Precision & Nuance
At C2, a single word choice can shift meaning, tone, and credibility. In this unit, students sharpen precision through collocations, careful idiom choice, and systematic ambiguity elimination—editing text until it says exactly what it should.
SWBAT (Objectives)
- Use high-frequency collocations accurately in formal and informal contexts.
- Choose idioms appropriately (audience, register, clarity) and avoid forced idioms.
- Identify and eliminate ambiguity (pronoun reference, modifier placement, vague wording).
- Edit sentences for precision: stronger verbs, tighter meaning, fewer “filler” words.
- Maintain tone while improving clarity and nuance in a full paragraph.
Collocations (Natural English at C2)
Collocations are “word partnerships” that sound natural (e.g., raise concerns, reach a conclusion). At C2, collocation errors stand out more than grammar mistakes.
pose a challenge · address an issue · draw a distinction
take responsibility · mitigate risk · meet a deadline
conduct research · reach consensus · make a compelling case
❌ “do a decision” → ✅ “make a decision”
❌ “strong rain” → ✅ “heavy rain”
❌ “big influence” (ok) → ✅ “significant influence” (formal)
Idiom Choice (Clarity First)
- Use idioms when they add clarity or impact—not “decoration.”
- Match register (avoid casual idioms in academic writing).
- Avoid culture-heavy idioms if your audience is international.
- Prefer “transparent” idioms that are easy to infer.
✅ transparent: in the long run, draw the line, the bigger picture
⚠️ culture-heavy: hit it out of the park, Monday morning quarterback
⚠️ unclear without context: move the needle, boil the ocean
If an idiom could confuse someone, replace it with a literal paraphrase and keep the tone.
Ambiguity Elimination (Say What You Mean)
- Pronouns: “it/they/this” (unclear reference)
- Modifiers: “only,” “almost,” “just” (misplaced)
- Vague nouns: “thing,” “stuff,” “issue,” “problem” (unspecified)
- Time/quantity: “soon,” “a lot,” “recently” (unbounded)
❌ “They said it will be fixed soon.”
✅ “The vendor said the login bug will be fixed by Friday.”
❌ “We discussed the plan with the manager and she agreed.”
✅ “We discussed the rollout plan with Ms. Patel, and she approved it.”
Editing Toolkit (C2 Precision Pass)
What is the exact claim? What must stay true? What can be cut without losing meaning?
Replace weak verbs (do/make/get) with precise verbs (resolve/secure/implement). Tighten nouns. Remove vague time words.
Check collocations, article use, and rhythm. Read aloud for awkward phrasing.
Practice (Editing + Vocabulary)
Replace unnatural combinations with natural collocations while keeping tone.
Decide: keep / replace / paraphrase. Justify choice by audience and register.
Fix pronoun reference, “only” placement, vague quantities, and unclear timelines.
Final Task: Precision Rewrite Portfolio
- Reduce a 220–260 word text to 170–210 words.
- Keep all key facts; remove redundancy and vagueness.
- Upgrade 10+ weak verbs/nouns to precise alternatives.
- Correct 12 collocations in a flawed text.
- Explain 3 choices (why this collocation fits).
- Eliminate 8 ambiguities (pronouns/modifiers/vague time).
- Produce a “clean” final paragraph (publishable clarity).
Materials & Downloads
- Unit 3 Slides — PPTX
- Collocations Pack — PDF · Collocations Quiz — PDF
- Idioms by Register — PDF
- Ambiguity Checklist — PDF · Ambiguity Drills — PDF
- Editing Checklist — PDF
- Practice Worksheet — PDF · Answer Key — PDF
- Portfolio Template — PDF · Rubric — PDF
Swap placeholders with real file paths. Keep links consistent:
/levels/c2/assets/.