- Have you ever wondered if you should “do” a survey or “conduct” a survey?
- Do you know the difference between “professional behavior” and “professional conduct”?
- Are you looking for more formal ways to describe carrying out a task or directing a process?
Mastering Conduct collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for professional or academic fluency. In English, the word “conduct” acts as a powerful “chameleon” word, functioning as both a verb and a noun. By learning which words naturally “cluster” around it, you will reduce your language anxiety, sound more authoritative in business settings, and significantly improve your writing scores in exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
Common Collocations with Conduct as a Verb
In its verb form, conduct (pronounced /kənˈdʌkt/) usually means to organize and carry out a specific activity. It is much more formal than “do” or “make.”
Research and Investigation
This is the most common academic use of the word. It implies a systematic approach.
- Conduct a survey: We need to conduct a survey to understand customer satisfaction.
- Conduct an experiment: Scientists conducted an experiment to test the new theory.
- Conduct an interview: The HR manager will conduct an interview with the final candidates tomorrow.
- Conduct research: The university is conducting research into renewable energy sources.
- Conduct an inquiry: The government has decided to conduct an inquiry into the recent bank failure.
Business and Professional Management
Use these phrases to describe the formal management of business operations or meetings.
- Conduct business: Technology has changed the way we conduct business internationally.
- Conduct a meeting: She knows how to conduct a meeting efficiently without wasting time.
- Conduct negotiations: The diplomats are currently conducting negotiations to reach a peace treaty.
- Conduct a tour: A local guide will conduct a tour of the historical site at 10 AM.
Physical and Technical Processes
In science and music, “conduct” has specific technical collocations.
- Conduct electricity: Copper is a popular material because it conducts electricity very well.
- Conduct an orchestra: The maestro was invited to conduct the orchestra for the grand opening.
- Conduct heat: Metals generally conduct heat more effectively than wood.
Essential Collocations using Conduct as a Noun
As a noun, conduct (pronounced /ˈkɒndʌkt/) refers to a person’s behavior, particularly in a professional or legal context.
Professional and Ethical Standards
These collocations describe the rules of behavior in an organization.
- Code of conduct: Every employee must sign the company’s code of conduct.
- Professional conduct: The doctor was praised for his high standards of professional conduct.
- Standard of conduct: We expect a high standard of conduct from all our students.
- Unprofessional conduct: He was fired for unprofessional conduct after arguing with a client.
Legal and Social Behavior
These phrases are frequently used in news reports and legal documents.
- Disorderly conduct: The protesters were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
- Improper conduct: There were allegations of improper conduct during the election process.
- Rules of conduct: The rules of conduct in the courtroom are very strict.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct a survey | Verb | To carry out a formal study or questionnaire. |
| Conduct an interview | Verb | To lead a formal conversation to get information. |
| Code of conduct | Noun | A set of rules for behavior in a group. |
| Professional conduct | Noun | Behavior expected in a work environment. |
| Conduct electricity | Verb | To allow energy to flow through a material. |
| Disorderly conduct | Noun | Bad or noisy behavior in a public place. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make a survey | Conduct a survey |
| The behavior code | The code of conduct |
| Give a meeting | Conduct a meeting |
| Bad behavior (in court) | Disorderly conduct |
| Do an experiment | Conduct an experiment (Formal) |
“As part of our commitment to transparency, our department will conduct a survey next week to gather feedback on the new office layout. We expect all staff to maintain the highest levels of professional conduct during this transition. Please remember that our code of conduct is available on the company intranet for your reference.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Conduct Collocations
Is “conduct” always more formal than “carry out”?
Yes. While “carry out” is perfectly natural in most situations, “conduct” is preferred in academic, scientific, and formal business contexts. For example, a scientist “conducts” research, whereas a plumber “carries out” a repair.
How does the pronunciation change between the noun and the verb?
This is a “word stress” rule. When it is a verb, the stress is on the second syllable: con-DUCT. When it is a noun, the stress shifts to the first syllable: CON-duct. This is common with many English noun-verb pairs.
What is the difference between “Conduct” and “Behavior”?
“Behavior” is a general word for how someone acts. “Conduct” is much more specific to a set of rules or a formal environment. You have “good behavior” at home, but you follow a “code of conduct” at work or in the military.
Can I use “conduct” for people?
Yes, as a reflexive verb (conduct yourself). For example: “You must conduct yourself with dignity.” This means to behave in a specific way in a formal situation.
Which preposition follows the noun “conduct”?
We typically use “of.” For example: “The conduct of the investigation was criticized by the media.” It identifies who or what the behavior belongs to.
The examples are very clear. I will try to use 'conduct an interview' next time I talk about job applications. Thank you!
Spot on article! The distinction between 'do' and 'conduct' is one my students frequently struggle with. I'm curious about the historical etymology of 'conduct.' Did it always have these formal implications, or did it evolve?
Thanks, Benjamin! You've hit on a fascinating point. 'Conduct' comes from Latin 'conducere,' meaning 'to lead together' or 'to bring together.' Its early English use (14th century) indeed related to 'leading' or 'guiding,' including in a moral sense (behavior) and a practical sense (leading an army). Its formal, systematic implications have been present for a long time, evolving slightly to cover modern activities like research and interviews.
Can I say 'conduct a party'? Or is that too formal and sounds strange?
Hi Nao! That's a fun question! While 'conduct' implies organizing, it's generally reserved for more formal or systematic activities. For a party, 'host a party,' 'throw a party,' or 'have a party' would be much more natural and common. 'Conduct a party' would sound quite unusual to a native speaker!
This article made me realize I need to upgrade my vocabulary for formal writing. I'm taking the IELTS soon, and these tips are golden. Should I avoid 'do' completely in academic essays then?
That's a great goal, Oliver! While 'do' isn't inherently 'bad,' in academic essays, you should generally aim for more precise and formal verbs like 'conduct,' 'perform,' 'undertake,' 'carry out,' 'achieve,' or 'execute' where appropriate. It elevates your writing style and demonstrates a richer vocabulary, which is positively scored in exams like IELTS.
Regarding 'professional conduct,' I often see it paired with 'exemplary' or 'unprofessional.' Are there other common adjectives for 'conduct' as a noun that are worth learning for formal contexts?
Excellent question, Maria! Beyond 'exemplary' and 'unprofessional,' other common adjectives for 'conduct' (as a noun) include: 'ethical conduct,' 'improper conduct,' 'dishonorable conduct,' 'acceptable conduct,' 'disorderly conduct,' and 'appropriate conduct.' These are vital for understanding formal descriptions of behavior.
I always thought 'conduct' was mostly for music! Like 'conduct an orchestra.' This opened my eyes to its other uses. Are there any other words like 'chameleon' word that have many different meanings?
That's a great insight, David! Yes, 'conduct' for an orchestra is another excellent example of its meaning 'to direct' or 'to guide.' And absolutely, English has many such versatile words! 'Set' is a famous example with hundreds of meanings. 'Run' and 'break' are also highly polysemous. Exploring these can be a fun linguistic journey!
So, 'conduct a business' is correct, but 'conduct a store' isn't? I'm trying to get my head around the 'process' aspect.
You're thinking along the right lines, Chloe! 'Conduct a business' implies managing and directing the operations of the entire business entity, which is a complex process. 'Conduct a store' isn't standard because 'store' refers to the physical place or inventory, not the overarching management process. You'd 'run a store' or 'manage a store' instead.
Thank you for this brilliant explanation! I'll be using this with my B1/B2 level students next week. It's concise and very practical. Could you perhaps add a short quiz at the end of future articles to test understanding?
That's a fantastic suggestion, Aisha! We're always looking for ways to make our content more interactive and reinforce learning. We'll definitely consider adding short quizzes or practice exercises to future posts. Thanks for the valuable feedback!
The 'systematic approach' description for 'conduct' as a verb is key. It helps to differentiate it from other verbs like 'perform' or 'execute.' Is there a subtle difference between 'conduct research' and 'carry out research'?
Excellent point, Giovanni! While 'conduct research' and 'carry out research' are often interchangeable and both formal, 'conduct' can sometimes imply a slightly higher degree of organization, direction, or leadership. 'Carry out' is perhaps a tiny bit more general, referring to the execution of the task. Both are perfectly acceptable for academic writing.
This is a lifesaver for my academic writing! I've been overusing 'do' and 'make.' 'Conduct research' sounds much more scholarly. Is there a common mistake people make with 'conduct' that I should watch out for?
Glad to hear it's helping your academic writing, Priya! A common mistake is using 'conduct' with things that don't involve an organized process or direction, for example, 'conduct a mistake' (incorrect, should be 'make a mistake') or 'conduct a party' (incorrect, should be 'hold a party'). Always think: does it involve systematic execution or direction?