Study

The term is used to refer to the work that a student does at a college or university: ‘They are conducting a study of sex education in local secondary schools’. Use of studies: ‘After the war, he resumed his studies at the University of Cambridge’.

Suitable

Suitable (for) = right or appropriate for a particular purpose: ‘The film isn’t really suitable for children.’ ‘We’d like to give her the job but her qualifications aren’t suitable.’

Suited to = having the qualifications, experience, personality etc. that make you suitable for a particular job or situation: ‘Her interest in poetry makes her better suited to a literature course.’

Be fit to eat/drink/live in etc. = of the condition or quality of something; good enough for the stated purpose: ‘The house hadn’t been cleaned for months and wasn’t fit to live in.’

Unless

Unless = except on the condition that; except under the circumstances that: ‘That’s all for today unless anyone has any questions.’ ‘Don’t say anything unless you have to.’
When you are talking about something that is done as a precaution, use in case (NOT unless): ‘You should take a book with you in case you have to wait.’

Unknown

Unknown= (i) not known or identified: ‘There are still some unknown species of animals in the South American rainforests.’ (ii) not famous or acclaimed: ‘His music is unknown outside India.’ (iii) never happen or exist before: ‘The disease is yet unknown in India.’

Something that you yourself have not seen, heard, or experienced before is unfamiliar (to you): ‘The voice on the phone sounded unfamiliar.’ ‘It took Caroline some time to get used to her unfamiliar surroundings.’

Uniform

Uniform = clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification: ‘Some children hate having to wear their school uniform.’

Costume = a set of clothes worn by actors or public performers: ‘She used to work for a theatre company, designing and making costumes.’ ‘She won the prize for best costume.’

Stimulant

Stimulant= an agent (as a drug or substance), which makes the mind or body more active: ‘The caffeine in coffee acts as a stimulant.’

When you are not talking about drug or medicine, use stimulus (= something, which causes activity, growth, or greater effort): ‘The new textbook provided a good stimulus for both teachers and students.’

Storey

Storey is usually used to describe the structure of a building: ‘These office blocks are usually three or four storeys high.’ ‘A multistoried car park.’ ‘A detached two-storey house.’

When you are talking about where someone lives/works/goes etc., use floor: ‘My flat is on the seventh floor.’ ‘We took the lift up to the third floor.’

Stop

Stop sb/sth (from) doing sth (NOT to do) = prevent someone (from) doing something or restrain something from happening: ‘Her parents tried to stop her from going abroad.’

Stop doing sth (WITHOUT from) = put an end to a state or cease an activity: ‘It’s actually stopped raining at last.’ ‘Stop teasing your little sister.’

Stop doing sth = cease or discontinue an activity: ‘I stopped reading and turned out the light.’

Stop to do sth = halt or pause (in order to do something): ‘Although I was in a hurry, I stopped to talk to him.’

Statistic

Statistic (singular) refers to one piece of datum that can be represented numerically: ‘This terrible crime will soon become nothing more than a statistic in police records.’

Statistics (plural) refers to a set of data: ‘Statistics shows that the population has almost doubled in the last twenty years.’

Utterly

Utterly= carried to the utmost point or highest degree; absolutely, completely: ‘The entire building was utterly destroyed.’

Utterly is usually used with words that have a negative meaning or express strong disapproval such as (adjectives) ridiculous, absurd, irrelevant, useless, wrong, impossible; (adjectival participles) confused, amazed, dejected, ruined; (verbs) reject, detest, destroy: ‘This new tin opener is utterly useless.’ ‘The whole idea is utterly absurd.’ ‘I’m utterly amazed.’

Utterly is used informally as an intensifier.

Spread

Spread = (i) to make widely known: ‘Spread the news.’ (ii) to distribute over an area: ‘He spreads fertilizer in the land.’ (iii) disperse widely: ‘The invaders spread their language all over the country.’ (iv) to open out something from a closed or folded state, especially over a flat surface (WITH out): ‘Spread out the map.’ ‘Clothes were all spread out on the bed, ready to be packed.’

When you mean ‘grow, develop, or become increasingly common’ use spread (WITHOUT out): ‘They could not stop the fire from spreading.’

Speed

Speed= a rate at which something happens: ‘The project advanced in remarkable speed.’

Phases with speed are usually used in connection with vehicles and machines: ‘At the time of the crash, the train was travelling at full speed.’ ‘These cars are capable of very high speeds.’

At a particular speed (NOT with/in): ‘If we continue at this speed, we’ll be there in an hour.’

At great/ high/top/full/breakneck speed: ‘He jumped into the car and drove off at great speed.’

Spectator

Spectator = a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind or an event: ‘The new stadium can hold up to 60,000 spectators.’ ‘The applauded the performance.’

Solution

Solution = (i) a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation (NOT of): ‘Let us hope that there will be a peaceful solution to these problems.’ (ii) the process of dissolving a solid or gas in liquid: ‘She made a solution of baking soda and water.’ (iii) a liquid in which something is dissolved: ‘Saline solution.’

Snack

Snack = a light informal meal or something that you eat between regular meals: ‘Instead of going out to lunch, I usually have a quick snack in my office.’

Snack bar = a cafe or similar place where you can buy a light meal: ‘The snack bar gets very busy at lunchtime.’

Sink

Sink is used in connection with ships, boats, and objects, which go down and disappear beneath the surface of water: ‘The ship had been holed in the collision and was beginning to sink.’

Drown is used in connection with someone who dies because water stops them from breathing: ‘One of the boys had fallen into the river and drowned.’

Silent

Silent = (i) without any sound at all: ‘Apart from the regular ticking of the clock, the room was completely silent.’ (ii) not expressed with words or sounds: ‘They nodded in silent agreement.’

Quiet = without unwanted noise or activity; ‘peaceful: ‘After a few quite days in the countryside, we felt ready to face London again.’

Should

When talking about an imaginary situation, use should/would in the main clause after a first person subject: ‘I should/would accept the job if I were you.’

After a second or third person subject, use would in the main clause (NOT should): ‘He would accept the job if the salary were better.’

Shadow

Shadow = a dark shape that you see on a wall or surface when a light shines behind someone or something: ‘The setting sun cast long shadows down the beach.’

Shade = sheltered from the sun: ‘It’s too hot here. Let’s go and find some shade.’ ‘The branches provide plenty of shade.’

Separate

Separate = (i) act as a barrier or stand between: ‘The river separates the two cities.’ (ii) pull apart by force: ‘He separated the fighting children.’ (iii) place or keep (people or things) apart from one another: ‘Break an egg into a bowl and separate the white from the yolk.’ (iv) move apart: ‘The friends separated after the party.’

Divide = cause something to consist of (or be seen as) a number of parts, groups, sections etc.: ‘The manufacturing process is divided into three stages.’

Seek

Seek= (i) to look for somebody or something: ‘The office is seeking for a salesperson.’ (ii) try to accomplish something: ‘He is currently seeking new ways of expanding his business.’ (iii) inquire for or ask somebody for something: ‘He sought legal advice to solve the land dispute.’

Seek is used mainly in formal styles. Use search for (and seek) only when someone or something is very difficult to find: ‘Investigators are still searching for clues as to the cause of the crash.’

Otherwise, use look for: ‘I’ll stay here with the bags while you go and look for a taxi.’

Scientific

Scientific = something of or relating to the practice of science; confirming with the principles or methods used in science: ‘Many scientific research projects are funded by the private sector.’ ‘We still don’t have a scientific explanation for these mysterious events.’

When you mean ‘used for, devoted to, based on or specializing in science’, use science + noun: ‘a new science laboratory’, ‘a science lesson’, ‘science fiction.’

Save

Save (as a verb) = (i) to keep somebody/something safe from death, harm, or loss etc.: ‘This new drug is likely to save hundreds of lives.’ ‘He is trying to save their marriage.’ (ii) to keep up, reserve or accumulate for future use: ‘Save some money for future.’ (iii) to avoid unnecessary waste or expense: ‘This will save a lot of time.’ (iv) record data on computer: ‘Save all the data carefully.’

Safe (adjective) = free from danger or the risk of harm: ‘Since the break-in, I never feel safe in the house.’ ‘You should keep your passport somewhere safe.’

Salute

Salute= (i) to greet or address with an expression of welcome, goodwill, or respect: ‘The players salute the fans.’ (ii) express commendation or admiration: ‘I salute your bravery.’ (iii) make a formal sign of respect, especially by raising the right arm (of member of the armed forces): ‘Always salute a superior officer.’

Welcome = to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality: ‘The visitors were welcomed at reception and shown where to go.’

Roof

Roof = a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building: ‘If the rain is coming in, there must be a hole in the roof.’ ‘All the rooves were covered in snow.’

Ceiling = the top inside surface of a room: ‘When he stands on tip-toe, he can almost touch the ceiling.’ ‘The house has a low ceiling.’

Richness

Richness = (1) magnificently impressive; sumptuous; the quality of having high intrinsic value: ‘She is impressed by the richness of the flora.’ ‘This color of her clothes and richness of fabric are distinctive.’ (2) if someone has a large has large amount of money, property etc., they are very wealthy or have considerable wealth (NOT richness): ‘The country’s wealth is in the hands of a small minority.’