Essential English Vocabulary for Career and Style

Fashion and Personal Style

Clothing and Trends

• Accessory, casual, chunky, elegant, fitted.
• High heels, loose-fitting, low-waisted, patterned.
• Piercing, plain, sportswear, striped, stylish.
• Tattoo, trend, vintage.

Compound Adjectives for Appearance

• Average-sized, badly dressed, brightly coloured.
• Clean-shaven, dark-haired, fast-thinking.
• Friendly-looking, full-length, knee-length.
• Heavily built, loose-fitting, middle-aged.
• Scruffy-looking, shoulder-length, smartly dressed.
• Sporty-looking, time-saving, well-dressed, widely recognized.

Common English Collocations

Phrases with Do, Give, and Have

• Do business, do damage, do research, do someone a favour.
• Give priority, give someone a chance, give something a go, give the impression.
• Have a feeling, have a look, have a terrible temper, have an opportunity.

Phrases with Make, Reach, and Take

• Make an exception, make fun of someone, make no difference, make sense.
• Reach a compromise, reach a decision, reach the point, reach your destination.
• Take advantage, take something for granted, take something seriously, take your time.

Career and Professional Life

Employment Terms and Actions

• Apply for a place, appoint, become an apprentice.
• Commission someone to do something, full-time job, graduate from.
• Homeless shelter, internship, low-paid, mentor an intern.
• Part-time job, permanent position, placement, supervise someone.
• Take on a job, temporary job, turn down a job, tutor someone.
• Unpaid, volunteer, well-paid, win a scholarship, part-time, thesis.

Modern Job Titles

• Brain surgeon, camera operator, company director.
• Dog groomer, drone pilot, estate agent.
• Flight attendant, software designer, statistical analyst.
• Tattoo remover, train driver, video editor, yoga instructor.

Personality and Character Traits

Descriptive Adjectives

• Analytical, anxious, (in)articulate, brainy, carefree.
• Cautious, cool-headed, critical, (in)decisive, determined.
• Diligent, distracted, (in)efficient, empathetic, (un)enthusiastic.
• Focused, (un)imaginative, (im)mature, (de)motivated, optimistic.
• Disorganized, (im)patient, (im)perceptive, pessimistic, (im)precise.
• (Ir)rational, (ir)replaceable, (ir)responsible, (in)secure.
• Insensitive, (un)sociable, (un)reliable.

Adjective and Preposition Combinations

• Confused by, dedicated to, familiar with, fond of.
• Interested in, necessary for, passionate about, successful in.