Question: There are $14$ more cookies than biscuits in a jar of $38$ cookies and biscuits. How many cookies are in the jar?

Answer: 
Solve the following system. $$x-y=14$$ and $$x+y=38$$
A non algebraic technique useful for simpler word problems: *hypothesise*, i.e. start with *Suppose...*

Suppose you removed those "extra" $14$ cookies.

What's the total number of snacks now?

Can you see that the remaining biscuits and cookies are now equal in number?

Can you figure out how many cookies you have now?

Can you work out how many you started with before you removed $14$?