text
In an academic context, a text is any written, spoken, or visual piece of work that can be analyzed and interpreted for meaning. It extends beyond simple books to include transcripts, advertisements, and digital media as structured communicative events.
Examples
3 of 5I sent you a quick text earlier to confirm our dinner reservations.
I sent you a quick text earlier to confirm our dinner reservations.
The legal text of the treaty requires a thorough review by constitutional experts.
The legal text of the treaty requires a thorough review by constitutional experts.
Did you see that massive text he sent? I haven't even read it all yet.
Did you see that massive text he sent? I haven't even read it all yet.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'textiles'. Just as threads are woven to make a fabric (textile), words are woven together to make a 'text'.
Quick Quiz
To support your thesis, you must cite specific passages from the ___ provided in the course pack.
Correct!
The correct answer is: text
Examples
I sent you a quick text earlier to confirm our dinner reservations.
everydayI sent you a quick text earlier to confirm our dinner reservations.
The legal text of the treaty requires a thorough review by constitutional experts.
formalThe legal text of the treaty requires a thorough review by constitutional experts.
Did you see that massive text he sent? I haven't even read it all yet.
informalDid you see that massive text he sent? I haven't even read it all yet.
The scholar's analysis of the medieval text revealed subtle shifts in regional dialects.
academicThe scholar's analysis of the medieval text revealed subtle shifts in regional dialects.
Please ensure the body text of the advertisement is aligned with our brand voice guidelines.
businessPlease ensure the body text of the advertisement is aligned with our brand voice guidelines.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
textbook example
textbook example
read the text closely
read the text closely
textual evidence
textual evidence
Often Confused With
Text is the actual written or spoken words, while context is the environment or circumstances surrounding those words.
A script usually refers specifically to a text written for performance or a specific writing system.
Usage Notes
At the C1 level, use 'text' to refer to any object of critical analysis, including non-literary items like films or social media threads. In linguistics, it refers to a unit of language in use.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'text' only to mean an SMS message, forgetting its broader academic meaning. It can also be used uncountably when referring to the printed matter in a book (e.g., 'the text is too small').
Memory Tip
Think of 'textiles'. Just as threads are woven to make a fabric (textile), words are woven together to make a 'text'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'textus', meaning 'woven fabric' or 'structure'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In modern digital culture, 'text' is synonymous with instant messaging, but in academia, it remains the foundational term for any object of study.
Quick Quiz
To support your thesis, you must cite specific passages from the ___ provided in the course pack.
Correct!
The correct answer is: text
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
consequent
C2In logic and philosophy, a consequent is the second part of a conditional proposition, following the 'if' clause (the antecedent). It represents the result or deduction that follows necessarily or naturally from a previous statement or condition.
administrate
B2To manage, supervise, or oversee the operations and activities of an organization, program, or system. It involves the practical execution of policies and the organization of resources to achieve specific goals.
administrative
C1Relating to the organization and management of a business, institution, or government. It describes the practical tasks, systems, and procedures required to keep an entity running efficiently behind the scenes.
assistant
C2A person who ranks below a senior professional and aids them in their duties, often handling specialized tasks or administrative burdens. In a professional or academic context, an assistant often possesses significant expertise but operates under the direction of a superior to facilitate complex operations.
commissioner
C1A high-ranking official who is in charge of a government department, a public organization, or a professional sports league. This person is typically appointed to exercise administrative authority or to oversee a specific commission or set of regulations.
computer
C1A sophisticated electronic device designed to store, retrieve, and process data through programmed instructions. In modern discourse, it encompasses everything from microprocessors in appliances to high-performance servers facilitating global networks.
conclusion
C2A final judgment, decision, or opinion reached by reasoning after considering all evidence and facts. It also refers to the final part of a piece of writing or a speech that summarizes the main points and provides a closing statement.
consume
C1To consume means to use up a resource, such as energy, time, or goods, or to eat and drink something. In academic contexts, it often refers to the utilization of information, products, or services by individuals or groups within an economy or social system.
design
C1A detailed plan or scheme that outlines the functional and aesthetic features of an object or system before it is made. In an academic context, it refers to the deliberate structure or methodology of a study or process designed to achieve specific outcomes.
consumer
B2A consumer is a person who purchases goods and services for personal use rather than for resale or business purposes. In a broader biological or ecological context, it refers to any organism that feeds on other organisms or organic matter.
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