Damp

Damp = slightly wet, especially in a cold and unpleasant way: ‘Our hotel room felt cold and damp.’ ‘On damp days, we have to dry the washing indoors.’

Humid = warm and full of water vapour: ‘The air in tropical forests is extremely humid.’

Curiosity

Curiosity about sth: ‘The article was inspired by her curiosity about plants and medicine.’

Curious about/as to: ‘I’m curious as to how he knows our address.’ Curious to see/know etc.: ‘We’re all curious to see his new girlfriend.’

Cure

Provide a cure for (medicine) or a method or course of remedial treatment, as for disease: ‘Is there a cure for tuberculosis? Heal (provide a cure for): ‘The wound is healing slowly’ ‘The quack pretended to heal patients.’ Treat (Provide treatment for an injury, disease, sick person etc.): ‘The usual way of treating malaria is to give the patient large doses of quinine.’

Crime

Commit a crime (NOT do, make, perform): ‘Women commit far fewer crimes than men.’

A serious crime (NOT heavy): ‘The public are alarmed by the increase in serious crimes.’

Course

A course in/on sth (NOT of): ‘I’ve been attending an evening course in business studies.’ ‘I’m interested in doing a correspondence course in English and Maths.’ ‘There is also a two-day course on new technology for teachers.’

Contribute

Contribute (money or some other form of assistance) to sth: ‘In recent years a number of major corporations have contributed a large sum of money to the President’s campaign funds.’

Continual

Continual = happening for a long period of time, especially in a way that you find annoying: ‘That telephone has been ringing continually.’

Continuous = without any break or interruption: ‘Gas central heating provides a continuous supply of hot water.’

Conscious

(1) Fully aware of or sensitive to something (often followed by of): ‘He wasn't conscious of the gossip about his past.’ (2) Having the mental faculties fully active: ‘He was conscious during the operation.’ (3) Be conscious of sth: ‘I became conscious of the fact that I was being watched.’

Confirm

Confirm + direct object (WITHOUT me, us, them etc.)(To establish the truth or validity or to acknowledge with assurance):‘The witnesses confirmed the victim's account.’ ‘Could you please confirm whether you have received my order?’

Condition

When you describe the situation in which someone lives or works (existing circumstances), use conditions: ‘Latest reports from the capital suggest that the conditions there are getting worse.’ ‘How do they manage to survive in such a dreadful condition?’

In good condition/shape = physically fit and strong because you do exercise: ‘Most of the team had kept themselves in good condition during the summer months.’

To enquire about or refer to someone’s general state of health, use well or fit and well.

Comprehension

Comprehension refers to the ability to understand the meaning of something, especially, something that is spoken or written: ‘I want to develop my vocabulary and improve my listening comprehension.’ When you mean ‘an attitude of sympathy’, use understanding: ‘When it comes to the employees’ personal problems, the management shows a complete lack of understanding.’

Company

(1) An institution created to conduct business: ‘He invests in large, well-established companies only.’ (2) ‘Someone or something that stops you from feeling lonely or bored; companionship’ or the state of being with someone: ‘Whenever he goes off on a long trip, he takes his radio with him for company.’ ‘He missed their company.’

Collaboration

Collaboration comes from the verb collaborate (= work in partnership with someone on the same task, especially one of a scientific, artistic or industrial nature) or act of working jointly: ‘He was one of the scientists who had collaborated with Oppenheimer to produce the first atomic bomb.’

Classic

Classic = being among the best or most typical of its class; serving as a standard or model: ‘The painting is a classic example of sixteenth century Venetian art.’

Classical music = the music of Mozart, Beethoven, etc. ‘I prefer classical music to rock.’

Circumstance

Circumstance is nearly always used as a plural noun (WITH s) = A condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity: ‘The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.’ ‘Under normal circumstances, I would never have left my passport with a stranger.’

Choose

Choose between two (or a few) possibilities: ‘You have to choose between a beginner’s course and a more advance course.’

Make a selection from a large number of alternatives: ‘When it comes to wallpaper, there are hundreds of different patterns to choose from.’

Choose sb/sth (WITHOUT for): ‘The roses were too expensive so I choose the daffodils.’

Certificate

Certificate = an official document that states certain facts about someone: ‘A birth/marriage/death certificate’, ‘A certificate of health.’

Voucher = a kind of ticket that can be used instead of money: ‘a gift/luncheon/travel voucher.’

Change

(1)Make different; cause a transformation: ‘The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue.’(2)Undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature: ‘She changed completely as she grew older.’ ‘The weather changed last night.’ (3)Become different in some particular way: ‘Her mood changes in accordance with the weather.’(4)When you mean that someone or something is now different in some way, use change in: ‘The Prime Minister has made several changes in the Government.’

Catch up

Catch up (on/with sth) = do the things that you should have done before so that your work is up to date: ‘Why don’t you stay at home tonight and catch up on some of your homework?’

Case

In this/ that case = in these/those circumstances: ‘What shall I do if there are no trains?’ ‘In that case you’ll have to go by bus.’ In this/that respect = with regard to this/that point or detail: ‘The film is full of violence and in this respect is unsuitable for children.’

Take care

Take care= (1) look after: ‘Who’s going to take care of the dog while you’re away?’ (2) be careful or watchful to avoid something: ‘Take care when you cross the street!’(3) take care of or look after sb/sth or be in charge of or deal with: He takes care of the business after his father died.’ ‘She takes care of her mother.’

Capacity

Capacity = the power or quality that makes someone able to do, experience, give or receive something: ‘These children display an extraordinary capacity for learning.’ ‘Man’s capacity for love and generosity is unlimited.’

Cameraman

Cameraman = a person who is employed by a television or film company to operate a camera: ‘The cameraman had never shot a car chase before and needed the director’s advice.’

Bribe

A bribe (Not bribe money) = money or something valuable that is given to someone in an official position to persuade them to do something dishonest: ‘As a police officer, what would you do if someone offered you a bribe?’

Bored

(1) Be/get bored with (doing) sth: ‘I am bored with pasta and tomatoes – I want something different.’ ‘I got bored with reading book and went off to explore the town.’

Boring = If someone or something is boring/exciting/frightening/interesting (-ING), you feel bored/excited/frightened/interested (-ED): ‘The movie was terribly boring. Some of us were so bored that we fell asleep.’

For Scientific english editing and Medical Writing Services visit www.manuscriptedit.com

Between

Between is used when there are people or things on either side of someone or something: ‘The ball went straight between the rows of desks.’

Among (or amongst) is used when (at least three) people or things are considered as a group or mass: ‘I eventually found the photograph among a pile of old letters.’

For Scientific english editing and Medical Writing Services visit www.manuscriptedit.com