Multi-Word Constructions in Academic English

Common Multi-word Constructions in Academic English Writing

Writers consistently use certain multi-word constructions. When used accurately, these allow texts to take on an idiomatic structure. To help writers better understand how to make their writing more proficient, we look to Liu (2012), a multi-corpus study that identifies the multiword constructions most commonly used in in both American and British academic English writing across multiple disciplines.

A note of caution—the goal isn’t to memorize these constructions; rather, by becoming more familiar with common constructions, writers can learn how others use such phrasing and can apply that to their own writing. It can be useful simply to skim the list and get a feel for these.

Key Abbreviations

To understand the constructions more accurately, note the following abbreviations:

Noun (N): a person, place, or thing
Noun Phrase (NP): has a noun or indefinite pronoun (e.g., everyone, anyone, everything, anything) as its head; a noun phrase can be replaced with a single pronoun without loosing grammatical accuracy (e.g., the seven-year-old child à she; two broken windows à they; a trusting few à they)
Verb Phrase (VP): consists of a verb and its complements but not the subject (e.g., wrote the paper; submitted it for a grade; ran quickly across the field)
Determiner (det):
articles (a, an, the)
demonstratives (e.g., this, that, these, those)
quantifiers, including numbers (e.g., much, more, less, fewer, some, enough, one, five)
difference words (e.g., other, another)
distributives (e.g., all, both, neither, either, every, each)
pronouns and possessive determiners (e.g., my, your, his, her, its, our, their)
pre-determiners (e.g., such, what, rather)

Band 1

(Occur 100 or more times per million words) We’ve ordered these alphabetically to make the list easier to search. To see these ordered in terms of usage (i.e., most commonly used to less commonly used), see Liu (2012).

Construction
(as) (a) part of (det + N)
(at/by) the end of (det + N)
(be) associated with (det + N)
(be) based on (det + N)
(be) designed to VP/for
(be) due to (det + N)
(be) found in (det + N)/to VP
(be) involved in (det + N)
(be) related to (det + N)
(be) seen as (det + N)
(be) used to (VP)/in/as
(in) a variety of
(in) the case of (det + N)
(in) the development of (det + N)
(modal V) lead to (det + N)
(of) some of (det + N)
(the way/ways) in which (det + N)+VP
(to) deal with (det + N)
a/the (large/small) number of
access to (det/N)
according to (det + N)
apply/be applied to/for
as a result (of det + N)
as to wh-clause/NP
as well as well as (det + N)
be (more) likely to VP
be/to be able to VP
come from (det + N)
consist of (det + N)
contribute to (det + N)
depend on (det + N)
each of (det + N)
focus on (det + N)
for example
for instance
in + the name of a country/state/region
in addition (to)
in fact
in order to VP
in terms of (det + N)
in/by contrast
look at (det + N)
many of (det + N)
NP argue that
NP assume that (det + N + VP)
NP believe that
NP claim that (det + N + VP)
NP find (mostly in the past tense) that
NP indicate that
NP say that
NP show that
NP suggest that
occur in (det + N)
of course
on the other hand
one of (det + N)
out of (det + N)
participate in (det + N)
point out
refer/(be) referred to (as) (det + N)
result in (det + N)
so that + clause
such as (det + N)
take place
tend to VP
that is (=i.e.)
the effect(s) of (det + N)
the fact that (det + N + VP)
the importance of (det + N)
the nature of (det + N)
the use of (det + N)
the/(possessive) ability to VP
the/adjective amount of
there be det + N
there be no NP
X percent of (det + N)

Band 2

(Occur 50-99 times per million words) We’ve ordered these alphabetically to make the list easier to search. To see these ordered in terms of usage (i.e., most commonly used to less commonly used), see Liu (2012).

Construction
(a/the)/(wide) range of
(as) a matter of
(at) the beginning of (det + N)
(at) the level of (det + N)
(at) the time of (det + N)
(be) different from
(be) included in (det + N)
(be) known as (det + N)
(be) obtained from/by
(be) regarded as (det + N)
(be) required to VP/for
(be) similar to (that/those/ det + N)
(for) the purpose of (det + N)
(in) the absence of (det + N)
(in) the context of (det + N)
(in) the form of (det/N)
(in) the process of
(in) the work of (det + N)
(to) the question of (det + N)
a series of
a set of
a/the function of (det + N)
a/the study of (det + N)
a/this/the kind of
account for [det + N]
add to (det + N)
allow for (det + N)
amount to NP
an attempt to/attempt (V) to VP
as a whole
as if + clause
as/so far as (clause/NP)
at all
at the same time
attempt (verb) to
be going to VP
belong to (det + N)
call for
carry out (by)
derive/be derived from (det + N)
ensure/to ensure that
give rise to NP
go on (to)
his or her
if there be NP
in general
in other words
in practice
in response to
in this article/chapter
in this/that case
in turn
it is clear that
it is possible to VP/that
make up/be made up of NP
imply that
NP is one of (det + N)
NP know that
NP mean that
NP report (mostly past tense) that
NP state that
NP think that
on the basis of (det + N)
regardless of (det + N)
respond to (det + N)
reveal that
set out
set up
so far
the concept of
the existence of (det + N)
the extent to which
the history of (det + N)
the idea of
the need to VP
the presence of
the problem of
the relationship between (det + N)
the rest of (det + N)
the results of (det + N)
the role of (det + N)
the value of (det + N)
this/the type of
to do so
with respect to (det + N)

Band 3

(Occur 20-49 times per million words) We’ve ordered these alphabetically to make the list easier to search. To see these ordered in terms of usage (i.e., most commonly used to less commonly used), see Liu (2012).

Construction
(adjective) implications for
(be) affected by (det + N)
(be) aimed at
(be) attached to (det + N)
(be) attributed to
(be) defined as
(be) discussed in (det + N)
(be) exposed to
(be) made in (det + N)
(in) the face of (NP)
a lot of
a period of
a/the consequence of (det + N)
after all
an/the analysis of
as for
as long as
as/so long as
at the beginning of
benefit from (det + N)
build up
cope with
differ from
divide/be divided into
emerge from
find out
for the first time
in detail
in favor of
in light of
in place
in public
in relation to
in the course of (det + N)
in time
it is difficult to VP
it is important to VP
it is impossible/not possible to
it is likely that
it is necessary to
it seems/appears that
let us/me + infinitive
look for
make use of
NP agree that
NP demonstrate that
on the part of
see table X
take on
take up
take/be taken into account
talk about (det/N)
the area of
the center of (det + N)
the difference between (det + N)
the distribution of
the issue of (det + N)
the needs of (det + N)
the position of (det + N)
the same as
the size of (det + N)
the structure of (det + N)
this/the sort of
to date
turn out
turn to NP (typically a topic/issue)
with regard to (det + N)

Reference

Liu, D. (2012). The most frequently-used multi-word constructions in academic written English: A multi-corpus study. English for Specific Purposes, 31(1), 25-35.