Meera from Thrissur wrote “governments must do efforts to reduce the crimes”. Every word was correct, but the combinations weren’t.

Collocations are words that naturally go together, like make an effort or heavy traffic. The Band 7 Writing descriptor mentions awareness of collocation, so learning words with their usual partners is a practical way to sound natural.

What the Descriptors Say About Collocation

The key assessment criteria for Writing list “the control and use of collocations” under Lexical Resource. The public Band 7 descriptor says an awareness of style and collocation is evident, though inappropriacies occur.

The Speaking descriptors use the same words at Band 7, so collocation matters in both skills. At Band 8, the Writing descriptor mentions skilful use of uncommon and idiomatic items when appropriate, despite occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.

Essay Collocations by Topic

Grouping collocations by topic keeps them tied to the essays you will write. Each phrase below appears in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary.

Topic Verb + noun Adjective + noun
Education pursue a degree, gain knowledge tertiary education, vocational training
Environment protect the environment, reduce carbon emissions environmental degradation, renewable energy
Health adopt a healthy lifestyle, combat disease balanced diet, mental health
Technology access information, bridge the digital divide technological change, artificial intelligence
Work enter the labour market, seek employment flexible working hours, heavy workload
Crime commit a crime, enforce the law violent crime, custodial sentence

Many entries carry a preposition as well, such as “a degree in biochemistry” and “access to information”. Use these phrases as models for what you mean, not as a list to force into every essay.

Common Collocation Errors

Some unnatural pairings can come from translating word for word from another language. In each pair below, the ✅ phrase is the one the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary lists.

Incorrect: “Governments must do efforts.”

Correct: Governments must make an effort.

Effort goes with make, not do.

Incorrect: “There was strong rain yesterday.”

Correct: There was heavy rain yesterday.

Rain is heavy, while wind is strong.

A standard variant is not an error. The same dictionary lists “decisions have been taken” as British English, so “take a decision” is standard there alongside “make a decision”. Our post on general collocations in English covers make and do, adjective + noun and learning in chunks.

How to Learn Collocations

Note the whole phrase, not the single word. When you meet a new word, read the example sentences in a learner’s dictionary, as our guide to using a dictionary explains.

For example, the entry for “effort” shows “make an effort” and “make a concerted effort”, and adjectives such as determined, conscious and special. One entry gives you a verb and three adjectives to reuse.

Prepositions are part of many collocations too, such as “addicted to” or “reliance on”. Our lesson on dependent prepositions covers verb + preposition and noun + preposition pairs.

Tip

When you learn a new noun for essays, write down two verbs and two adjectives that go with it.

Try It

Correct the unnatural collocation in each sentence.

  1. Many university graduates struggle to make employment after leaving college.
  2. Stricter environmental policies will do a big difference to local air quality.
  3. The city council must do measures to reduce juvenile delinquency.
  4. Eating fast food daily can have deep consequences for cardiovascular health.
  5. Law enforcement agencies work hard to fight with crime in urban districts.
  6. Schools should encourage children to make regular exercise.
Show sample answer
  1. find employment (or secure employment): you find or secure work, you do not make it.
  2. make a big difference: “make a difference” is the fixed phrase.
  3. take measures (or take action): the dictionary lists take action, steps and measures.
  4. serious consequences: “deep” does not go with consequences.
  5. fight crime: no preposition follows “fight” here.
  6. do regular exercise (or take regular exercise, in British English): exercise goes with do or take, not make.

Key Takeaways

  • Collocations are words that naturally go together in English.
  • The Band 7 Writing descriptor mentions awareness of style and collocation.
  • Grouping phrases by topic helps you reuse them in essays.
  • Standard British variants, such as “take a decision”, are not errors.

The bottom line: Writing down the phrase instead of the word is the habit that builds natural combinations.