Phrases & Expressions

To show clearly in your writing which books, articles or other works you took ideas from.

• Failing to acknowledge your sources properly can lead to a charge of plagiarism, even if the copying was accidental.
• If you quote statistics in your report, make sure you acknowledge your sources so readers can check them.

To continue to follow a belief, rule or set of principles.

• Many members of the community still adhere to traditional beliefs about marriage and family life.
• All researchers must adhere to strict ethical guidelines when working with human participants.

To publicly support or recommend using something.

• Many teachers advocate the use of mobile phones in class as learning tools, while others want them banned.
• The report advocates the use of renewable energy in all new public buildings.

To decide officially how much money a project, department or service will receive.

• The city council has allocated funds to build three new libraries in the poorest districts.
• Critics argue that the ministry should allocate more funds to mental health services instead of building new motorways.

Actions that help other people even though they bring no benefit to the person doing them.

• Psychologists have long debated whether purely altruistic behaviour exists or whether people always expect something in return.
• Donating blood to strangers is a clear example of altruistic behaviour in everyday life.

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.

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.

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.