A thesaurus helps you build a richer vocabulary and avoid using the same expressions over and again. However, a conventional thesaurus has the drawback that it includes synonyms that are unsuitable for university and research writing. Similarly, thesauruses included with computer word processors are often inadequate: for example, for insight the most common word processor suggests just around the corner.
The PhraseBook thesaurus, on the other hand, is specifically compiled for university and research writing, and contains both synonyms (words with a similar meaning) and antonyms (words with the opposite meaning). It has been designed to make it easy to find related words.
Key words have umbrella headings, for example:
Study
work, paper, report, review, survey, thesis, dissertation, book, volume, monograph, collection of papers, research, analysis, inquiry, investigation, examination
Theory
principle, framework, system, model, scheme, idea, notion, concept, reasoning, hypothesis, proposition, assumption
Argue and argument
argue for, argue against, maintain, reason, point to, dispute, question, polemic, the case for or against, the grounds for, reasoning, premise
Find out
discover, determine, establish, learn, realize, identify, detect, locate, pinpoint, verify
Prove
show, demonstrate, confirm, establish, verify, is borne out by, corroborate, testify to, attest, proof of, evidence of or for, demonstration of, confirmation of, corroboration of, verification of, disprove, fail to demonstrate
Alternatives to get
Although get, got, gotten are very common in speech, in university and research writing you should generally use a word or phrase with a richer meaning, as forms with get are perceived as informal. A number of alternatives to get are listed below:
| Form with get | Formal alternatives |
|---|---|
| get | receive, obtain |
| become | |
| reach, arrive | |
| cause to, induce | |
| understand, comprehend | |
| get across | convey, communicate, make clear |
| get ahead | advance, progress |
| get along | be compatible |
| manage, fare | |
| get at | reach, gain access to |
| imply, suggest | |
| influence, corrupt, damage | |
| get away | escape, flee, leave |
| get away with | escape blame or penalty |
| get back | return |
| recoup, recover, regain | |
| get back at | avenge, retaliate |
| get back to | contact again |
| get by | manage, cope, fare, survive |
| get down | depress |
| write down, take notes | |
| swallow | |
| get down to | concentrate on, focus on |
| get even | avenge, retaliate |
| get in | insert, enter |
| arrive | |
| get into | become enthusiastically involved in, affect |
| get off | remove, detach |
| escape, be acquitted | |
| get on | fare, manage |
| advance, progress, succeed, continue | |
| be compatible | |
| get onto | contact |
| get out | leave, escape, evacuate, withdraw |
| get out of | avoid, evade, escape |
| benefit from | |
| get over | cross, pass |
| recover, overcome | |
| convey, communicate | |
| get round or around | circumvent, avoid, bypass |
| persuade, coax, win over | |
| get round or around to | deal with eventually |
| get the hang of | understand, learn |
| get through | succeed, complete, overcome |
| pass (a law or examination) | |
| use, consume, spend | |
| communicate, convey, make clear | |
| get to | annoy |
| get together | meet, gather, join, unite |
| get up | stand, climb |
| get-up-and-go | drive, ambition, energy |
| get your own back | revenge, retaliate |
| gotta | must |
| have got to | must |
| have got | have |
| haven’t got | do not have |
| has it got…? | does it have…? |