Collocations for fact - noun
ADJECTIVE
important,
interesting,
relevant,
salient
You must look at all the relevant facts.
You must look at all the relevant facts.
basic,
simple
cold, concrete, hard, incontrovertible, inescapable, observable, obvious, plain, straightforward, true, undeniable
The police have to support their case with hard facts.
These are all incontrovertible facts.
cold, concrete, hard, incontrovertible, inescapable, observable, obvious, plain, straightforward, true, undeniable
The police have to support their case with hard facts.
These are all incontrovertible facts.
bare,
disturbing,
harsh,
sad,
stark,
unpalatable (esp. BrE),
unpleasant
the bare facts of war
a rather harsh fact of life
the bare facts of war
a rather harsh fact of life
known
The known facts of the case are as follows.
The known facts of the case are as follows.
little-known,
well-known
It is a well-known fact that girls do better than boys at school.
It is a well-known fact that girls do better than boys at school.
proven
historical, scientific
mere
The mere fact of your being there will arouse their suspicions.
historical, scientific
mere
The mere fact of your being there will arouse their suspicions.
VERB + fact
be aware of,
have,
know
We don't have all the facts yet.
She already knew the facts she needed.
We don't have all the facts yet.
She already knew the facts she needed.
ascertain,
establish,
find out
the best way of establishing the facts
the best way of establishing the facts
check,
consider,
examine,
look at
I think you need to check your facts.
For God's sake, look at the facts!
I think you need to check your facts.
For God's sake, look at the facts!
prove
These facts have not yet been proved.
These facts have not yet been proved.
collect,
gather
select
Historians must first select the facts that they present.
select
Historians must first select the facts that they present.
give,
present,
report,
state
The job of the teacher is not simply to impart facts.
I'm not making excuses—I'm just stating a fact.
The job of the teacher is not simply to impart facts.
I'm not making excuses—I'm just stating a fact.
interpret
different ways of interpreting the facts
different ways of interpreting the facts
account for,
explain
How do you account for the fact that unemployment is still rising?
How do you account for the fact that unemployment is still rising?
accept,
acknowledge,
appreciate,
face,
recognize
She wouldn't accept the fact that she had lost.
I appreciate the fact that you're under a lot of pressure at the moment.
I'm afraid you'll have to face facts. She'll never marry you.
She wouldn't accept the fact that she had lost.
I appreciate the fact that you're under a lot of pressure at the moment.
I'm afraid you'll have to face facts. She'll never marry you.
grasp
He doesn't seem able to grasp this basic fact.
He doesn't seem able to grasp this basic fact.
learn
deny, dispute
No one can deny this fact.
deny, dispute
No one can deny this fact.
forget,
ignore,
overlook
This approach ignores the fact that people, not computers, commit crimes.
This approach ignores the fact that people, not computers, commit crimes.
be oblivious to
conceal, disguise, hide
If he was bored, he managed to hide the fact very well.
conceal, disguise, hide
If he was bored, he managed to hide the fact very well.
obscure
The recent improvements should not obscure the fact that general standards are still far too low.
The recent improvements should not obscure the fact that general standards are still far too low.
change
This does not change the fact that a crime has been committed.
This does not change the fact that a crime has been committed.
draw attention to
The report draws attention to the fact that the country is now a net exporter of the product.
The report draws attention to the fact that the country is now a net exporter of the product.
emphasize,
highlight,
underline (esp. BrE),
underscore
(esp. AmE)
confine sb/yourself to (esp. BrE), stick to
Just stick to the facts.
confine sb/yourself to (esp. BrE), stick to
Just stick to the facts.
be based on
a novel based on historical fact
a novel based on historical fact
reflect
Prices reflect the fact that the company is aiming at the luxury market.
Prices reflect the fact that the company is aiming at the luxury market.
stem from
He knew their bitterness stemmed from the fact that he was in charge.
He knew their bitterness stemmed from the fact that he was in charge.
be explained by,
be supported by
be complicated by, be compounded by, be exacerbated by
The problem was compounded by the fact that I had no idea what I was looking for.
be complicated by, be compounded by, be exacerbated by
The problem was compounded by the fact that I had no idea what I was looking for.
hate,
lament,
regret,
resent
We waited miserably, lamenting the fact that our suitcases had been put on the wrong plane.
She resented the fact that I had more freedom than her.
We waited miserably, lamenting the fact that our suitcases had been put on the wrong plane.
She resented the fact that I had more freedom than her.
PREPOSITION
after the fact
On some vital decisions employees were only informed after the fact (= when it was too late to change them).
On some vital decisions employees were only informed after the fact (= when it was too late to change them).
apart from the fact
She was happy, apart from the fact that she could not return home.
She was happy, apart from the fact that she could not return home.
despite the fact,
in spite of the fact,
notwithstanding the fact
He got the job, despite the fact that he has no experience.
He got the job, despite the fact that he has no experience.
due to the fact
Due to the fact that they did not read English, the prisoners were unaware of what they were signing.
Due to the fact that they did not read English, the prisoners were unaware of what they were signing.
given the fact
The findings are not surprising, given the facts: …
The findings are not surprising, given the facts: …
in fact
I used to live in France; in fact, not far from where you're going.
I used to live in France; in fact, not far from where you're going.
fact about
We learned several interesting facts about elephants.
We learned several interesting facts about elephants.
PHRASES
(as) a matter of fact
It's not wild speculation! It's a plain matter of fact.
‘I suppose you'll be leaving soon, then?’ ‘No, as a matter of fact I'll be staying for another two years.’
It's not wild speculation! It's a plain matter of fact.
‘I suppose you'll be leaving soon, then?’ ‘No, as a matter of fact I'll be staying for another two years.’
facts and figures
All the facts and figures were presented at the meeting.
All the facts and figures were presented at the meeting.
the fact of the matter
A new car would be wonderful but the fact of the matter is that we can't afford one.
A new car would be wonderful but the fact of the matter is that we can't afford one.
the facts of the case
The facts of the case are quite straightforward.
The facts of the case are quite straightforward.
a fact of life
(= a situation that cannot be changed)
It is an sad fact of life that the most deserving people do not often achieve the most success.
It is an sad fact of life that the most deserving people do not often achieve the most success.
the facts of life
(= the details about sex and how babies are born, esp. as told to children)
fact or fiction?
The Loch Ness Monster: fact or fiction?
fact or fiction?
The Loch Ness Monster: fact or fiction?
the facts speak for themselves
(= further explanation about sth is unnecessary because the facts prove it is true)
get your facts right, get your facts straight, get your facts wrong
If you're going to make accusations, you'd better get your facts right.
get your facts right, get your facts straight, get your facts wrong
If you're going to make accusations, you'd better get your facts right.
have the facts at your fingertips
When making your presentation, it is important to have all the facts at your fingertips (= to have the information you need and be able to find it and use it quickly).
When making your presentation, it is important to have all the facts at your fingertips (= to have the information you need and be able to find it and use it quickly).
in actual fact,
in point of fact
I thought the work would be difficult. In actual fact, it's very easy.
I thought the work would be difficult. In actual fact, it's very easy.
in view of the fact that …
Voluntary work was particularly important in view of the fact that women were often forced to give up paid work on marriage.
Voluntary work was particularly important in view of the fact that women were often forced to give up paid work on marriage.
know for a fact
Do you know for a fact that he is in London?
Do you know for a fact that he is in London?
not to mention the fact that …
It's very hard to do this on a home computer. Not to mention the fact that it's actually illegal.
It's very hard to do this on a home computer. Not to mention the fact that it's actually illegal.
a question of fact,
a statement of fact
It's a simple statement of fact.
It's a simple statement of fact.
a recognition of the fact that …
a growing recognition of the fact that learning may take different forms
a growing recognition of the fact that learning may take different forms