Academic Word of the Day Set 47

Previous Academic Word of the Day Sets

This page examines particular academic words and their usage in academic writing.

For each word, it examines the meaning or meanings of that word and its collocations, connotations, other words in the same word families, possible synonyms, antonyms, and lexical phrases, and provides examples of its use in authentic texts which are cited and listed in the bibliography. Occasionally, where an example is taken from a text which is particularly rich in examples of the headword, the citation is also a link to the source article. There is also an indication of whether the word appears in an academic word list. These are:

AWL: The Academic Word List
NAWL: The New Academic Word List
AKL: The Academic Keyword List
OPAL: The Oxford Phrasal Academic Lexicon
NGSL: The New General Service List (a basic word list rather than an academic one)

Occasionally a word not in one of these lists may be used, but only if it belongs to the same word family as a word in at least one of the lists. In this case it will be indicated. For example: AVOIDANCE AKL NGSL OPAL (avoid). "AVOIDANCE" does not appear in these lists but "avoid" does.

In the example sentences the words of the day are highlighted in red. Other 'academic words' are highlighted in bold.
Where the example sentences contain 'academic' words, these are highlighted in bold, as in this paragraph. Only words from the Academic Word List (AWL), the New Academic Word List (NAWL) or some from the Academic Keyword List (AKL) are highlighted. This gives you an idea of how common and important these words are in these types of academic or technical texts.

If you need to find or highlight academic words in a text you can use the Academic Word Highlighter. This gives you a choice about which word list to use for highlighting.

The words of the day appear in order by date. You can access each set from the previous sets pagerevious sets page.

2025-12-04

journal AWL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a publication (monthly, quarterly, yearly) dealing with a particular topic
Our new research is published today in the journal Nature. (Edgar, 2023) This suggests that local researchers will use their scarce financial and technical resources to get published in high impact, supposedly international journals. (Czerniewicz, 2015) Research outputs need to be recognised as existing beyond the boundaries of the formal journal article. (Czerniewicz, 2015) This cycle of research, review and discussion has been around since the first academic journals were published in 1665. (Behles, 2021) Journals routinely retract the publications of “research papers” purely on the grounds of unethical research conduct and cooked-up data.(Adesina, 2020) Common collocates for this word:

journal

medical
scientific
new
weekly
international
archaeological
monthly
quarterly
official
astrophysical
dental
economic
municipal
geographical
learned

Word Family: journal (noun)
Synonyms: magazine, record, register, chronicle, periodical
04/12/2026 - Set 47

Test your understanding of the words in set 47 with these quick quizzes: Quiz 47 Quiz 47B Quiz 47C

2025-12-03

textAWL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE words in any medium (paper, papyrus, online, engraved on stone, etc.)
If AI text generation does our writing for us, we diminish opportunities to think out problems for ourselves. (Baron, 2023) The question then is how can universities help students read text thoughtfully, reflectively, and without distraction on digital devices? (Baron, 2016) But the temptation to lean on editing and text generation tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT makes it all too easy for people to substitute ready-made technology results for opportunities to think and learn. (Baron 2023) One survey participant said that “At some point, if you depend on a predictive text [program], you’re going to lose your spelling abilities.” (Baron, 2023) And ancient Arab mathematicians not only knew about zero but also really spread the idea of algebra after the 9th century (the word comes from a text by a famous mathematician called al-Khwarizmi). (Galligan, 2019) Common collocates for this word:

text

full
literary
original
main
printed
final
particular
written
basic
handwritten
plain
cultural
standard
English
unreadable

Word Family: text (noun), text (verb), textual (adjective)
Synonyms: words, book, manual, content
03/12/2026 - Set 47

2025-12-02

link AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a connection to something or someone else
For convenience, we often trust the presence of a link or citation as proof that the information expressed is credible. (Clarke, 2022) Understanding the link between specific genes and facial features could be useful for treating facial malformations or for orthodontics. (Shaffer and Weinberg 2020) This missing link imagery, based on the idea that evolution is a methodical process with logical, continuous connections to be discovered and mapped, might set up a good story. (Nee 2015) This finding seems to support other evidence suggesting there is a link between sleep duration and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. (Sahakian et al. 2022b) Inspired by the link between emotional reappraisal and creative thinking, we wanted to see whether we could use this insight to develop ways to help people be more creative. (Zhu 2023) Common collocates for this word:

link

direct
missing
causal
weak
vital
important
possible
strong
close
special
clear
dynamic
main
genuine
common

Word Family: link (noun), link (verb), linkage (noun)
Synonyms: connection, bond, relationship
Lexical phrases: link [between, with, to]
02/12/2026 - Set 47

2025-12-01

code AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE words, numbers or symbols used to represent a secret message; a language used in computer programs; a system of rules and regulations
You can use that unique code to unlock your phone or enter a restricted area, for example. (Leupen 2020) It can write computer code to a user’s specification, draft business letters or rental contracts, compose homework essays and even pass university exams. (Walsh 2022) But all life on Earth uses the same code with a few minor changes in some lineages. (Paps 2023) The primary way of achieving this is with an effective code of conduct. (Khemakhem et al. 2022) Essentially, viruses are snippets of genetic code that hijack the mechanics of living cells to replicate themselves, escape the cell and spread (the “computer virus” analogy is apt). (Cheng, 2014) Common collocates for this word:

code

penal
moral
genetic
legal
civil
voluntary
strict
binary
disciplinary
national
digital
approved
phonological
linguistic
professional

Word Family: code (noun), code (verb)
Synonyms: cipher, rules, laws, regulations
Lexical phrases: code [of, for]
01/12/2026 - Set 47

2025-11-30

contrast AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a clear, obvious difference between two or more things
Both meteorites contain only trace amounts of plagioclase, in contrast to Mercury’s surface, which is estimated to contain over 37%. (Rider-Stokes 2025) In contrast to the rigid corporatized and mechanized status quo, the end of industrial animal agriculture will be a boon for family farming and a meaningful chance to diversify. (Coulter, 2020) In contrast to the one-way conversation, a dialogue is an exchange of different thoughts, ideas and opinions to reach an agreement – or harmonious disagreement. (Cowling & Vanderburg, 2018) Britain’s weather has always been variable, but it’s now extremely variable. We’ve experienced this seesaw pattern of drought followed by flooding, as seen in the contrast between dry and wet months seen over the past year. (Cloke 2025) The first lesson comes from Aristotle’s definition of friendship: reciprocal, recognized goodwill. In contrast to parenthood or siblinghood, friendship exists only if it is acknowledged by both parties. (Katz 2023) Common collocates for this word:

contrast

marked
sharp
stark
complete
direct
interesting
strong
striking
total
great
semantic
high
dramatic
startling
clear

Word Family: contrast (noun), contrast (verb), contrasting (adjective)
Synonyms: difference, distinction, discrepancy, disparity
Lexical phrases: contrast [to, between, with]
30/11/2026 - Set 47

2025-11-27

error AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a mistake
As humans, we make errors. We can have attention lapses and misinterpret information. Yet when we reassess, we can pick out our errors and correct them. (Simpson-Young and Caetano 2021) Astronomers can correct these errors – called systematics – with careful calibration or algorithms, but only if we understand the reason for the inconsistency between different measurements. (Peterson 2025) Between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago, people used trial-and-error approximations of pi, without doing any math or considering potential errors. (Ye 2016) This sounds simple enough, but that ten-day error in the Julian calendar still needed to be corrected. (Parish, 2022) It turns out that lack of errors is a sign that AI, not a human, probably wrote the words, since even accomplished writers and editors make mistakes. (Baron, 2023) Common collocates for this word:

error

human
unexpected
serious
fatal
internal
random
common
jurisdictional
clerical
possible
administrative
standard
fundamental
appropriate
tactical

Word Family: error (noun), erroneous (adjective)
Synonyms: mistake, oversight, miss-print
Lexical phrases: error in
27/11/2026 - Set 47

2025-11-26

stress AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a worry caused by a difficult situation which is not easy to resolve; a physical force on a body which may cause damage or breakage; extra or unexpected pressure on a system which causes the system to malfunction
Laughter is, after all, a communal activity which promotes bonding, diffuses potential conflict and eases stress and anxiety. (Barker 2017) The stress cycle is our body’s response to a stressful event, whether real or perceived, physical or psychological. (Thomas and Larkin 2024) Changes in water availability will increase stress on food systems globally. (Collins 2023) Along with new environmental stresses, around 12,000 years ago came the next major shift in human adaptation: the agricultural revolution. (Gowlett 2024) When children do develop secure attachment, we know it can help set the stage for a child’s physical growth, learning, social relations (such as empathy), well-being and even their brain’s responses to stress. (Deneault, Nivison, and Madigan 2023) Common collocates for this word:

stress

emotional
mental
considerable
psychological
particular
undue
applied
tensile
severe
traumatic
acute
horizontal
primary
excessive
high

Word Family: stress (noun), stress (verb), stressful (adjective)
Synonyms: strain, force, tension, pressure, anxiety,
Lexical phrases: stress on; under stress
26/11/2026 - Set 47

2025-11-25

summary AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a short account or a longer text giving on the most important points
A graphical summary aims to easily and quickly communicate the data. (Barnett and Oguoma 2024) In fact, a recent summary of a large number of studies on the topic has suggested that listening to lyrical music may be just as detrimental to text comprehension as listening to speech. (Vasilev, 2019) But aggregate numbers – which in practice translates into reporting summary statistics – do not help us to either identify or understand the pay gap. (Humphery-Jenner, 2023) A Grade Point Average (GPA) is a summary statistic that represents a student’s average performance in their studies over a stated period of time, such as one semester. (Sadler, 2015) In summary, three categories of climate science disbelief are: sceptic, agnostic and denier. Three subdivisions of deniers are: naive, conspiracists and opportunists. (Ellerton 2019) Common collocates for this word:

summary

brief
useful
short
fair
concise
detailed
excellent
technical
quick
financial
full
crude
overall
written
comprehensive

Word Family: summary (noun), summarise (verb)
Synonyms: abstract, digest, précis
Lexical phrases: in summary; summary of
25/11/2026 - Set 47

2025-11-24

contact AWL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE physical touch between tow people or objects; communication between two people or groups; details about how people can communicate with each other
As historian Timothy Snyder writes, eye contact and small talk are “not just polite” but constitute “part of being a responsible member of society.” (Tropp 2025) The result also showed that most mosquitoes that came into contact with our formula died. (Sibanda, Kruger, and Focke 2018) Psychologist Robert Weiss makes a distinction between “social loneliness” – a lack of contact with others – and “emotional loneliness”, which can persist regardless of how many “connections” you have. (Patulny 2020) To help polling operations find potential respondents, political and marketing consulting firms have compiled voter information, including demographic data and contact details. (Mumford et al., 2024) Using the finest grind means there is more contact between the coffee and water. (Beckett, 2022) Common collocates for this word:

contact

direct
physical
close
social
personal
regular
sexual
frequent
daily
constant
informal
intimate
visual
face-to-face
human

Word Family: contact (noun), contact (verb)
Synonyms: touch, communication, connection
Lexical phrases: contact [with, between]
24/11/2026 - Set 47

2025-11-23

draft AWL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a piece of writing which is not in its final finished form ready for publication or submission
When writers want to work with an editor, and hope to turn their story into a real book, they send their revised draft to publishers in hopes that the company will purchase it. (Farina 2022) The draft decision will be considered at the annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee in July, chaired by China and comprising 21 countries. (Day, Heron, and Hughes 2021) After a final stage of negotiations, to reconcile different drafts produced by the European Parliament, Commission and Council, the law should be approved before the end of the year. (Cristianini 2023) What about getting someone else to read a draft of your essay? What if they do more than proofread and they alter sections of an assignment? Does that constitute academic misconduct? (Hurley 2019) One study found around 45% of academics thought getting someone else to correct a draft could constitute academic misconduct. (Hurley 2019) Common collocates for this word:

draft

final
original
preliminary
rough
revised
early
initial
consultative
proposed
current
recent
completed
alternative
controversial
valid

Word Family: draft (noun)
Synonyms: outline, sketch
23/11/2026 - Set 47

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