Lesson 1: The Academic Word List & Formal Alternatives

Welcome to B2! When writing university essays or professional business emails, relying on casual, everyday words is often not enough to make a strong impression.

Today, we are upgrading our vocabulary to formal alternatives. We will learn how to replace everyday verbs like "get", "buy", and "help" with powerful academic equivalents such as acquire, purchase, and assist, and why you should avoid phrasal verbs in formal writing.

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Welcome to B2! I am Teacher Sopheak. When my university students write essays, they often rely on casual words. While words like "get" and "buy" are not wrong, they are too informal for academic writing or corporate emails.

Today, we are upgrading our vocabulary to formal alternatives. Knowing the appropriate register will completely elevate how others view your English skills.

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Academic Word List

Formal Verb

Acquire /əˈkwaɪər/

Definition: To obtain or get something.

Casual: She wants to get more experience in management.

Formal: She intends to acquire further experience in management.

Formal Verb

Purchase /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/

Definition: To buy something.

Casual: The hotel plans to buy new equipment next year.

Formal: The hotel intends to purchase new equipment next year.

Formal Verb

Assist /əˈsɪst/

Definition: To help someone.

Casual: The staff will help you with your bags.

Formal: Our staff will gladly assist you with your luggage.

Formal Verb

Commence /kəˈmens/

Definition: To begin or start.

Casual: The conference will start at 9:00 AM.

Formal: The conference will commence at 09:00 sharp.

record_voice_over In Action: The Business Meeting

A

Good morning. When will the review session commence?

B

It is scheduled to commence in ten minutes.

A

Excellent. I need to acquire the financial reports before we begin.

B

Do not worry, I can assist you with the files.

warning Watch Out: Phrasal Verbs in Essays!

Avoid using conversational Phrasal Verbs in formal writing.

While phrasal verbs like "look into" or "find out" are perfectly fine for daily conversation, they sound too casual for university essays or business reports. Always replace them with a single formal verb.

forum Casual

Look into
Phrasal Verb

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Find out
Phrasal Verb

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school Academic

Investigate
Formal Alternative

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Discover
Formal Alternative

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Academic Check

mail Formal Email Writing

You are emailing a supplier to order new computers. What is the most professional way to write this?

(Hint: Look for the most formal alternative to 'buy'.)

history_edu University Essay

You are writing an essay for your university class. Replace the casual words: "The students got new skills during the project."

(Hint: Choose the formal academic verb that means to 'get' or 'obtain'.)

support_agent Hotel Reception

A guest looks lost in the lobby. What is the most polite and professional way to offer help?

(Hint: Which word is the professional alternative to 'help'?)

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Study Resources

Lesson Summary & Review

Let's review the formal alternatives covered in this module to ensure you are ready for professional communication.

Casual vs. Formal Verbs

• Get → Acquire: To obtain something. (Example: "We need to acquire more data.")
• Buy → Purchase: To exchange money for goods. (Example: "The company will purchase new software.")
• Help → Assist: To provide support. (Example: "I can assist you with your application.")
• Start → Commence: To begin. (Example: "The meeting will commence shortly.")

Grammar Rule: Avoid Phrasal Verbs in Academic Writing

While phrasal verbs like "look into" or "find out" are perfectly fine for conversation, they sound too casual for university essays or business reports. Always replace them with a single formal verb, such as investigate or discover.