The key idea
Choose words that express your exact meaning, and use word combinations that sound natural.
What is it for?
Learn to choose precise words and natural word combinations for clearer, stronger writing.
What you need to know
- Replace basic adjectives with words that express your exact meaning.
- Use quite, really, and extremely with suitable adjectives.
- Learn common word partners, such as reach a decision and heavy traffic.
- Choose neutral or formal words to suit your reader.
- Check unfamiliar words in a reliable learner dictionary.
1. Replace basic words with precise choices
Words like good, bad, and thing can hide your real meaning.
Choose a word that tells readers exactly what happened.
A productive day includes useful work. An uneventful day has few important events. A tiring day uses a lot of energy.
- Think about the real meaning before choosing a replacement.
- Use productive for useful work and exhausting for something that uses much energy.
- Use disappointing when something does not meet your hopes.
I had a productive day because I finished three reports.
Productive explains what made the day useful.
The meeting was uneventful, so we finished early.
Uneventful means that little important happened.
The delayed delivery caused bitter disappointment.
Bitter disappointment describes a strong feeling of being let down.
2. Choose the right intensifier
Intensifiers change the strength of an adjective.
Use quite, really, or extremely with many adjectives. Choose the one that matches your meaning.
Some adjectives already express a strong feeling. These include starving, exhausted, and delighted.
- Write extremely tired or exhausted, not very exhausted.
- Use delighted for great pleasure and starving for extreme hunger.
- Use strong adjectives only when the situation supports them.
I was extremely tired after the long shift.
Extremely makes the adjective stronger.
She was delighted with her new work schedule.
Delighted expresses a strong positive feeling.
We were starving after the delayed lunch break.
Starving is stronger than hungry.
3. Learn natural word partners
Some words often appear together. These combinations are called collocations.
A correct word can still sound unusual beside another word.
Learning whole combinations helps you write more naturally.
- Use reach a decision, not do a decision.
- Use raise a concern when you explain a possible problem.
- Use heavy traffic for many slow-moving vehicles.
- Use bitter disappointment for a strong feeling after a setback.
After checking the figures, we reached a decision.
Reach naturally combines with decision.
The delay raised a concern about delivery times.
Raise a concern introduces a possible problem.
Heavy traffic made the journey exhausting.
Heavy is a natural partner for traffic.
4. Match your words to your reader
Some words sound neutral. Others sound more formal.
Choose words that fit your reader and purpose.
A message to a colleague may use simple, direct words. A work report may need more formal choices.
- Use ask in many everyday situations.
- Use enquire in some more formal situations.
- Use help in everyday writing and assist in more formal writing.
- Check a learner dictionary when you are unsure about meaning or word partners.
I asked my colleague about the new schedule.
Asked suits an everyday workplace message.
I enquired about the delivery date by email.
Enquired can suit a more formal message.
The guide assisted visitors with their bags.
Assisted is a more formal choice than helped.
How to do it, step by step
- Identify the basic word that makes your meaning unclear.
- Decide exactly what you want the reader to understand.
- Choose a precise adjective, verb, or noun.
- Check whether the new word forms a natural collocation.
- Read the sentence again and check its tone.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| a productive + noun | We had a productive meeting. | It was a productive morning at work. |
| an uneventful + noun | The journey was uneventful. | We enjoyed an uneventful afternoon. |
| quite / really / extremely + adjective | The new schedule is extremely useful. | The instructions were quite clear. |
| strong adjective without very | I was exhausted after the shift. | She was delighted with the result. |
| reach a decision | The team reached a decision before lunch. | We reached a decision after checking the costs. |
| raise a concern | The delay raised a concern about safety. | The new rule raised a concern among staff. |
| heavy traffic | Heavy traffic delayed the delivery. | We left early to avoid heavy traffic. |
| bitter disappointment | The cancelled trip caused bitter disappointment. | Missing the deadline was a bitter disappointment. |
| neutral word → more formal word | We asked about the delivery date. | We enquired about the delivery date. |
UK / US: Some words differ between British and American English. For example, British English often uses enquired, while American English often uses inquired. Check your dictionary's regional labels.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B2 upgrades page.
Model text
Making a Workplace Description More Precise
Before: Basic description
Monday was a bad day at work. We had a very busy morning, and the delivery was late. My manager was very angry because several boxes were missing. I had a bad feeling about the next delivery. Then, a thing happened that made everything worse. The computer stopped working, so we could not update the orders. It was a very tiring day, and I felt very bad when I finally went home.
The description uses basic words. Readers know the events but get little detail about their impact.
After: Precise description
Monday was an exhausting day at work. We had an extremely demanding morning because the delivery arrived late. My manager was furious when we discovered several missing boxes. The delay raised a concern about our next delivery. To make matters worse, the computer stopped working, so we could not update the orders. Consequently, customers received no clear information about their purchases. What frustrated me most was the extra paperwork, which kept me at my desk until six. Despite the delays, I reached a decision with my manager about a new checking system. By the time I went home, I was completely exhausted, but I felt relieved that we had found a practical solution.
The revised version uses stronger adjectives and natural collocations. Linking words show cause, contrast, and results. A relative clause adds useful detail.
Common mistakes
✗ We did a decision after lunch.
✓ We reached a decision after lunch.
Reach is the natural verb to use with decision.
✗ I was very exhausted after work.
✓ I was exhausted after work.
Exhausted already expresses an extreme level of tiredness.
✗ There was strong traffic near the office.
✓ There was heavy traffic near the office.
Heavy is the usual adjective for traffic.
✗ The delay did a concern for the team.
✓ The delay raised a concern for the team.
Raise a concern is the natural word combination.
✗ She was extremely delighted with the result.
✓ She was delighted with the result.
Delighted already describes a strong feeling of pleasure.
✗ The cancelled order caused a very bitter disappointment.
✓ The cancelled order caused bitter disappointment.
Bitter already makes the disappointment sound strong.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Underline basic words such as good, bad, very, and thing.
- Write the exact meaning beside each word.
- Choose a precise replacement that fits the situation.
- Check important word combinations in a learner dictionary.
Check
- Have I replaced vague words with precise choices?
- Have I removed very before strong adjectives?
- Do my adjectives and verbs form natural collocations?
- Does my vocabulary suit the reader and purpose?
- Have I checked unfamiliar words and their common partners?
Practice
Choose the precise word
Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.
1.We finished every task before lunch. It was a ___ morning.
Productive describes a time when useful work gets done.
2.The team ___ a decision after checking the costs.
Reach a decision is a common and natural collocation.
3.After working for twelve hours, I was ___.
Exhausted already expresses an extreme level of tiredness.
4.The road was full of slow-moving cars because of ___.
Heavy traffic is the natural phrase for many vehicles causing delays.
5.The missing payment ___ a concern for the office manager.
Raise a concern means to bring a possible problem to attention.
6.She was ___ when her manager praised her work.
Delighted describes strong pleasure after receiving good news.
Match basic and precise phrases
Match each basic phrase with the best precise phrase.
1.a good day at work
2.very tired
3.many slow cars on the road
4.make a decision
5.a strong feeling of disappointment
6.bring attention to a possible problem
Complete the collocations
Complete each sentence with the missing word or phrase.
1.After checking the options, we reached a .
Decision completes the common collocation reach a decision.
2.The accident caused traffic near the station.
Heavy is the usual adjective for traffic.
3.The unexpected cost raised a .
Concern completes the collocation raise a concern.
4.After two long shifts, I was completely .
Exhausted describes extreme tiredness after hard work.
5.She was when the missing package finally arrived.
Delighted expresses strong pleasure about the package's arrival.
6.Losing the order caused bitter .
Bitter disappointment describes a strong feeling after an unwanted result.
Correct the word choice
Correct the single vocabulary or collocation mistake in each sentence.
1.We did a decision before the meeting ended.
Reach is the natural verb used with decision.
2.There was strong traffic outside the office.
Heavy traffic is the standard collocation.
3.I was very exhausted after the long shift.
Exhausted already describes extreme tiredness.
4.The delay made a concern for the manager.
Raise a concern is the natural phrase for identifying a possible problem.
5.The cancelled trip caused a very bitter disappointment.
Bitter already gives disappointment a strong meaning.
Now write
Your task
Rewrite this five-sentence description of a bad day at work. Replace basic words such as good, bad, very, and thing. Choose precise adjectives, stronger verbs, and natural collocations. Keep the same events and meaning. Draft: Today was a bad day at work. We had a very busy morning because the delivery was late. My manager was very angry about the mistake. Then, a bad thing happened because the computer stopped working. I felt very bad when I went home.
Word bank
exhaustingdemandingproductiveuneventfulfuriousdisappointeddelightedextremelyheavy trafficraise a concernreach a decisionbitter disappointmentas a resultdespite the delaypractical solution
Sentence starters
- Today was an ...
- We had a ... morning because ...
- My manager was ... when ...
- The problem raised a concern about ...
- Despite the delay, we ...