Natural phrases for talking about technology
Replace general words like “useful technology” with a specific benefit and risk.
2 min read · Updated 9/8/2026
The key idea
When you give an opinion about technology, say what the device does after you name it.
- access information — to find and use information
- protect personal data — to keep private details safe
- a reliable source — a place you can trust for facts
- digital skills — the abilities needed to use computers and the internet
- spend time online — to be on the internet for a period
- keep in touch — to stay in contact with someone
Information and data can appear in the same sentence, but they don't replace each other in every context. For the safety of private details, personal data is the exact phrase.
See an example
Video calls help me keep in touch with my family while I study abroad.
Instead of “Technology is useful”, there is a tool, a benefit and a situation.
Before sharing an article, I check whether it comes from a reliable source.
Here reliable does not mean fast or famous, but able to be trusted.
Now you try
Complete the gaps: reliable / personal / touch.
- Apps should protect users' ___ data.
- We use messages to keep in ___.
- A popular website is not always a ___ source.
A personal draft. It is not saved when you leave or automatically graded.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
- personal — data that belongs to the user.
- touch — keep in touch is a complete phrase.
- reliable — popularity does not guarantee that information is accurate.
Choose a technology of your own. Complete the sentence “It helps me…” with its specific benefit.
Healthy, fit and balanced: health words
Official sources for this topic
Cambridge · English Grammar Today