Phrases & Expressions

To officially alter the wording of an existing law, usually to correct or improve it.

• Parliament voted to amend the law so that sixteen-year-olds could vote in local elections.
• Campaigners want the government to amend the law on working hours to protect junior doctors.

Plenty of room, so that nothing feels tight or crowded.

• The new library provides ample space for students who want to study quietly between lectures.
• Always leave ample space between your car and the vehicle in front, especially when the road is wet.

A choice made without a clear reason or system, which often seems unfair.

• Students complained about the arbitrary decision to cancel the trip only a week before departure.
• Setting the passing mark at exactly 63 per cent seems an arbitrary decision with no research behind it.

A piece of work that is very hard and needs a lot of effort over a long time.

• Rebuilding the town after the earthquake will be an arduous task that could take more than a decade.
• Translating the entire report into five languages proved a more arduous task than we had expected.

An area of land that receives very little rain and is extremely dry.

• Farming in arid regions depends heavily on irrigation, which puts pressure on limited water supplies.
• Desalination plants are increasingly used to supply drinking water in the arid regions of the Middle East.

Someone who speaks fluently and gets their thoughts across in a clear, effective way.

• She is an articulate speaker who can make complex scientific ideas easy for a general audience to understand.
• Employers look for graduates who are confident, articulate speakers as well as good team players.

Among ordinary members of an organisation or community, as opposed to the people in charge.

• Real improvements in public health often begin at grassroots level, with local volunteers and community groups.
• The new policy was welcomed by the party leadership, but it has caused real anger at grassroots level.

To be read by a large number of different kinds of people.

• Popular science books that avoid technical language tend to attract a wide readership.
• The online newspaper has attracted a wide readership among young people who rarely buy printed papers.

To persuade foreign companies to put money into businesses in your country or region.

• Low taxes and a skilled workforce have helped Ireland attract inward investment from technology firms.
• Regional governments offer cheap land and tax breaks in order to attract inward investment.

A reliable source of information produced by trusted experts.

• When writing an academic essay, you should cite authoritative sources such as peer-reviewed journals rather than blogs.
• The World Health Organization is generally regarded as an authoritative source on global health statistics.