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Unit 07
Academic & Formal Expressions (YDS)
by and large, take for granted…
Fixed Expressions in Formal English
Academic English avoids informal idioms, but it uses many fixed expressions that work like idioms. Research on academic speech and writing shows that phrases such as on the other hand, bear in mind and by and large are among the most frequent.
Linking & Framing Ideas
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| on the one hand … on the other hand | used to compare two different points | On the one hand, cities offer jobs; on the other hand, they are expensive. |
| by and large | generally; on the whole | By and large, the reforms have been successful. |
| in light of | considering new information or events | In light of recent findings, the policy was changed. |
| bear in mind | to remember and consider something | Bear in mind that the sample size was small. |
| take into account | to consider something when making a judgement | The study takes age and income into account. |
| in a nutshell | in a few words; briefly | In a nutshell, the experiment failed. |
| at the end of the day | when everything is considered (mainly spoken) | At the end of the day, the decision is yours. |
Evaluating
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take something for granted | to expect something to always be available or true, without thinking about it | We often take clean water for granted. |
| a double-edged sword | something that has both good and bad effects | Social media is a double-edged sword. |
| the tip of the iceberg | a small visible part of a much larger problem | The reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg. |
| go hand in hand (with) | to be closely connected | Poverty and poor health often go hand in hand. |
| state of the art | the most modern and advanced | The hospital has state-of-the-art equipment. |
| trial and error | trying different methods until one works | Children learn many skills by trial and error. |
| a far cry from | very different from | The final product was a far cry from the original design. |
Change & Cause
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pave the way for | to make something possible in the future | The discovery paved the way for new treatments. |
| bridge the gap | to reduce the difference between two things or groups | The programme aims to bridge the gap between rich and poor. |
| come into play | to start to have an effect | Many factors come into play when people choose a career. |
| from scratch | from the very beginning | They had to rebuild the system from scratch. |
| across the board | affecting everyone or everything | The company announced pay cuts across the board. |
| a turning point | a time when an important change happens | The invention of printing was a turning point in history. |
Reading Tips (YDS / YÖKDİL)
- These expressions often show the writer's attitude: a double-edged sword → both advantages and disadvantages; the tip of the iceberg → the problem is bigger than it seems.
- By and large, on the whole and in general introduce a generalisation — look for exceptions after however or but.
- Take into account and bear in mind introduce factors or limitations — very common at the end of research texts.
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
adverbBy and large,subjectthe resultsverbwereadjectivepositive.
↳ by and large = generally.
subjectThe inventionverbpaved the way forobjectmodern medicine.
↳ pave the way for = make possible.
subjectWeverboften takeobjectgood healthverbfor granted.
↳ take something for granted = not appreciate it.
Common Mistakes
Social media is a two-edged knife.
→
Social media is a double-edged sword.
Fixed form: a double-edged sword.
By large and, the plan worked.
→
By and large, the plan worked.
Fixed order: by and large.
They built it from the scratch.
→
They built it from scratch.
No article: from scratch.
This paved the road to new research.
→
This paved the way for new research.
Fixed form: pave the way for.
We must take into account of the costs.
→
We must take the costs into account.
take something into account (no of).