Factor: an influence on an outcome
Decisions and results often depend on several influences; factor names one element that helps shape an outcome.
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Risk: possible harm and assessment
Use risk and risks to describe possible harm, assess alternatives and discuss ways to reduce risk.
Read and practiseVariable: a changing quantity or condition
A variable can represent a changing quantity or condition in an experiment, a model, or an everyday decision.
Read and practiseTrend: a direction of change
Charts and reports can show a general direction of change over time, even when individual observations differ.
Read and practisePattern: repeated arrangements and behaviour
Repeated shapes and recurring behaviour can both be described with this versatile countable noun.
Read and practiseCorrelation: a relationship in data
A correlation describes how two measured things vary together, without establishing that either one causes the other.
Read and practiseConsequence: the result of an action
A decision can have consequences for other people; describe its results and identify who is affected.
Read and practiseTool: equipment for a task
Use tool and tools to discuss hand equipment, its purpose and choosing the right item for a job.
Read and practiseImplication: an effect or indirect meaning
A decision can have consequences, while a remark can suggest something indirectly. Explore both meanings of implication.
Read and practiseLimits of a method or device
A test, device or method may have limits; explain what it cannot do and discuss its restrictions accurately.
Read and practiseConstraint: limits on choices
A restricted budget or deadline can shape what a project can do; discuss such conditions and the choices they limit.
Read and practiseObstacle: a barrier to progress
A blocked path or a lack of funding can stand in the way of progress; describe the barrier and how people overcome it.
Read and practiseDrawback: a disadvantage of an option
A promising option may have a drawback; describe its disadvantages and weigh them against its benefits.
Read and practiseBenefit: advantages and benefits of actions
A useful outcome can be described as a benefit; explore the noun and the pattern that names its source.
Read and practiseTrade-off: balancing competing advantages
Choosing more of one benefit can mean giving up another; explore how to describe that compromise in English.
Read and practisePriority: deciding what matters most
Some tasks matter more or need attention first; explore priorities and common ways to discuss their relative importance.
Read and practiseStrategy: planning for a long-term aim
A long-term goal needs a considered plan; explore how to describe a strategy and the actions it guides.
Read and practiseApproach: a way to tackle a task
Different ways of tackling a challenge can lead to different results. Describe a chosen method and its object in English.
Read and practiseProcedure: an established series of steps
A safety check can begin an established sequence. Describe procedures and how people follow them in English.
Read and practisePolicy: guiding rules and decisions
A school’s phone rules can guide everyday decisions. Describe an organisation’s policy and the actions it allows.
Read and practiseRegulation: an official rule to follow
Food labels may be subject to official rules. Discuss a regulation and how people comply with regulations.
Read and practiseRequirement: a condition or necessity
A helmet may be compulsory, or water essential. Express conditions and necessities with this useful noun.
Read and practiseStandard: a measure of quality
A standard sets a level for judging quality, from safety rules at work to the service customers expect.
Read and practiseAssessment: evaluating a situation or performance
An assessment can measure performance or weigh evidence about a situation, from classroom learning to safety risks.
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