TRI DUC ENGLISH ✦ ACADEMIC EDGE UNIT 6 EDITION Phrasal Verbs in Academic English One-word synonyms · Research vocabulary · Formality levels — Elevate your academic writing 📚 A. Phrasal verbs and one-word synonyms Although phrasal verbs occur most frequently in more informal spoken and written English, they are also not uncommon in an academic context. You will hear them used in lectures and will read them in serious journals. However, note that go/look back over and work out are not appropriate for a formal written assignment. Phrasal verbs often have one-word synonyms. These are usually of Latin origin and sound more formal than their phrasal verb equivalent, but both are appropriate when writing or talking about academic subjects. Vary your language by using both. Phrasal Verb Formal Synonym Example in Academic Context put forward (an idea/view/opinion/theory/plan) present In her latest article Kaufmann puts forward a theory which is likely to prove controversial. carry out (an experiment/research) conduct I intend to carry out a series of experiments. make up constitute Children under the age of 15 make up nearly half of the country's population. be made up of consist of Parliament is made up of two houses. point out observe Grenne points out that the increase in life expectancy has led to some economic problems. point up highlight The study points up the weaknesses in the current school system. set out (to do something) aim In his article Losanov sets out to prove that... set out describe The document sets out the terms of the treaty. go into discuss In this book Sergeant goes into the causes of the Civil War in some depth. go/look back over revise, review* Please go/look back over this term's notes. go through check Go through your calculations carefully. *Note: Revise is the BrE synonym and review the AmE synonym. ( Revise in AmE only means to edit or change something to make it better; review is not used in BrE in the context of preparing for a test as focused on here.) 🔬 B. Carrying out research After completing her first degree in zoology Meena went on to 1 graduate school. She wanted to work on 2 animal behaviour at a well-known institute in New Zealand. She set up 3 a series of experiments investigating how bees communicate. She has noticed some curious behaviour patterns but has not yet worked out 4 why her bees behave as they do. What she has observed seems to go against 5 current theories of bee behavi...