- Do you ever wonder if you should “make an essay” or “write an essay”?
- Are you unsure how to describe a good or bad essay without repeating yourself?
- How do you talk about the process of putting an essay together, from planning to submission?
Understanding collocations—words that naturally go together—is absolutely essential for achieving fluency and sounding natural in English. Instead of simply translating word-for-word from your native language, mastering collocations will help you express complex ideas smoothly, reduce language anxiety, and significantly boost your confidence, especially when discussing academic or professional topics like essays. Let’s dive into the most common and useful collocations for the word “essay”!
Essential Collocations using ESSAY as a Noun
As a noun, “essay” refers to a short piece of writing on a particular subject, typically found in academic contexts or as a literary form. Mastering collocations here is key for academic success and clear communication.
Verbs You Use with an Essay
- Write an essay: The most common verb for creating an essay.
Example: I need to write an essay for my literature class by Friday.
- Compose an essay: A slightly more formal way to say write, implying careful thought and structure.
Example: The students were asked to compose an essay reflecting on historical events.
- Draft an essay: To create an initial version of the essay.
Example: She spent the entire afternoon trying to draft an essay on environmental policy.
- Structure an essay: To organize the essay’s parts (introduction, body, conclusion).
Example: It’s important to structure your essay logically to present your arguments clearly.
- Outline an essay: To plan the main points and organization before writing.
Example: Before writing, always outline your essay to ensure coherence.
- Revise an essay: To make changes and improvements to an essay after a first draft.
Example: After receiving feedback, I decided to revise my essay to strengthen the arguments.
- Edit an essay: To correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Example: Always edit your essay carefully before submitting it.
- Proofread an essay: To read through for final minor errors.
Example: My friend helped me proofread my essay for any last-minute typos.
- Submit an essay / Hand in an essay: To officially deliver your completed essay to the instructor.
Example: Don’t forget to submit your essay online by midnight.
Example: We had to hand in our essay directly to the professor.
- Grade an essay / Mark an essay: What a teacher does to evaluate an essay (US/UK usage respectively).
Example (US): The professor has to grade over 50 essays this week.
Example (UK): The teacher will mark the essays and provide feedback next week.
- Receive a grade/mark on an essay: To get your evaluation.
Example: I was thrilled to receive an A on my essay.
- Pass/Fail an essay: To succeed or not succeed.
Example: He studied hard so he could pass the essay requirement.
- Analyze an essay / Critique an essay: To examine and evaluate another essay.
Example: We spent the class time learning how to analyze an essay for its effectiveness.
Adjectives That Describe an Essay
- Academic essay: A formal essay written for a scholarly purpose.
Example: Writing an academic essay requires rigorous research and citation.
- Persuasive essay: An essay aiming to convince the reader of a viewpoint.
Example: Her persuasive essay convinced many readers to support the new policy.
- Descriptive essay: An essay that describes a person, place, or thing vividly.
Example: I enjoyed reading the student’s descriptive essay about their childhood home.
- Argumentative essay: An essay presenting arguments for and against a topic.
Example: The debate focused on the points raised in her argumentative essay.
- Analytical essay: An essay that breaks down a topic into its components for examination.
Example: His analytical essay provided a deep insight into the economic crisis.
- Well-written essay / Poorly-written essay: Describes the quality of the writing.
Example: It was a truly well-written essay that earned full marks.
Example: The poorly-written essay lacked clear organization and supporting evidence.
- Thought-provoking essay: An essay that stimulates deep thinking.
Example: The professor praised her thought-provoking essay on artificial intelligence.
- Insightful essay: An essay that shows deep understanding and perception.
Example: The judges were impressed by his insightful essay about cultural differences.
- Concise essay / Lengthy essay: Describes the length or brevity.
Example: The professor requested a concise essay of no more than 1000 words.
- Research essay: An essay based on extensive research.
Example: For this course, you will have to complete a substantial research essay.
Noun Phrases and Types of Essays
- Essay writing: The skill or act of creating essays.
Example: Good essay writing is crucial for academic success.
- Essay topic / Essay question: The subject or prompt for an essay.
Example: We were given a challenging essay topic about global warming.
Example: The essay question required us to compare two historical figures.
- Essay assignment: A task requiring an essay.
Example: My biggest essay assignment is due next month.
- Essay plan / Essay outline: A detailed structure for an essay.
Example: Always start with an essay plan to organize your thoughts.
- Essay competition / Essay contest: A competition where participants submit essays.
Example: She entered an essay competition to win a scholarship.
- Essay grade / Essay mark: The evaluation result.
Example: I received a high essay grade for my efforts.
- Essay collection: A book containing multiple essays by one or more authors.
Example: I bought an essay collection by a famous philosopher.
Prepositions Used with an Essay
- An essay on / about: Refers to the subject matter.
Example: She wrote an essay on the effects of climate change.
Example: The students submitted an essay about their favorite historical period.
- In an essay: Indicates something contained within the essay.
Example: He argued that point effectively in his essay.
- For an essay: Indicates the purpose or recipient.
Example: I need to do research for an essay due next week.
Common Collocations with ESSAY as a Verb
While “essay” is predominantly used as a noun in modern English, it can also function as a verb. As a verb, “to essay” means “to attempt or try, especially in a formal or literary context.” This usage is far less common in everyday conversation and general academic writing compared to the noun form, often appearing in more classic or formal literary texts. However, understanding its usage can enrich your vocabulary.
Verbs Describing the Action of “Essay” (Attempting)
- Essay a task/challenge: To attempt or try to perform a difficult task or face a challenge.
Example: The young artist bravely essayed a complex landscape painting, despite his inexperience.
- Essay a smile/laugh/gesture: To attempt to produce an expression or movement, often with some difficulty or hesitation.
Example: She essayed a brave smile, trying to hide her disappointment.
- Essay a solution/answer: To attempt to find or propose a solution or answer to a problem.
Example: The team essayed a new solution to the technical problem, hoping it would work.
- Essay to do something: To make an effort or attempt to achieve something (often followed by an infinitive).
Example: He essayed to climb the highest peak, though he knew the dangers.
The Master Summary Table: Key Essay Collocations
Here’s a concise table summarizing the most important and frequently used collocations with “essay.” Use this as a quick reference guide to reinforce your learning.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Write an essay | Verb + Noun | To create a piece of writing |
| Submit an essay | Verb + Noun | To hand in a completed essay |
| Revise an essay | Verb + Noun | To improve a draft |
| Grade an essay | Verb + Noun | To evaluate a written essay (US) |
| Academic essay | Adjective + Noun | A formal, scholarly essay |
| Well-written essay | Adjective + Noun | An essay of high quality |
| Essay topic | Noun + Noun | The subject of the essay |
| Essay writing | Noun + Noun | The skill of creating essays |
| An essay on | Noun + Preposition | Indicates the subject matter |
| Essay a smile | Verb + Noun | To attempt a smile (formal/literary) |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoiding direct translation is crucial for sounding like a native speaker. This table highlights common learner errors and how to express them naturally.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make an essay | Write an essay / Compose an essay |
| Do an essay | Write an essay / Work on an essay |
| Get a good mark for an essay | Receive a good grade on an essay / Get a good mark for an essay (UK) |
| Essay’s subject | Essay topic / The subject of the essay |
| My essay is finished | I have completed my essay / My essay is done |
| Essay of argument | Argumentative essay |
| To essay to write | To attempt to write (The verb “to essay” already implies “to try/attempt”) |
The deadline for the philosophy course’s academic essay was fast approaching. Liam had spent weeks trying to draft an essay on existentialism, but he struggled to structure his essay effectively. His initial attempts were somewhat poorly-written essays, lacking the deep insight the professor expected. He consulted his tutor, who advised him to start with a clear essay outline and focus on developing a strong argument. After several late nights, fueled by coffee, he managed to compose a thought-provoking essay. He asked a friend to help him proofread the essay for any grammatical errors before he would submit the essay online. He hoped to receive a good grade on his essay, knowing how much effort he had put into it. The challenging essay topic had truly tested his limits.
Frequently Asked Questions about Essay Collocations
What is the difference between an ‘essay’ and a ‘report’?
An essay often presents an argument or analysis of a topic, allowing for more personal interpretation and critical thinking. A report, on the other hand, typically presents factual information, data, and findings in a structured, objective manner, often based on research or an investigation.
Can I use ‘make’ with ‘essay’ in English?
No, “make an essay” is generally considered unnatural and incorrect in standard English. The most common and natural verb to use when creating an essay is “write an essay” or “compose an essay.”
What prepositions commonly follow ‘essay’ when referring to its subject?
When you want to specify the subject of an essay, the prepositions “on” and “about” are most commonly used. For example, “an essay on climate change” or “an essay about cultural identity.”
Are there different types of essays I should know about?
Yes, there are many types! Some common ones include: argumentative essays (to convince the reader), descriptive essays (to describe something vividly), narrative essays (to tell a story), expository essays (to explain a topic), persuasive essays (similar to argumentative), and analytical essays (to break down and analyze a subject).
How can I improve my essay writing skills and use collocations better?
To improve your skills, focus on reading diverse texts, especially academic ones, to see collocations in context. Practice writing regularly, pay attention to feedback, and use resources like collocation dictionaries or corpus-based tools. Actively learning and using collocations will make your writing sound more natural and sophisticated.
Is ‘essay’ ever used as a verb in modern English?
Yes, but it’s much less common than its noun form and tends to be more formal or literary. As a verb, “to essay” means “to attempt or try.” For example, “She essayed a faint smile.” For general conversation or academic writing, stick to the noun form and verbs like “to try” or “to attempt.”
Can I say 'I am in the middle of an essay'? Or should I say 'I am writing an essay'?
Both are fine! 'I'm in the middle of writing an essay' is a very natural way to say you are currently busy with the task. Keep up the good work, Kenji!
In France, we take 'dissertations' very seriously. Is a dissertation the same as an essay in English-speaking countries?
Is it correct to say 'revise an essay' if I am just checking the spelling, or should I use 'proofread'?
Great distinction, Fatimah! 'Proofread' is specifically for spelling and grammar. 'Revise' usually implies bigger changes, like moving paragraphs or changing the main argument.
What is the best way to describe an essay that is very long and boring? Are there specific collocations for 'bad' essays?
Good question, Lucas! You might describe it as a 'wordy essay' or a 'disorganized essay.' If it's too long, you could say it's 'overly long' or 'rambling.'
I often hear the term 'blue-book essay' in movies. Is that still a thing people say in real life?
I am preparing for the IELTS exam. Are there any 'high-level' collocations for essays that might help me get a better score?
For IELTS, try using 'construct a coherent argument' within your essay, or 'critique an essay' when peer-reviewing. These show a sophisticated grasp of academic English!
Thank you for the clear explanation! I used to say 'do an essay,' but now I know 'write' or 'compose' is much better. What about 'produce an essay'?
You're welcome, Mei! 'Produce an essay' is correct and sounds quite formal, often used in exam instructions (e.g., 'Candidates must produce an essay of 500 words').
In German, we have specific words for different types of essays. In English, do collocations change if it is an 'argumentative essay' versus a 'narrative essay'?
Is there a difference between 'drafting an essay' and 'outlining an essay'? I get confused about which comes first.
I sometimes hear people say they need to 'polish' an essay. Is that a common collocation or just slang?
It's a very common idiomatic collocation, Elena! To 'polish an essay' means to make final improvements or small changes to make the writing perfect. It's great for the final stage of the writing process.