TRI DUC ENGLISH ✦ ACADEMIC EDGE UNIT 11 EDITION Adjective & Noun Combinations Importance · Frequency · Useful Academic Pairs — Elevating your academic vocabulary This unit focuses on a number of adjective + noun combinations which are particularly frequent in academic contexts. A. Adjectives suggesting importance Adjective Comment Some of the nouns it frequently goes with important significant can convey the same meaning and both adjectives often go with these nouns aspect, contribution, difference, implications, point question, reason, element significant can also mean large in size and as such goes with these nouns increase, reduction, number, proportion major the opposite, minor , also often goes with these nouns role, changes, problem, factor, issue, concern, difference, theme, contribution, point enormous / considerable enormous can mean very large or very important; considerable means large or of noticeable importance (i.e. slightly less strong than enormous) amount, expansion, number, range, diversity, difference, variation, extent, degree, impact, power, influence, significance, interest particular means special interest, attention, significance, importance, concern 💡 Note: A feature of academic writing is that it often uses an adjective + noun phrase to suggest importance of some kind instead of just using an adjective, e.g. Marx's contribution is of particular significance thay vì Marx's contribution is very significant . B. Adjectives suggesting frequency • Widespread means that something happens in many places or among many people. It often combines with such nouns as belief, acceptance, support, opposition, assumption, use . For example, There is widespread support for government policy in urban areas. • Common can mean frequent. With this meaning it often combines with such nouns as experience, practice, use, concern . For example, It is increasingly common practice for UK teenagers to take a gap year before entering university. • Note that common can also mean 'shared' and as such it combines with knowledge, ground, feature, interest . For example, There is such common ground between the two writers. • Specific means relating to one thing and not ...