Vocabulary Building 

1. Thing: Instead of using the word thing, try to use more precise and interesting words, especially in formal written English.

aspect

That was the most puzzling aspect of the situation.

…the most puzzling thing about…

attribute

Curiosity is an essential attribute for a journalist.

…an essential thing for a journalist to have.

characteristic

This bird has several interesting characteristics.

There are several interesting things about this bird.

detail

I want to know every detail of what happened.

…everything about…

feature

Noise is a familiar feature of city life.

…a familiar thing in city life.

issue

She has campaigned on many controversial issues.

…many controversial things.

matter

We have several important matters to deal with at this meeting.

…several important things…

point

That’s a very interesting point you made.

…a very interesting thing you said.

subject

The book covers a number of subjects.

…a number of things.

topic

We discussed a wide range of topics.

…a wide range of things.

trait

Her generosity is one of her most attractive traits.

…one of the most attractive things about her.

Don’t use thing after an adjective when the adjective can be used on its own:

Having your own computer is very useful.

Having your own computer is a very useful thing.

It is often more natural to use words like something, anything, etc. instead of thing:

I have something important to tell you.

I have an important thing to tell you.

 

2. Terrible

awful ▪ horrible ▪ dreadful ▪ vile ▪ horrendous

These words all describe something that is very unpleasant.

terrible very bad or unpleasant; making you feel unhappy, frightened, upset, ill, guilty or disapproving:

What terrible news!

That’s a terrible thing to say!

awful (rather informal) very bad or unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like or that makes you feel depressed, ill, guilty or disapproving:

That’s an awful colour.

The weather last summer was awful.

horrible (rather informal) very unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like:

The coffee tasted horrible.

dreadful (especially British English, rather informal) very bad or unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like or that you disapprove of:

What dreadful weather!

vile (informal) extremely bad or unpleasant:

There was a vile smell coming from the room.

He was in a vile mood.

horrendous (rather informal) extremely unpleasant and unacceptable:

The traffic around the city was horrendous.

Patterns

terrible/​awful/​horrible/​dreadful for somebody

a(n) terrible/​awful/​horrible/​dreadful/​vile thing