SiSAL Journal Vol. 3, No. 3, September 2012, 266-290 in a graph. The following is a sentence with a problem using precise words (underlined). Sample text: In general, the total quantity of items transported increased obviously, while the amount of goods carried by railways fluctuated during these 28 years. The problem in using the word “fluctuated” was that it did not exactly describe what was shown in the graph, which indicated only small changes in quantity over the period instead of great “fluctuations”. To help the student understand the problem, the teacher used a number of prompting questions to guide him in thinking in the right direction. Teacher:
Have there been great changes in quantities during the period?
Student:
No.
Teacher:
What’s happening in the graph?
Student:
The same.
Teacher:
So is it a good idea to say “fluctuated”? The word means great changes.
Student:
No, not many change.
Teacher:
What other words are better then?
Student:
Stable … same …
Teacher:
So can we say “remained quite stable”?
Although the student could not give the exact expression to replace the inappropriate word, he was guided to realise the problem, and he could give the key words for forming the appropriate expression. 2. Appropriate collocation This example was from an expository essay on problems and solutions on the topic of overpopulation. The following is a sentence with a problem in appropriate collocation (underlined).
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