English for Academic Purposes: Vocabulary

Selecting vocabulary: Academic keyword list

The Academic Keyword List was developed by Magali Paquot at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. It contains 930 potential academic words and phrases, i.e. words that are reasonably frequent in a wide range of academic texts but relatively uncommon in other kinds of texts (Paquot, 2010).

The word list contains: 355 nouns, 233 verbs, 180 adjectives, 87 adverbs & 75 other words.

In alphabetical order

*Definitions linked to the online Cambridge Dictionary by permission of Cambridge University Press

Headword		Definition*
ability	noun	ability
above	adverb	above
absence	noun	absence
absolute	adjective	absolute
abstract	adjective	abstract
accept	verb	accept
acceptable	adjective	acceptable
accessible	adjective	accessible
according to	other	according to
accordingly	adverb	accordingly
account	noun	account
account (for)	verb	account (for)
accurately	adverb	accurately
achieve	verb	achieve
achievement	noun	achievement
acquire	verb	acquire
act	noun	act
act	verb	act
action	noun	action
active	adjective	active
activity	noun	activity
actual	adjective	actual
acute	adjective	acute
adapt	verb	adapt
addition	noun	addition
additional	adjective	additional
adequate	adjective	adequate
adequately	adverb	adequately
adopt	verb	adopt
adoption	noun	adoption
adult	noun	adult
advance	noun	advance
advance	verb	advance
advantage	noun	advantage
advice	noun	advice
advocate	verb	advocate
affect	verb	affect
age	noun	age
aid	verb	aid
aim	noun	aim
aim	verb	aim
allocate	verb	allocate
allow	verb	allow
also	adverb	also
alter	verb	alter
alternative	noun	alternative
alternative	adjective	alternative
although	other	although
amount	noun	amount
an	other	an
analogy	noun	analogy
analyse	verb	analyse
analysis	noun	analysis
apparent	adjective	apparent
appear	verb	appear
applicable	adjective	applicable
application	noun	application
apply	verb	apply
approach	noun	approach
appropriate	adjective	appropriate
approximately	adverb	approximately
arbitrary	adjective	arbitrary
argue	verb	argue
argument	noun	argument
arise	verb	arise
as	other	as
as opposed to	other	as opposed to
as to	other	as to
as well as	other	as well as
aspect	noun	aspect
assert	verb	assert
assertion	noun	assertion
assess	verb	assess
assessment	noun	assessment
assign	verb	assign
assist	verb	assist
assistance	noun	assistance
associate	verb	associate
association	noun	association
assume	verb	assume
assumption	noun	assumption
at best	adverb	at best
attain	verb	attain
attempt	noun	attempt
attempt	verb	attempt
attend	verb	attend
attention	noun	attention
attitude	noun	attitude
attribute	verb	attribute
author	noun	author
available	adjective	available
average	adjective	average
avoid	verb	avoid
awareness	noun	awareness
balance	noun	balance
base	verb	base
basic	adjective	basic
basically	adverb	basically
basis	noun	basis
be	verb	be
because	other	because
because of	other	because of
become	verb	become
behaviour	noun	behaviour
being	noun	being
belief	noun	belief
benefit	noun	benefit
benefit	verb	benefit
between	other	between
bias	noun	bias
birth	noun	birth
both	other	both
by	other	by
can	verb	can
capacity	noun	capacity
case	noun	case
category	noun	category
cause	noun	cause
cause	verb	cause
central	adjective	central
centre	noun	centre
certain	adjective	certain
challenge	noun	challenge
change	noun	change
character	noun	character
characterise	verb	characterise
characteristic	noun	characteristic
choice	noun	choice
choose	verb	choose
circumstance	noun	circumstance
cite	verb	cite
claim	verb	claim
clarify	verb	clarify
class	noun	class
classification	noun	classification
classify	verb	classify
clear	adjective	clear
clearly	adverb	clearly
closely	adverb	closely
code	noun	code
coincide	verb	coincide
colleague	noun	colleague
combination	noun	combination
combine	verb	combine
commitment	noun	commitment
committee	noun	committee
common	adjective	common
commonly	adverb	commonly
communication	noun	communication
community	noun	community
compare	verb	compare
comparison	noun	comparison
compete	verb	compete
competitive	adjective	competitive
complete	adjective	complete
complex	adjective	complex
complexity	noun	complexity
comprehensive	adjective	comprehensive
comprise	verb	comprise
compromise	noun	compromise
concentrate	verb	concentrate
concentration	noun	concentration
concept	noun	concept
conception	noun	conception
concern	noun	concern
concern	verb	concern
conclude	verb	conclude
conclusion	noun	conclusion
condition	noun	condition
conduct	noun	conduct
conduct	verb	conduct
confine	verb	confine
conflict	noun	conflict
conform	verb	conform
connect	verb	connect
consensus	noun	consensus
consequence	noun	consequence
consequently	adverb	consequently
consider	verb	consider
considerable	adjective	considerable
considerably	adverb	considerably
consideration	noun	consideration
consist	verb	consist
consistent	adjective	consistent
constitute	verb	constitute
constraint	noun	constraint
construct	verb	construct
construction	noun	construction
contain	verb	contain
content	noun	content
contradiction	noun	contradiction
contrary to	other	contrary to
contrast	noun	contrast
contrast	verb	contrast
contribute	verb	contribute
contribution	noun	contribution
control	noun	control
control	verb	control
convention	noun	convention
conventional	adjective	conventional
conversely	adverb	conversely
convert	verb	convert
correct	adjective	correct
correctly	adverb	correctly
correlation	noun	correlation
correspond	verb	correspond
country	noun	country
create	verb	create
creation	noun	creation
crisis	noun	crisis
criterion	noun	criterion
critical	adjective	critical
criticism	noun	criticism
crucial	adjective	crucial
culture	noun	culture
damage	noun	damage
damage	verb	damage
data	noun	data
deal	verb	deal
debate	noun	debate
decision	noun	decision
decline	noun	decline
decline	verb	decline
defence	noun	defence
define	verb	define
definition	noun	definition
degree	noun	degree
demand	noun	demand
demonstrate	verb	demonstrate
depend	verb	depend
dependent	adjective	dependent
depending on	other	depending on
derive	verb	derive
describe	verb	describe
description	noun	description
design	verb	design
despite	other	despite
destroy	verb	destroy
destruction	noun	destruction
detailed	adjective	detailed
determination	noun	determination
determine	verb	determine
develop	verb	develop
development	noun	development
differ	verb	differ
difference	noun	difference
different	adjective	different
differentiate	verb	differentiate
difficult	adjective	difficult
difficulty	noun	difficulty
dilemma	noun	dilemma
dimension	noun	dimension
diminish	verb	diminish
direct	verb	direct
directly	adverb	directly
disadvantage	noun	disadvantage
discovery	noun	discovery
discrimination	noun	discrimination
discuss	verb	discuss
discussion	noun	discussion
display	verb	display
distinct	adjective	distinct
distinction	noun	distinction
distinguish	verb	distinguish
diversity	noun	diversity
divide	verb	divide
division	noun	division
doctrine	noun	doctrine
dominant	adjective	dominant
dominate	verb	dominate
due to	other	due to
during	other	during
e.g.	adverb	e.g.
each	other	each
early	adjective	early
effect	noun	effect
effect	verb	effect
effective	adjective	effective
effectively	adverb	effectively
effectiveness	noun	effectiveness
either	adverb	either
element	noun	element
eliminate	verb	eliminate
emerge	verb	emerge
emphasis	noun	emphasis
emphasize	verb	emphasize
employ	verb	employ
enable	verb	enable
encounter	verb	encounter
encourage	verb	encourage
enhance	verb	enhance
ensure	verb	ensure
environment	noun	environment
equal	adjective	equal
equally	adverb	equally
equivalent	adjective	equivalent
error	noun	error
especially	adverb	especially
essence	noun	essence
essential	adjective	essential
essentially	adverb	essentially
establish	verb	establish
establishment	noun	establishment
evaluate	verb	evaluate
evaluation	noun	evaluation
even though	other	even though
event	noun	event
evidence	noun	evidence
evident	adjective	evident
evolution	noun	evolution
evolve	verb	evolve
examination	noun	examination
examine	verb	examine
example	noun	example
exceed	verb	exceed
exception	noun	exception
excessive	adjective	excessive
exclude	verb	exclude
exclusion	noun	exclusion
exemplify	verb	exemplify
exist	verb	exist
existence	noun	existence
expand	verb	expand
expansion	noun	expansion
experience	noun	experience
experience	verb	experience
experiment	noun	experiment
experimental	adjective	experimental
explain	verb	explain
explanation	noun	explanation
explicit	adjective	explicit
explicitly	adverb	explicitly
expose	verb	expose
exposure	noun	exposure
express	verb	express
extend	verb	extend
extensive	adjective	extensive
extent	noun	extent
extreme	noun	extreme
extreme	adjective	extreme
extremely	adverb	extremely
facilitate	verb	facilitate
fact	noun	fact
factor	noun	factor
fail	verb	fail
failure	noun	failure
fairly	adverb	fairly
far	adjective	far
far	adverb	far
favour	verb	favour
favourable	adjective	favourable
feature	noun	feature
female	noun	female
fewer	other	fewer
figure	noun	figure
final	adjective	final
finance	verb	finance
finding	noun	finding
first	other	first
fixed	adjective	fixed
focus	verb	focus
follow	verb	follow
following	adjective	following
for	other	for
for example	adverb	for example
for instance	adverb	for instance
force	noun	force
form	noun	form
form	verb	form
formal	adjective	formal
formation	noun	formation
former	other	former
formulate	verb	formulate
frequent	adjective	frequent
frequently	adverb	frequently
from	other	from
fully	adverb	fully
function	noun	function
function	verb	function
fundamental	adjective	fundamental
further	adverb	further
future	noun	future
future	adjective	future
gain	noun	gain
gain	verb	gain
general	adjective	general
generally	adverb	generally
generate	verb	generate
given that	other	given that
govern	verb	govern
great	adjective	great
greatly	adverb	greatly
group	noun	group
growth	noun	growth
guidance	noun	guidance
guideline	noun	guideline
hence	adverb	hence
high	adjective	high
highlight	verb	highlight
highly	adverb	highly
however	adverb	however
human	adjective	human
hypothesis	noun	hypothesis
idea	noun	idea
ideal	adjective	ideal
identical	adjective	identical
identify	verb	identify
identity	noun	identity
illustrate	verb	illustrate
immediate	adjective	immediate
impact	noun	impact
implication	noun	implication
imply	verb	imply
importance	noun	importance
important	adjective	important
impose	verb	impose
improve	verb	improve
improvement	noun	improvement
in	other	in
in addition to	other	in addition to
in common with	other	in common with
in favour of	other	in favour of
in general	adverb	in general
in particular	adverb	in particular
in relation to	other	in relation to
in response to	other	in response to
in terms of	other	in terms of
in that	other	in that
in the light of	other	in the light of
inadequate	adjective	inadequate
include	verb	include
including	other	including
incomplete	adjective	incomplete
incorporate	verb	incorporate
increase	noun	increase
increase	verb	increase
increasingly	adverb	increasingly
indeed	adverb	indeed
independent	adjective	independent
independently	adverb	independently
indicate	verb	indicate
indication	noun	indication
indirect	adjective	indirect
indirectly	adverb	indirectly
individual	noun	individual
individual	adjective	individual
induce	verb	induce
inevitably	adverb	inevitably
inferior	adjective	inferior
influence	noun	influence
influence	verb	influence
influential	adjective	influential
information	noun	information
inherent	adjective	inherent
initial	adjective	initial
initially	adverb	initially
initiate	verb	initiate
insight	noun	insight
instance	noun	instance
institution	noun	institution
integrate	verb	integrate
integration	noun	integration
interaction	noun	interaction
interest	noun	interest
interesting	adjective	interesting
internal	adjective	internal
interpret	verb	interpret
interpretation	noun	interpretation
intervention	noun	intervention
introduce	verb	introduce
introduction	noun	introduction
investigate	verb	investigate
investigation	noun	investigation
involve	verb	involve
isolate	verb	isolate
isolation	noun	isolation
issue	noun	issue
its	other	its
itself	other	itself
kind	noun	kind
knowledge	noun	knowledge
label	verb	label
lack	noun	lack
lack	verb	lack
large	adjective	large
largely	adverb	largely
late	adjective	late
latter	other	latter
lead	verb	lead
leading	adjective	leading
learning	noun	learning
less	adverb	less
less	other	less
level	noun	level
likelihood	noun	likelihood
likely	adjective	likely
limit	noun	limit
limit	verb	limit
limitation	noun	limitation
limited	adjective	limited
link	noun	link
link	verb	link
list	noun	list
literature	noun	literature
little	other	little
local	adjective	local
locate	verb	locate
logic	noun	logic
logical	adjective	logical
loss	noun	loss
main	adjective	main
mainly	adverb	mainly
maintain	verb	maintain
maintenance	noun	maintenance
major	adjective	major
majority	noun	majority
male	noun	male
male	adjective	male
manipulation	noun	manipulation
mankind	noun	mankind
many	other	many
material	noun	material
maximum	adjective	maximum
may	verb	may
means	noun	means
measure	noun	measure
measure	verb	measure
medium	noun	medium
member	noun	member
mental	adjective	mental
method	noun	method
minimal	adjective	minimal
minor	adjective	minor
minority	noun	minority
misleading	adjective	misleading
mode	noun	mode
model	noun	model
modern	adjective	modern
more	adverb	more
moreover	adverb	moreover
most	adverb	most
most	other	most
motivation	noun	motivation
movement	noun	movement
mutual	adjective	mutual
namely	adverb	namely
natural	adjective	natural
necessarily	adverb	necessarily
necessary	adjective	necessary
need	noun	need
negative	adjective	negative
neglect	verb	neglect
network	noun	network
new	adjective	new
norm	noun	norm
normal	adjective	normal
normally	adverb	normally
notably	adverb	notably
note	verb	note
notion	noun	notion
number	noun	number
observation	noun	observation
observer	noun	observer
obtain	verb	obtain
obvious	adjective	obvious
occur	verb	occur
occurrence	noun	occurrence
of	other	of
often	adverb	often
only	adverb	only
operate	verb	operate
operation	noun	operation
opportunity	noun	opportunity
option	noun	option
or	other	or
organisation	noun	organisation
original	adjective	original
originally	adverb	originally
other	adjective	other
other than	other	other than
outcome	noun	outcome
outline	verb	outline
output	noun	output
over	adverb	over
overall	adjective	overall
overcome	verb	overcome
parallel	noun	parallel
parallel	adjective	parallel
parent	noun	parent
part	noun	part
partial	adjective	partial
partially	adverb	partially
participant	noun	participant
participate	verb	participate
particular	adjective	particular
particularly	adverb	particularly
passive	adjective	passive
past	noun	past
past	adjective	past
pattern	noun	pattern
per	other	per
perceive	verb	perceive
percentage	noun	percentage
perception	noun	perception
perform	verb	perform
period	noun	period
permanent	adjective	permanent
permit	verb	permit
person	noun	person
personality	noun	personality
perspective	noun	perspective
phenomenon	noun	phenomenon
physical	adjective	physical
point	noun	point
policy	noun	policy
population	noun	population
pose	verb	pose
position	noun	position
positive	adjective	positive
possess	verb	possess
possibility	noun	possibility
possible	adjective	possible
potential	noun	potential
potential	adjective	potential
potentially	adverb	potentially
practical	adjective	practical
practice	noun	practice
precede	verb	precede
predict	verb	predict
presence	noun	presence
present	verb	present
present	adjective	present
preserve	verb	preserve
pressure	noun	pressure
prevent	verb	prevent
previous	adjective	previous
previously	adverb	previously
primarily	adverb	primarily
primary	adjective	primary
prime	adjective	prime
principal	adjective	principal
prior to	other	prior to
problem	noun	problem
procedure	noun	procedure
process	noun	process
produce	verb	produce
production	noun	production
productive	adjective	productive
profound	adjective	profound
programme	noun	programme
progress	noun	progress
progressive	adjective	progressive
prominent	adjective	prominent
promote	verb	promote
property	noun	property
proportion	noun	proportion
propose	verb	propose
proposition	noun	proposition
protection	noun	protection
prove	verb	prove
provide	verb	provide
provided	other	provided
provision	noun	provision
psychological	adjective	psychological
publication	noun	publication
publish	verb	publish
purely	adverb	purely
purpose	noun	purpose
pursue	verb	pursue
quality	noun	quality
question	noun	question
quote	verb	quote
radical	adjective	radical
random	adjective	random
range	noun	range
rapid	adjective	rapid
rate	noun	rate
rather than	other	rather than
rational	adjective	rational
reader	noun	reader
readily	adverb	readily
real	adjective	real
realistic	adjective	realistic
reality	noun	reality
reason	noun	reason
reasoning	noun	reasoning
receive	verb	receive
recent	adjective	recent
recently	adverb	recently
recognition	noun	recognition
record	verb	record
reduce	verb	reduce
reduction	noun	reduction
refer	verb	refer
reference	noun	reference
reflect	verb	reflect
regard	verb	regard
regulate	verb	regulate
reinforce	verb	reinforce
reject	verb	reject
relate	verb	relate
related	adjective	related
relation	noun	relation
relationship	noun	relationship
relative	adjective	relative
relatively	adverb	relatively
relevance	noun	relevance
relevant	adjective	relevant
rely	verb	rely
remain	verb	remain
remove	verb	remove
render	verb	render
replace	verb	replace
report	noun	report
report	verb	report
represent	verb	represent
representative	noun	representative
representative	adjective	representative
reproduce	verb	reproduce
reproduction	noun	reproduction
require	verb	require
requirement	noun	requirement
research	noun	research
resistance	noun	resistance
resolution	noun	resolution
resolve	verb	resolve
resource	noun	resource
respect	noun	respect
respond	verb	respond
responsible	adjective	responsible
restrict	verb	restrict
restricted	adjective	restricted
restriction	noun	restriction
result	noun	result
result	verb	result
retain	verb	retain
reveal	verb	reveal
review	noun	review
rise	noun	rise
risk	noun	risk
role	noun	role
rule	noun	rule
same	other	same
sample	noun	sample
scale	noun	scale
scheme	noun	scheme
scientific	adjective	scientific
scope	noun	scope
search	noun	search
second	other	second
secondary	adjective	secondary
secondly	adverb	secondly
section	noun	section
seek	verb	seek
select	verb	select
selection	noun	selection
selective	adjective	selective
sense	noun	sense
separate	verb	separate
separate	adjective	separate
separation	noun	separation
series	noun	series
service	noun	service
set	noun	set
several	other	several
severe	adjective	severe
sex	noun	sex
sexual	adjective	sexual
shift	noun	shift
should	verb	should
show	verb	show
significance	noun	significance
significant	adjective	significant
significantly	adverb	significantly
similar	adjective	similar
similarity	noun	similarity
similarly	adverb	similarly
simple	adjective	simple
simply	adverb	simply
since	other	since
single	adjective	single
situation	noun	situation
skill	noun	skill
so-called	adjective	so-called
social	adjective	social
socially	adverb	socially
society	noun	society
solely	adverb	solely
somewhat	adverb	somewhat
solution	noun	solution
solve	verb	solve
some	other	some
source	noun	source
space	noun	space
special	adjective	special
specific	adjective	specific
specifically	adverb	specifically
specify	verb	specify
spread	noun	spread
stable	adjective	stable
standard	noun	standard
standard	adjective	standard
state	verb	state
statistics	noun	statistics
stimulate	verb	stimulate
stimulus	noun	stimulus
strategy	noun	strategy
strengthen	verb	strengthen
stress	noun	stress
stress	verb	stress
strict	adjective	strict
strongly	adverb	strongly
structure	noun	structure
study	verb	study
subject	noun	subject
subject to	other	subject to
submit	verb	submit
subsequent	adjective	subsequent
subsequently	adverb	subsequently
substantial	adjective	substantial
success	noun	success
successful	adjective	successful
successfully	adverb	successfully
successive	adjective	successive
such	other	such
such as	other	such as
suffer	verb	suffer
sufficient	adjective	sufficient
suggest	verb	suggest
suitable	adjective	suitable
summarise	verb	summarise
summary	noun	summary
supply	verb	supply
support	noun	support
support	verb	support
surprising	adjective	surprising
survey	noun	survey
sustain	verb	sustain
symbolic	adjective	symbolic
system	noun	system
systematic	adjective	systematic
tackle	verb	tackle
target	noun	target
task	noun	task
team	noun	team
technique	noun	technique
tend	verb	tend
tendency	noun	tendency
tension	noun	tension
term	noun	term
term	verb	term
than	other	than
that	other	that
the	other	the
their	other	their
theme	noun	theme
themselves	other	themselves
theoretical	adjective	theoretical
theory	noun	theory
thereby	adverb	thereby
therefore	adverb	therefore
these	other	these
third	other	third
this	other	this
those	other	those
thus	adverb	thus
to	other	to
tolerance	noun	tolerance
topic	noun	topic
total	adjective	total
tradition	noun	tradition
traditional	adjective	traditional
traditionally	adverb	traditionally
transform	verb	transform
transition	noun	transition
treat	verb	treat
trend	>noun	trend
true	adjective	true
type	noun	type
typical	adjective	typical
typically	adverb	typically
ultimately	adverb	ultimately
uncertainty	noun	uncertainty
undermine	verb	undermine
understanding	noun	understanding
undertake	verb	undertake
unique	adjective	unique
unit	noun	unit
unlike	adjective	unlike
unlike	other	unlike
unlikely	adjective	unlikely
unsuccessful	adjective	unsuccessful
upon	other	upon
use	noun	use
use	verb	use
useful	adjective	useful
valid	adjective	valid
validity	noun	validity
valuable	adjective	valuable
value	noun	value
variation	noun	variation
varied	adjective	varied
variety	noun	variety
various	adjective	various
vary	verb	vary
version	noun	version
versus	other	versus
view	noun	view
view	verb	view
viewpoint	noun	viewpoint
virtually	adverb	virtually
visual	adjective	visual
vital	adjective	vital
volume	noun	volume
whereas	other	whereas
whether	other	whether
whether or not	other	whether or not
which	other	which
whole	noun	whole
wholly	adverb	wholly
wide	adjective	wide
widely	adverb	widely
widespread	adjective	widespread
within	other	within
work	noun	work
world	noun	world
write	verb	write
yield	verb	yield

Back to: Vocabulary: Selecting AKL