Describing Advantages and Disadvantages

Looking at both sides phrases the same or different

Decide how similar or different each of the groups of phrases below, then talk about what the (main/ most important) differences might be. Some are (basically) the same. If there are more than two, they are all the same or all different (= different, different and different again).

Articles/ Determiners

1.     An advantage/ The advantage

2.     One of the advantages/ An advantage

3.     A great advantage/ The main advantage  

Collocations with advantage

4.     The greatest advantage/ The main advantage/ The most significant advantage

5.     The greatest advantage/ The overwhelming advantage

6.     By far the most important advantage/ The overwhelming advantage

7.     A great advantage/ A major advantage/ A big advantage

8.     A comparatively minor disadvantage/ A completely insignificant disadvantage

9.     A more important advantage/ A very important advantage

10.  A possible advantage/ A potential advantage

11.  Another advantage/ A further advantage/ An additional advantage/ One more advantage  

Other phrases for looking at both sides

12.  Pros and cons/ Advantages and disadvantages

13.  The advantages outweigh the disadvantages/ There are more pros than cons

14.  A pro/ An advantage

15.  A con/ A disadvantage

16.  Arguments for/ Supporting arguments/ Arguments in support

17.  Good and bad points/ Benefits and drawbacks

18.  Positive aspect/ Positive point

19.  Negative effect/ Negative consequence  

Contrasting phrases/ Turning to the other side of the argument

20.  On the contrary/ On the other hand

21.  In contrast/ On the other hand

22.  On the other hand/ On the other side of the coin/ Turning to the other side of the argument/ We can balance against this…

23.  Nevertheless/ On the other hand,…

24.  Nonetheless/ Nevertheless/ Even though (all) that is true/ Despite all of this

25.  However,…/…, but…

26.  Despite…/ In spite of…

Suggested answers

Determiners

1.     An advantage/ The advantage – Very different2.     One of the advantages/ An advantage – The same3.     A great advantage/ The main advantage – Different 

Collocations with advantage

4.     The greatest advantage/ The main advantage/ The most significant advantage – The same5.     The greatest advantage/ The overwhelming advantage – Significantly different6.     By far the most important advantage/ The overwhelming advantage – The same7.     A great advantage/ A major advantage/ A big advantage – The same8.     A comparatively minor disadvantage/ A completely insignificant disadvantage – Different9.     A more important advantage/ A very important advantage – Different10.  A possible advantage/ A potential advantage – Slightly different11.  Another advantage/ A further advantage/ An additional advantage/ One more advantage – The same 

Other phrases

12.  Pros and cons/ Advantages and disadvantages – The same13.  The advantages outweigh the disadvantages/ There are more pros than cons – Basically the same14.  A pro/ An advantage – Different (“Pros and cons” is a fixed expression – the general meaning of “a pro” is “a professional”) 15.  A con/ A disadvantage – Different (“Pros and cons” is a fixed expression – the general meaning of “a con” is “fraud/ a scam/ a rip off” or slang for “a prisoner”)16.  Arguments for/ Supporting arguments/ Arguments in support – The same17.  Good and bad points/ Benefits and drawbacks – The same18.  Positive aspect/ Positive point – The same19.  Negative effect/ Negative consequence – The same 

Contrasting phrases

20.  In contrast/ On the contrary – Different (The latter means the thing just said isn’t true)21.  In contrast/ On the other hand – Different (The latter is only used to weigh things up)22.  On the other hand/ On the other side of the coin/ Turning to the other side of the argument/ We can balance against this… – The same23.  Nevertheless/ ,whereas… - Different (The former shows which side you agree with)24.  Nonetheless/ Nevertheless/ Even though (all) that is true/ Despite all of this – The same25.  However,…/…, but… – The same26.  Despite…/ In spite of… – The same