Meaning & use
tutorial
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Meanings
nouncountable
A step-by-step lesson, in writing or video, that shows you how to do something.
Grammar: Often followed by on or for: a tutorial on knitting.
Patterns
- a tutorial on something
- a tutorial for beginners
I watched a video tutorial on baking bread.
The game opens with a short tutorial on the controls.
She wrote an online tutorial for new users.
nouncountableBritish
A class at a British university in which a small group or one student talks with a teacher.
Grammar: Mainly British; the teacher is the tutor.
Patterns
- a tutorial with someone
- attend a tutorial
We have a tutorial with Dr. Khan on Thursday.
The essay was discussed in our weekly tutorial.
Students prepare questions before each tutorial.
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Of or relating to a tutor or private teaching.
Grammar: Appears before a noun: tutorial system.
Patterns
- tutorial system
The college is famous for its tutorial system.
She holds a tutorial post at the university.
Word forms
| plural | tutorials |
|---|
Common combinations
- video tutorial
- Watch this video tutorial before you start.
- online tutorial
- An online tutorial explains each step.
- follow a tutorial
- I followed a tutorial to build my first website.
- beginner tutorial
- The site has a beginner tutorial for new users.
- step-by-step tutorial
- She posted a step-by-step tutorial on painting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lesson
- Lesson is a general word for a period of teaching, whereas tutorial often implies a self-guided how-to guide or a small-group session.
- guide
- A guide can be any helpful reference, while a tutorial leads you through steps in order.
- walkthrough
- Walkthrough is common in games and software for a guided demonstration of a task.
- seminar
- A seminar is a larger discussion class, while a tutorial involves very few students.
Word family
Commonly confused: tutorial or lecture?
tutorial vs lecture
A lecture is a talk to a large audience; a tutorial is interactive, in a small group or step by step.
Practice
Which would you most likely follow to learn how to use new software one step at a time?
Choose one answer.
A tutorial teaches a skill in a series of steps. A lecture hall is a room, and a refund or a memo does not teach.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tutorial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.