·Precision, not rare words
C2 vocabulary. An important warning: the Aptis Core measures up to B2, and this is support for the Advanced Writing and Speaking, AptisBot's own criterion, not a part of the exam that gives you that level. The Advanced descriptors ask, for the top mark, for a range of vocabulary without clumsy or inappropriate usage. It is not about using rare words, but about choosing the exact word. In this video we look at nuance between synonyms, strong collocations, some useful idioms, formal register and lexical precision.
1/5Nuance between synonyms
Synonyms are almost never interchangeable: each carries a nuance. Big, large, huge, enormous and vast: big is general, huge and enormous are very large, vast is used for spaces or quantities. Say, claim, assert and maintain: say is neutral; claim suggests it is not proven; assert, that it is stated firmly; maintain, that a position is kept. Show, demonstrate, illustrate and reveal: show is general; demonstrate proves something; illustrate gives an example of it; reveal uncovers what was hidden. And important, crucial, vital and essential: crucial is decisive; vital, necessary to live or function. Before you choose, ask yourself which nuance you want.
2/5Strong collocations
A strong collocation combines an adverb or an adjective with a word in a very natural way. With feeling adjectives: deeply concerned, bitterly disappointed, extremely grateful, utterly convinced. With degree adjectives: highly unlikely, highly effective, heavily dependent, widely believed. With verbs: strongly recommend, firmly believe, strongly disagree. And with nouns: a heavy burden, a growing concern, a sharp increase. Learning them as a block saves you from choosing the wrong adverb: you don't say strongly concerned or very much unlikely.
3/5Useful idioms
Well-chosen idioms add naturalness, but they must be used with care: one or two per text. Some very useful ones. At the end of the day, to conclude. In the long run, over the long term. On the other hand, by contrast. A double-edged sword, something with advantages and risks. The tip of the iceberg, only a small part of a problem. A blessing in disguise, something bad that turns out well. Take it with a pinch of salt, don't quite believe it. And break the ice, to ease the first awkwardness. Avoid the ones you can't control: an idiom used badly lowers your mark more than one used well raises it.
4/5Formal and neutral register
Formal register uses longer words of Latin origin where neutral register uses short words. Get, obtain. Buy, purchase. Help, assist. Ask, enquire. Start, commence. Show, demonstrate. Need, require. Enough, sufficient. Look into, investigate. Tell, inform. And before, prior to. In a formal email in Writing, change three or four of these words and you will see the register rise. But don't change them all: a text with too many long words sounds artificial. And remember that formal register also avoids contractions and the more colloquial phrasal verbs.
5/5Lexical precision
Lexical precision means replacing all-purpose words with the exact word. Increase has many shades: rise is to go up, soar is to go up a lot and fast, climb is to go up steadily. Decrease too: fall, drop, decline, plummet, which is to fall sharply. Good can be beneficial, favourable, effective or reliable. Very big can be substantial, considerable or significant. And thing, or things, can almost always be replaced by something more concrete: factor, aspect, issue, element. Look through your texts and find the all-purpose words: good, bad, big, thing, get, make.
·Time to practise
To practise, take one of your own Writing texts and underline the all-purpose words: good, bad, big, thing, get, make. Replace at least five with a more precise option. Add a strong collocation and, if it fits, an idiom. And check the register: if it is formal, change three neutral words for their formal equivalent. A better version is a more precise version, not a rarer one.