Foreign Phrases

Foreign Phrases

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Foreign phrases are non-English expressions — usually Latin or French — kept in English writing for precision and brevity. They retain their original form, are conventionally italicised in formal text, and carry fixed meanings that dictionaries register as standard. The CUET UG English section (4% weightage) tests these phrases mainly through “closest meaning” MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, and sentence correction.

Must-know entries: ad hoc (for this purpose), bona fide (genuine, in good faith), per se (by/of itself), prima facie (at first sight), status quo (the existing state). Abbreviations: i.e. = id est (“that is”), e.g. = exempli gratia (“for example”), etc. = et cetera, et al. = et alii (“and others”), viz. = videlicet (“namely”), vs. = versus. Trap to dodge: i.e. ≠ e.g. — the first restates, the second gives an example.

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Origin and convention

Foreign phrases entering English come overwhelmingly from Latin (legal, scientific, academic register) and French (diplomatic, culinary, conversational register), with smaller borrowings from Greek, Italian, and German. In formal writing, an unassimilated phrase is set in italics on first use; once a phrase becomes a fully naturalised English expression (e.g., per capita, ad hoc), italics are dropped. CUET items sometimes test this convention itself.

Core abbreviations and their expansions

Abbreviation	Full form	Meaning	Function
i.e.	id est	that is	Restates / clarifies
e.g.	exempli gratia	for example	Introduces an example
etc.	et cetera	and the rest / and so on	Lists continuation
et al.	et alii	and others	Refers to additional people
viz.	videlicet	namely	Enumerates specifically
vs. / v.	versus	against	Opposition

These are abbreviations, not acronyms — they abbreviate phrases, not single words, and are written without spaces between letters.

Frequently tested phrases

• Ad hoc — formed for a particular purpose only; improvised.
• Bona fide — genuine, made in good faith; takes a noun (a bona fide offer).
• Per se — intrinsically, by its own nature; not “by itself” loosely.
• Prima facie — accepted as true until proved otherwise; based on first impression.
• Status quo — the existing condition; strictly not a synonym for “current situation”.
• Ad infinitum — without limit; forever.
• Vice versa — the order being reversed.
• Carte blanche — full authority to act.
• Tête-à-tête — a private conversation between two people.

Typical CUET question patterns

1. Closest meaning: “The committee was formed ad hoc to draft the policy.” — Options test whether you know it means “for this specific purpose”, not “permanently”.
2. Correct usage: Items ask whether bona fide is used as adjective or adverb, or whether prima facie fits a legal-context sentence.
3. Fill-in-the-blank: A blank requiring the right abbreviation where only i.e. or e.g. fits grammatically and logically.

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Edge cases and fine distinctions

• Per se vs. in itself: Per se is philosophical/legal — “considered in its own essence, independent of context”. Saying “the dress is not fashionable per se” is correct; “the dress is not per se fashionable” is the safer formal order.
• Bona fide as adjective only: It modifies nouns (bona fide buyer); the adverbial form bona fides (note plural, used as noun = “good faith / credentials”) is the most common error point. CUET has tested this.
• Prima facie evidence vs. prima facie case: In law, prima facie modifies a case that is sufficient on initial review — not a final verdict.
• Status quo + ante: Status quo ante means “the state of affairs that existed before” — a phrase appearing in higher-difficulty items.
• Anglicisation: Once a phrase enters general dictionaries without italicisation (per capita, vice versa, per annum), examiners expect you to not italicise it. This nuance is sometimes tested.

Connections to adjacent CUET topics

• Vocabulary (One-word substitution / Idioms): Foreign phrases overlap with idioms — both have fixed, non-literal meanings.
• Grammar: Et al., viz., and i.e. trigger punctuation rules (commas before/after in a list).
• Reading Comprehension: Dense academic passages in CUET use 3–5 such phrases per passage; misreading e.g. as i.e. flips the author’s claim.

Common mistakes examiners exploit

• Writing e.g. when meaning i.e., changing “for example” into “that is”.
• Treating etc. as ending a finite list of examples when the writer meant an exhaustive enumeration (use viz. or list fully).
• Pronouncing per se as “per say” — leading to wrong spelling recall in spelling-based sub-items.

Worked micro-example

Item: “The proposal was rejected, not on its merits ___ because of procedural lapses.”

• Option A: i.e. → “that is” (clarifies, doesn’t fit)
• Option B: e.g. → “for example” (introduces example, wrong logic)
• Option C: per se → “in itself” ✔ — “not on its merits in itself, but because of lapses” — correct.
• Option D: viz. → “namely” (enumerates, wrong logic)

Practice prompts

1. Pick the closest meaning: “His bona fides as a researcher were questioned.” — (a) generosity (b) credentials (c) publications (d) age.
2. Correct the sentence: “She enjoys French cuisine, e.g. croissants, eclairs, and cheese — i.e., anything with butter.” Identify and fix the swapped abbreviations.

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