Casa ESL · C1 Advanced · Unit 15 of 20 · Step 2
Collocations and Fixed Expressions for Formal Writing
Name
Date
Vocabulary
disruption
nounDisturbance or problems that interrupt an event, activity, or process; in business, radical innovation that displaces established systems.
"Digital disruption has reshaped entire industries within a single decade."
scalable
adjectiveAble to be changed in size or scale, especially to handle growth.
"The platform proved highly scalable, expanding to serve millions of users."
interoperability
nounThe ability of different systems, devices, or applications to connect and communicate.
"Interoperability between healthcare systems remains a significant challenge."
obsolescence
nounThe process of becoming outdated or no longer used.
"Planned obsolescence forces consumers to replace devices more frequently than necessary."
automation
nounThe use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention.
"Automation has eliminated many routine jobs while creating new, specialised roles."
paradigm shift
phraseA fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.
"The move to cloud computing represented a paradigm shift in IT infrastructure."
bandwidth
nounThe capacity of a network to transmit data; informally, mental or organisational capacity.
"The organisation lacks the bandwidth to implement all proposed changes simultaneously."
legacy system
phraseAn outdated computer system or technology that is still in use.
"Many banks still rely on legacy systems that are expensive to maintain and difficult to integrate."
Grammar Focus
Collocations and fixed expressions for formal writing
Collocations are word combinations that frequently occur together and sound natural to native speakers. In formal writing, accurate collocations signal proficiency: 'reach a conclusion' (not 'arrive at a conclusion' informally), 'pose a threat' (not 'give a threat'), 'address a concern' (not 'fix a concern'), 'draw a distinction' (not 'make a distinction'). Fixed expressions include: 'in the interests of', 'with a view to', 'in the wake of', 'on the grounds that', 'by virtue of'. Mastering these at C1 level is essential for producing natural, authoritative academic and professional writing.
The committee drew a clear distinction between short-term efficiency gains and long-term structural change.
In the wake of the data breach, the company undertook a comprehensive review of its security protocols.
The policy was introduced with a view to encouraging innovation in the technology sector.
The decision was taken on the grounds that existing systems posed an unacceptable risk.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence with the correct collocation.
1. The report a distinction between automation and artificial intelligence.
2. In the of the security breach, all passwords were reset.
3. The reforms were introduced with a to improving interoperability.
4. Rapid technological change a significant threat to legacy systems.
5. The proposal was rejected on the that the costs outweighed the benefits.
Exercise 2
Match each formal collocation with its less formal equivalent.
Reading
The Second Digital Revolution
In the wake of the pandemic, digital transformation accelerated at a pace that few had anticipated. Organisations that had resisted change for decades were compelled to adopt new technologies virtually overnight. The distinction between digital-first and traditional businesses, once merely theoretical, became existential. Companies that failed to address the challenge of interoperability between legacy systems and modern platforms found themselves at a severe competitive disadvantage. With a view to future-proofing their operations, many corporations undertook comprehensive reviews of their entire technology infrastructure. The transformation poses significant challenges for the workforce: automation threatens to render certain roles obsolete, while creating demand for skills that the education system has been slow to supply. On the grounds that unmanaged disruption could exacerbate inequality, governments have begun to explore policies that draw a distinction between productive innovation and what economists term 'rent-seeking' behaviour — the extraction of value without creating it. By virtue of its scale and speed, the current wave of digital transformation has no historical precedent. In the interests of social cohesion, it is essential that the benefits of this transformation be distributed more equitably than those of previous technological revolutions.
1. What accelerated digital transformation, according to the passage?
2. What distinction do economists draw regarding innovation, as mentioned in the passage?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write a formal paragraph (6–8 sentences) about the impact of digital transformation on a sector you know well. Use at least five formal collocations or fixed expressions from this unit.
Example: In the wake of rapid digitisation, the publishing industry has undergone a paradigm shift. With a view to remaining competitive, many publishers have undertaken comprehensive reviews of their business models. The distinction between print and digital is no longer meaningful in practical terms. On the grounds that legacy systems posed an unacceptable risk to operational continuity, several major publishers invested heavily in scalable digital infrastructure.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. draws · 2. wake · 3. view · 4. poses · 5. grounds
Exercise 2
1. reach a consensus → agree / come to an agreement · 2. pose a challenge → create a problem / be difficult · 3. address a concern → deal with a worry · 4. draw a conclusion → decide / figure out · 5. undertake a review → look into / check
Reading Comprehension
1. The pandemic compelled organisations that had resisted change to adopt new technologies virtually overnight, accelerating digital transformation at an unexpected pace. · 2. Economists draw a distinction between productive innovation and 'rent-seeking' behaviour — the extraction of value without creating it.