ENGLISH
REFERENCE

in terms of sth

prep. phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

prep. phr.. you use this to show which specific part of a topic you are talking about.

prep. phr.. a complex prepositional phrase used to specify the particular aspect, category, or metric being considered within a broader topic.


SIMPLE

The job is great in terms of salary.

CONTEXTUAL

In terms of size, the new office is much better than our old one.

COMPLEX

The project was a success in terms of public engagement, even if it failed to meet its primary financial targets.

Usage

usually followed by a noun or a gerund to narrow the focus of a statement.

Teaching tip

this phrase is a useful 'signposting' tool for students moving into academic or professional writing to help them organize their points logically.

Pitfall

in terms of to save moneyin terms of saving moneythe preposition 'of' must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.

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