essay
B1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A short piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one done by students as part of their studies.
An attempt or effort to do something; a trial or experiment. Also refers to a literary composition on a particular subject, often expressing the author's personal views.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, primarily refers to academic or literary writing. As a verb (archaic/formal), means to attempt or try.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both noun and verb forms are used similarly. The verb form is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In academic contexts, identical. The verb form carries formal/literary connotations in both.
Frequency
Noun is high-frequency in educational contexts in both regions. Verb is very low-frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
essay on/about [topic]essay entitled [title]essay by [author]to essay [to do something] (verb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “essay question (exam type)”
- “trial and essay (archaic variant of 'trial and error')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in 'essay competition' for corporate social responsibility reports.
Academic
Very common; refers to student assignments or scholarly articles.
Everyday
Common in educational discussions; otherwise limited.
Technical
Used in literary criticism and pedagogy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He will essay the role of Hamlet next season.
- She essayed to climb the mountain despite the risks.
American English
- The author essayed a new style in her latest book.
- They essayed a difficult manoeuvre during the flight.
adverb
British English
- No common adverb form.
American English
- No common adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No common adjective form.
American English
- No common adjective form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I wrote an essay about my family.
- Her essay was very good.
- We have to submit an essay on climate change by Friday.
- The teacher gave us feedback on our first essays.
- His essay critically analysed the government's economic policy.
- Writing a coherent essay requires careful planning and structure.
- The collection features an incisive essay on post-colonial identity.
- She essayed a bold reinterpretation of the classic text in her doctoral work.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I SAY' in an essay – it's where you say what you think about a topic.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING IS A JOURNEY (essay maps out an argument), THINKING IS WRITING (to essay a task is to attempt it thoughtfully).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'эссе' (заимствование, означает то же самое). Глагол 'essay' (пытаться) почти не используется.
- В русском 'сочинение' шире – может быть художественным; английское 'essay' обычно нехудожественное, аналитическое.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'essay' for very short answers (use 'short answer' instead).
- Confusing 'essay' (noun) with 'assay' (verb, to test).
- Misspelling as 'essey'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'essay'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. The verb 'to essay' (meaning to attempt) is archaic or very formal. The noun form is standard.
An essay often expresses personal views or is academic; an article is typically journalistic or informational and found in newspapers/magazines.
Historically, yes (an attempt). Now, almost exclusively a written composition unless in very formal/literary contexts.
Stress on the first syllable: ES-say. The 's' is always pronounced /s/, not /z/.
Collections
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Education
A2 · 50 words · School, studying and learning vocabulary.
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