UK
under
under-
)<
stand 1
./
2
)<
./
./
X
./
unemploy-
ment
uniform
3
X This is my first visit to UK .
./ This is my first visit to the UK.
See note at THE 12
)<
Prices are not allowed to fall under this level.
./ Prices are not allowed to fall below this level.
See note at BELOW 1
People find it difficult to understand about the Japanese.
People find it difficult to understand the Japanese .
understand sb/sth (WITHOUT about): 'After twenty years of marriage,
we still don't understand each other.'
You have to know our culture in order to understand us deeply.
You have to know our culture in order to understand us
properly.
You have to know our culture in order to really understand

'The tourist guides at the castle all wear medieval costumes.'
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342
unique
unique
United
Kingdom
United
Nations
United
States
?
It's one of the most unique pieces of architecture in Spain .
.I It's one of the most unusual pieces of architecture in Spain.
Unique usually describes something that is the only one of its kind:
'Lennon will be remembered for his songs and for his unique sense of
humour.'
In informal styles unique issometimes used with more/most/rather etc.
to mean 'unusual': 'This rather unique little restaurant is
very
popular with
the locals.' This.use of unique is considered by careful users to be
incorrect.
)< I spent two months travelling around United Kingdom.
.I I spent two months travelling around the United Kingdom.
See note at THE 12
)< The purpose of United Nations is to protect human rights.
.I The purpose of the United Nations is to protect human
rights.
See note at THE 12

The names on the list were unknown to me .
.I
The names on the list were unfamiliar to me.
unknown
usuafly<:lescfibessOrnettiingthat people iDgeneral do not
know or know
very
little about: 'Whether or not there is life on any of
these planets remains unknown;' 'There are still some unknown species
of animals in the South American rainforests.'
S9me~~ingthat you yourSE:')lf
h",ve
not.geen,heard or experienced before
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until 343
unless 1
unsatis-
factory
until 1
2
3
is,unfamiliar (to you): The voice on the phone sounded unfamiliar.' 'It
took Steven some time to get used to his unfamiliar surroundings.'
X Bring something to eat unless you get hungry .
./ Bring something to eat in case you get hungry.
When you are talking about something that is done as a precaution, use
in case (NOT unless): 'You should take a book with you in case you
have to wait.'
2
X We can go in my car unless if you prefer to walk .

children up to the age of eleven.'
X I will have finished this book until tomorrow .
./ I will have finished this book by tomorrow.
X Could you let us know your decision until the end of October .
./ Could you let us know your decision by the end of October.
Until is used for an action or state continuing up to a certain time: 'The
shops are open until five thirty.' '1'11wait here until you get back.'
By is used for an action which happens before or no later than a certain
time: 'I have to submit my dissertation by the end of next year.'
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344 until now
4 X I'll wait here until you will return .
.I
I'll wait here until you return.
See Language Note at WILL
until now 1 x
Until now we have received over sixty applications .
.I
So far we have received over sixty applications.
X I've only been here for two months until now .
.I
I've only been here for two months so far.
When you are talking about a situation that is (probably) going to
continue into the future, use so far or (in formal styles) to date: 'So far
this week it's hardly stopped raining.' 'To date there have been ten
attempts on the President's life.'
2
X Her husband is alive until now .
.I
Her husband is still alive.

X
.I
It is not unusual that two families share the same house.
It is not unusual for two families to share the same house .
See USUAL 1
See
DOWNSTAIRS
Italian women like to keep up with up-to-date fashions.
Italian women like to keep up with the latest fashions .
Television also gives us the up-to-date news and information.
Television also gives us the latest news and information.
up-to-date (also up to date)
=
(1) (of machinery, equipment, methods,
books etc) modern, especially because based on the most recent
knowledge, information, inventions etc: 'Our computer system is
reasonably up-to-date but it's not flexible enough.' 'This map is no good.
I need one that's up-to-date.'
(2) (of people) having the most recent information about something: 'The
aim of the survey is to find out how many doctors keep up to date with
developments in medical research.'
latest
=
See note at LAST 4
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USA
useless 345
use 1
used
useless 1

X It's no use having lessons if you don't want to learn.
,f
There's no point in having lessons if you don't want to
learn.
Use it's no use/good doing sth when you mean that a particular
action will not help to deal with a need or difficulty: 'For spellings, it's no
use looking in a grammar book. What you need is a dictionary.'
When you mean that something has no useful purpose, use there's no
point in doing sth: 'There's no point in having a dictionary if you never
use it.'
X There's no use in waiting any longer.
,f
There's no point in waiting any longer.
it's no use ... (NOT there): 'It's no use complaining.'
there's no point ... (NOT it) 'There's no point in getting upset.'
X We soon got used to live in the countryside.
,f
We soon got used to living in the countryside.
See note at
USE
3
X In garage sales people get rid of their useless things.
,f In garage sales people get rid of the things they don't use.
If something is useless it is not useful: 'These scissors are useless -
they don't even cut paper.' 'The report contains a lot of useless
information.'
2 X I don't like history because I think it's useless for me.
,f I don't like history because I think it's of no use to me.
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346 usual

that is usually used, seen, done etc: 'She was sitting in her usual
chair by the fire.' 'We arranged to meet at the usual time.' 'He was
speaking in his usual calm tone.'
ordinary
=
without any special features or qualities: 'It was just an
ordinary house in an ordinary street.' 'From the moment I met her, I knew
she was no ordinary kind of girl.'
X As usually, he arrived five minutes late.
,/ As usual, he arrived five minutes late.
X The food wasn't the same as usually.
,/ The food wasn't the same as usual.
as usual (NOT as usually): 'John's late as usual.' 'As usual, everyone
was out in the garden when I arrived.'
the same as usual (NOT ... as usually): 'Apart from his hair, he looked
the same as usual.'
X I utterly hope you won't be angry with me.
,/ I sincerely hope you won't be angry with me.
X I have to make sure that our customers are utterly satisfied.
,/ I have to make sure that our customers are completely
satisfied.
Utterly is usually used with words that have a negative meaning or
express strong disapproval such as (adjectives) ridiculous, absurd,
irrelevant, useless, wrong, impossible, (adjectival participles)
confused, amazed, dejected, ruined, (verbs) reject, detest, destroy:
'This new tin opener is utterly useless.' 'The whole idea is utterly absurd.'
'I'm utterly amazed.' 'The entire building was utterly destroyed.'
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vain
?

=
worth a lot of money: 'Your stamp collection must be quite
valuable by now.' 'If the painting is genuine, it could be extremely
valuable.'
expensive
=
costing a lot of money, especially when compared with
other things of the same type: 'He only buys silk ties, even though they're
more expensive.' 'Why are these bananas so expensive?'
2
)<
They will steal all your money and valuable things .
.I
They will steal all your money and valuables.
When you mean valuable things such as jewellery, cameras, etc, use
valuables (always plural): 'The management advises guests to deposit
their valuables in the hotel safe.'
3
)<
The small hotels are usually very valuable for money but the big
ones are expensive .
.I
The small hotels are usually good value but the big ones are
expensive.
If something is worth what you pay for it, it is good value (for money) or
(good) value for money: 'At just under $90 the Sony is very good
value.' 'Having paid £200 for the suit, I expect to get better value for
money.'
value
1

X I'm
very
convinced that he is telling the truth .
.I I'm (absolutely) convinced that he is telling the truth.
Do not use very or extremely with adjectives which already have a
strong meaning, e.g. boiling (= very hot), convinced (= very sure),
exhausted (= very tired), huge (= very big), terrible (= very bad). If you
want to increase the strength of these words, use absolutely or
(depending on the particular adjective) completely, totally, utterly or
quite: 'By the time I got home I was completely exhausted.'
With adjectives which do not have a strong meaning, use very or
extremely (NOT absolutely, completely etc): 'By the time I got back
home I was very tired.'
3
X Their
services
are very appreciated by the hospital management.
.I Their services are greatly appreciated by the hospital
management.
Very may be used with past participles that are like adjectives and refer
to a state: 'very bored/worried/interested/pleased'.
Past participles with a strongly passive meaning are usually modified by
greatly or (very) much: 'His work is much admired.' 'This courageous
woman, who helped so many of us, will be greatly missed.'
4 X Although he was very in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry
a rich heiress .
.I Although he was very much in love with Marianne, he
wanted to marry a rich heiress. .
Very is not used before a phrase beginning with a preposition (e.g. 'in
love with', 'in need of', 'at odds with'). However, in such cases it is often

./ New doors cost a lot (of money) because wood is so
expensive.
With some verbs (e.g. cost, pay, charge, eat) it is possible to use very
much in questions and negative sentences: 'Did it cost very much?' 'It
didn't cost very much.'
However, in affirmative sentences very much is usually replaced by a
lot: 'It will cost quite a lot to have the job done properly.'
3
See LOVE
X
The view of all the blood on the ground made her feel ill.
./ The sight of all the blood on the ground made her feel ill.
View refers to the whole area that you can see from somewhere,
especially when you can see a long way into the distance: 'His studio
has a spectacular view over Sydney Harbour Bridge.' 'I've booked a
room with a view of the sea.'
When you are talking about the act of seeing something, use the sight
of: 'The sight of so many people dying from disease and hunger is
something I will never forget.'
2
X
Come over here and watch the view .
./ Come over here and look at the view.
X
We just sat there and saw the view .
./ We just sat there and admired the view.
X
From the top of the tower you see a wonderful view of the city .
./ From the top of the tower you get a wonderful view of the
city.