goal
But his prime
motive in choosing Google, he said, was online collaboration. -
mutual
common to or shared by two or more parties
Teams are taught four skill sets: leadership,
mutual support, situation monitoring and communication. -
negate
make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
She notes that salad dressing packets typically contain as many as four servings, which can
negate any nutritional value of the greens.Washington Post (Dec 20, 2011) -
neutral
having no personal preference
As head of state, the queen performs some ceremonial and formal duties related to government but must remain
neutral on political matters.New York Times (Dec 19, 2012) -
nevertheless
despite anything to the contrary
Nevertheless, Mr. Ostreicher ended up in June 2011 as the only American in Palmasola Prison, an experience he described as “sheer terror.”
-
nonetheless
despite anything to the contrary
Nonetheless, Mr. Cowen’s illnesses have led to his falling about $8,400 behind in his rent; he could face eviction proceedings beginning next month.
-
norm
a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
However, let’s take it one step further, beyond social
norms. -
normal
conforming with a standard, level, or type
“I think this is going to end up like a regular summer weekend, no more busy than
normal,” he said. -
notion
a general inclusive concept
The
notion that India’s weak manufacturing sector can catch up to China in advanced computer hardware also strikes some experts as far-fetched. -
notwithstanding
despite anything to the contrary
-
nuclear
constituting the core or central part
A few prominent environmentalists argue that the rapidly heating world cannot make wrenching changes without
nuclear power to ease the transition. -
objective
the goal intended to be attained
Mr. Dempsey’s stated main
objective was to preserve as many Tully’s jobs as possible. -
obtain
come into possession of
A Web site marketing Wegelin’s services said, «Neither the Swiss government nor any other government can
obtain information about your bank account.» -
obvious
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
Jet lag’s severity depends on several factors, the most
obvious being how many time zones you crossed. -
occupy
live in (a certain place)
Next to it is a lane usually
occupied by parked vehicles, and then a traffic lane. -
occur
be found to exist
However nothing else
occurred, and in a few minutes he had gone back to sleep. -
offset
a compensating equivalent
That is a particularly weighty question, given the urgent need for tax revenue to
offset the ballooning federal budget deficit. -
ongoing
currently happening
-
option
one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
“All
options are on the table,” said a senior European official who is participating in the talks but was not authorized to speak publicly. -
outcome
something that results
Sure, compound interest has a powerful
outcome, but it takes an awfully long time to become fun and exciting. -
output
production of a certain amount
American economic
output has continued to expand at a sluggish pace. -
overall
involving only main features
-
overlap
extend over and cover a part of
The building housed a research center run by the national security agency, one of many
overlapping intelligence agencies.New York Times (Jul 19, 2012) -
panel
sheet that forms a distinct section of something
On request, Mr. Singh showed a sample of a touchscreen
panel that he said had been made at DataWind’s manufacturing unit in Montreal. -
paradigm
a standard or typical example
Even if these new shows end up being remakes of familiar
paradigms, more is at stake here. -
parallel
being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
Increasingly she turned to writing about the recipes she was trying as her interest in cooking deepened in
parallel to her relationship. -
participate
be involved in
“All options are on the table,” said a senior European official who is
participating in the talks but was not authorized to speak publicly. -
passive
lacking in energy or will
On this night, Ms. Meade basically brought to a character a vulnerability that came across as
passive. -
perceive
become aware of through the senses
Insurance, like taxes, quantifies the
perceived societal cost of an activity. -
period
an amount of time
“We were a little bit lost last year when he was out for such an extended
period of time,” Troy Brouwer said. -
persist
continue to exist
While the specific numbers have most likely shifted over time, the basic categories
persist. -
perspective
a way of regarding situations or topics
It is helpful to summarize the important policy effects on the labor market from workers’
perspectives in terms of marginal tax rates. -
phase
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
“He’s progressively gotten better in all
phases,” Haslett said. -
phenomenon
any state or process known through the senses
Researchers found that employee turnover slows down considerably as businesses get older and bigger, which could be contributing to the wage
phenomenon. -
philosophy
a belief accepted as authoritative by some group or school
He often coupled common sense with Greek
philosophy, which, he wrote, «seemed to astonish the whole journalistic fraternity in New York City.» -
physical
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
Various companies showed off tools that intervened in our
physical lives. -
policy
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
“Chuck Hagel is out of the mainstream,” Mr. Graham says, “on most issues regarding foreign
policy.” -
portion
something determined in relation to a thing that includes it
A large
portion of that is held by a group of hedge funds including York Capital Management, which invests heavily in distressed debt. -
pose
put into a certain place or abstract location
Pointing out the potential hazards
posed by data brokers and the like is part of Mr. Fertik’s M.O. -
positive
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance
“Call me an optimist, but I see
positive indications of the markets moving forward,” he said. -
potential
existing in possibility
Investors fixated last year on so-called tail risks, or
potential negative surprises. -
practitioner
someone who carries out a learned profession
“Many
practitioners haven’t caught up to the advanced technology yet,” he said. -
precede
be earlier in time
-
precise
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
The
precise impact can only be determined by careful analysis unencumbered by dogmatic beliefs not anchored in empirical results. -
predict
make a guess about what will happen in the future
Research is why he will never live in Seattle, he said; scientists are
predicting a big earthquake someday. -
predominant
having superior power or influence
-
preliminary
preceding or in preparation for something more important
West Bengal: A
preliminary medical examination suggested that a three-year-old girl was raped in Goai village, the Indian Express reported. -
presume
take to be the case or to be true
The 32 remaining passengers are
presumed to have drowned. -
previous
just preceding something else in time or order
He found his
previous job within 30 days, picking up a year’s guaranteed contract work in Hartford. -
primary
of first rank or importance or value
But some critics said that poor and uninsured patients sometimes used the emergency room as their
primary source of medical care. -
prime
of or relating to the first or originating agent
Acquiring the service would not only give Apple access to
prime data but also, as Search Engine Land noted, would complement Apple in other ways. -
principal
main or most important
Among Wall Street’s
principal concerns about Facebook has been the company’s ability to profit as its users increasingly log in on their mobile phones. -
principle
a basic generalization that is accepted as true
The business was built on two main
principles: outstanding customer service and offering high-quality clothes to help people become accepted into society, relatives said. -
prior
earlier in time
Mr. Akhtar said that no
prior warning or threat had been given to his organization by militants. -
priority
status established in order of importance or urgency
“When you are running investments, your
priority needs to be maximizing return.” -
proceed
move ahead; travel onward in time or space
If successful, lawyers said, future
proceedings, at least in the pre trial stage, will be open. -
process
a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
Hall of Fame voting is ultimately designed to be a consensus
process. -
professional
of or relating to or suitable as an occupation
Mitchell, 30, entered his last fight coming off the longest layoff of his
professional career. -
prohibit
command against
One student studying preschool education said she was
prohibited from quitting her internship and was compelled to work night shifts. -
project
a planned undertaking
The landscaping
project was announced in 2011 but has taken time to advance through public review as officials wrestled with the security question. -
promote
contribute to the progress or growth of
Some rinks installed concrete floors to
promote cooling, but others employed newer technologies. -
proportion
relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
Insulin is known to fuel cell growth, and cancer cells consume glucose out of
proportion to other nutrients. -
prospect
the possibility of future success
Nothing to do, no
prospects for getting out. -
protocol
forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials
But organizations that foster student musicians still mostly insist on standard
protocols. -
psychology
the science of mental life
David Popplewell of Brasenose College grilled an experimental
psychology candidate by asking: «Why do human beings have two eyes?» -
publication
the act of issuing printed materials
The New York Times and other mainstream
publications published hundreds of the documents Private Manning is accused of leaking. -
publish
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
The Smoking Gun Web site
published the document online. -
purchase
something acquired by buying
He also said that there are no minimum
purchases required by distributors, denouncing so-called «pay to play» allegations. -
pursue
follow in an effort to capture
Ask for help
pursuing that interest beyond class assignments. -
qualitative
involving distinguishing attributes
-
radical
far beyond the norm
Voters appeared to prefer stability over Mr. Moon’s calls for
radical change. -
random
lacking any definite plan or order or purpose
Monte Carlo methods use a
random process to solve complicated problems. -
range
a variety of different things or activities
He successfully fought to keep cost increases within a manageable
range. -
ratio
relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
Pythagoras, he tells us, used the concept of dissonance in coming to his theories about the simple
ratios of whole numbers. -
rational
consistent with or based on or using reason
Is there any
rational reason to think that things will change next year? -
react
show a response to something
Every college coach wants smart players — athletes who can grasp complex offenses, dissect sophisticated defenses and
react quickly under pressure. -
recover
regain or make up for
Figure Skating Championships later this month while he
recovers from hip surgery. -
refine
reduce to a pure state
But experts also suggested that concepts of fat be
refined. -
regime
the governing authority of a political unit
“In general, I think the
regime in Damascus is approaching collapse,” he said. -
region
the extended spatial location of something
The
region is loaded with iron, and mining companies will continue to go after it. -
regulate
bring into conformity with rules, principles, or usage
While closely
regulated by the Department of Environmental Conservation, New York also offers great fishing opportunities. -
reinforce
strengthen and support
Patterns of one or the other are
reinforced over time. -
reject
refuse to accept or acknowledge
Intermittent fighting increased last month when the rebels
rejected a government demand that they allow supply convoys to reach an army base. -
relax
become loose or looser or less tight
At a Tuesday morning news conference, Saban seemed
relaxed. -
release
grant freedom to; free from confinement
Another senior official, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to
release military information, said two pilots were on board. -
relevant
having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
«But working on something so
relevant to society caught my attention.» -
reluctance
a certain degree of unwillingness
But he was expressing some
reluctance to get on board. -
rely
have confidence or faith in
But there is an inherent risk in anything that
relies on transporting natural resources because demand can vary. -
remove
take something away as by lifting, pushing, or taking off
Six thousand fewer tons of steel trusses, which were
removed in 2004. -
require
have need of
Current law
requires reporting multiple purchases of handguns, but not semi-automatic assault rifles. -
research
a seeking for knowledge
Research has found, for instance, that Indian mothers tend to breast-feed boys longer than they do girls, Ms. Anderson said.
-
reside
live in
I was intrigued by our parallel worlds — two Muslim Middle Eastern women, eyes lined with pencils of coal,
residing in the United States. -
resource
aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
But there is an inherent risk in anything that relies on transporting natural
resources because demand can vary. -
respond
show a reaction to something
Protest leaders said the court had given the state six days to
respond. -
restore
bring back into original existence, function, or position
Some other buildings in the area have yet to have their phone service
restored, however, Verizon officials said. -
restrain
hold back
Additional cuts in government spending later this year, above those already emanating from the cap on discretionary spending, would further
restrain job creation. -
restrict
limit access to
But of greater concern was this: A hang gliding flight that crossed into
restricted airspace was ineligible for the record book. -
retain
hold back within
Hirscher
retained his lead in the overall World Cup standings. -
reveal
make known to the public information previously kept secret
If prodded, Mr. Gogu will
reveal a few celebrity stories. -
revenue
the entire amount of income before any deductions are made
That is a particularly weighty question, given the urgent need for tax
revenue to offset the ballooning federal budget deficit. -
reverse
change to the contrary
But Mrs. Nader and some others are beginning to
reverse that trend. -
revise
reorganize, especially for the purpose of improving
The
revised editorial instead lauded Communist Party’s policies. -
revolution
a single complete turn
The biggest winner in this
revolution will likely be Google, with its free Android operating system. -
rigid
fixed and unmoving
The result is the smallest, most
rigid playing field in recent history: One that excludes 41 states. -
role
the actions and activities assigned to a person or group
Newsome remembers Lewis’s first news conference after his
role in the Atlanta murders was resolved. -
route
an established line of travel or access
Alabama, en
route to its third national title in four years, scored the first three times it had the ball. -
scenario
a postulated sequence of possible events
“They are always prepared for different
scenarios,” he said of the government. -
schedule
a list of times at which things are planned to occur
Washington is
scheduled to open its season Saturday at Tampa Bay. -
scheme
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
Some of these offers turned out to be Ponzi
schemes. -
scope
an area in which something operates or has power or control
The credit can also apply to a wide
scope of industries — not just manufacturing, but computer software, architects, engineers, and food processing firms. -
section
one of several parts or pieces that fit with others
The Journal is planning a full page of excerpts in its Leisure & Arts
section on Wednesday. -
sector
a particular aspect of life or activity
The China corporate
sector has been battling falling profits. -
secure
free from danger or risk
Register online well in advance to
secure a spot at your preferred test site. -
sequence
a following of one thing after another in time
“We built five separate set pieces to shoot different parts of the
sequence,” Mr. Hennah said. -
series
similar things placed in order or one after another
But laying out a
series of possible routes would allow readers to make an educated choice. -
shift
move very slightly
While the specific numbers have most likely
shifted over time, the basic categories persist. -
significant
important in effect or meaning
«To go this far without
significant problems after the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression is remarkable,» Mr. Griffith said. -
simulate
reproduce someone’s behavior or looks
-
so-called
doubtful or suspect
Better still, he said, are
so-called unconstrained bond funds whose managers have great flexibility in how they invest. -
source
the place where something begins
According to a reliable
source, “Baseball has ruled on it. -
specific
distinguishing something particular or unique
Department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue use e-mail to target
specific audiences, but older shoppers still must sift through clothes and accessories for all ages. -
specify
be particular about
The sentence mentioning the alternate swearing-in does not
specify a date, and government officials have said that means Mr. Chávez can be sworn in later. -
sphere
a round three-dimensional closed surface
After surviving the collapse of the twin towers, the battered
sphere was moved to Battery Park. -
stable
resistant to change of position or condition
Mr. Abrams said rental companies preferred to keep prices
stable and spend their energy on trying to gain market share. -
statistic
a datum that can be represented numerically
In recent years, a growing number of high schools have stopped providing class rankings to colleges, raising questions about the value of the
statistic. -
status
the condition or someone or something at a particular time
But he has made no mention of addressing North Korea’s
status as one of the world’s least wired nations. -
straightforward
pointed directly ahead
«We are always looking for sophisticated and
straightforward dishes to add to our tailgate menu,» Jackson wrote. -
strategy
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
But using generous economic incentives and relying on conventions has been called an outdated economic
strategy. -
stress
difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension
An estimated 75 to 90 percent of all doctors’ visits are related to
stress. -
structure
the building of something and the arrangement of its parts
Engineers determined that weaker ones were originally installed, raising concerns about the
structure’s integrity. -
style
a particular kind
Tunisian
Style Baked Cauliflower Frittata In the authentic version of this frittata there is a lot more olive oil, as well as chopped hard-boiled eggs. -
submit
hand over formally
-
subordinate
lower in rank or importance
-
subsequent
following in time or order
But nothing in Mr. Sullivan’s universe is random, and
subsequent chapters reveal a tangle of dark meanings under the surface. -
subsidy
a grant of financial assistance, especially by a government
-
substitute
a person or thing that can take the place of another
Cellphones, email and Skype allow more connection among family members and loved ones, but are no
substitute for being there. -
successor
a person who follows next in order
His
successor at the U.S. unit will be announced later, BP said. -
sufficient
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement
The cases involving big banks, he said, lacked
sufficient evidence implicating C.E.Os. -
summary
a brief statement that presents the main points
In the committee meetings, the
summaries prepared by the first and second readers are often read out loud and discussed. -
supplement
an additional component that improves capability
Some contain anabolic steroids, and even high-quality protein
supplements might be dangerous in large amounts, or if taken to replace meals, he said. -
survey
ask people questions in order to gather data
A
survey in China on Monday found manufacturing activity in that country expanded for the third consecutive month. -
survive
continue in existence after
Last week, in fact, he
survived a vigilante assassination attempt; a car bomb reportedly killed the would-be assassin. -
suspend
stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it
Last spring, Binghamton University
suspended pledging after a series of complaints about people being physically abused, deprived of sleep and forced to drink heavily. -
sustain
lengthen or extend in duration or space
He balked at describing the actions as “harassment” or “molestation,” saying that implied aggravated or
sustained behavior. -
symbol
something visible that represents something invisible
She is looking for dinnerware painted with winged goddesses, holding aloft trumpets and bald eagles, which are
symbols of the Society of the Cincinnati. -
target
a reference point to shoot at
In the mid-1990s, some joined suicide bombing attacks aimed at military and civilian
targets, sometimes deflecting suspicion by dressing as though pregnant. -
task
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
The
task had taken considerably longer than expected. -
technical
of or relating to aptitude in a practical skill
Ultimately, Mr. Bevan noticed that Iran had published limited
technical details of its cartridges, including bullet weights. -
technique
a practical method or art applied to some particular task
Each had been a licensed peace officer for five to seven years and had received specialized training in investigative
techniques and firearms. -
technology
the practical application of science to commerce or industry
New
technologies have raised productivity and profits, while enabling companies to shed workers and slice payroll. -
temporary
not permanent; not lasting
Then in late March, a
temporary law financing the government expires. -
terminate
be the last or concluding part of
Terminating that case without a further fight, however, would mean giving up on charging other detainees with those offenses.
-
text
the words of something written
Writing essays has never been my strong suit; I have as much difficulty conveying sincerity through
text as I do in speech. -
theme
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
“I derive my
themes from what’s happening in everyday life,” Ms. Dimoula had said earlier. -
theory
a belief that can guide behavior
“In
theory you could have fired that cannon,” Mr. Browne said, “because the powder was still working.” -
thereby
by that means or because of that
In principle, work and investment decisions become more efficient and
thereby raise growth. -
thesis
an unproved statement advanced as a premise in an argument
My original
thesis that only Washington Nationals employees, Washington Nationals fans and D.C. media members supported the strategy has turned out to be incorrect.Washington Post (Aug 29, 2012) -
topic
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
Her newest book, “Prime Time,” a mix of advice on health, fitness, friendship, sex and other
topics, recently came out in paperback. -
trace
an indication that something has been present
North Korea also deployed equipment to
trace cellphone signals. -
tradition
a specific practice of long standing
Yes, it’s a New York
tradition, the first gathering having taken place in 1904. -
transfer
move from one place to another
He ended up at Division III Greensboro College for two years until Clark secured his
transfer to Stanford. -
transform
change or alter in appearance or nature
Regulators say money market funds need to be fundamentally
transformed to prevent them from creating too much systemic risk.
Created on December 28, 2012
(updated October 25, 2016)
Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.
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Print Vocabulary in PDF is a handy tool for English vocabulary builders to create their customized worksheets. It can leverage word lists of www.examword.com, covering K12 vocabularies and main English exams: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, SAT, ACT, GRE, etc.
Also, it lets students edit the definition of each word, remove known word, and add their word list. By the smart and flexible tool, students can create personalized word lists in minutes through powerful resources in this website.
You may get some word lists somewhere; however, you hardly find one to match with your case and level exactly. Either too difficult or too easy will waste your time and effort. It is why tutors always encourage students to learn the right thing at the right time. One word list just for your circumstance is for the goal, and the app will help you to get it.
Here we show you how to create PDF word lists briefly.
1 Account and Sign on
Your word list’s data and final file will be stored at cloud until you download them. The app needs Sign-On before starting its features.
At first, you have to create an account at examword.com unless you already have one. To do it, please register an account through Sign-On button at page top. Here you need input an email address, which will be as your account identifier, and then click Register button.
By the email, you will receive an access code very soon. Using both email and access code, you can sign on www.examword.com. This access code is effective for all apps of the website.
How to create an account
2 Load Words
You may add words to printable list anytime. We have two pages to present available wordlists for K12 or ESL students.
After select source, by Load button you can either import own wordlist or see all available wordlists provided by www.examword.com. In latter case, you can select wordlist that match your requirement. If you loaded something wrong, remove it and re-load right one. The tool is convenient and flexible.
Before load wordlists of the website, you may check two options:
- Reset Content to New if Loaded Before: If didn’t load these words before, this option does not affect. If loaded, checked means original contents that you possibly edited will be cleaned; unchecked means the existing words will be kept.
- Append Definition of My Language: Some wordlists for exams have definitions of multiple languages. If checked, your home language’s definition will be appended.
How to set ESL language
The website’s wordlist usually has hundreds or thousands of words. We have grouped it into sub-lists, also called items. Every time only ONE sub-list/item can be selected and loaded. You can load the same sub-list multiple times; its contents will be overwritten or kept as your options.
Notice that only VIP accounts can load all built-in vocabularies of examword.com. If you sign on with a free account, you may load the first one or two sub-lists of each wordlist. We suggest you try some free sub-lists at first. Buy or subscribe to VIP after you decide to print more words.
3 Edit Word
You can edit words to match your level and requirement. By default, the Edit Word will show all loaded words. You can search by the filter to locate the targeted words quickly.
For each word, there are two actions on the Edit page:
- Edit definition: update definition by your idea;
- Delete it: remove this word from your list;
You should Submit your Deleting before leaving the current page. You can also Reset the current page if you don’t want to delete anything.
Besides, there is one additional button in the left panel:
- Remove All Words: If you think the current list is not fit to you, you may remove all of them.
4 Customized Words
Besides leveraging existing wordlists of the website, you can add own wordlist too.
By select source as «Own wordlist», Load Word page opens an edit panel. You may copy and paste your own words here, and then load them. The maximum is 200 words each time you can upload.
Please ensure your words to follow a fixed but simple format:
word one
definition for word one
word two
definition for word two, line 1
definition for word two, line 2
word three
definition for word three
Unlike wordlists of www.examword.com, duplication checking doesn’t work for words in a customized list. If you load the same list more than once, new loading words don’t overwrite original words. In this case, please maintain your word lists manually.
5 Update Words and Create New PDF
The app monitors your current wordlist automatically. As long as it finds out that the word list has any change, it will inform you in the left panel to make a new PDF file to download.
If you need to make new files for any reasons, you can open the edit panel of any word from Edit Word, and then save it without any actual update. This fake save will give you the green light to create new files.
6 Others
Word List Size is limited to 300.
To keep the website run in high performance, we limit the wordlist size per loading. The system will refuse any request to load if its word number is more than 300. Of course, the actual vocabulary may be much bigger than 300. In this case, you cannot put your all words into one file. Instead, you should divide the large vocabulary into multiple small ones that are less than 300. Then, you can create and download the PDF file.
Native Language shows as blank.
If you are ESL, and used to add definitions of home language in a wordlist, you can make the final PDF file through Chrome Browser from your local device. Checking your PDF file, in case some characters of non-English cannot normally display, for example, Korean or Chinese show as blank, you should install your native language on the device accordingly.
The examword.com has a PDF’s CopyRight if its contents are from the website.
Except those you import with own wordlist, the printed PDF files’ copyrights belong to examword.com based on the primary fact: most of the contents come from source wordlists offered by this web site, although you might edit or update more or less.
Want to create own vocabulary PDF file? Try it, it’s just a job of 10 minutes!
Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 List
- 2.1 Sublist 1
- 2.2 Sublist 2
- 2.3 Sublist 3
- 2.4 Sublist 4
- 2.5 Sublist 5
- 2.6 Sublist 6
- 2.7 Sublist 7
- 2.8 Sublist 8
- 2.9 Sublist 9
- 2.10 Sublist 10
- 3 Other websites
Introduction
The Academic Word List (AWL) was developed by Averil Coxhead at the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The list contains 570 word families which were selected because they appear with great frequency in a broad range of academic texts. The list does not include words that are in the most frequent 2000 words of English (the General Service List), thus making it specific to academic contexts. The AWL was primarily made so that it could be used by teachers as part of a programme preparing learners for tertiary level study or used by students working alone to learn the words most needed to study at colleges and universities.
The 570 words are divided into 10 sublists. The sublists are ordered such that the words in the first sublist are the most frequent words and those in the last sublist are the least frequent.
List
Sublist 1
sector •
available •
financial •
process •
individual •
specific •
principle •
estimate •
variables •
method •
data •
research •
contract •
environment •
export •
source •
assessment •
policy •
identified •
create •
derived •
factors •
procedure •
definition •
assume •
theory •
benefit •
evidence •
established •
authority •
major •
issues •
labour •
occur •
economic •
involved •
percent •
interpretation •
consistent •
income •
structure •
legal •
concept •
formula •
section •
required •
constitutional •
analysis •
distribution •
function •
area •
approach •
role •
legislation •
indicate •
response •
period •
context •
significant •
similar •
Sublist 2
community •
resident •
range •
construction •
strategies •
elements •
previous •
conclusion •
security •
aspects •
acquisition •
features •
text •
commission •
regulations •
computer •
items •
consumer •
achieve •
final •
positive •
evaluation •
assistance •
normal •
relevant •
distinction •
region •
traditional •
impact •
consequences •
chapter •
equation •
appropriate •
resources •
participation •
survey •
potential •
cultural •
transfer •
select •
credit •
affect •
categories •
perceived •
sought •
focus •
purchase •
injury •
site •
journal •
primary •
complex •
institute •
investment •
administration •
maintenance •
design •
obtained •
restricted •
conduct •
Sublist 3
comments •
convention •
published •
framework •
implies •
negative •
dominant •
illustrated •
outcomes •
constant •
shift •
deduction •
ensure •
specified •
justification •
funds •
reliance •
physical •
partnership •
location •
link •
coordination •
alternative •
initial •
validity •
task •
techniques •
excluded •
consent •
proportion •
demonstrate •
reaction •
criteria •
minorities •
technology •
philosophy •
removed •
sex •
compensation •
sequence •
corresponding •
maximum •
circumstances •
instance •
considerable •
sufficient •
corporate •
interaction •
contribution •
immigration •
component •
constraints •
technical •
emphasis •
scheme •
layer •
volume •
document •
registered •
core •
Sublist 4
overall •
emerged •
regime •
implementation •
project •
hence •
occupational •
internal •
goals •
retained •
sum •
integration •
mechanism •
parallel •
imposed •
despite •
job •
parameters •
approximate •
label •
concentration •
principal •
series •
predicted •
summary •
attitudes •
undertaken •
cycle •
communication •
ethnic •
hypothesis •
professional •
status •
conference •
attributed •
annual •
obvious •
error •
implications •
apparent •
commitment •
subsequent •
debate •
dimensions •
promote •
statistics •
option •
domestic •
output •
access •
code •
investigation •
phase •
prior •
granted •
stress •
civil •
contrast •
resolution •
adequate •
Sublist 5
alter •
stability •
energy •
aware •
licence •
enforcement •
draft •
styles •
precise •
medical •
pursue •
symbolic •
marginal •
capacity •
generation •
exposure •
decline •
academic •
modified •
external •
psychology •
fundamental •
adjustment •
ratio •
whereas •
enable •
version •
perspective •
contact •
network •
facilitate •
welfare •
transition •
amendment •
logic •
rejected •
expansion •
clause •
prime •
target •
objective •
sustainable •
equivalent •
liberal •
notion •
substitution •
generated •
trend •
revenue •
compounds •
evolution •
conflict •
image •
discretion •
entities •
orientation •
consultation •
mental •
monitoring •
challenge •
Sublist 6
intelligence •
transformation •
presumption •
acknowledged •
utility •
furthermore •
accurate •
diversity •
attached •
recovery •
assigned •
tapes •
motivation •
bond •
edition •
nevertheless •
transport •
cited •
fees •
scope •
enhanced •
incorporated •
instructions •
subsidiary •
input •
abstract •
ministry •
capable •
expert •
preceding •
display •
incentive •
inhibition •
trace •
ignored •
incidence •
estate •
cooperative •
revealed •
index •
lecture •
discrimination •
overseas •
explicit •
aggregate •
gender •
underlying •
brief •
domain •
rational •
minimum •
interval •
neutral •
migration •
flexibility •
federal •
author •
initiatives •
allocation •
exceed •
Sublist 7
intervention •
confirmed •
definite •
classical •
chemical •
voluntary •
release •
visible •
finite •
publication •
channel •
file •
thesis •
equipment •
disposal •
solely •
deny •
identical •
submitted •
grade •
phenomenon •
paradigm •
ultimately •
extract •
survive •
converted •
transmission •
global •
inferred •
guarantee •
advocate •
dynamic •
simulation •
topic •
insert •
reverse •
decades •
comprise •
hierarchical •
unique •
comprehensive •
couple •
mode •
differentiation •
eliminate •
priority •
empirical •
ideology •
somewhat •
aid •
foundation •
adults •
adaptation •
quotation •
contrary •
media •
successive •
innovation •
prohibited •
isolated •
Sublist 8
highlighted •
eventually •
inspection •
termination •
displacement •
arbitrary •
reinforced •
denote •
offset •
exploitation •
detected •
abandon •
random •
revision •
virtually •
uniform •
predominantly •
thereby •
implicit •
tension •
ambiguous •
vehicle •
clarity •
conformity •
contemporary •
automatically •
accumulation •
appendix •
widespread •
infrastructure •
deviation •
fluctuations •
restore •
guidelines •
commodity •
minimises •
practitioners •
radical •
plus •
visual •
chart •
appreciation •
prospect •
dramatic •
contradiction •
currency •
inevitably •
complement •
accompany •
paragraph •
induced •
schedule •
intensity •
crucial •
via •
exhibit •
bias •
manipulation •
theme •
nuclear •
Sublist 9
bulk •
behalf •
unified •
commenced •
erosion •
anticipated •
minimal •
ceases •
vision •
mutual •
norms •
intermediate •
manual •
supplementary •
incompatible •
concurrent •
ethical •
preliminary •
integral •
conversely •
relaxed •
confined •
accommodation •
temporary •
distorted •
passive •
subordinate •
analogous •
military •
scenario •
revolution •
diminished •
coherence •
suspended •
mature •
assurance •
rigid •
controversy •
sphere •
mediation •
format •
trigger •
qualitative •
portion •
medium •
coincide •
violation •
device •
insights •
refine •
devoted •
team •
overlap •
attained •
restraints •
inherent •
route •
protocol •
founded •
duration •
Sublist 10
whereby •
inclination •
encountered •
convinced •
assembly •
albeit •
enormous •
reluctant •
posed •
persistent •
undergo •
notwithstanding •
straightforward •
panel •
odd •
intrinsic •
compiled •
adjacent •
integrity •
forthcoming •
conceived •
ongoing •
so-called •
likewise •
nonetheless •
levy •
invoked •
colleagues •
depression •
collapse •
Other websites
For more information about the AWL, please see Massey University — New Zealand’s defining university
For more practice with the words from the AWL, please see
- The University of Nottingham
- Using English for Academic Purposes
- Compleat Lexical Tutor
- AWL Exercises Homepage, featuring 170 exercises to learn and review AWL vocabulary in context
myWordList
- NOTICE: this project contains only dangerious but simple scripts, feel free to play with them but with caution.
Step 0x00: How to import words?
Fetch word definitions
Import is pretty simple, add them to a text file line by line. And use python script dictionary_fetch.py
to fetch the dictionary from web. You may need to modify the sript before you actually run it.
Convert those definition to xml format that can be used
Again, use python script dictionary_process.py
to convert those definition data you downloaded. Also, you may need to modify the script beforehand, just like file location or something else.
Finally, Copy them to right place.
copy the data into corresponding file in folder ./lists/
.
dictstore
is where the xml definition data stored.list_orig
is where your word list stored, one word per line.my***list
is where your word will be stored, after you interact with webpages.
Step 0x01: How to use the web user interface?
Simply setup a PHP web server, and give it write permission. and index.php
is where everything starts.
Finally, Can I repost it? How can i use this script?
Feel free to play with codes, fork it or send pull request, but, nope, you can not repost it, just direct them to here. And, it is not for commercial use and public use. Also, the use of the script is at your on risk and your own responsibility, and has nothing to do with me.
Look up words on the Academic Word List which you’ve never seen before and write definitions for at least ten of them, using different phrases from below for each definition.
… is a specialised term within the field of…, used to mean…
… can mean…but it also means…
… defines… as…
… has both the meaning of… and…
… is a somewhat ambiguous/ problematic term, but we can…
… is often used with the specific meaning of… but it also has the more general meaning of…
… tends to mean…
… was formerly/ originally defined as … but more recently…
…, which means…,….
A somewhat simplistic definition of… is…
According to…,… is…
Although in common parlance this term is used to mean…, in this field it rather means….
As well as the meaning of…,… also has the meaning of…
I’m going to follow… in taking… to mean…
In the field of…,…
In…contexts…tends to mean…
Most people in this field take… to mean…
One possible definition of… is…
Perhaps the best definition of… is provided by… in…
Perhaps the clearest definition of this is…
The (Oxford Advanced Learner’s) dictionary definition of… is… (but its actual use is more like…)
The acknowledged authority on… is…, who defines it as…
The core mean of… is…
The fundamental meaning of… is…
The literal meaning of… but in normal parlance it means…
The origins of the term lie in… but…
The various meanings of… include…
There are a number of possible definitions of…, of which the most useful/ relevant here is…
There are several/ many meanings to the term…, but…
There are two related meanings to…, one of which is…. The other is…
This concept can also be said to cover…
Unlike the everyday English use, the technical meaning of… is…
———————————
PDF for easy saving and printing: Define Academic Word List vocabulary
Related pages
Academic Word list page
Defining your terms page