Academic Word List
📖 Learn
What is Academic Vocabulary?
Academic vocabulary consists of words that appear frequently across many academic disciplines. Unlike everyday vocabulary or subject-specific jargon, these words are essential for reading, writing, and thinking in academic contexts across subjects.
Mastering academic vocabulary improves your ability to understand complex texts, write sophisticated essays, and perform well on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
Categories of Academic Words
| Category | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis Words | Breaking down and examining | analyze, evaluate, interpret, assess, examine |
| Process Words | Describing how things happen | method, procedure, process, approach, technique |
| Relationship Words | Showing connections | correlate, contrast, compare, relate, differentiate |
| Evidence Words | Supporting claims | demonstrate, indicate, suggest, imply, prove |
| Degree Words | Showing extent or amount | significant, considerable, minimal, substantial, marginal |
Essential Academic Words
| Word | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| analyze | examine in detail to understand | The essay analyzes the causes of the conflict. |
| concept | an abstract idea or general notion | The concept of democracy has evolved over centuries. |
| context | circumstances that form a setting | The poem's meaning changes depending on context. |
| derive | obtain from a source; trace origin | Many English words derive from Latin roots. |
| establish | set up; prove beyond doubt | Scientists established a link between smoking and cancer. |
| factor | element that contributes to a result | Economic factors influenced the election outcome. |
| implicit | implied but not directly stated | The implicit message of the ad is that success requires this product. |
| relevant | closely connected to the matter at hand | Only include relevant details in your summary. |
- Study word families: Learn "analyze," "analysis," "analytical," "analytically" together
- Use context clues: Look for definitions, examples, or contrasts in surrounding text
- Learn roots and affixes: Knowing "bene-" means "good" helps with benefit, beneficial, benefactor
- Practice in writing: Use new words in your own sentences
- Read widely: Encounter words in multiple contexts
💡 Examples
Example 1: Using Word Families
Root word: analyze
- analyze (verb): Scientists analyze data to draw conclusions.
- analysis (noun): Her analysis of the poem was insightful.
- analytical (adjective): He has strong analytical skills.
- analytically (adverb): She approached the problem analytically.
Knowing one word helps you understand and use all forms.
Example 2: Context Clues
Sentence: "The data was ambiguous, meaning it could be interpreted in multiple ways."
Analysis: The phrase "meaning it could be interpreted in multiple ways" defines "ambiguous."
Definition: Ambiguous = open to more than one interpretation; unclear
Look for signal phrases like "meaning," "that is," "in other words," or examples following colons.
Example 3: Distinguishing Similar Words
Words: imply vs. infer
Imply = to suggest without directly stating (speaker/writer does this)
Example: The author implies that the character is dishonest.
Infer = to conclude based on evidence (reader/listener does this)
Example: Readers can infer the character's dishonesty from his actions.
Remember: Speakers/writers IMPLY; readers/listeners INFER.
Example 4: Using Root Knowledge
Root: -cred- = to believe
- credible = believable (a credible witness)
- incredible = unbelievable (in- = not)
- credulous = too willing to believe (a credulous child)
- incredulous = skeptical, disbelieving (an incredulous expression)
- credentials = qualifications that make one believable
One root unlocks many words.
Example 5: Precise Word Choice
Vague: The experiment showed that the hypothesis was right.
Better options:
- "The experiment demonstrated that the hypothesis was valid." (strong proof)
- "The experiment suggested that the hypothesis was valid." (tentative)
- "The experiment confirmed that the hypothesis was valid." (verified expected result)
- "The experiment supported that the hypothesis was valid." (partial evidence)
Each word implies a different level of certainty.
✏️ Practice
Choose the best word to complete each sentence.
1. The evidence _____ that the defendant was at the scene, but it doesn't prove guilt.
A) demonstrates
B) suggests
C) proves
D) denies
2. The author's tone is _____, showing deep respect for the subject matter.
A) sarcastic
B) reverent
C) dismissive
D) ambivalent
3. The two theories are not contradictory; they actually _____ each other.
A) contradict
B) undermine
C) complement
D) compliment
4. To _____ is to suggest something without stating it directly.
A) infer
B) imply
C) assert
D) declare
5. The study had a _____ sample size, so the results may not apply broadly.
A) substantial
B) considerable
C) limited
D) sufficient
6. The new evidence _____ previous assumptions about the case.
A) confirms
B) validates
C) contradicts
D) supports
7. Which word means "to make clearer or easier to understand"?
A) obscure
B) complicate
C) clarify
D) confound
8. The politician's _____ statements were carefully designed to avoid commitment.
A) explicit
B) ambiguous
C) definitive
D) candid
9. The hypothesis was _____ when repeated experiments produced the same results.
A) refuted
B) validated
C) rejected
D) questioned
10. Understanding the historical _____ helps readers interpret the document accurately.
A) context
B) content
C) contact
D) contract
Click to reveal answers
- B) suggests — "Suggests" indicates tentative evidence, not proof.
- B) reverent — Reverent means showing deep respect.
- C) complement — Complement means to complete or enhance each other (note spelling: complement vs. compliment).
- B) imply — To imply is to suggest indirectly.
- C) limited — A limited sample size restricts generalizability.
- C) contradicts — The context says "previous assumptions" were wrong.
- C) clarify — Clarify means to make clear.
- B) ambiguous — Ambiguous statements are unclear and avoid commitment.
- B) validated — Repeated successful experiments validate a hypothesis.
- A) context — Context refers to circumstances and background.
✅ Check Your Understanding
Question 1: Why is academic vocabulary important beyond just knowing definitions?
Reveal Answer
Academic vocabulary matters because: (1) It appears across all subjects, so mastering these words helps you in every class; (2) These words express precise nuances that simpler words cannot; (3) Using academic vocabulary signals intellectual sophistication in your writing; (4) Standardized tests assume knowledge of these words; (5) College-level reading relies heavily on this vocabulary. Understanding these words deeply, including their connotations and contexts, is more valuable than memorizing definitions.
Question 2: What is the difference between "explicit" and "implicit"?
Reveal Answer
Explicit means stated directly and clearly, leaving no room for interpretation. Example: "The sign explicitly prohibits smoking." Implicit means implied or suggested without being directly stated. Example: "The coach's silence was an implicit criticism of the player's effort." When reading, you find explicit information by looking for direct statements; you identify implicit meanings by drawing inferences from clues. Both skills are tested on the SAT and ACT.
Question 3: How can learning word roots help you understand unfamiliar words?
Reveal Answer
Word roots are building blocks shared by many English words, often from Latin or Greek. Knowing roots lets you decode unfamiliar words. For example, knowing "bene-" means "good" helps with: beneficial (providing good), benevolent (well-wishing), beneficiary (one who receives good). Knowing "-ject" means "throw" helps with: project (throw forward), reject (throw back), inject (throw in). Combine root knowledge with context clues, and you can figure out most academic words you encounter.
Question 4: What strategies can you use when you encounter an unknown word during a test?
Reveal Answer
Strategies for unknown words: (1) Look for context clues in the surrounding sentences; (2) Check for definitions, examples, or contrasts nearby; (3) Break the word into parts (prefixes, roots, suffixes); (4) Consider the word's connotation based on how it's used; (5) Eliminate obviously wrong answer choices; (6) Think of related words you do know; (7) Consider the overall tone and purpose of the passage. Even if you can't define a word precisely, you can often determine whether it's positive/negative, strong/weak, or what general category it falls into.
🚀 Next Steps
- Review any concepts that felt challenging
- Move on to the next lesson when ready
- Return to practice problems periodically for review