Phrasal Verbs

Definition: "A phrasal verb is defined as “any two-part verb consisting of a lexical verb followed (continuously or discontinuously) by an adverbial particle, which ‘behaves to some extent either lexically or syntactically as a single verb’” (qtd. in Alangari 2). 

In simpler terms, a phrasal verb in writing is the use of a verb followed by one or more prepositions.

While common in casual everyday use, phrasal verbs have no place in formal writing.

This sentence can be easily revised with a much more descriptive and formal verb, followed by more relevant information. For example:

Recently, with Biden’s decision to increase the refugee cap, the number of visas issued to immigrants have increased. 

• This sentence better communicates the argument, is clear and concise, and does not humanize an inanimate object.

Understanding Why Phrasal Verbs are Informal

As shown above, phrasal verbs create several issues in writing. 

• Verbs that have physical meanings create a nonsensical illusion

  • Example: When criticized by the media, Congress backed off of the bill originally introduced.

  • Did Congress as a whole take an entire step off a stack of paper? There has been no time in history where Congress has actually agreed and committed an action in unison. This sentence is illogical and informal.

• Academic writing, which is predominantly formal, is for any reader to enjoy and learn from. The use of phrasal verbs creates confusion, and may deter interested audiences from understanding and appreciating the written topic. 

• According to Jeff Heid, phrasal verbs do not have the verbal precision required for formal writing, because phrasal verbs “often have different meanings from the basic verbs that they use,” which create imprecise sentences because of their vague interpretable definitions (1). The inclusion of phrasal verbs in formal writing reduces the clarity of formal writing, creating less informative and concise writing. 

• There are several types of phrasal verbs, all of which impede upon the formality of writing.

The Four Types of Phrasal Verbs:

(These examples are intentionally listed in an informal format to maximize understanding of the differences between each phrasal verb)

1. Separable Phrasal Verbs: A verb separated by another word that goes in between the verb and particle. 

• • "I need to put my jacket on."

  • In this example, the phrasal verb is separated, but still present in the sentence. In the context of formal writing, “put on” is imprecise and informal. What is this jacket being placed up? “Put on” could relate to anything, and a reader may assume that the author is putting their jacket on the ground or any number of items. The lack of specificity is detrimental to formal writing. 

  • A stronger example is  “I must wear my jacket”

2. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: A verb that cannot be separated, a verb and a particle need to be together.

• • “He found out where the bridge is.”

    • This phrasal verb is inseparable because the sentence “He found where the bridge is out.” does not make sense. 

  • In formal writing the verb “found out” is weaker than a verb like “determined” because “found out” removes the intentionality behind the subject’s action.

  • “He determined the location of the bridge.”

  •  The verb “determined” has only one meaning the readers can identify, an action of purpose and decision. “Found out” implies an alternative action taking place on the bridge. What is out? Why was out found? The sentence 

3. Three-word Phrasal Verbs: Three-word Phrasal Verbs end with a preposition that are typically inseparable.

• • "Put up with", "look down on", and "get around to."

  • Viable alternatives for these three phrasal verbs are “tolerate,” “disdain,” and “begin.”

  •  Because these phrasal verbs are weak and unspecific, there are numerous  alternative definitions to the phrasal verbs. 

    • Without context the words “put up with” can easily mean “place on with…” 

    • “look down on” also means “view downwards…”

    • “get around to” can become “go around to reach… ”

  • Alternate definitions are detrimental to sentence clarity because the reader will have to decipher the meaning of each sentence instead of focusing on the thesis and/or the overall meaning of formal writing. 

4. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: A Phrasal Verb with no direct object.

• • Example: "Let's hang out." 

    • If one were to separate the definitions of “hang” and “out”, the meaning of the phrase would imply some form of hanging an object outside, like clothes to dry (which is not the intended meaning).

    • “Hanging out” cannot bring reference to a person or place, therefore, the meaning of the phrase is lacking clarity. 

    • Instead, the phrase could be “Let’s spend time together.”

Additional Examples of Why Removing Phrasal Verbs is Crucial:

• The lead researcher stipulated the necessity to add in the new information. (Include)

There is no math related meaning to this sentence. (Also, this is an English class, any and all addition or subtraction is banned). 

• The research team came up with new data. (Created)

Where did the data come from, where did the data go? Where did the data come from Cotton Eye Joe?

• The control group participants turned up late. (Arrived)

Who is turning? Is this a full 360 circle towards the sky?

• To find out the potential problems is necessary. (Determine/Identify)

Were the problems stationed outside? What on earth were they doing there?

• He focuses on how common fallacies affect argument validity. (Examines)

Did he need a microscope to focus on those fallacies? 

• The insurgents left the region and never came back. (Returned)

What relation does this have to a back? Mine needs an itch.

• This essay will look into the effects of global warming. (Investigate/Analyze)

The essay does not have the human ability to “look” at things

• Experiments were done again to verify the accuracy of the findings. (Reproduced)

What did these experiments do? Will this constitute jail time????

• The data collection was carried out by means of a questionnaire. (Conducted)

No one physically held the data collection.

• The essay puts forward a new theoretical framework. (Posits)

Essays have hands??? Essays can put things down???