Usage notes

In this dictionary you will find many notes on various aspects of usage in English. Select one of the types of usage notes to see entries that have that type of note.

Which Word?

These notes show the differences between words that are often confused.

Vocabulary Building

These notes help you to choose more interesting and varied words to use and so increase your vocabulary.

Grammar Point

These notes help make clear points of grammar that often cause problems.

British/American

These notes explain differences between British and American usage.

More About

These notes give you more information about an aspect of life or language in Britain and America and show you the correct words to use.

Synonyms

These notes show the differences between groups of words with similar meanings.

Collocations

These notes show useful words and phrases connected with particular topics, and a selection of verbs to use with those words and phrases.

Language Bank

These notes show you how to express similar ideas in a variety of ways, particularly in writing.

• already
• bathroom
• bit
• call
• call
• cloakroom
• college
• course
• different
• dustbin
• dustman
• first floor
• floor
• garbage
• garbage can
• garbage man
• have
• hire
• hire
• holiday
• hospital
• inclusive
• just
• let
• little
• mail
• mail
• metro
• ocean
• phone
• phone
• platform
• post
• presently
• programme
• refuse
• rent
• rent
• ring
• rubbish
• school
• sea
• subway
• through
• toilet
• track
• trash
• tube
• underground
• university
• vacation
• yet