ACADEMIC VOCABULARY SERIES
Adjectives and Adverbs in Academic Writing
Academic texts depend heavily on adjectives (which modify nouns and noun
phrases) and adverbs (which modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs) in
order to communicate meaning effectively.
The most obvious long-range benefit from the fission process is the potential to
provide a source of power that would assure a higher standard of living in those
countries that do not have adequate reserves of fossil fuel.
Excerpt from: Eisenhud, M., &Gesell, T. (1997). Environmental Radioactivity. San Diego: Academic Press.
Adjectives
The following adjectives are commonly used in academic texts. Try using them
in your assignments in place of the more informal, colloquial expressions you use
in conversation.
Common Academic
Adjectives
Examples of use with nouns*
most commonly found in
academic texts
Relating to
importance
important / salient
necessary
significant
salient feature
significant subsidy
Relating to
size/ amount
/ intensity /
frequency
high / increasing
low / declining
adequate / sufficient
prime / main / primary / major
only / sole
annual / hourly
indiscriminate
sole indicator
primary consideration
only restriction
indiscriminate consumption
declining interest
increasing birthrate
annual evaluation
Relating to
quality
new / innovative
economical
consistent
sustainable
abstract
hierarchical
innovative strategy
economical estimate
consistent representation
sustainable solution
abstract concept
hierarchical organization
Relating to
variation
different / alternative
variable
alternative options
variable dimensions
ACADEMIC VOCABULARY SERIES
Relating to
probability
likely / possible
sure / definite / inevitable
impossible
likely paradigm
possible scenario
inevitable outcome
* Note that these nouns are very common in academic texts. If you do not know their
meanings, and how to use them, refer to the Examples Bank in the Longman Dictionary
of Contemporary English software. Then try using them in your writing where
appropriate.
Adverbs
Academic texts generally contain fewer adverbs than adjectives. Those adverbs
that are most commonly used across all disciplines generally fall into the
following four categories.
Category
Intensifiers
Most common
Examples of use
adverbs
More/ very / extremely / Surviving the extremely cold conditions
required more perseverance than even
even / quite
the seasoned hunters were prepared
for.
restrictives
Only / particularly
Female students, particularly those
who are fair-skinned, need to take extra
precaution to protect themselves when
participating in the outdoor project.
hedges
Usually / sometimes /
generally / probably /
relatively / perhaps
This procedure is perhaps one of the
most complicated one in medical
history; it is usually carried out by
highly experienced teams with very
sophisticated equipment.
additives
Further / also
It was further argued that fair pricing
was another area that needs to be
considered as a substantive measure.
References:
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman grammar of
spoken and written English. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.
Coxhead, A. (2000). The new academic word list. TESOL Quarterly, 34 (2), 213-238.
Dr. Elaine Khoo, 2005. The Writing Centre, University of Toronto at Scarborough. See terms and
conditions for use at [Link]
