CAE - WRITING AND VOCABULARY
1) FORMAL WRITING (Reports and proposals)
Introduction
-The main purpose/aim of (this report) is to
outline/
present / discuss / examine / evaluate
-This report (outlines/looks at)
-This report is based on
Generalising
-On the whole,
-In eneral,
Making recommendations and concluding
-It is clear from customer feedback that
-!ith reard to, the eneral view seems to
be
-In the liht of (this "ear#s experience),
-$erhaps the most effective wa" of
-If the (centre) is to attract more customers, it is
vital that
-It would be a ood idea to
-It is (therefore) believed / obvious thatwould
be
ideal for
-It would (not) be advisable / practical to
-!e suest/propose that
-!e suest/propose % ing
-& (more spacious area) would be the
solution/
an effective wa" of
-In liht of the above, we believe the followin
measures should be adopted
-In the short/lon term, we suest "ou should
consider
-'" recommendations are as follows(
-In m" view, in future, we should
-To improve the situation, we recommend
-It is recommended that
-To sum up,To conclude,
-I hope that the plan outlined/presented in this
report meets with "our approval
-I hope that the recommendations outlined/
presented in this report will receive "our
serious
consideration)
t!le
"*o not use contractions)
-+se passive forms whenever possible)
-+se relative clauses to ,oin ideas( The period during which he lived was full of uncertainty.
-+se these formal words( like such as / kids children
a lot (of) man" / a lare number of % countable noun
a lot (of) much / a reat amount of / a reat deal of % uncountable
a lot (intensit") ver" much / sinificantl" / dramaticall"
- &void usin the word things / something, etc) +se a more specific word (problems, situation,
solutions,
subjects, and so on))
#) $MI"FORMAL WRITING
Adressing t%e reader
--ave "ou ever wondered (what the collee would be like if). If the answer is ("es), "ou
--If "ou want a different kind of experience, / &s "ou know,
-*oesn#t it ,ust make ever"one feel (positive about).
-If "ou have a few hours to spare,is worth seein)
&escri'ing location
-/ocated / 0ituated (,ust a few miles awa"
from), 1
is
-2uilt (,ust next to), 1 is
-0ome minutes from, 1 is
Gi(ing in)ormation
-Throuhout it histor", 1
-1 is b" far the oldest
Gi(ing !our opinion
-1 is intended for "oun(er) people
-1 is popular with (children)
-In fact, (345&TI64 O$I3IO3)
-It#s clearl" been a ood idea to
Gi(ing practical in)ormation
-&n"one wishin to (appl")can/should
-(!e) participate in/oranise/run
-(The club) offers/provides a rane of
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-9 is the best known
-!hat is particular spectacular is
-8ecent additions/chanes include
(competitive
matches for)
-One of the most popular (features of our club
is)
-'embers have the opportunit" to/are
able to
Accurac!
-3ever omit the sub,ect pronoun( Many people believe IT is important to... I believe IT is a good
idea
study...
- *o not use unnecessar" sub,ect pronouns( This is a problem which it is essential to solve.
-'ake sure the sub,ect and the verb aree( Attracting tourists involves improving local facilities.
(0I35+/&8 0+2;47T attractin tourists % 0I35+/&8 6482 involves)
Attitude clauses and p%rases
5enerall" speakin,
&nno"inl", 3aturall", 0tranel", 0urprisinl", 4videntl",
Indeed, In fact, &dmittedl", $resumabl",
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
R$LAT$& WOR& AN& *+RA$
AGR$$M$NT
-& reat number of people share the view that tourism will have a neative impact on the island)
-Toda" there is eneral / widespread areement that pollution from cars and planes is threatenin
the
future of our planet)
-It is now widel" accepted that the universe bean with the so-called <bi ban<)
&IAGR$$M$NT
-Opinions differ about the proper relationship between the mass media and societ")
-There is considerable disareement amon experts about the usefulness of these tests)
-There has been a reat deal of controvers" over abortion in the +0)
A&,ANTAG$ AN& &IA&,ANTAG$
-8eular exercise has man" benefits, includin reducin the risk of heart disease)
-*espite a few problems with the desin, the car<s advantaes clearl" outweih its disadvantaes)
-The ma,or drawback of this method is that it can be ver" time-consumin)
-The downside of runnin "our own business is that "ou are responsible if an"thin oes wron)
-A.$
-lead to( The research could lead to a cure for man" serious illnesses)
-result in( The fire resulted in damae to their propert")
-be responsible for( -e was responsible for the accident)
-brin about(The war brouht about enormous social chane)
-ive rise to( $oor performance in exams can ive rise to depression and even thouhts of suicide)
-trier(to make somethin suddenl" start to happen, especiall" a bad situation such as a crisis or
a war, or
a medical condition( 7ertain foods can trier alleries)
-contribute to( $assive smokin could contribute to the development of respirator" diseases amon
nonsmokers)
-factor( 7ost is often the decidin factor when choosin an" product)
$FF$-T
-impact on( -is work has had an enormous impact on the stud" of enetics)
-influence on( In his book, he examines the influence of the media on our societ")
-affect( (v) The disease affects women more than men)
-influence( (v) 0he has influenced him a lot)
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=
ARE
-implications( The results of the stud" could have important implications for future educational
polic")
$M*+AI/ING
-I would like to stress that the research is still at an earl" stae)
-It should be noted that there are a number of alternative methods available)
-It is worth bearin in mind that >?@ of the scientists researchin herbicides in the +0 are
emplo"ed b"
chemical companies)
-Aactors such as temperature and acidit" pla" a crucial role in determinin how well the process
works)
-These insects pla" a vital part in the food chain)
-It is essential that the work is carried out as soon as possible)
-The climate is much colder, especiall" in the far north)
*RO0L$M
-issue( Issue is used especiall" about problems that affect a lot of people in societ"( International
terrorism
is the biest issue (Bthe most important issue) facin the world toda") $revious overnments
failed to
address (Btr" to deal with) social issues such as unemplo"ment and homelessness)
-challene( somethin difficult that "ou must do or deal with, which needs a lot of skill, effort, and
determination( 0he said she was lookin forward to the challene of startin up a new business
on her
own)
-difficult"( The compan" has manaed to overcome (Bdeal with) its recent financial difficulties)
'an" people experience difficult" in sleepin at some time in their lives)
- trouble( a problem or several problems that make somethin difficult, spoil "our plans etc(
0tudents of
4nlish often have trouble with phrasal verbs) The compan" ran into trouble (Bstarted to have
problems)
when it tried to expand too Cuickl")
-setback( somethin that happens which stops "ou makin proress or which makes thins worse
than
the" were before( *espite some earl" setbacks, his campain for the presidenc" was successful)
-obstacle( 7riminal ans are the biest obstacle to democratic reform)
-dilemma( The doctors were faced with a moral dilemma)
-vicious circle( 0ome developin countries et cauht in a vicious circle) The" cannot afford to pa"
their
debt repa"ments, and so the debts et even bier)
-complication
IN-R$A$
-increase b" (percent)( /ast "ear, the number of burlaries increased b" :D percent)
-o up( /ast month unemplo"ment went up from :)E million to ,ust over :)F million)
-row( The volume of traffic on our roads continues to row)
-expand( &fter two "ears of no rowth, the econom" started to expand aain in =??G)
-double/triple/Cuadruple( 0ince :>D?, the number of people d"in from cancer has almost doubled)
-rowth( (n) There has been a hue rowth in sales of bi H-wheel-drive vehicles)
&$-R$A$
-decrease b" (percent)( The averae rainfall has decreased b" around G? percent)
-o down( The percentae of fat in our diets has one down)
-fall( The number of tiers in the wild has fallen to ,ust over :?,???)
-drop( &t niht, the temperature drops to minus =? derees)
-decline( decline is used about numbers or amounts, and also about the level or standard of
somethin(
In rural areas, the standard of livin continued to decline)
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G
A&MIR$
-respect /
look up to( The children need someone the" can look up to)
-think hihl" of( 'ost of the students and staff think ver" hihl" of *r) 0mith)
-
have a hih opinion of
-
hihl" rearded/respected( a hihl" respected sureon
A&,AN-$&
-sophisticated / hih-tech (eCuipment) / state-of-the-art (technolo")
.R*RIING (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-amaIin / unbelievable / incredible / astonishin / staerin
-come as a surprise / come as a shock / amaIe / astonish
.R*RI$& (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-amaIed / astonished / speechless / be taken aback (-e was taken aback b" the news)
$1-ITING (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-thrillin / rippin / exhilaratin / action-packed
0ORING
-dull / tedious / monotonous / uninspirin
0$A.TIF.L *$O*L$ (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-attractive / ood-lookin / oreous / strikin / stunnin
0$A.TIF.L *LA-$ (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-breathtakin / stunnin / awe-inspirin / strikin / spectacular
-spotless( ver" clean
.GL2 *LA-$ 3 *$O*L$ (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-unattractive / unpleasant / unsihtl" / hideous (Bextremel" ul")
-filth"( ver" dirt"
IN 0A& -ON&ITION (*LA-$)
-in bad condition / dilapidated / run-down
N$W
-latest / brand-new / innovative (idea or s"stem)
OL&
-old-fashioned / outdated / obsolete
,$R2
-absolutel" / extremel" / hihl" / incredibl" / remarkabl"
GOO& *$RFORMAN-$ 3 *I$-$ OF WOR4
-excellent / outstandin / impressive / exceptional
GOO& FOR A *ARTI-.LAR 5O06 *.R*O$6 $T-
-suitable / riht / proper / appropriate / be suited to
WRONG INFORMATION 3 N.M0$R
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-incorrect / inaccurate / misleadin
NOT R$AONA0L$ 3 N$-$AR2
-un,ustified / unreasonable / without ood reason
R$LA1
-unwind / wind down( 0et in spectacular countr"side, the 0hia -otel is the perfect place to
unwind)
-make someone feel at ease
-relaxed / feel at ease / laid-back (not easil" worried or anno"ed) /
N$R,O.
-tense / uneas" / anxious / be under stress
*.0LI- $R,I-$
-facilities( The facilities at the hotel were excellent -- tennis courts, swimmin pool, several bars
and a ood
restaurant)
-amenities( thins such as shops, parks, or restaurants that make livin or workin in a place more
pleasant
I prefer this part of the cit" because there are plent" of ood amenities)
-OM*ARION
-a reat deal / far / much % comparative (cheaper / more economical than)
-a bit / slihtl" / barel" % comparative (cheaper / more economical than)
-b" far / easil" the % superlative (This is easil" the best solution we can think of)
,$R2 M.-+ 3 NOT ,$R2 M.-+
-dramaticall" / sinificantl" / slihtl"
AN&
-&s well (as) / in addition to( Over E?? people will lose their ,obs, in addition to the H?? people
who left
the compan" last "ear)
-In addition( & fifth of the world<s population lives on less than J: a da") In addition, over :??
million
children are livin on the streets)
-Aurthermore / 'oreover( used at the beinnin of a sentence when addin an important fact that
is
connected with what "ou have ,ust said( The dru has stron side effects) Aurthermore, it can be
addictive)
IF
-as lon as / on condition that / provided that
OR
-alternativel"( 9ou can o up into the mountains) <ernativel", "ou can stroll around one of
0witIerland<s
delihtful cities where the old mixes with the new)
-on T+$ one hand ))) on the other (hand)
0$-A.$
-&s / since( &s it was a hot da", the" decided to leave all the windows open) 0ince it is difficult to
predict
how the climate will chane, it is not possible to sa" which countries will suffer the most)
-thanks to
-*+4 TO/O!I35 TO % 3O+3
The dela" was due to a problem with the ship<s enines)
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-*+4 TO/O!I35 TO % T-4 A&7T T-&T % sub,ect % verb
The men did most of the work in the fields) This was partl" due to the fact that the men were
stroner)
0.T3ALT+O.G+
-!hile / whereas / b" contrast
--owever( $owever is usuall" used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the
sentence b"
commas( ;ack and his famil" manaed to escape before the soldiers arrived) Other families in the
villae,
however, were less luck") Or it comes at the beinnin of a sentence( -e bean his academic
career as a
mathematician) -owever, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear ph"sics)
-3evertheless( 3evertheless is usuall" used at the beinnin of a sentence, or at the end)
-I3 0$IT4 OA/*40$IT4 % 3O+3
*espite his lack of formal education, he became one of the world<s leadin mathematicians)
-I3 0$IT4 OA/*40$IT4 % verb % I35
This was a dinosaur that weihed onl" :? tons, in spite of bein some =K metres lon)
-I3 0$IT4 OA/*40$IT4 % T-4 A&7T T-&T % sub,ect % verb
'an" people are worried that cellphones ma" be danerous to health, despite the fact that most
of the
research suests that there is little risk)
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