Word Upgrade Reference Sheet
High School ESL Toolkit Academic English
Word Upgrade Reference Sheet
Part 1: Level Up Everyday Verbs for Essays, Discussions & Analysis
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Verbs
The Academic Mindset
In conversational English, we repeat simple verbs like say, show, and think. In high school and university writing, academic verbs express exact intent and provide stronger evidence.
Instead of: SAY / TELL REPORTING
Argue strong stance
The author argues that social media isolates youth.
Claim / State present fact/belief
Researchers state that sleep directly impacts grades.
Emphasize / Highlight draw attention
The speaker emphasizes equal access to education.
Suggest / Imply subtle hint
The findings suggest an alternate explanation.
Instead of: SHOW EVIDENCE
Demonstrate prove clearly
The lab results demonstrate chemical changes.
Illustrate make vivid/clear
The graph illustrates rising global temperatures.
Reveal uncover hidden truth
The study reveals unexpected consumer habits.
Indicate point toward
Early symptoms indicate severe nutrient deficiency.
Instead of: THINK / BELIEVE ANALYSIS
Consider / Regard reflect carefully
Historians consider the treaty a strategic mistake.
Assume / Presume take for granted
One cannot assume all voters have internet access.
Conclude decide from proof
Scientists concluded the water was safe to drink.
Instead of: ANSWER / REPLY ENGAGEMENT
Respond formal reply
The government responded with emergency aid.
Address tackle an issue
The proposal directly addresses traffic congestion.
Clarify make clear/remove doubt
The teacher clarified the grading criteria.
Quick Upgrades for Casual Everyday Actions High-Frequency Upgrades
Instead of MAKE:
- • Generate (energy, ideas)
- • Construct (model, argument)
- • Produce (goods, results)
Instead of DO:
- • Conduct (research, survey)
- • Perform (analysis, task)
- • Implement (plan, solution)
Instead of GET:
- • Obtain (documents, facts)
- • Acquire (skills, wealth)
- • Receive (feedback, awards)
ESL Grammar Check (Present Tense for Texts): When discussing literature or academic sources, use the present tense: "The author illustrates (not illustrated)..." or "The report indicates (not indicated)..."
High School ESL Toolkit Academic English
Precision Descriptors & Adjectives
Part 2: Replacing Generic Modifiers with Precise Academic Language
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Adjectives
Why upgrade adjectives? Casual words like good or bad are vague opinions. Academic adjectives show exact impact, scale, and relevance.
Quality & Impact Evaluation
Instead of GOOD / NICE:
Beneficial / Advantageous
"Exercise is beneficial to cardiovascular health."
Effective / Constructive
"The group held a constructive debate."
Instead of BAD / WRONG:
Detrimental / Adverse
"Pollution has detrimental effects on wildlife."
Flawed / Inaccurate
"The experiment produced inaccurate measurements."
Size, Scope & Degree Scale
Instead of BIG / LARGE:
Substantial / Significant
"There was a significant rise in test scores."
Extensive / Vast
"The team conducted extensive laboratory testing."
Instead of SMALL / TINY:
Minimal / Negligible
"The temperature difference was negligible."
Marginal / Minor
"The change produced only a marginal improvement."
Priority & Significance Importance
Instead of IMPORTANT:
Crucial / Vital absolutely necessary
"Communication is vital to diplomacy."
Essential / Fundamental basic foundation
"Fair trials are fundamental human rights."
Prominent / Notable widely recognized
"He is a notable figure in civil rights."
Difficulty & Complexity Challenge
Instead of HARD / DIFFICULT:
Complex / Intricate many connected parts
"The novel explores complex moral dilemmas."
Demanding / Rigorous requires high effort
"Medical school enforces a rigorous curriculum."
Formidable inspiring respect/power
"The climate crisis poses a formidable challenge."
More Common Replacements at a Glance
Instead of A LOT: • Numerous (countable)
• Abundant (plentiful)
• Substantial (amount)
Instead of SAME: • Identical (exact match)
• Equivalent (same value)
• Consistent (steady)
Instead of DIFFERENT: • Distinct (clearly separate)
• Diverse (varied types)
• Contrasting (opposite)
Collocation Tip: Adjectives partner naturally with specific nouns. We say "compelling evidence", "profound impact", and "crucial role". Pairing them correctly makes your essays sound natural and fluent.
High School ESL Toolkit Academic English
Academic Transitions & Frames
Part 3: Upgrading Connectors (And, But, So) & Essay Sentence Builders
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Transitions
Transition Upgrades Reference Table
Always follow sentence-starters with a comma ( , )
| Instead of... | Academic Upgrades | Model Academic Example |
|---|
| AND / ALSO Adding points | • Furthermore | |
| • Moreover | | |
| • In addition | "The proposal cuts municipal expenses. Furthermore, it reduces neighborhood waste." | |
| BUT Contrasting ideas | • However | |
| • Nonetheless | | |
| • Conversely | "The medicine showed promise; however, side effects persisted among patients." | |
| SO Cause & effect | • Therefore | |
| • Consequently | | |
| • As a result / Thus | "The factory violated standards; consequently, authorities ordered its closure." | |
| BECAUSE Giving reason | • Due to (+ noun) | |
| • Given that | | |
| • Owing to the fact that | "Due to unexpected supply delays, the construction project was postponed." | |
| IN THE END Concluding | • Ultimately | |
| • In conclusion | | |
| • To summarize | "Ultimately, collaborative global policies will determine the climate outcome." | |
Academic Sentence Frames for Essays & Discussions
1. Introducing Evidence & Sources
- • "According to [Author/Source], [statement]."
- • "Compelling evidence indicates that [fact/finding]."
- • "As illustrated in [Source], [observation]."
2. Conceding & Counter-Arguing
- • "While critics argue that [Point A], evidence reveals that [Point B]."
- • "Although it is true that [concession], nonetheless [counter]."
- • "Despite the assumption that [premise], data suggests..."
3. Analyzing Cause, Effect & Impact
- • "A primary factor contributing to [issue] is [cause]."
- • "This shift produces a direct impact on [subject]."
- • "Consequently, [group] is likely to experience [outcome]."
4. Synthesizing & Concluding
- • "Taking all evidence into account, one can conclude that..."
- • "In summary, the research clearly demonstrates that [thesis]."
- • "Ultimately, these findings emphasize the critical need for..."
Punctuation Golden Rule
When connecting two complete sentences with transitions like However, Therefore, or Furthermore, use a semicolon before and a comma after: Sentence A; however, Sentence B. | However, Sentence B.
High School ESL Toolkit Academic English
Academic Nouns & Concepts
Part 4: Replacing Casual "Things" & "Problems" with Formal Terminology
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Nouns
The Power of Precise Nouns
Vague nouns like thing, stuff, or problem weaken essay arguments. Specific academic nouns instantly define the exact concept, challenge, or mechanism you are discussing.
Instead of: THING / STUFF OBJECTS & IDEAS
Factor / Element
"Poverty is a contributing factor in urban crime rates."
Aspect / Dimension
"The essay examines social aspects of modern technology."
Phenomenon
"Global warming is an environmental phenomenon."
Instead of: PROBLEM / TROUBLE CHALLENGES
Obstacle / Impediment
"Language barriers create an obstacle to job advancement."
Dilemma / Crisis
"Leaders faced an ethical dilemma regarding privacy rights."
Deficiency / Shortcoming
"The audit identified severe deficiencies in safety rules."
Instead of: PEOPLE / GUYS GROUPS
Individuals / Citizens
"Democratic constitutions protect the rights of individuals."
Demographic / Population
"The elderly demographic requires tailored medical services."
Proponents / Critics
"Proponents of solar subsidies praise the clean legislation."
Instead of: WAY / METHOD PROCESS
Approach / Strategy
"Educators implemented an innovative approach to reading."
Mechanism / Procedure
"The biological mechanism behind photosynthesis is clear."
Framework / Model
"The court established a legal framework for digital privacy."
The Nominalization Secret: Turning Actions into Academic Nouns Advanced Writing Technique
Strong academic writers convert clauses with active verbs into dense noun phrases. This makes writing concise and authoritative:
Casual Clause (Conversational): "When factories pollute the river, it destroys the fish." Upgraded Academic Noun Phrase: "Industrial pollution causes widespread marine destruction."
Casual Clause (Conversational): "Because the city decided to invest in trains, people travel easily." Upgraded Academic Noun Phrase: "Municipal investment in transit improved regional mobility."
ESL Non-Countable Noun Alert: In English, academic words like evidence, research, information, advice, and equipment are never plural! Never write "evidences" or "researches". Use "pieces of evidence" or "studies".
High School ESL Toolkit Academic English
Academic Nuance & Discussion
Part 5: Hedging Cautiously, Debating Respectfully & Final Self-Check
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Discourse
Academic Hedging (Cautious Language)
Scholars avoid extreme words like always, never, or proves 100%. Using hedging (*suggests*, *tends to*, *predominantly*) shows intellectual honesty and protects your arguments from counter-attacks.
Extreme vs. Hedged Claims Modality
Avoid Overstatement: "This clearly proves that all teenagers are lazy." Use Academic Hedging: "This evidence strongly suggests that adolescents tend to experience fatigue."
Avoid Overstatement: "Everyone agrees that this law is wrong." Use Academic Hedging: "It is widely acknowledged that the policy faces substantial opposition."
Avoid Overstatement: "Technology is completely impossible to stop." Use Academic Hedging: "Technological expansion is unlikely to decelerate in the near future."
Socratic Seminar & Debate Frames Discourse
1. Concurring (Strong Agreement):
"I strongly concur with [Name]'s assertion that environmental regulation is urgent."
2. Conceding Partially:
"While [Name] raises a valid observation regarding cost, one must also evaluate long-term gains."
3. Respectfully Rebutting:
"I respectfully contest that conclusion, as empirical evidence demonstrates the opposite."
4. Inquiring for Clarification:
"Could you clarify the distinction between your initial hypothesis and the final outcome?"
ESL Essay Editing Checklist: 5-Step Academic Voice Audit Self-Assessment
1. Verbs Upgraded: Replaced generic verbs (say, show, get) with precise actions (argue, demonstrate, acquire).
2. Specific Adjectives: Swapped conversational words (good, bad, big) for analytical terms (beneficial, adverse, substantial).
3. Formal Transitions: Substituted and, but, so with furthermore, however, therefore with proper punctuation.
4. Nuanced Hedging: Avoided absolute exaggerations (always, all people) using cautious hedging (suggests, predominantly).
5. Grammar & Non-Counts: Verified singular/plural agreement and ensured non-countable nouns (evidence, research) lack an 's'.
The Ultimate Goal of Academic English
Academic vocabulary is not about sounding complicated or using fancy words—it is about choosing the most accurate and objective words to express your ideas with clarity and confidence.
