Longman - Longman Essay Activator

the meaning and/or use and is illustrated with example sentences. These examples can be used as models for you to produce your own natural-sounding sentences.

In each of the Essay Activators you will also find Study Notes about grammar and formality. For example, in Section 2 of Giving Examples there is a Study Note at such as to explain that there is not usually a comma before this phrase, whereas there is usually one before for example and including.

Look at the Exercises section of the Writing Handbook for activities which will help you to practise using the vocabulary included in the Essay Activators.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Writing about advantages

Writing about disadvantages

1. Writing about advantages

advantage noun [countable] a good feature that something has, which makes it better, more useful etc than other things:

The great advantage of digital cameras is that there is no film to process.

The advantage of using a specialist firm is that the people who work there have years of experience.

One of the big advantages of this type of engine is that it is smaller and lighter than a conventional petrol engine.

The university has the advantage of being one of the oldest and best respected in the country.

The movement of the sea is predictable. This gives wave power a distinct advantage over (=an obvious advantage compared to) wind power.

Despite a few problems with the design, the car's advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages. (=the problems are not enough to stop it being a good car)

benefit noun [countable] a feature of something that has a good effect on people's lives:

Regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.

Modern technology has brought great benefits to mankind.

There has been a great deal of research into the potential benefits of using genetically modified crops.

merit noun [countable] a good feature that something has, which you consider when you are deciding whether it is the best choice:

The committee will consider the merits of the proposals.

In her book, she discusses the relative merits of the two political systems. (=she compares the features that they have)

The merits and demerits of (=the good and bad features of) alternative funding systems were widely discussed in the newspapers.

The chairman saw no great merit in this suggestion. (=he did not think that it was a good idea) good point noun [countable] a good feature that something has:

One of the good points about the car is that it is easy to drive.

Each system has its good and bad points.

plus point noun [countable] a good feature that something has:

The small but powerful battery is another of the camera's many plus points.

The estate agent's leaflet said a major plus point was the recently modernized kitchen.

the good / great / best thing about used when mentioning a good feature of something:

The great thing about living in a city is that you can go shopping at almost any hour of the day or night.

Her wicked sense of humour was the best thing about her.

The good thing about cycling is that you don't have to worry about getting stuck in a traffic jam.

STUDY NOTE: Grammar

the good/great/best thing about is rather informal. Don't use it in formal essays.

the beauty of something is that used when you want to emphasize that something has a very good or useful feature:

The beauty of the design is that it is so simple.

2. Writing about disadvantages

disadvantage noun [countable] a bad feature that something has, which makes it less good, less useful etc than other things:

The main disadvantage of this book is its price.

These vaccines have two serious disadvantages. Firstly, they are not 100% effective, and secondly, they are expensive to make.

A major disadvantage of using large quantities of chemicals is that they quickly get absorbed into soil.

drawback noun [countable] a disadvantage which makes you think that something is not so good, even though it has other advantages:

The major drawback of this method is that it can be very time-consuming.

Aluminium is very light and also very strong. Its main drawback is that it cools down very rapidly.

Summer in the Scottish islands can be beautiful. The only drawback is the weather, which can be very changeable.

downside noun [singular] the disadvantage of a situation that in most other ways seems good or enjoyable:

The downside of running your own business is that you are responsible if anything goes wrong.

Everyone wants to be rich and famous, but it does have its downside.

Most comfort eaters enjoy what they eat, but the downside is that they soon start to put on weight.

bad point noun [countable] a bad feature that something has:

There are good points and bad points about single sex schools.

For all its bad points, and there are many, it is still the best software system of its kind available.

Agreeing

*opposite Disagreeing

To agree with someone or something

To partly agree with someone or something

When a group of people agree

1. To agree with someone or something

agree verb [intransitive and transitive] to have the same opinion as someone, or to think that a statement is correct:

Many people agreed with his views about the war.

I completely agree with Chomsky when he says that humans are born with a special ability to learn language.

Most experts agree that dieting needs to be accompanied by regular exercise. STUDY NOTE: Grammar

Don't say 'agree someone's opinion' or 'agree to someone's opinion'. Say agree with someone's opinion.

share somebody's view / concern / fear etc to have the same opinion, concern, fear etc as someone else:

I share her concerns about the lack of women in high academic positions.

A lot of people share his view that tourism will have a negative impact on the island.

This fear was shared by union leaders, who saw the new law as an attack on their rights.

subscribe to a view / theory etc to agree with an opinion or idea: