Word gallery

be worse than expected · instead of was bad

Unfortunately, the service fell far short of my expectations.

too poor to be allowed · instead of very bad

The level of noise after midnight is simply unacceptable.

not working correctly because of a fault · instead of broken

The kettle was defective on arrival.

put something right · instead of fix

I trust you will rectify this situation promptly.

money paid for loss or inconvenience · instead of money back

I believe I am entitled to compensation for the delay.

trouble or difficulty caused · instead of problem

This caused me considerable inconvenience.

escalate a complaint · instead of complain more

Otherwise, I will have no choice but to take the matter further.

continuing for a long time · instead of always

The persistent noise from the building site has made sleep impossible.

not pleased · instead of unhappy

I was deeply dissatisfied with the way my complaint was handled.

paying the cost myself · instead of with my money

I had to book a taxi at my own expense.

in bad condition · instead of broken down

The playground has been in a state of disrepair for months.

treating something as unimportant · instead of rude

The receptionist was dismissive when I raised the issue.

as soon as you can · instead of quickly

I would be grateful if you could reply at your earliest convenience.

please contact me · instead of call me

Should you need anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me.

ask for information (formal) · instead of ask

I am writing to enquire about the evening course.

put in with a letter · instead of add

I have enclosed a copy of my receipt.

organise something · instead of do

Could you arrange for an engineer to visit next week?

provide for a need · instead of help with

I hope you will be able to accommodate this request.

one day off work · instead of a leave

Would it be possible to take a day's leave on Friday?

politely (formal request) · instead of nicely

My neighbour has kindly agreed to collect my post.

say that something is definite · instead of tell

Please could you confirm the date in writing?

temporary, may change · instead of temporary

I have made a provisional booking for 12 May.

before (formal) · instead of before

Please inform me of any costs prior to the visit.

about (formal) · instead of about

I am writing regarding my recent stay at your hotel.

talk about recent news · instead of talk

It would be great to catch up over coffee.

it's been a long time · instead of long time

It's been ages since we last spoke!

very excited to · instead of want to

I can't wait to see your new flat.

visit briefly · instead of come

Feel free to drop by whenever you're in town.

contact me · instead of tell me

Give me a shout if you need any help with the move.

very helpful · instead of very good

Your advice about the visa was a real lifesaver.

very happy and excited · instead of happy

I was thrilled to hear about your promotion.

be able to attend · instead of come

I'm so sorry I won't be able to make it on Saturday.

give you the details · instead of tell you

I'll fill you in on everything when we meet.

friendly closing · instead of bye

Take care, and say hi to your family for me.

in addition (formal) · instead of also

Furthermore, public transport reduces pollution.

as a result · instead of so

Rents have soared; consequently, many families have moved out.

despite this · instead of but

The course was expensive. Nevertheless, it was worth every penny.

as well as (+ noun / -ing) · instead of and

In addition to saving money, cycling improves fitness.

for example · instead of like

Some countries, for instance Norway, have very low crime rates.

showing a difference · instead of but

City life is fast-paced. By contrast, rural life is slower.

therefore · instead of so

As a result, traffic has fallen by 20%.

considering · instead of because of

In light of these problems, I would like a refund.

to conclude · instead of in the end

To sum up, the advantages clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

in other words · instead of I mean

Governments must act, that is to say, they must fund new schemes.

concerning · instead of about

With regard to the cost, I believe it is too high.

in the same way · instead of also

Similarly, older people benefit from online services.

be greater than · instead of are more than

I believe the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

something with good and bad effects · instead of good and bad

Social media is a double-edged sword.

I strongly believe that · instead of I think

I am firmly convinced that education should be free.

partly · instead of a bit

To a certain extent, I agree with this view.

be dangerous to · instead of is bad for

Plastic waste poses a serious threat to marine life.

be very important for · instead of are important

Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping young minds.

harmful · instead of bad

Excessive screen time is detrimental to children's health.

helpful, good for · instead of good

Regular exercise is highly beneficial for mental health.

a convincing reason · instead of good reason

There is a compelling argument for banning junk-food adverts.

certainly · instead of really

Technology has undeniably made life more convenient.

certain to happen · instead of sure

Some job losses are inevitable as automation spreads.

consider · instead of think about

Governments must take into account the needs of the elderly.

subjects taught in a school · instead of subjects

Financial literacy should be part of the national curriculum.

memorising without understanding · instead of memorising

Exams often encourage rote learning.

analysing ideas carefully · instead of thinking

University develops students' critical thinking skills.

university / college level · instead of university

Access to tertiary education has widened.

practical job training · instead of job courses

Vocational training prepares young people for skilled trades.

results at school · instead of grades

Sleep has a direct impact on academic performance.

learning throughout life · instead of always learning

Online courses promote lifelong learning.

gain (skills / knowledge) · instead of get

Children acquire languages more easily than adults.

money paid for study · instead of fees

High tuition fees discourage poorer students.

with a wide range of skills · instead of good

Sport and art help produce well-rounded students.

influence from people your age · instead of friends' pressure

Peer pressure can lead teenagers into risky behaviour.

control and good behaviour · instead of control

Strict discipline in schools is a controversial issue.

found everywhere · instead of everywhere

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern life.

machines doing work · instead of robots

Automation threatens many manufacturing jobs.

most advanced · instead of new

Hospitals are using cutting-edge technology to diagnose disease.

time spent on devices · instead of phone time

Parents should limit their children's screen time.

gap between people with and without technology · instead of gap

The digital divide leaves many elderly people behind.

crime using the internet · instead of online crime

Cybercrime is rising as more banking moves online.

change completely · instead of change

The internet has revolutionised the way we shop.

no longer used · instead of old

Many traditional skills are becoming obsolete.

dependence on · instead of using too much

Our growing reliance on technology has drawbacks.

false information · instead of fake news

Social media spreads misinformation rapidly.

worries about personal data · instead of data worries

Privacy concerns have grown with smart devices.

meeting in person · instead of meeting

Technology has reduced face-to-face interaction.

CO₂ released into the air · instead of pollution

Air travel accounts for a growing share of carbon emissions.

energy from sun, wind, etc. · instead of green power

Governments must invest in renewable energy.

cutting down forests · instead of cutting trees

Deforestation is destroying wildlife habitats.

able to continue without harm · instead of green

We need more sustainable ways of producing food.

animals at risk of extinction · instead of rare animals

Zoos can help protect endangered species.

place where waste is buried · instead of rubbish site

Most plastic ends up in landfill.

reduce the harm of · instead of reduce

Planting trees can mitigate the effects of climate change.

impact a person has on nature · instead of impact

Eating less meat reduces our ecological footprint.

cannot be undone · instead of permanent

Some environmental damage is irreversible.

variety of living things · instead of nature

Pollution is a major threat to biodiversity.

plastic used once then thrown away · instead of plastic bags

Many countries have banned single-use plastics.

protect from waste or loss · instead of save

We must conserve water during droughts.

lifestyle with little movement · instead of lazy life

A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease.

being extremely overweight · instead of fatness

Childhood obesity has doubled in a generation.

how long people live on average · instead of age

Life expectancy has risen thanks to modern medicine.

actions to stop problems · instead of prevention

Governments should focus on preventive measures such as vaccination.

health and happiness · instead of health

Green spaces improve mental well-being.

healthy mix of foods · instead of healthy food

Schools should promote a balanced diet.

pressure on · instead of pressure

An ageing population puts a strain on healthcare systems.

exhaustion from overwork · instead of tiredness

Long hours can lead to burnout.

lasting a long time · instead of long

Chronic stress affects sleep and concentration.

ability to get medical care · instead of hospitals

Rural communities often lack access to healthcare.

drinks with much sugar · instead of cola

A tax on sugary drinks could reduce obesity.

exercise and movement · instead of sport

Children need at least an hour of physical activity a day.

feeling happy with your job · instead of liking job

Job satisfaction matters more than salary for many people.

balance between job and personal life · instead of free time

Remote work can improve work-life balance.

payment for work (formal) · instead of salary

The remuneration package includes health insurance.

choosing when you work · instead of free hours

Flexible working hours help parents.

not having a job · instead of no jobs

Youth unemployment remains high in many regions.

trained workers · instead of good workers

A skilled workforce attracts foreign investment.

chances of progress · instead of future

Learning English improves career prospects.

make the economy stronger · instead of help money

Tourism can boost the local economy.

person who starts a business · instead of businessman

Young entrepreneurs need access to loans.

no longer needed (job) · instead of fired

Hundreds of workers were made redundant.

travel to work · instead of travel

A long commute reduces productivity.

amount of work done · instead of work done

Short breaks can increase productivity.

heavy traffic · instead of traffic

Congestion costs the economy billions each year.

people moving to cities · instead of city growth

Rapid urbanisation has created housing shortages.

homes people can pay for · instead of cheap houses

There is a severe shortage of affordable housing.

buses, trains, etc. · instead of buses

Investment in public transport reduces car use.

roads, bridges, utilities · instead of roads

Rural infrastructure needs urgent investment.

with too many people · instead of full

Trains are overcrowded at rush hour.

parks and gardens · instead of parks

Green spaces improve quality of life.

close a street to cars · instead of close

The council plans to pedestrianise the high street.

useful facilities · instead of facilities

The area lacks basic amenities such as shops and clinics.

edge of a city · instead of edge

Many families now live on the outskirts.

harmful noise · instead of noise

Noise pollution affects sleep and health.

money needed for basics · instead of prices

The cost of living has risen sharply.

crime by young people · instead of youth crime

Juvenile delinquency is often linked to poverty.

something that discourages · instead of stop

Prison is not always an effective deterrent.

helping offenders return to society · instead of helping

Rehabilitation reduces reoffending rates.

more elderly people · instead of old people

An ageing population creates new challenges.

parents and children only · instead of small family

The nuclear family has replaced the extended family in many countries.

person others copy · instead of example

Parents are children's first role models.

people living well together · instead of unity

Community events strengthen social cohesion.

unfair differences · instead of unfairness

Income inequality has widened.

how a child is raised · instead of raising

A stable upbringing builds confidence.

behaviour that harms others · instead of bad behaviour

Anti-social behaviour has increased in the town centre.

differences between age groups · instead of difference

Technology has widened the generation gap.

feeling of belonging · instead of friendship

Villages often have a strong sense of community.

very large numbers of tourists · instead of many tourists

Mass tourism has damaged many historic sites.

a group's traditions and values · instead of culture

Globalisation may threaten cultural identity.

world becoming connected · instead of world trade

Globalisation has created jobs in developing countries.

focus on buying things · instead of shopping

Advertising fuels consumerism.

people an advert aims at · instead of buyers

Children are a key target audience for toy adverts.

exaggerating news to shock · instead of drama

Sensationalism in the media erodes public trust.

experience more of the world · instead of learn more

Travel broadens young people's horizons.

everything becoming the same · instead of sameness

Global brands lead to the homogenisation of culture.

social-media personality · instead of famous person

Influencers shape teenagers' spending habits.

responsible nature travel · instead of green travel

Ecotourism can fund conservation.

companies in many countries · instead of big companies

Multinational corporations dominate global trade.

able to convince · instead of convincing

Advertisements use persuasive techniques.