Meaning & use
specific area
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Meanings
nouncountable
A particular part of a place, surface, or object, not the whole thing.
Grammar: Countable: a specific area, several specific areas. Often followed by of: a specific area of the city.
Patterns
- a specific area of something
- in a specific area
Please keep your luggage in this specific area.
The rash appeared in a specific area on his arm.
We need to focus on a specific area of the map.
nouncountable
A particular subject or field of activity, especially one being discussed or studied.
Grammar: Countable and often used with of: a specific area of research.
Patterns
- a specific area of something
- work in a specific area
She specializes in a specific area of law.
The report covers a specific area of the company's business.
He has expertise in a specific area of medicine.
Word forms
| plural | specific areas |
|---|
Common combinations
- a specific area of
- This is a specific area of the city that floods often.
- in a specific area
- The plant grows only in a specific area of the forest.
- focus on a specific area
- The course lets you focus on a specific area of interest.
- specific area of research
- Her specific area of research is marine biology.
Synonyms and how they differ
- particular area
- Very similar, but particular often suggests 'this one and not another' while specific emphasizes precise identification.
- certain area
- Less precise; certain can mean 'some' without saying exactly which, while specific points to a clearly defined part.
- region
- Usually larger and more geographical; a specific area can be small and not necessarily a region.
Opposites
Word family
- specifically adverb
- In a precise or particular way: I specifically asked for this area.
- specific adjective
- Clearly defined or particular: a specific problem.
Commonly confused: specific area or Pacific area?
specific area vs Pacific area
Pacific area refers to the region around the Pacific Ocean; specific area means a particular part of something.
Practice
The scientist focused her study on a specific ___ of the brain.
Choose one answer.
The phrase a specific area of is singular and needs the noun area. 'Areas' is plural and would not follow 'a', 'area's' is possessive and needs a following noun, and 'areal' is an adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “specific area”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.