🔶 Part 1 — Tutorial

Step 1 — Analyse the task & define both sides (Advantages vs Disadvantages • Outweigh)

Read the prompt twice and underline the task focus and decision verb: “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”; this requires a judgement, not only a list. Identify the topic scope precisely: here it is owning a car, which covers personal convenience, costs and wider impacts (traffic, pollution). Generate two developable advantages: for instance, point A (reliable door-to-door mobility and time saved versus public transport unreliability) and point B (family logistics and access to work/education in poorly served areas). Generate two developable disadvantages: e.g., point C (financial burden — purchase, insurance, maintenance, fuel, parking, depreciation) and point D (social/environmental costs — congestion, emissions, road safety concerns). Decide your weighing criteria early: are you judging mainly at the individual level (time, flexibility, affordability) or also integrating societal effects? Choose a stance that you can justify consistently (e.g., “advantages slightly outweigh disadvantages for many households provided costs are manageable” or the reverse). Note target length (~270–310 words) and time plan (8–9 mins plan, 25–28 write, 3–4 check). Avoid vague generalisations (“cars are always essential”); prefer conditional claims (“in regions with limited transit, car ownership can be decisive”). Keep examples micro-sized, realistic and one-line long. Avoid drifting into a problem–solution or discussion essay; your job is to compare weight and take a clear position. Finally, list a few measurement words you can use to signal weight: “carry more weight,” “offset,” “to a large extent,” “marginal for,” “conditional on income/area.”

Example Box — Decoding the Prompt (Car Ownership • Outweigh)

Prompt: “Owning a car is still a goal for many people. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”
Focus: Present both sides then judge which side is stronger and explain why.
Typical angles: Advantages → reliability, time saved, access for families/shift workers; Disadvantages → cost burden, congestion, pollution, parking stress.
Pitfall: Listing many ideas without an explicit weighing line or a clear, consistent stance.

Step 2 — Plan a clear structure & argument flow

Use a four- or five-paragraph structure for control and balance. In the introduction, paraphrase the statement briefly and state a thesis that answers the weigh question (“on balance, advantages outweigh setbacks because …” / “drawbacks predominate due to …”). In Body 1, develop the advantages with a labelled topic sentence, then build a reason → mechanism → micro-example chain: e.g., “private cars provide door-to-door reliability, which compresses total travel time and enables childcare pickups; for instance, shift workers can reach late-night shifts when buses are infrequent.” In Body 2, mirror the structure for the disadvantages (financial strain, urban externalities), again with a concise example (insurance plus fuel spikes strain low-income households; parking scarcity wastes time). Insert an evaluation line either at the end of Body 2 or as a short bridge paragraph to compare weight explicitly (“although costs and emissions are real, for households outside dense transit corridors the reliability gains often carry more weight”). The conclusion restates the judgement in fresh language and synthesises the key criterion/condition that drives your verdict (e.g., transit quality, income, urban form). Keep parallelism between bodies so the examiner can see a fair comparison before you decide. Avoid adding new ideas in the conclusion; synthesise instead.

Example Box — Skeleton Plan (Car Ownership • Outweigh)

Intro: Paraphrase + clear thesis answering “outweigh?”.
Body 1 (Advantages): reliability/time + family/access → micro-example.
Body 2 (Disadvantages): cost burden + congestion/emissions → micro-example.
Evaluation: One sentence weighing which side is stronger and why.
Conclusion: Restate judgement + condition(s) (e.g., transit quality / income level).

Step 3 — Write balanced, high-impact paragraphs

Start each body paragraph with a labelled topic sentence so the examiner instantly sees which side you are covering. Turn reasons into mechanisms rather than slogans: “car availability compresses ‘first/last-mile’ gaps, enabling predictable arrival times,” not just “cars are convenient.” Keep micro-examples realistic and one line long (e.g., “a parent combining school drop-off with work travel”). Use evaluative lexis to compare weight: “carry more weight,” “are decisive for,” “tend to be offset by,” “remain marginal when…”. Employ balanced concessions inside paragraphs (“while insurance premiums are significant, car-sharing or fuel-efficient models can mitigate costs”). Maintain register (formal, objective) until your judgement lines, which can be mildly persuasive but still evidence-based. Vary sentence types (one concise sentence followed by a complex one) to keep rhythm. Avoid unprovable statistics; stay with logical chains and plausible illustrations. Tie each paragraph back to the question by showing who benefits or suffers (shift workers vs city-centre residents), which makes the final weighing credible. End Body 2 with a crisp comparison sentence that prepares the conclusion without repeating everything.

Example Box — High-impact Sentences (Car Ownership)

Thesis (advantages outweigh): “On balance, the advantages of car ownership outweigh its drawbacks, chiefly because reliable door-to-door mobility saves time and expands access where public transport is thin.”
Thesis (disadvantages outweigh): “Overall, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, since rising costs and urban congestion erode most of the convenience cars promise.”
Advantage topic: “Car ownership offers predictable, door-to-door travel that compresses total journey time and supports complex family schedules.”
Disadvantage topic: “However, owning a private vehicle imposes heavy, recurring costs and contributes to congestion and emissions.”
Evaluation line: “For households outside dense transit corridors, reliability often carries more weight than cost, provided the vehicle is economical.”
Conclusion line: “Therefore, while costs and externalities are non-trivial, the mobility gains are decisive in many contexts.”

Step 4 — Language, cohesion, and accuracy

Select precise lexis for mobility and cost: private vehicle ownership, upfront cost, running costs, insurance premiums, maintenance, depreciation, congestion, emissions, curbside parking, last-mile gap, service frequency. Use weighing connectors: while, whereas, despite, nevertheless, on balance, to a large extent, carry more weight than, are offset by. Build reason → mechanism → example chains to show development. Keep referencing tight (“these costs,” “such trade-offs”). Avoid over-signposting with “firstly/secondly” in every sentence; vary with subordinate clauses and participles. Check articles and countability (traffic uncountable; many costs countable). Manage comparatives/superlatives accurately (more reliable than, the most significant drawback). Control hedging to sound academic (e.g., “to a large extent,” “in many urban areas”). Proofread for punctuation in complex sentences (comma after long adverbial clauses). Aim for ~280–310 words and ensure the judgement appears in both the thesis and the conclusion.

Example Box — Quick Quality Checks

Task: Is there a clear verdict on “outweigh”?
Balance: Are both sides explained before judging?
Development: Reason → mechanism → micro-example present?
Evaluation: Is there an explicit weighing line?
Accuracy: Articles, prepositions, comparatives correct?

Universal Fill-in-the-Gap Template — Advantages vs Disadvantages (Outweigh)

Adapt to car ownership by replacing […]. Keep sentences concise and finish with a clear verdict.

Sentence-by-Sentence Scaffold (Car Ownership)

Intro S1 (Paraphrase): Many people still regard owning a car as an important goal.

Intro S2 (Thesis): This essay argues that the advantages [outweigh / do not outweigh] the disadvantages because […].

Body 1 S3 (Advantage — topic): A key benefit is [… e.g., reliable door-to-door mobility …].

Body 1 S4 (Explain): [… mechanism …] which means [… concrete outcome …].

Body 1 S5 (Micro-example): For example, [… one-line plausible illustration …].

Body 1 S6 (Link back): Therefore, for people who prioritise […], car ownership is highly valuable.

Body 2 S7 (Disadvantage — topic): Nevertheless, there are notable drawbacks such as [… e.g., costs/emissions …].

Body 2 S8 (Explain): [… mechanism …] leading to [… impact on households/cities …].

Body 2 S9 (Micro-example): For instance, [… concise illustration …].

Body 2 S10 (Link back): Thus, for [… group/context …], these drawbacks are significant.

Evaluation S11 (Weighing): On balance, although [… disadvantage …], [… advantage …] carries more weight because […].

Conclusion S12 (Restate verdict): In summary, the advantages [outweigh / are outweighed by] the disadvantages.

Conclusion S13 (Condition/Synthesis): This judgement holds especially when [… condition, e.g., transit is limited / vehicles are economical …].

Paraphrase & Thesis — Ready-to-adapt Samples (Car Ownership)

Paraphrase Options

P1: Many individuals still aspire to own a private vehicle.
P2: Despite changing transport options, owning a car remains a common ambition.

Thesis/Opinion Options

Advantages outweigh: While costs and congestion matter, the reliability and flexibility of cars are more decisive for many households.
Disadvantages outweigh: Rising ownership costs and urban externalities now undermine most of the convenience cars promise.
Conditional: The balance depends on context: advantages dominate where public transport is limited, but disadvantages prevail in dense, well-served cities.

🔷 Part 2 — Task

[IELTS Academic] [Writing Task 2] — Advantages vs Disadvantages (Outweigh)

New Task Question

Question: With the rise of remote work, increasing numbers of employees work from home. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Write at least 250 words.

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🔶 Part 3 — Sample Answers & Explanations

Band 6 Sample Answer (≈280–300 words)

On the one hand, many people think working from home is attractive, and in my view the benefits are slightly stronger than the drawbacks. As remote work becomes normal in many companies, employees can manage their day in a more flexible way. This essay argues that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because home working saves commuting time and improves work–life balance for a large group of workers. A major advantage is reliable time management. When people do not travel to an office, they can start earlier or later according to their tasks, which means they avoid traffic and crowded public transport. For example, a parent may drop a child at school and still begin work on time because the laptop is at home. Furthermore, fewer interruptions from colleagues often make it easier to focus on deep tasks. Therefore, productivity can rise if workers plan their day carefully. However, there are clear drawbacks. Some employees feel isolated and miss informal support from teammates. In addition, communication can become slower when everything is by chat or email, and misunderstandings sometimes happen. Another problem is that not everyone has a quiet space at home, so meetings are disturbed by background noise. These issues are significant for new staff who still need training. Even so, on balance the advantages carry more weight. Although there are social and communication difficulties, time saved from commuting can be used for rest, exercise, or family duties, which often reduces stress. In summary, the benefits of remote work outweigh the downsides for many roles, especially when companies provide equipment, clear schedules, and occasional days in the office.

Why this is Band 6 (Explanation)

1) The introduction paraphrases the question and gives a direct opinion (“advantages outweigh”), which addresses Task Response. 2) Both sides are presented: advantages (time, flexibility, productivity) and disadvantages (isolation, communication, home environment). 3) Development is straightforward, using simple cause-and-effect links (“which means…”, “therefore…”). 4) Examples are brief and realistic (parent drop-off scenario), supporting ideas without statistics. 5) The argument is generally clear but sometimes repetitive; topic sentences could be more specific. 6) The weighing line appears in the penultimate paragraph and the conclusion, satisfying the “outweigh” requirement. 7) Cohesion is maintained with basic connectors (“however”, “even so”, “in summary”), though referencing could be tighter. 8) Paragraphing follows a standard four-paragraph layout, which examiners can follow easily. 9) Lexical Resource is adequate and mostly topic-appropriate (commuting, interruptions, background noise). 10) There is some limited range in evaluative vocabulary (“carry more weight”), but more variety would help. 11) Grammar shows control of simple and some complex structures, but sentences are mostly short and safe. 12) Occasional awkward collocations remain (“becomes normal”), though meaning is always clear. 13) Condition lines are brief (“especially when companies provide…”), which helps completeness. 14) The conclusion restates the judgement without adding new ideas. 15) Overall, this meets Band 6 features: clear position, relevant ideas, some development, but limited sophistication and occasional repetition.

Band 7 Sample Answer (≈290–320 words)

As remote work becomes a mainstream option, many employees now complete their duties from home. This essay argues that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because flexible scheduling and autonomy tend to lift productivity while commuting time is eliminated. The first key advantage is control over time and attention. Without travel, workers can align demanding tasks with their personal peak hours, which often increases output and reduces stress. For instance, an analyst might schedule deep-focus work early in the morning and push routine emails to the afternoon. In addition, remote settings can reduce unnecessary meetings and office distractions, allowing employees to concentrate on measurable results rather than performative presence. Consequently, when expectations are clear, home working frequently improves performance and work–life balance. Admittedly, remote arrangements create meaningful drawbacks. Isolation can undermine morale, and new hires may struggle to learn unwritten team norms. Communication depends heavily on digital tools; if messages are poorly structured, delays and confusion follow. Moreover, households vary: not everyone has a quiet, ergonomic workspace, which can damage health and professionalism. These are non-trivial issues that can limit the benefits. On balance, however, the advantages carry greater weight in many roles. The removal of a lengthy commute returns several hours each week, time that can be reinvested in rest or development. Companies can mitigate the main drawbacks by using structured check-ins, shared documentation, and periodic in-person days. In summary, while remote work is not ideal for every job, its flexibility and time savings mean that the benefits generally outweigh the costs when organisations manage communication and support deliberately.

Why this is Band 7 (Explanation)

1) The thesis clearly answers the weigh question and names two controlling ideas (flexibility/autonomy + no commute). 2) Body 1 develops a reason → mechanism → example chain, demonstrating logical progression. 3) Concrete micro-example (analyst scheduling) adds credibility without distracting detail. 4) Evaluative vocabulary appears (“performative presence”, “measurable results”), signalling stronger Lexical Resource. 5) Cohesion uses variety: cause, contrast, consequence, and summary devices. 6) Paragraphs are balanced in length and function, aiding overall coherence. 7) Disadvantages are treated fairly (isolation, onboarding, workspace quality), fulfilling the “both sides before judging” principle. 8) The weighing line appears explicitly in the final body paragraph (“advantages carry greater weight”). 9) The conclusion synthesises the verdict with a clear condition (“when organisations manage communication and support”). 10) Grammatical range includes complex sentences, correct subordination, and controlled punctuation. 11) Referencing is accurate (“these are non-trivial issues”), improving cohesion. 12) The register is formal and consistent, appropriate for an academic essay. 13) No reliance on invented statistics; argument rests on plausible mechanisms. 14) Topic vocabulary is precise (ergonomic, structured check-ins, documentation). 15) Errors are minor/occasional; overall control supports Band 7 descriptors.

Band 8+ Sample Answer (≈300–330 words)

Although remote work is not universally appropriate, its benefits generally outweigh its drawbacks because it converts wasted commuting hours into productive or restorative time and gives knowledge workers greater control over their attention. On the advantages side, home working enables predictable, door-to-door efficiency: the “first and last mile” disappears, so people can match cognitively demanding tasks with their peak concentration. This often compresses deadlines and reduces burnout. A software engineer, for instance, can complete complex debugging before 9 a.m. and reserve collaborative work for a scheduled online window. Moreover, remote settings naturally emphasise outcomes over optics; when goals are visible and tools are shared, employees are rewarded for results rather than proximity to a manager’s desk. In that environment, autonomy and accountability reinforce each other. Yet the costs are real. New colleagues absorb culture more slowly without corridor conversations, and uneven home offices can harm health and professionalism. Communication frictions emerge if teams rely on long, ambiguous messages or meeting-heavy days. Left unmanaged, these factors erode the gains of flexibility. Even so, the balance tilts towards advantage where two conditions hold: expectations are codified, and teams invest in rhythm. Codification means concise documentation, clear service levels for replies, and explicit availability windows. Rhythm means intentional rituals—weekly problem-solving sessions, quarterly meetups, and brief daily check-ins—that maintain social glue. Under those conditions, the time savings and autonomy typically carry more weight than isolation and coordination costs. In conclusion, while remote work introduces non-trivial risks, its capacity to return hours to workers and to align effort with attention makes it a net positive in many roles. Organisations that design communication deliberately and provide ergonomic support can capture most of the upside while containing the downsides.

Why this is Band 8+ (Explanation)

1) The introduction presents a nuanced stance and a precise rationale linked to the weigh question. 2) Body 1 moves from principle to mechanism to example, demonstrating sophisticated development. 3) Lexis is precise and academic (“first and last mile”, “outcomes over optics”, “codified expectations”). 4) Collocations are strong and natural (“compresses deadlines”, “erode the gains”, “social glue”). 5) The example is compact and discipline-specific, supporting plausibility without digression. 6) Complex sentences are used flexibly with accurate punctuation. 7) Cohesion relies on implicit logical relations and accurate referencing, not over-signposting. 8) Concessions are proportionate; disadvantages are acknowledged with concrete mechanisms (culture absorption, ergonomics, communication load). 9) The weighing step is explicit and conditional (“where two conditions hold…”), showing evaluation rather than mere listing. 10) Paragraphing is purposeful, with an evaluation bridge leading to the conclusion. 11) The conclusion synthesises judgement and conditions, avoiding new ideas. 12) Register is consistently formal and precise, appropriate for test conditions. 13) Logical sequencing and lexical variety support clarity and emphasis. 14) No speculative statistics are used; claims rest on mechanisms and reasonable scenarios. 15) Overall control of grammar and vocabulary aligns with Band 8+ descriptors: very good cohesion, flexible range, and rare slips.

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🔷 Part 4 — Vocabulary (10 Key Words)

Key Vocabulary from the Task

This section teaches ten high-value words frequently used when discussing remote work and “advantages vs disadvantages” essays. Each item includes IPA (BrE/AmE), part(s) of speech, patterns, a clear definition, an example with a short gloss, useful synonyms, and common learner mistakes.

1) commute BrE /kəˈmjuːt/ • AmE /kəˈmjut/

verb noun

Patterns: commute (from A) to B; a long/short commute.

Definition: to travel regularly between home and workplace; the journey itself.

Example: “Remote work removes the daily commute, saving at least an hour.” — (gloss: cutting travel time improves productivity.)

Synonyms: travel to work; daily journey.

Common mistakes: ❌ “Do a commute” → ✅ “have a commute / commute”; ❌ “commute to home” → ✅ “commute to work”.

2) autonomy BrE /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ • AmE /ɔːˈtɑːnəmi/

noun (U)

Patterns: autonomy in doing sth; grant/offer autonomy.

Definition: the freedom to organise your own work and make decisions without constant supervision.

Example: “Remote policies can increase autonomy in scheduling complex tasks.” — (gloss: workers choose when/how to work.)

Synonyms: independence; self-direction.

Common mistakes: ❌ “an autonomy” (uncountable) → ✅ “greater autonomy”.

3) productivity BrE /ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvɪti/ • AmE /ˌproʊdʌkˈtɪvɪti/

noun (U)

Patterns: boost/harm productivity; productivity gains/losses.

Definition: the rate at which useful work is produced, especially compared with time or resources used.

Example: “Quiet home offices may lead to measurable productivity gains.” — (gloss: output increases per hour.)

Synonyms: output; efficiency (not identical but related).

Common mistakes: ❌ “do productivity” → ✅ “increase/improve productivity”.

4) ergonomic BrE /ˌɜːɡəˈnɒmɪk/ • AmE /ˌɜːrɡəˈnɑːmɪk/

adjective

Patterns: ergonomic chair/desk/setup; ergonomic design.

Definition: designed for efficiency and comfort, reducing physical strain.

Example: “Companies should provide an ergonomic setup to prevent back pain.” — (gloss: safe furniture avoids injury.)

Synonyms: user-friendly; posture-safe (informal).

Common mistakes: ❌ “ergonomics chair” → ✅ “ergonomic chair”.

5) isolation BrE/AmE /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

noun (U)

Patterns: feel/work in isolation; social/professional isolation.

Definition: a state of being separated from others, which can reduce support and morale.

Example: “Full-time home workers may suffer from isolation without regular check-ins.” — (gloss: fewer social contacts.)

Synonyms: solitude (neutral/positive); loneliness (negative nuance).

Common mistakes: ❌ “an isolation” (uncountable) → ✅ “experience isolation”.

6) onboarding BrE /ˈɒnbɔːdɪŋ/ • AmE /ˈɑːnbɔːrdɪŋ/

noun (U)

Patterns: remote onboarding; streamline/strengthen onboarding.

Definition: the process of integrating a new employee into a company’s systems, culture, and workflows.

Example: “Clear documentation makes onboarding faster for remote hires.” — (gloss: new staff learn quicker.)

Synonyms: induction; orientation.

Common mistakes: ❌ “an onboarding” → ✅ “the onboarding process”.

7) documentation BrE /ˌdɒkjʊmenˈteɪʃn/ • AmE /ˌdɑːkjʊmenˈteɪʃn/

noun (U)

Patterns: maintain/share documentation; documentation on/about sth.

Definition: written records that explain procedures, decisions, or systems so others can work independently.

Example: “Good documentation reduces meeting time by answering routine questions.” — (gloss: text replaces calls.)

Synonyms: written guidance; reference materials.

Common mistakes: ❌ pluralise unnecessarily (“documentations”) → ✅ uncountable “documentation”.

8) synchronous BrE/AmE /ˈsɪŋkrənəs/

adjective

Patterns: synchronous communication/meetings; work synchronously.

Definition: happening at the same time for participants (e.g., live meetings or calls).

Example: “Use synchronous calls for complex decisions that need quick feedback.” — (gloss: live talk solves issues fast.)

Synonyms: real-time; live.

Common mistakes: ❌ spelling “syncronous” → ✅ “synchronous”.

9) asynchronous BrE/AmE /eɪˈsɪŋkrənəs/

adjective

Patterns: asynchronous updates/workflows; communicate asynchronously.

Definition: not happening at the same time; people respond when available (e.g., email, shared docs).

Example: “Document choices so teams can collaborate asynchronously across time zones.” — (gloss: no need to be online together.)

Synonyms: staggered; time-shifted (contextual).

Common mistakes: ❌ “asyncronous” (spelling) → ✅ “asynchronous”.

10) accountability BrE/AmE /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/

noun (U)

Patterns: accountability for results; build/ensure accountability.

Definition: responsibility for outcomes, with a duty to explain actions and meet agreed goals.

Example: “Clear goals increase accountability in distributed teams.” — (gloss: people own the result.)

Synonyms: responsibility; answerability.

Common mistakes: ❌ “…for doing a mistake” → ✅ “…for a mistake / for making a mistake”.

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🔶 Part 5 — Phrases & Expressions (10 Items)

Useful Expressions for the “Outweigh” Essay (Remote Work Topic)

Each item includes BrE/AmE IPA, part(s) of speech, patterns, a clear definition, an example with a short gloss, common synonyms, and typical mistakes to avoid. Boxes use a dark-blue outline to match your template.

1) work–life balance BrE /ˌwɜːk ˈlaɪf ˌbæl.əns/ • AmE /ˈwɝːk ˌlaɪf ˌbæl.əns/

noun (U)

Patterns: improve/undermine work–life balance; seek a better work–life balance.

Definition: the degree to which someone can manage work duties and personal life without excessive stress.

Example: “Remote schedules can strengthen work–life balance by removing daily travel.” — (gloss: less commuting → more time for life.)

Synonyms: life–work harmony; work–life integration (contextual).

Common mistakes: ❌ “work and life balance” → ✅ “work–life balance”.

2) carry more weight than BrE/AmE /ˈkæri mɔː(r) weɪt ðæn/

verb phrase

Patterns: A carries more weight than B; carry greater weight.

Definition: to be more important or persuasive than something else in a comparison.

Example: “For many roles, time savings carry more weight than the risk of isolation.” — (gloss: benefits are stronger.)

Synonyms: outweigh; matter more than.

Common mistakes: ❌ “carry more weight from” → ✅ “carry more weight than”.

3) door-to-door BrE /ˌdɔː tə ˈdɔː/ • AmE /ˌdɔːr tə ˈdɔːr/

adj adv

Patterns: door-to-door travel/time; work door-to-door (as adverbial).

Definition: covering the whole trip from one’s home to the destination without intermediate stages.

Example: “Home working eliminates door-to-door travel altogether.” — (gloss: the whole journey disappears.)

Synonyms: end-to-end; point-to-point.

Common mistakes: ❌ “door to door” (write with hyphens in formal text) → ✅ “door-to-door”.

4) time savings BrE/AmE /taɪm ˈseɪvɪŋz/

plural noun

Patterns: generate/realise time savings; significant time savings.

Definition: minutes or hours saved when a process becomes faster or a step is removed.

Example: “Skipping rush-hour commuting results in substantial time savings each week.” — (gloss: many hours returned.)

Synonyms: saved hours; reduced time cost.

Common mistakes: ❌ singular “a time saving” (awkward) → ✅ “time savings”.

5) on balance BrE /ɒn ˈbæl.əns/ • AmE /ɑːn ˈbæl.əns/

linking phrase

Patterns: sentence adverbial: On balance, …

Definition: considering all the advantages and disadvantages together; overall.

Example: “On balance, remote work benefits most knowledge workers.” — (gloss: overall judgement.)

Synonyms: overall; all things considered.

Common mistakes: ❌ “in balance” → ✅ “on balance”.

6) to a large extent BrE/AmE /tu ə lɑː(d)ʒ ɪkˈstent/

adverbial phrase

Patterns: clause adverbial: To a large extent, X depends on Y.

Definition: in many or most cases; mainly.

Example: “Success at home working to a large extent depends on clear goals.” — (gloss: mainly determined by goals.)

Synonyms: largely; predominantly.

Common mistakes: ❌ “in a large extent” → ✅ “to a large extent”.

7) trade-off BrE /ˈtreɪd ˌɒf/ • AmE /ˈtreɪd ˌɔːf/

noun (C)

Patterns: a trade-off between A and B; accept/weigh trade-offs.

Definition: a situation where gaining one thing means losing or reducing another.

Example: “There is a trade-off between flexibility and spontaneous team learning.” — (gloss: gain flexibility, lose informal learning.)

Synonyms: compromise; balancing act.

Common mistakes: ❌ “trade of” (spelling) → ✅ “trade-off”.

8) mitigate (the) costs BrE /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ • AmE /ˈmɪt̬ɪɡeɪt/

verb phrase

Patterns: mitigate costs/risks/impacts; mitigate the cost of X.

Definition: to make something bad less severe.

Example: “Equipment stipends can mitigate the costs of setting up a home office.” — (gloss: reduce the expense.)

Synonyms: reduce; lessen; alleviate.

Common mistakes: ❌ “mitigate against” (wrong) → ✅ “mitigate something”.

9) first/last-mile BrE/AmE /fɜː(st)/læst ˈmaɪl/

noun adj

Patterns: first-mile problem; last-mile connection/gap.

Definition: the initial/final part of a journey or process that is often slow or inefficient.

Example: “Home working removes the last-mile gap between transit stops and offices.” — (gloss: no need to walk/transfer.)

Synonyms: end-segment; final leg.

Common mistakes: ❌ missing hyphen → ✅ “last-mile”.

10) outcomes over optics BrE/AmE /ˈaʊtˌkʌmz ˈoʊvər ˈɒp.tɪks/

idiomatic noun phrase

Patterns: prioritise outcomes over optics; a culture of outcomes over optics.

Definition: valuing real results more than appearances (e.g., being seen at a desk).

Example: “Distributed teams should reward outcomes over optics to keep performance fair.” — (gloss: judge results, not visibility.)

Synonyms: results first; substance over show.

Common mistakes: ❌ “outcome over optic” (singular/wording) → ✅ “outcomes over optics”.

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