Navigating the waters of English writing can sometimes be like finding your way through a maze. One of the most effective ways to enhance your writing is by incorporating common collocations, which are combinations of words that often go together. Here are 50 essential collocations that will help you sound more like a native speaker and make your writing more engaging and fluent.
Come up with - to think of an idea or plan
- Example: I need to come up with a new marketing strategy.
Break down - to make something simpler or easier to understand
- Example: Let’s break down the complex theory into smaller parts.
Look forward to - to be happy about something that is going to happen
- Example: I’m looking forward to my vacation next month.
Turn down - to refuse something or to reduce the volume
- Example: She turned down the job offer because of the long hours.
Work out - to find a solution to a problem or to exercise
- Example: I’ve been working out to improve my fitness.
Get along - to have a good relationship with someone
- Example: They get along well despite their different backgrounds.
Set up - to arrange or organize something
- Example: I helped set up the new office space.
Make up - to create something or to compose
- Example: She made up a story about her adventures.
Look into - to investigate or examine something
- Example: I’ll look into the possibility of a promotion.
Get through - to successfully deal with a difficult situation
- Example: He got through the tough times with the help of his friends.
Put off - to delay doing something
- Example: I put off my taxes until the last minute.
Go ahead - to proceed with something
- Example: “Can I go ahead with the project?” “Yes, go ahead.”
Come across - to find or discover something by chance
- Example: I came across an old friend at the grocery store.
Look at - to consider or examine something
- Example: Let’s look at the data before making a decision.
Turn off - to stop something from working
- Example: She turned off the lights before leaving the room.
Work out - to solve a problem or to exercise
- Example: I’ve been working out to improve my fitness.
Get along - to have a good relationship with someone
- Example: They get along well despite their different backgrounds.
Set up - to arrange or organize something
- Example: I helped set up the new office space.
Make up - to create something or to compose
- Example: She made up a story about her adventures.
Look into - to investigate or examine something
- Example: I’ll look into the possibility of a promotion.
Get through - to successfully deal with a difficult situation
- Example: He got through the tough times with the help of his friends.
Put off - to delay doing something
- Example: I put off my taxes until the last minute.
Go ahead - to proceed with something
- Example: “Can I go ahead with the project?” “Yes, go ahead.”
Come across - to find or discover something by chance
- Example: I came across an old friend at the grocery store.
Look at - to consider or examine something
- Example: Let’s look at the data before making a decision.
Turn off - to stop something from working
- Example: She turned off the lights before leaving the room.
Work out - to solve a problem or to exercise
- Example: I’ve been working out to improve my fitness.
Get along - to have a good relationship with someone
- Example: They get along well despite their different backgrounds.
Set up - to arrange or organize something
- Example: I helped set up the new office space.
Make up - to create something or to compose
- Example: She made up a story about her adventures.
Look into - to investigate or examine something
- Example: I’ll look into the possibility of a promotion.
Get through - to successfully deal with a difficult situation
- Example: He got through the tough times with the help of his friends.
Put off - to delay doing something
- Example: I put off my taxes until the last minute.
Go ahead - to proceed with something
- Example: “Can I go ahead with the project?” “Yes, go ahead.”
Come across - to find or discover something by chance
- Example: I came across an old friend at the grocery store.
Look at - to consider or examine something
- Example: Let’s look at the data before making a decision.
Turn off - to stop something from working
- Example: She turned off the lights before leaving the room.
Work out - to solve a problem or to exercise
- Example: I’ve been working out to improve my fitness.
Get along - to have a good relationship with someone
- Example: They get along well despite their different backgrounds.
Set up - to arrange or organize something
- Example: I helped set up the new office space.
Make up - to create something or to compose
- Example: She made up a story about her adventures.
Look into - to investigate or examine something
- Example: I’ll look into the possibility of a promotion.
Get through - to successfully deal with a difficult situation
- Example: He got through the tough times with the help of his friends.
Put off - to delay doing something
- Example: I put off my taxes until the last minute.
Go ahead - to proceed with something
- Example: “Can I go ahead with the project?” “Yes, go ahead.”
Come across - to find or discover something by chance
- Example: I came across an old friend at the grocery store.
Look at - to consider or examine something
- Example: Let’s look at the data before making a decision.
Turn off - to stop something from working
- Example: She turned off the lights before leaving the room.
Work out - to solve a problem or to exercise
- Example: I’ve been working out to improve my fitness.
Get along - to have a good relationship with someone
- Example: They get along well despite their different backgrounds.
Incorporating these collocations into your writing will not only make it more natural but also demonstrate your command of the language. Practice using them in different contexts to see how they fit and improve your fluency. Happy writing!