Trong văn viết, ta có thể dùng những từ hoặc những cụm từ sau đây đề viết về lợi thế, điểm mạnh:

1. Advantage (lợi thế) [countable noun]: a good feature that something has, which makes it better, more useful etc than other things:
   • The great advantage of digital cameras is that there is no film to process.
   • The university has the advantage of being one of the oldest and best respected in the country.
   • The movement of the sea is predictable. This gives wave power a distinct advantage over (= an obvious advantage compared to) wind power.
   • Despite a few problems with the design, the car's advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages. (= the problems are not enough to stop it being a good car)
   • One of the big advantages of this type of engine is that it is smaller and lighter than a conventional petrol engine.

2. Benefit (lợi ích) [countable noun]: a feature of something that has a good effect on people's lives:
   • Regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.
   • Modern technology has brought great benefits to mankind.
   • There has been a great deal of research into the potential benefits of using genetically modified crops.

3. Merit (sự xứng đáng, điều tốt, lợi thế) [countable noun]: a good feature that something has, which you consider when you are deciding whether it is the best choice:
   • The committee will consider the merits of the proposals.
   • In her book, she discusses the relative merits of the two political systems. (= she compares the features that they have)
   • The merits and demerits of (= the good and bad features of) alternative funding systems were widely discussed in the newspapers.

4. Good point (điểm tốt) [countable noun]: a good feature that something has:
   • One of the good points about the car is that it is easy to drive.
   • Each system has its good and bad points.

5. Plus point (điểm cộng) [countable noun]: a good feature that something has:
   • The small but powerful battery is another of the camera's many plus points.
   • The estate agent's leaflet said a major plus point was the recently modernized kitchen.

6. The good/ great/ best thing about (điều tốt, điều tuyệt vời, điều tốt nhất): used when mentioning a good feature of something:
   • The great thing about living in a city is that you can go shopping at almost any hour of the day or night.
   • Her wicked sense of humour was the best thing about her.

STUDY NOTE: “the good/ great/ best thing about” is rather informal. Don't use it in formal essays. (Không nên sử dụng “the good/ great/ best thing about” khi viết văn trịnh trọng).

Source: Longman Essay Activator

Phạm Quốc Thiện
Giáo viên Tiếng Anh – Trường Quốc tế Á Châu