Health vocabulary/ Useful language for writing reports/ Hedging language
Objective Proficiency Unit 14
Use language like that on this and the next page below to explain people’s attitudes to health, actions related to health, etc. The phrases are not in order, so be careful to choose the right language to reflect what you think, e.g. weak language if it is not common or if you are not sure. See if your partner agrees, discuss for longer if you like, then take turns doing the same with other topics/ vocabulary from below.
| According to
Amongst people I know In my experience I get the feeling that (From discussions I’ve had on the subject) I have formed the impression that A survey has shown that It wouldn’t surprise me if | (absolutely) all
a considerable number of/ a substantial number of people a small minority of a substantial minority of a tiny minority of almost all almost no many people/ a large number of people most people not many/ few practically all practically no quite a lot of/ a fairly large number of the vast majority of very few very nearly all virtually all virtually no
| activists
baby boomers civil servants companies doctors experts Generation X middle-aged people midwives millennials nurses people in developed countries people in developing countries people in East Asia people in this city people in this country politicians researchers retired people rich people students teachers teenagers the middle class the upper middle class voters young children young people
| almost always
almost never always/ without fail hardly ever occasionally often/ frequently seldom/ rarely usually/ generally |
When your teacher stops you, share something that you agreed on and see what other groups think. Then ask about anything above you don’t understand, working together to make suitable generalisations each time.
| accept
are (un)informed about are concerned/ worried about are confused by are considering are cutting down are (well) informed about are interested in are sceptical about aren’t… believe buy can afford can’t… consider discuss don’t… expect go to have opinions on ignore know about listen to/ watch look into misunderstand panic about pay attention to prioritise read realise spend money on support think about trust… on try to… understand use visit vote for wonder about would(n’t)… | (chronic) tiredness
(chronic/ intensive/ low-level/ persistent) pain (complex) carbohydrates (lung/ breast/ skin) cancer (male) menopause (Zika) virus aerobic exercise allergies alternative therapies (moxibustion, acupuncture, homeopathy, etc) antibiotic(s) (resistance) anti-oxidants assisted suicide/ euthanasia/ right to die bacteria birth control blood donation calories cholesterol cloning DNA testing diarrhoea digestion endorphins epidemics/ pandemics (rigorous) exercise exercise fads (dietary) fibre fitness/ keeping fit folk medicine gene therapy/ stem cells generic drugs health scares heart attack herbal remedies (Chinese medicine etc) hormones hospice care immune system insomnia jogging/ running lifestyle diseases (diabetes, gout, blood pressure, etc) | light exercise
medical expenses medical technology (scans, endoscopes, lasers, etc) medical use of marihuana mental health mind over matter muscle (tone/ definition) nursing homes opiates organ donation outpatient care over-the-counter medicines painkiller (addiction) PE pharmaceutical companies placebos post-natal care pregnancy/ ante-natal care prescription drug addictions prescription drugs protein psychosomatic illnesses quacks relaxation running machine/ treadmill saturated fats six pack sleeping tablets snoring sporting injuries steroids stimulants stress stretching superbugs (MRMA etc) supplements (vitamins etc) surgery/ operations tai chi trans fats treating yourself vaccinations weights/ weight training what doesn’t kill you… whole foods |
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Health and fitness recommendations
Use language from below to give (strong or weak) advice on how people’s health and fitness could be improved, by people and organisations like:
- consumers/ patients/ the general public
- the government
- international organisations
- (pharmaceutical) companies
- hospitals/ healthcare professionals
The language below is not in order, so be careful to use the right language below to match the level of strength of what you want to say.
| Although it depends on your situation
For most people… In this country In the short term In the medium term As soon as possible Over the long term
| … could possibly…
… could… … must make sure to… … needs to… … ought to… … would be effective. … would benefit from… … would probably work. ….have no choice but to… By far the best option is… I would recommend… I would suggest… I’d advise… It can’t hurt to… It is necessary to… It is worth considering… It is worth… It might be a good idea to… It might be useful to… It might be worth considering… My (main) recommendation would be… My (main) suggestion would be… My advice would be to…
| accept
attempt to ban/ forbid be sceptical about build more buy consider control cut (down on) decrease do something about find an alternative for find out fund ignore increase invest money in listen to look into monitor pay attention to prioritise read research spend money on stop support take an interest in think about trust… on try to use visit vote for watch worry (more) about |
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Generalising and giving advice language presentation
(absolutely) all
virtually no
always/ without fail
almost never
….have no choice but to…
It might be worth considering…
———————–
Look at the mixed answers below to help. Some could be next to each other.
Look at the ones which are grouped together in the table above to help more.
Check your answers below.
Mixed answers
(absolutely) all
a considerable number of
a fairly large number of
a large number of people
a small minority of
a substantial minority of
a substantial number of people
a tiny minority of
almost all
almost no
many people
most people
not many/ few
practically all
practically no
quite a lot of
the vast majority of
very few
very nearly all
virtually all
virtually no
almost always
almost never
always
frequently
generally
hardly ever
occasionally
often
rarely
seldom
usually
without fail
… could possibly…
… could…
… must make sure to…
… needs to…
… ought to…
… would be effective.
… would benefit from…
… would probably work.
….have no choice but to…
By far the best option is…
I would recommend…
I would suggest…
I’d advise…
It can’t hurt to…
It is necessary to…
It is worth considering…
It is worth…
It might be a good idea to…
It might be useful to…
It might be worth considering…
My (main) recommendation would be…
My (main) suggestion would be…
My advice would be to…
———————-
Suggested answers
(absolutely) all
virtually all
practically all
very nearly all
almost all
the vast majority of
most people
many people/ a large number of people
a considerable number of/ a substantial number of people
quite a lot of/ a fairly large number of
a substantial minority of
not many/ few
a small minority of
very few
a tiny minority of
almost no
practically no
virtually no
always/ without fail
almost always
usually/ generally
often/ frequently
occasionally
seldom/ rarely
hardly ever
almost never
….have no choice but to…
By far the best option is…
… must make sure to…
… needs to…/ It is necessary to…
I would recommend…/ My (main) recommendation would be…/ My (main) suggestion would be…/ My advice would be to…/ It is worth…/ I would suggest…/ I’d advise…/ … would be effective./ … would benefit from…/ … ought to…
… would probably work.
It might be a good idea to…/ It might be useful to…
… could…
… could possibly…
It can’t hurt to…
It is worth considering…
It might be worth considering…
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