A. Suzan ÖNİZ

THE ACADEMIC WORD LIST (AWL)

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/lals/div1/awl/frequent.html

What is the Academic Word List?

ü The Academic Word List contains 570 word families. This means that each word in the AWL has other forms but these have not been included in the lists; only the HEAD WORD of each word family has been given.

ü The number next to each headword shows you how many words there are in the family.

ü Go to the website, to the AWL INFO page to get the details about the word families.

ü The AWL does not include the basic 2000 words in English, the first vocabulary items that all beginners need to learn.

ü There are 10 sublists containing the 570 word families. Click here ► to take a look at the sublists.

ü There are 60 word families in each sublist except for the last sublist: It has 30 word families.

ü The following sublists have been organized by frequency. The word given is the ‘headword’, which is the stem word. To see how many other words belong to this family, go to: http://www.vuw.ac.nz/lals/div1/awl/headwords.html

Which words are the most commonly used ones?

All the words in the lists are necessary for you during your academic studies; they are all commonly used in your textbooks and you will need them when writing. Some of the words in the sublists are more frequently used than others. The following sublists show the frequency of the AWL word families. In other words, Sublist 1 contains the most commonly used words and Sublist 10 the least commonly used words.

SUBLIST 1
require income section structure policy economy process research vary issue analyse method data function area define proceed significant individual respond	identify export similar approach occur environment contract involve establish specific theory benefit major assess indicate finance evident period source principle	percent labour consist assume factor formula legal sector authority create concept constitute legislate distribute derive context role available estimate interpret

Sublist 2
range obtain strategy conclude commission appropriate institute credit region acquire invest construct community design item equate injure chapter participate compute	select relevant maintain reside culture text regulate final distinct potential resource element administrate focus seek achieve site consequent survey normal	complex feature consume affect primary previous secure tradition transfer journal conduct purchase positive perceive impact evaluate restrict assist category aspect

Sublist 3
partner technical rely corporate contribute exclude react sex alternative initial convene technology circumstance link minor comment shift sufficient proportion ensure	document constant component core immigrate emphasis valid instance consent physical fund dominate demonstrate outcome specify volume task layer maximise technique	correspond locate framework constrain criteria interact illustrate deduce coordinate compensate imply philosophy negate justify scheme sequence publish considerable remove register

Sublist 4
stress statistic concentrate domestic debate subsequent commit mechanism grant professional overall hypothesis investigate summary impose civil code series apparent adequacy	ethnic contrast output job goal cycle internal dimension resolve approximate hence principal attitude retain promote implement sum access project obvious	undertake option attribute communicate predict occupy confer error integrate label parameter regime prior annual despite implicate phase status parallel emerge

Sublist 5
generate target clause adjust liberal logic licence fundamental image generation stable expose academy orient equivalent external mental trend enable energy	sustain style transit consult compound medical welfare whereas objective ratio conflict challenge revenue psychology decline aware capacity discrete evolve modify	symbol contact enforce expand precise version substitute draft notion reject entity margin facilitate pursue network monitor prime amend alter perspective

Sublist 6
utilise lecture inhibit rational accuracy explicit assign author incorporate reveal minimum acknowledge underlie trace edit cooperate index aggregate transport exceed	migrate overseas display subsidy incentive presume flexible federal domain furthermore ignorance diverse abstract attach nevertheless scope allocate enhance ministry gender	tape recover neutral incidence input fee brief intelligence interval expert bond transform initiate capable precede estate motive cite discriminate instruct

Sublist 7
release deny ultimate adapt differentiate intervene survive innovate advocate simulate file isolate unique channel paradigm empirical ideology couple media chemical	confirm dispose infer convert finite submit mode grade dynamic somewhat quote insert phenomenon transmit thesis reverse identical eliminate sole comprehensive	globe classic guarantee foundation equip prohibit contrary aid successor topic adult extract decade hierarchy priority definite voluntary visible publication comprise

Sublist 8
accumulate currency schedule detect virtual tense displace commodity highlight arbitrary reinforce appendix paragraph offset intense fluctuate visual predominant terminate exhibit	random ambiguous induce uniform chart guideline denote radical inspect plus abandon deviate appreciate thereby revise implicit eventual bias via contradict	theme practitioner nuclear inevitable conform exploit accompany vehicle drama crucial contemporary complement clarify manipulate widespread infrastructure automate restore prospect minimise

Sublist 9
vision mediate insight controversy restrain accommodate qualitative anticipate ethic analogy inherent refine temporary mature minimal diminish portion duration distort intermediate	relax behalf sphere team norm mutual overlap format manual preliminary attain unify device devote bulk assure integral found military route	confine erode coincide suspend subordinate rigid violate cease protocol scenario passive revolution concurrent converse commence supplement medium coherent trigger compatible

Sublist 10
panel persist invoke pose incline undergo conceive encounter collapse intrinsic	assemble convince reluctance odd notwithstanding colleague enormous compile depress whereby	levy nonetheless integrity adjacent ongoing albeit so-called straightforward likewise forthcoming