Y08W15VC Word Roots — per- (through / thoroughly)

To continue firmly despite difficulties, opposition, or the passage of time.

Word Breakdown: per- (prefix meaning ‘through’) + -sist (from Latin ‘sistere’, meaning ‘to stand’) — to persist is to ‘stand through’ difficulty

Example: Despite repeated setbacks, the research team persisted with their investigation and eventually made a breakthrough.

Synonyms: continue, endure, persevere

Collocations: persist with, persist in, challenges persist

To become aware of or understand something through the senses or through thought.

Example: How a reader perceives a character is shaped as much by what is left unsaid as by what is stated directly.

Synonyms: understand, view, recognise

Collocations: perceive as, be perceived, widely perceived

A particular way of thinking about or interpreting a situation, shaped by one’s experience or position.

Example: Examining an issue from multiple perspectives allows for a more complete and nuanced understanding.

Synonyms: viewpoint, standpoint, angle

Collocations: offer a perspective, from a perspective, multiple perspectives

To make something clear by using examples, diagrams, or comparisons; to demonstrate a point vividly.

Word family: illustration (n.), illustrative (adj.)

Example: The writer illustrates her argument about inequality by presenting the experiences of three different families.

Synonyms: demonstrate, show, exemplify

Collocations: illustrate a point, illustrate with an example, clearly illustrate

To reach a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning, without being told directly.

Word Breakdown: in- (prefix meaning ‘in’ or ‘into’)

Word family: inference (n.), inferential (adj.)

Example: From the way the character hesitates, the reader can infer that she is concealing something important.

Synonyms: conclude, deduce, reason

Collocations: infer from, infer that, reasonably infer

To show or prove that a decision, action, or argument is reasonable, correct, or necessary.

Word family: justification (n.), justified (adj.)

Example: The writer must justify each claim with relevant and reliable evidence from the text.

Synonyms: defend, support, validate

Collocations: justify a decision, justify the claim, be justified

To reduce something to the smallest possible amount, degree, or importance.

Word family: minimal (adj.), minimum (n.)

Example: The policy aimed to minimise disruption to students during the transition to the new timetable.

Synonyms: reduce, limit, decrease

Collocations: minimise risk, minimise disruption, minimise the impact

To decide which tasks or issues are most important and deal with them first.

Word family: priority (n.), prioritisation (n.)

Example: Effective writers prioritise clarity, ensuring their argument is easy for the reader to follow.

Synonyms: focus on, rank, order

Collocations: prioritise needs, prioritise safety, prioritise wellbeing

A writing function phrase used to indicate that the preceding evidence directly demonstrates the point being made.

Example: The graph shows a consistent decline over five years; this shows that current strategies are not achieving the desired outcome.

Synonyms: this demonstrates, this proves, this indicates

Collocations: this shows that, this clearly shows, this shows a