words to make your essay sound smarter

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40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine and engineering .

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127 big fancy words to sound smart and boost your eloquence

Karolina Assi

Everyone wants to sound smart and come across as someone that can express their thoughts eloquently. And even though you might have this fantastic ability in your native language, you may feel limited doing this in English if you’re beginning your journey in expanding your vocabulary with unusual or rarer words.

Fortunately, the English language has thousands of big words that will make you sound instantly more eloquent and knowledgeable.

These words will help you express yourself in a more elegant way by substituting the basic, everyday words with their more fancy synonyms. Learning those “big” words in English is also a great way to impress those around you - whether it’s at school, at work, or during your next date.

To help you take your English vocabulary to the next level, we’re prepared a list of 120+ big words to sound smart, with their meaning and an example of how to use them in context.

The do’s and don'ts of using big words in English

Throwing in a few fancy words into your conversations or monologue is a good idea to sound more eloquent and impress everyone around you.

It’s also a great way to sound smart when you don’t know what to say on a specific topic but want to make a good impression and appear more knowledgeable than you are (like this English student during his literature class ).

But there’s a fine line between using fancy words that truly make you sound eloquent and those that make you sound like you’re trying too hard.

Sometimes, using big words to sound smart may backfire, especially if you don’t really know what they mean. Then, you may end up saying something that makes no sense and leaving everyone in the room perplexed. Plus, using complex words you don’t understand can make you sound pompous - so tread the line between careful and carefree.

Use them only if you truly understand their meaning and know what context to use them in. But don’t use them mindlessly as it will result in an opposite effect to what you intended.

Aside from learning those fancy words and their meaning, another challenge lies in their pronunciation. If you choose those big words that are also hard to pronounce , like “epitome” or “niche,” you might end up saying something that makes everyone laugh (it wouldn’t be such a bad scenario!).

The point is: if you’re going to use fancy words to sound smart, learn their meaning, understand how to use them in context, and practice their pronunciation first.

Big words to sound smart and their meaning

The smartest way of sounding more eloquent when expressing yourself in English is to change basic, everyday words for their fancier versions. For instance, instead of saying “very big,” say “massive.” Instead of saying “detailed.” say “granular,” and instead of saying “not interesting,” say “banal.”

See? Using the word “granular” in a sentence will inevitably add more elegance to your speech and make you appear more fluent and eloquent.

The words we’ve chosen to include in the tables below follow this exact principle. Most of them are just a fancier version of a basic, simple word you’d normally use. Others are words used in a professional or academic setting that simply add more articulacy to your statement.

Fancy words you can use at work

The question isn’t whether you should learn a couple of fancy words you can use at work to impress your boss and coworkers. The question is, how do you use them without coming across as a pompous know-it-all, irritating everyone around you?

Well, it’s all about using them wisely. Don’t cram 10 fancy words into a simple sentence just to sound smarter. Only use them when they help you get your message across. If they don’t bring any value to your sentence, simply don’t use them.

In other words - don’t force it! Be natural.

With that said, here are some big words you can use at work.

Ready to further your career with a new language?

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Clever words you might use academically

The academic setting does not only encourage you to sound smart. It forces you to. To get higher grades and convince your professors of your knowledge and eloquence, you need to elevate your vocabulary.

Whether it’s in written or spoken assignments, these words will help you express yourself in a more intelligent and elegant way while impressing your colleagues and professors.

Big interesting words you might use socially

Being the smartest person among your friends is surely a great boost for your ego. It can help you gain their approval, receive compliments, and maybe even get a date or two while hanging out at the bar with your friends.

But the other side of the coin is that using overly sophisticated words in a casual, social setting can make you appear pretentious and out of place. That’s why you need to be careful and not overdo it! If you do, you might only end up humiliating yourself, and that’s a terrible place to be in.

Here are 20+ big words in English you can use in social situations with their meaning and an example of a sentence you could say.

Impressive words you might use romantically

Even if you’re not a very romantic person, some occasions require a bit of romanticism. Using elegant words in your expressions of love and affection can make your romantic conversations and gestures more special and memorable.

Still, don’t use big words if you don’t mean them! You should always be sincere and genuine in your expressions. Remember that words hold tremendous power in inspiring emotions in those who receive them.

With that said, here are 30 big words you can use in a romantic setting to express your love and affection for your significant other or to take your relationship with the person you’re currently dating to the next level (congrats!).

Sophisticated words you might use when discussing art and literature

Are you an art or literature? These two areas often require eloquent vocabulary to describe them. At least, that is the sort of language that people expect to hear from someone who’s an avid reader and art connoisseur.

You might want to express how the allegory in that poem made you feel or the way the plot of the book has enthralled you to keep reading but lack the right words to do it. If so, here’s a list of 20+ words you can use to talk about art and literature in different contexts.

Fancy words you might use when talking about your hobbies

When talking about our hobbies, we want to come across as more knowledgeable than others. After all, they’re our special interests, and we naturally possess a greater deal of expertise in these areas.

Whether you’re into literature, movies, or sports, here are some fancy words you can use to describe your interests.

Make the Thesaurus your new best friend

In this article, we’ve only covered 126 big words. Understandably, we can’t include all the fancy words you might need in one article. There are simply too many!

But luckily, there’s a free online tool you can use to find the synonyms of everyday words to expand your vocabulary and make yourself sound smarter.

Can you take a guess?

That’s right - it’s the online Thesaurus . You’ve surely heard about it from your English teacher, but in case you haven’t, Thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms and related concepts. It’s a great way to find synonyms of different words to spice up your oral or written statements and avoid repeating the same old boring words time and time again.

Choose your words wisely

Whether you’re using simple, everyday words in casual conversations or those big, fancy words in a professional or academic environment, remember one thing: words have power.

They’re spells that you cast (there’s a reason why it’s called “spelling”) onto yourself and those who you speak them to. The words you speak inspire emotions and shape how other people perceive you. But they also influence your own emotions and shape how you perceive yourself.

So choose them wisely.

Learn more about the fascinating English language on our English language blog here.

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Words to Use in an Essay: 300 Essay Words

Hannah Yang

Words to use in the essay introduction, words to use in the body of the essay, words to use in your essay conclusion, how to improve your essay writing vocabulary.

It’s not easy to write an academic essay .

Many students struggle to word their arguments in a logical and concise way.

To make matters worse, academic essays need to adhere to a certain level of formality, so we can’t always use the same word choices in essay writing that we would use in daily life.

If you’re struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay.

The introduction is one of the hardest parts of an essay to write.

You have only one chance to make a first impression, and you want to hook your reader. If the introduction isn’t effective, the reader might not even bother to read the rest of the essay.

That’s why it’s important to be thoughtful and deliberate with the words you choose at the beginning of your essay.

Many students use a quote in the introductory paragraph to establish credibility and set the tone for the rest of the essay.

When you’re referencing another author or speaker, try using some of these phrases:

To use the words of X

According to X

As X states

Example: To use the words of Hillary Clinton, “You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health.”

Near the end of the introduction, you should state the thesis to explain the central point of your paper.

If you’re not sure how to introduce your thesis, try using some of these phrases:

In this essay, I will…

The purpose of this essay…

This essay discusses…

In this paper, I put forward the claim that…

There are three main arguments for…

Example: In this essay, I will explain why dress codes in public schools are detrimental to students.

After you’ve stated your thesis, it’s time to start presenting the arguments you’ll use to back up that central idea.

When you’re introducing the first of a series of arguments, you can use the following words:

First and foremost

First of all

To begin with

Example: First , consider the effects that this new social security policy would have on low-income taxpayers.

All these words and phrases will help you create a more successful introduction and convince your audience to read on.

The body of your essay is where you’ll explain your core arguments and present your evidence.

It’s important to choose words and phrases for the body of your essay that will help the reader understand your position and convince them you’ve done your research.

Let’s look at some different types of words and phrases that you can use in the body of your essay, as well as some examples of what these words look like in a sentence.

Transition Words and Phrases

Transitioning from one argument to another is crucial for a good essay.

It’s important to guide your reader from one idea to the next so they don’t get lost or feel like you’re jumping around at random.

Transition phrases and linking words show your reader you’re about to move from one argument to the next, smoothing out their reading experience. They also make your writing look more professional.

The simplest transition involves moving from one idea to a separate one that supports the same overall argument. Try using these phrases when you want to introduce a second correlating idea:

Additionally

In addition

Furthermore

Another key thing to remember

In the same way

Correspondingly

Example: Additionally , public parks increase property value because home buyers prefer houses that are located close to green, open spaces.

Another type of transition involves restating. It’s often useful to restate complex ideas in simpler terms to help the reader digest them. When you’re restating an idea, you can use the following words:

In other words

To put it another way

That is to say

To put it more simply

Example: “The research showed that 53% of students surveyed expressed a mild or strong preference for more on-campus housing. In other words , over half the students wanted more dormitory options.”

Often, you’ll need to provide examples to illustrate your point more clearly for the reader. When you’re about to give an example of something you just said, you can use the following words:

For instance

To give an illustration of

To exemplify

To demonstrate

As evidence

Example: Humans have long tried to exert control over our natural environment. For instance , engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900, causing it to permanently flow backward.

Sometimes, you’ll need to explain the impact or consequence of something you’ve just said.

When you’re drawing a conclusion from evidence you’ve presented, try using the following words:

As a result

Accordingly

As you can see

This suggests that

It follows that

It can be seen that

For this reason

For all of those reasons

Consequently

Example: “There wasn’t enough government funding to support the rest of the physics experiment. Thus , the team was forced to shut down their experiment in 1996.”

When introducing an idea that bolsters one you’ve already stated, or adds another important aspect to that same argument, you can use the following words:

What’s more

Not only…but also

Not to mention

To say nothing of

Another key point

Example: The volcanic eruption disrupted hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover , it impacted the local flora and fauna as well, causing nearly a hundred species to go extinct.

Often, you'll want to present two sides of the same argument. When you need to compare and contrast ideas, you can use the following words:

On the one hand / on the other hand

Alternatively

In contrast to

On the contrary

By contrast

In comparison

Example: On the one hand , the Black Death was undoubtedly a tragedy because it killed millions of Europeans. On the other hand , it created better living conditions for the peasants who survived.

Finally, when you’re introducing a new angle that contradicts your previous idea, you can use the following phrases:

Having said that

Differing from

In spite of

With this in mind

Provided that

Nevertheless

Nonetheless

Notwithstanding

Example: Shakespearean plays are classic works of literature that have stood the test of time. Having said that , I would argue that Shakespeare isn’t the most accessible form of literature to teach students in the twenty-first century.

Good essays include multiple types of logic. You can use a combination of the transitions above to create a strong, clear structure throughout the body of your essay.

Strong Verbs for Academic Writing

Verbs are especially important for writing clear essays. Often, you can convey a nuanced meaning simply by choosing the right verb.

You should use strong verbs that are precise and dynamic. Whenever possible, you should use an unambiguous verb, rather than a generic verb.

For example, alter and fluctuate are stronger verbs than change , because they give the reader more descriptive detail.

Here are some useful verbs that will help make your essay shine.

Verbs that show change:

Accommodate

Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:

Verbs that show increase:

Verbs that show decrease:

Deteriorate

Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:

Comprises of

Is composed of

Constitutes

Encompasses

Incorporates

Verbs that show a negative stance:

Misconstrue

Verbs that show a positive stance:

Substantiate

Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:

Corroborate

Demonstrate

Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:

Contemplate

Hypothesize

Investigate

Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:

Useful Adjectives and Adverbs for Academic Essays

You should use adjectives and adverbs more sparingly than verbs when writing essays, since they sometimes add unnecessary fluff to sentences.

However, choosing the right adjectives and adverbs can help add detail and sophistication to your essay.

Sometimes you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is useful and should be taken seriously. Here are some adjectives that create positive emphasis:

Significant

Other times, you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is harmful or ineffective. Here are some adjectives that create a negative emphasis:

Controversial

Insignificant

Questionable

Unnecessary

Unrealistic

Finally, you might need to use an adverb to lend nuance to a sentence, or to express a specific degree of certainty. Here are some examples of adverbs that are often used in essays:

Comprehensively

Exhaustively

Extensively

Respectively

Surprisingly

Using these words will help you successfully convey the key points you want to express. Once you’ve nailed the body of your essay, it’s time to move on to the conclusion.

The conclusion of your paper is important for synthesizing the arguments you’ve laid out and restating your thesis.

In your concluding paragraph, try using some of these essay words:

In conclusion

To summarize

In a nutshell

Given the above

As described

All things considered

Example: In conclusion , it’s imperative that we take action to address climate change before we lose our coral reefs forever.

In addition to simply summarizing the key points from the body of your essay, you should also add some final takeaways. Give the reader your final opinion and a bit of a food for thought.

To place emphasis on a certain point or a key fact, use these essay words:

Unquestionably

Undoubtedly

Particularly

Importantly

Conclusively

It should be noted

On the whole

Example: Ada Lovelace is unquestionably a powerful role model for young girls around the world, and more of our public school curricula should include her as a historical figure.

These concluding phrases will help you finish writing your essay in a strong, confident way.

There are many useful essay words out there that we didn't include in this article, because they are specific to certain topics.

If you're writing about biology, for example, you will need to use different terminology than if you're writing about literature.

So how do you improve your vocabulary skills?

The vocabulary you use in your academic writing is a toolkit you can build up over time, as long as you take the time to learn new words.

One way to increase your vocabulary is by looking up words you don’t know when you’re reading.

Try reading more books and academic articles in the field you’re writing about and jotting down all the new words you find. You can use these words to bolster your own essays.

You can also consult a dictionary or a thesaurus. When you’re using a word you’re not confident about, researching its meaning and common synonyms can help you make sure it belongs in your essay.

Don't be afraid of using simpler words. Good essay writing boils down to choosing the best word to convey what you need to say, not the fanciest word possible.

Finally, you can use ProWritingAid’s synonym tool or essay checker to find more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. Click on weak words in your essay to find stronger alternatives.

ProWritingAid offering synonyms for great

There you have it: our compilation of the best words and phrases to use in your next essay . Good luck!

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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15 Words and Phrases That Will Make Your Essay Sound Smarter

As composing any piece of writing, it’s essential to use appropriate vocabulary to make your essay stand out. Plain language sounds boring and unappealing, so it’s really important to know how to write effective papers. Not only do some words can help you persuade the reader, grab their attention, but they can also make you sound smarter.

“It’s always the language, words and phrases that you use in your writing that make your paper sound smart. Your paper can be well-researched and insightful, but it won’t stand out if it’s written in plain, boring language,” says Adam Simon, a college student and contributor to LegitWritingServices essay writing service review and education blog.

So enjoy our list of 15 words and phrases that will be of great help to make you paper sound smarter.

In other words

When to Use: To paraphrase something in a simpler manner, thus making it easier to understand;

Exemplary Sentence: Writing an essay isn’t as black as it’s painted. In other words , once you learn the general tips, all is left is the practice.

That is to say

When to Use: To provide additional explanation to your previous point, or to add information to sound more accurate;

Exemplary Sentence: To start writing an essay one needs to do research. That is to say , one should search for materials, read them, examine and take notes.

To that end

When to Use: A synonymous phrase meaning ‘in order to’ or ‘so’;

Exemplary Sentence: He wanted to get straight A’s. To that end , he has been mastering his writing skills recently.

Supporting points with additional info

And, and, and. Using ‘and’ throughout your essay to add points won’t make your paper sound smarter. There are tons of awesome expressions and here are the top of them.

Furthermore

When to Use: To provide additional points, used at the beginning of a sentence (don’t forget a comma);

Exemplary Sentence: Furthermore , you should proofread and polish your paper before handing out the final variant.

When to Use: To add additional information, or offering some ideas that support your point of view in a similar manner;

Exemplary Sentence: Planning the writing process is vital to avoid writer’s block and craft a well-thought paper. Likewise , it is essential to write an outline, so that your essay is well-structured.

Another key thing to remember

When to Use: If you have already overused the word ‘also’, it’s high time to use its synonymous phrase ‘another key thing to remember’;

Exemplary Sentence: When writing an introduction, make sure you hook the reader’s attention and arouse their interest. Another key thing to remember is that crafting an introduction last thing is often more effective, as you have already had the perfect grasp of the chosen topic.

Not only...but also

When to Use: To present two ideas while the latter is often more surprising than the former one. Keep in mind the inversion moment as well;

Exemplary Sentence: Not only should you support your topic idea with several additional ones, but you should also provide great examples to underpin your point of view.

Coupled with

When to Use: To examine two or more arguments at a time;

Exemplary Sentence: He soon realized that choosing the topic he was passionate about, coupled with following all the academic rules and standards, was the key to getting top grades for the essay.

Expressing contrast

It’s essential to present contrasting opinions in argumentative essays, as well as in any essay if you want to develop your point of view and make it sound strong. That is why, here are some phrases to use.

When to Use: To provide a contrasting point of view;

Exemplary Sentence: Putting off your essay until the last minute isn’t the greatest idea. However , there are some students who claim that they do better when they’re pressed for time.

When to Use: To give a contrasting point; often used at the beginning of a sentence for better emphasis;

Exemplary Sentence: Purchasing essays online is regarded as cheating by the majority of people. Yet some believe there is nothing wrong in asking for a bit of assistance with their papers.

On the other hand

When to Use: Often used along with another contrasting point, for example, there are two different interpretations of the same idea ‘on the one hand’ and ‘on the other hand’;

Exemplary Sentence: Crafting an essay may seem like the worst and the most daunting task. On the other hand , once you’ve finished it, you feel satisfied and have this pleasant sense of accomplishment.

Highlighting important information

Emphasizing particular points in your essay also require some useful vocabulary.

When to Use: A synonymous expression to ‘particularly’ or ‘significantly’ to highlight peculiar information;

Exemplary Sentence: After reading this article, one can notably improve their vocabulary and make their writing sound smarter.

Importantly

When to Use: Another synonym to the word ‘significantly’, suggesting a special meaning to the point;

Exemplary Sentence: Polishing her paper with high-brow vocabulary affected her grades importantly.

Providing examples

You won’t surprise you professor ‘for example’, while the following expression will boost your writing skills.

To give an illustration

When to Use: To provide an example that will best illustrate your point of view

Exemplary Sentence: To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s have a look at the final effective phrase to use.

All things considered

When to Use: In other words, ‘taking everything into account’

Exemplary Sentence: All things considered , writing a good essay may be time- and energy-consuming; it may require scrutinizing tons of academic rules and standards; it can be pressuring and scary. However, following some useful tips can ease the whole composing process. To give an illustration of what I mean, try enriching your vocabulary with these 15 words and phrases and see how smarter your paper sounds now.

Summarizing

If an effective essay was a building, it would have a great foundation (an introduction and a conclusion). An introduction grabs the reader’s attention and guides straight to the main body, while a conclusion has the final say that is supposed to leave an aftertaste. For this reason, it’s essential to use persuasive vocabulary when summarizing your ideas.

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60 Useful Words and Phrases for Outstanding Essay Writing

General explaining.

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage : “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument.

Example : “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage : Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point.

Example : “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage : This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance.

Example : “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage : “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise.

Example : “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage : Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”.

Example : “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

6. Moreover

Usage : Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making.

Example : “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage :This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information.

Example : “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage : This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”.

Example : “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage : Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned.

Example : “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage : Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”.

Example : “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage : Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”.

Example : “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage : Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”.

Example : “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage : This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information.

Example : “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage : Used when considering two or more arguments at a time.

Example : “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage : This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other.

Example : “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage : “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis.

Example : “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

17. However

Usage : Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said.

Example : “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage : Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion.

Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage : Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”.

Example : “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage : Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence.

Example : “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage : Use this to cast doubt on an assertion.

Example : “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage : This is used in the same way as “then again”.

Example : “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage : Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea.

Example : “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage : Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence.

Example : “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage : Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else.

Example : “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage : This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing.

Example : “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage : These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else.

Example : “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage : This is similar to “despite this”.

Example : “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage : This is the same as “nonetheless”.

Example : “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage : This is another way of saying “nonetheless”.

Example : “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example : “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example : “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage : Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent.

Example : “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage : This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it).

Example : “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage : Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”.

Example : “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

36. In conclusion

Usage : Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview.

Example : “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage : Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay.

Example : “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage : This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing.

Example : “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage : Use in the same way as “persuasive” above.

Example : “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage : This means “taking everything into account”.

Example : “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Additional Information ( more examples)

+20 examples of important transition words, additional information.

There are many linking words which can lead us into additional information and while it is useful to vary your vocabulary beyond ‘ and ,’ these words are not mere replacements for ‘ and .’ They have nuanced differences, thus, by these particular meanings, we can offer a more delicate illustration of the relationships between our ideas.

‘Furthermore’ is used to add information that expands upon the previous point. It precedes information that expands upon that already given. It usually occurs at the beginning of an independent clause.
‘Moreover’ and ‘More so’ are both similar to ‘furthermore’ while giving special emphasis to the greater importance of the following clause.
“Despite cutting back on other staff, her father gave her a position, furthermore , he gave her an enviable office while still not having a role for her.”
Writers also sequence additional information. ‘Firstly,’ ‘secondly’ and ‘thirdly’ are obvious options used to achieve this, however, there are others. For example, we can look into the past with ‘previously,’ ‘until the present’ or ‘preceded by.’
“Present growth in the company was *preceded by several quarters of stagnation”*
‘Meanwhile’ and ‘simultaneously’ talk about things which are happening at the same time as another, while ‘concurrently’ does this while emphasising that the two ideas have played out in conjunction with one another.
Usually, ‘incidentally’ is used to add relevant information while downplaying its significance compared with that of other ideas.
“The priority of the zoo had been to protect species’ from extinction. The panda breeding program was enjoying some rare success, while simultaneously , other programs to increase the numbers of endangered species were being trialled. Meanwhile , the zoo was being visited by an influx of tourists who were, incidentally , able to enjoy seeing the young animals.”
‘Subsequently’ and ‘afterward’ lead into information after the fact.

Compare and Contrast

When writers need to illustrate similarity they can employ words such as ‘in like manner,’ ‘comparatively,’ and ‘correspondingly.’ Whereas , when they wish to highlight difference they have phrases like ‘on the contrary,’ ‘however,’ ‘notwithstanding,’ ‘nevertheless’ and ‘on the other hand.’

Notwithstanding the vehement opposition to online education programs being made available to inmates, considerable improvements were made to the re-employment prospects of many offenders who benefited from the trial. On the contrary, prisoners who were not able to access education while incarcerated were found to be more likely to reoffend and return to prison.

Clarification

When it comes time to clarify an argument or point, some of the transitional phrases which are used are, ‘to reiterate,’ ‘specifically,’ or ‘inasmuch as.’

Consequence and Conclusion

When we have lead our reader through our flow of logic, there might be nothing more rewarding than driving our point home by showing consequence or concluding our arguments. There are a lot of strong phrases such as ‘accordingly,’ ‘hence,’ ‘thus’ and ‘thereupon’ which can do this.

I hope you will feel encouraged, by this article, to continue to further your understanding of how transitional words can work to guide your reader through your flow of logic. When used well, they add power and order to your argument and can add to the result you see from your work.

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7 Words to Make Your Essays Sound More Academic

It’s not easy trying to write an essay in a language that is not your native tongue. If you’re planning on studying abroad in an English-speaking country , you’re going to have to get used to completing assignments in English. When writing an essay, you’ll use different terminology than you would if you were speaking with your friends or your classmates. We’ve put together a list of some of the most impressive words you can include in your essay writing in English. Take a look and see how many you can use.

A term used by academics. Put this word at the beginning of a sentence and no one will ever question whether your point is correct or not. It is a way to let people know you are 100% sure of what you are saying.

Example: Indeed , Shakespeare was one of the most famous writers of his time.

2. Nonetheless

For every argument you make in an essay, the opposite arguments must also be made so you can prove that your side of the argument is more correct. This is where the word nonetheless comes in. It says that in spite of the opposite argument, the point of your essay is still valid.

Example: Their donation was quite small. Nonetheless , it was for a worthy cause.

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Short, but elegant. This means “as a result of,” or “due to this.” Thus is a great word that can be used to begin your concluding sentence.

Example: I crossed the finish line first, thus becoming the winner.

4. Furthermore

This word is perfect for combining ideas; furthermore lets people know that you are adding more information to a sentence without sounding too boring about it.

Example: Paris is a great place to visit because of its scenery. Furthermore , it has beautiful summers.”

An anomaly is something that stands out from the rest of your argument. If you have a series of results, or a list of objects, and a particular result does not fit in with the rest, then this is an anomaly .

Example: All of the results fit my theory, except for one a nomaly , which appears to disagree.

6. Methodology

The “must-have” word of any academic essay. If your essay has an argument, how did you get to it? Whether you read a few books, or conducted an extensive set of interviews and studies, the way you form your argument sounds instantly smarter by calling it your methodology .

Example: The methodology I used for this essay was complicated yet revealing.

To agree with, or to be of the same opinion. This can be very useful in an essay when going through the opinions of other researchers and/or academics.

Example: A selection of academics concur that the results show and increase in city pollution.

Have any other words that didn’t make our list? Share them in the comment section below!

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3 tips to sound smart in writing (and 1 thing to avoid)

We all want to sound smart, but how do you sound smart in writing?

In fact, what makes those who ‘sound smart’ sound, well, smart?

Is it about what they say, or is it in how they say it?

Does substance or style count for more when we’re trying to impress?

Among the various factors which affect the way we judge whether or not we find someone ‘intelligent’, I’ve noticed over the years that one behavioural trait always seems to appeal, and that’s the habit of using ‘big words’ .

What’s the deal with using ‘big words’?

To start, it’s probably a good idea to clarify what I mean by ‘big words’.

The way I see it, ‘big words’ are not necessarily polysyllabic (although they can often be of Latinate origin). They are, however, definitely not mainstream, and they don’t often pertain to basic, pedestrian concepts.

But I must point out that what may seem like a ‘big word’ to me could be a perfectly normal word to another person.

A rhetorician’s ‘antimetabole’ is a biologist’s ‘oxidoreductases’, so what constitutes ‘big’ (in the sense of difficult) can be relative.

On the other hand, a very short word like “mien” or “fey” could qualify as a ‘big word’ by virtue of being niche, while lengthier words such as “extraordinary” or “artificiality” have long gained popular usage and as such, probably wouldn’t fall within most people’s ‘big word’ basket.

At this point, I must confess that I used to be a compulsive ‘big word user’, but being now older and a tad bit wiser, I don’t think using ‘big words’ is necessarily a sign of intelligence, or even of good writing.

That said, I maintain a frivolous interest in keeping a personal lexicon of ‘big words’, which is perhaps similar to the way a car aficionado collects vintage automobiles, but never has any practical use for them.

My reasoning for why ‘big words’ don’t always reflect intelligent writing is simple, and it has to do with a defining quality that smart people and good writing share:

Both are easily understood by others.

If people understand what you’re saying, it means you’ve conveyed your message effectively, and effective communication is the cornerstone of success in an interaction-driven society.

For what is the use of a genius brain, if its owner can’t express her thoughts and convince the world of her genius?

I should also caveat that ‘academic people’ aren’t exactly the same as ‘smart people’. Many academics are incredibly erudite (but often only in their very narrow fields of interest), and while some are definitely very smart, this is not always the case. And God forbid if anyone thinks the opaque prose in PhD dissertations qualifies as ‘good writing’ – it doesn’t.

So… are ‘big words’ a big no-no in writing, then?

Why, then, are some of us still convinced that someone’s preference for using a phrase like “meretricious persiflage” over “trashy conversation”, or the casual-not-so-casual Latinate allusion to “apropos of” rather than the considerably more demotic “regarding”, is a sure marker of intellectual capital?

And why does the American Graduate Record Examination (GRE), an entrance test for applicants of US postgraduate programs, specifically test its candidates on difficult, and at times archaic, vocabulary? Surely, it’s ironic to consider the knowledge of niche words a life skill when the majority of people don’t understand and won’t use these words.

But here’s the catch, and it’s an important one which very much justifies the existence of ‘big words’:

Difficult vocabulary isn’t a matter of practical use; it’s a socio-economic asset, an intangible bearing of cultural refinement, the verbal equivalent to an investment in gold and precious metals.

Bluntly put, it is a manner of speech that shows ‘I’m educated, therefore I am’ in way more syllables than is necessary – and as such, commands bewildered respect.

‘Big words’ are also surprisingly useful for covering up muddled thought, or for when there is really nothing to say, but you still have to say something (and sound impressive while at it!)

In this light, there’s definitely value to throwing in a lexical caterpillar or two in our writing, lest others aren’t aware that we’re the ‘well-educated sort’, even when what we’re doing is to compensate for the absence of content with the abundance of what Hamlet calls ‘ words, words, words ’.

So, while using ‘big words’ can indeed make our writing sound smart (provided that they’re used correctly, of course!), this tactic alone won’t create truly intelligent prose, which is instead the product of clear thought, genuine emotion, and sharp observation.

Basically, if you have a point to make, feel strongly about it, and know how to describe it in a way that’s faithful to your vision, then you’re on track to writing some damn good stuff, ‘big words’ or otherwise.

1) How to write with clear thought

I often get asked by others on how they can improve their writing, and I always start by saying this:

Writing isn’t just about putting words on the page.

Writing is about thinking, feeling, processing, observing, reflecting, and doing these things for enough times until you get to a mental place where you’re finally ready to put pen to paper.

writing thinking feeling processing observing reflecting

The act of writing itself is simply the execution; the process that precedes the execution is key.

This is why great writers are also always great thinkers.

In general, there are two camps of writers: those who see writing as a medium to convey ideas, and those who see writing as an art form – an aesthetic end in and of itself.

Literary scholars call this distinction ‘ Didacticism ’ vs ‘ Aestheticism ’ (‘big word’ alert!), with people like Leo Tolstoy and George Eliot falling in the first group, and those like Oscar Wilde and John Keats in the second. Most authors fall somewhere in between the spectrum.

But thinking about this distinction is where we should all start: do you write because you have a point to make or prove?

Or do you write for the sake of showcasing the beauty of language and style?

If the latter, then perhaps you’d be justified to use more rhetorical flourish than is ‘necessary’. Either way, we’re good – we just need to make our minds up before proceeding.

That said, even with the ‘Aestheticists’, there’s always some sort of agenda and ‘hidden message’ in any piece of writing. In fact, the act of showing that ‘I’m not writing to communicate anything in particular’ is, well, communicating a message.

To ensure that you know what, why and how you’re writing, then, it’s important that we ask ourselves the following questions:

What sort of audience are you targeting?
What message do you want to communicate?
Why does your message matter to your audience?
How will your audience change for having read your writing? (This could be for better or worse – it just depends on your agenda)

To use this very article as my example, these are my answers:

What sort of audience am I targeting?

English learners (students and adults) with a solid understanding of the language, but wish to improve their reading and writing skills

What message do I want to communicate?

Writing well isn’t just about using ‘big’, impressive vocabulary. There are other more important factors, such as clarity in thought, depth of emotion and sharpness of observation, which go into ‘good writing’

Why does my message matter to my audience?

It matters because anyone who wants to do well in English must understand what it takes to express oneself effectively on paper.

How will my audience change for having read my writing?

My audience will (hopefully) understand what it is they should focus on in order to write well.

If you can’t answer these four questions in succinct responses, then that probably means you need to go back to the drawing (or writing) board and think about why you’re writing in the first place.

Determine your purpose first; the writing will come afterwards.

2) How to write with genuine emotion

This may seem slightly confusing to some, especially for those who don’t write fiction or narrative essays. But my point here is precisely that emotion must fuel any act of writing, regardless of whether the piece is argumentative, descriptive or expository in nature.

This is because emotion bespeaks conviction; emotion is what gives credibility to your purpose, which in turn allows you to affect those you’re addressing with the same kind of purpose you hold.

This idea is broadly relevant to Aristotle’s concept of pathos, which refers to the power of speech to evoke an audience’s feeling of pity or sympathy towards a topic or person. Of course, when it comes to the range of emotions writers seek to evoke in readers, it’d be a lot more diverse than just pity or sympathy – pleasure, melancholy, anxiety, anger – these are all common emotions we encounter in novels, articles, poems etc.

What’s important, though, is that you, the writer, must feel these emotions yourself in the process of writing.

So, if you’re writing an op-ed article about the gross double-standards of your government’s lockdown directives , then you need to be genuinely riled up about the issue before you can write a convincing piece on it.

Likewise, if you’re trying to describe the beauty of pastoral landscape, then you’d have to be genuinely in awe of nature in order for your descriptions to strike a chord with your readers.

While we don’t necessarily have to have experienced whatever we’re writing about, we should at least feel something about the bigger idea behind what we’re relaying.

But what if you don’t really care about the topic you’re writing on? Like an essay on the importance of recycling when you just don’t give two hoots about environmental conservation? If that’s the case, then I’d advise that you either pick another topic, or failing that, apply empathy and consider how it could at all relate to your own life.

For instance, how would you feel if one day, landfills overpopulate to the point they make themselves neighbours of your home?

If you’re more of a visual person, perhaps you could look up images related to whatever topic you’re writing about, which is also a good way to stimulate both emotion and thought.

In any case, writing sans feelings will always fall flat and fail to engage. So, next time you write something, ask yourself these questions before you start:

What are your feelings towards what you’re writing about?
How do you expect your readers to feel after reading what you’ve written?

3) How to write with sharp observation

What does it mean to ‘observe’?

Most of us may think of seeing when we hear this word, but ‘observation’ actually goes way beyond the faculty of sight. It also requires attentive listening and active reflection.

After all, the entirety of a person isn’t just limited to her appearance, mannerisms and actions – speech also plays a huge part in telling us about someone’s values, personality, socio-economic and cultural background.

It’s also not enough to just ‘see’ and ‘hear’, for our observations wouldn’t be meaningful if we didn’t then process and reflect on whatever it is we saw and heard from others.

For example, what does it mean when we see a woman decked out in Hermes and Gucci cap-a-pie shopping at the bargain aisle of the supermarket?

What do we know from noticing that someone speaks unidiomatically, but has an affected, posh accent?

And what do we know from seeing a wife flinch from the touch of her husband, despite being all smiles and looking like the perfectly contented half of a poster married couple?

To be a good writer, then, you must also be a good observer of people, which would require you to be interested in people in the first place.

to be a good writer you must be a good observer of people

This is why journalists tend to be good writers; their entire livelihood depends on paying attention to people.

The curious ones work at broadsheets and the nosy ones work at tabloids, but either way, newspapers are basically human observatories.

So, if you want to develop sharper observation skills, start behaving like a journalist: notice the way people walk, talk, react, interact, and ask yourself –

Why does he/she do what they do, or say what they say? What’s the agenda behind it? What’s the emotion?
If I could interview the person I’m observing, what would I ask him/her?
Where have I seen this kind of behaviour or situation before? What was the context back then? Is it similar or different from the one I’m looking at now?
Why is the person and/or situation I’m observing relevant to my audience?

3 tips to write well and 1 thing to avoid

You will see, then, that much of great writing happens beyond the page, if not before the stage when the pen touches the paper. It requires strong purpose, emotional investment, human interest – and a lot of self-reflection.

It is also only after we’ve established the presence of these elements in our writing that we should think about what words to use, and if there is a need to use any ‘big words’.

To clarify, I am not anti-big words. Far from it, in fact. As a self-professed logophile, I consider my occasional tendency to use niche vocabulary a weakness, but it’s a weakness I’m very much willing to indulge.

I enjoy the freedom of being able to use the word “nomenclature” rather than “terms” when I want to, and it excites me to come across lexical strangeness in the form of words like “nudiustertian” and “terpsichorean” (not to mention the quasi-eponymous “jentacular”).

But does the inclusion of ‘big words’ in an essay make for great writing? No. Absolutely not.

Strong purpose, emotional investment, and human interest through self-reflection – that’s what it’s all about.

I know I’ve already said that, but it’s important enough to warrant repeating. How do you make your writing ‘sound smart’?

Which of the elements do you find most important?

Comment below and let me know your thoughts! I’d love to hear from you.

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3 thoughts on “ 3 tips to sound smart in writing (and 1 thing to avoid) ”

Wow, this was a super comprehensive list. I love tip #3, and I occasionally go to the local coffeeshop to people-watch just for this exercise. I try and guess where they’re from, what they’re thinking, and how their day has been.

I enjoyed this article. Thanks for writing!

Like Liked by 1 person

Thanks for reading, Stuart! Yes, people-watching is one of my favourite pre-writing activities, too… 🙂

learn a lot from this post !! I wish I can be a good observer !!:D sometimes I pretend to listen to music, but in fact, I am listening to others’ conversations…((But I swear I am a nice and no-harm person HAHAAAA, not a weirdo:))!)

It has probably happened more than once at work: You wanted to sound smart , so you used a word you thought would impress people — but instead ended up looking like you had no idea what you were talking about.

As hosts of the podcast "You're Saying It Wrong" and co-authors of several grammar books, we've come across many offenders over our years of talking to people about words. These are the "swap-outs" that have the potential to make you sound smarter, but most people use them the wrong way.

Of course, the English language is always changing, and some of the alternatives we suggest avoiding in certain contexts are increasingly becoming accepted. Still, particularly in your professional life, it's best — and a lot easier — to stick with the traditional standards when speaking or writing.

alternatively and alternately

Alternatively is often used as a fancy way of saying alternately. But technically speaking, that's wrong. Alternatively refers to one or more choices or possibilities; alternately refers to two or more things happening after each other.

Big difference, but nowadays the distinctions are getting blurred. So if you want to avoid problems with a grammar purist, make this distinction — or, alternatively, don't!

explication and explanation

We once read something in a business email that made us cringe: "Attached is the explication for..."

The writer probably thought explication was a more formal way of saying explanation. But it isn't. Explanation is a general word meaning to explain something that's not clear; explication is a more technical word meaning to carefully tease out deeper meanings, usually with literary texts.

Outside of the classroom, you're better off sticking with explanations instead of explications.

definitive and definite

Writing definitive instead of definite, as in "The CFO has set a definitive time for the meeting," is a common substitution that doesn't work at all.

The writer meant to say that the CFO set an exact (definite) time for the meeting. But definitive means authoritative, decisive, most reliable, final — as in, "The CFO's report gives a definitive explanation on why the company's shares fell."

disinterested and uninterested

This might seem minor, but it bothers a lot of managers: Many people assume disinterested is a fancier way of saying uninterested, but the two words mean different things.

Uninterested means not showing interest; disinterested means impartial, free from bias — as in "The judge was disinterested in the arbitration hearing, but he certainly wasn't uninterested in the arguments made by the lawyers."

economical and economic

A headline we once read: "Is the new president inheriting an economical crisis?"

And we don't know the answer. But what we do know is that it should be economic instead of economical. Economical means prudent, efficient or thrifty; economic means relating to the economy.

An acceptable headline could be: "Is the new president inheriting an economic crisis, or will he avoid it by encouraging citizens to be economical?"

enormity and enormous

"The enormity of her accomplishments impressed the CEO." Does this sound right? It shouldn't.

Some might say we're quibbling, but enormity (although it does indeed mean enormous or large) usually means so in a very negative way — as in, "The enormity of the dictator's crimes..."

So if you want to praise someone or something, we don't recommend using enormity to describe their accomplishments.

historical and historic

We once heard a news anchor say, "It was an historical day on Wall Street, the biggest intraday drop ever." That's technically correct, but it's really pushing it.

Every past day is a historical day. But only a few days are historic. Historical merely means "based in history," so anything that happened in the past is historical and not necessarily news.

Yesterday, we ate a chicken salad sandwich on rye bread. That was historical. Historic means significant, famous or important or famous in history — something like a huge intraday stock market drop.

incredulous and incredible

"This story is so incredible that I was incredulous." This is the correct way of getting the right distinction between these two words, although many people think that incredulous is just a distinguished way of saying incredible.

It isn't. Incredulous means skeptical or unbelieving, whereas incredible means amazing.

ingenuous and ingenious

We recently saw an employment ad seeking "ingenuous software engineers." We think the HR department meant "ingenious" — unless they really were looking for engineers who were "innocent," or who had a "childlike simplicity," since that's what ingenuous means.

Ingenious, on the other hand, means very clever or resourceful, which is more of what you'd want in a software engineer.

methodology and method

Methodology is an annoying word that should be kept in its place. But it has oozed into a lot of places, especially into government documents and business annual reports as a substitute for "method," probably because it sounds official, important ... and pretentious.

But avoid using it, unless you're talking about studying or examining methods. Otherwise, just stick with method.

obviate and obvious

"Apologies if I'm obviating the obvious." This is what one sales manager wrote in an email to her staff explaining a breakdown of goals.

She apparently thought she was apologizing for making something obvious, well, obvious. But she really should be apologizing for that "obviating."

Even though it seems that obviate has something to do with the word obvious, it doesn't. When you make something obvious, you make it clear or easy to understand. When you obviate something, you do away with it or make it unnecessary.

opportunistic and opportune

Opportunistic sounds so much like opportune that it's understandable why we see cheery sales pitches like: "This is an opportunistic time for real estate investors!"

The problem is that opportunistic means something quite different than opportune, and it has negative connotations. Opportunistic means "taking advantage of circumstances without regards to ethics," while opportune simply means "appropriate for a particular action, or convenient."

By getting fancy and choosing the five-syllable word over the three-syllable, you're not saying it's a great time for something, but saying it's a time to be unethical. Probably not the point you want to make.

unexceptionable and unexceptional

Many people think unexceptionable is a slightly longer and fancier way of saying unexceptional . This is, unexceptionably, a mistake. Something unexceptionable is something not open to objection, it's unimpeachable.

We once saw an ad for "unexceptionable BBQ chicken" at a new restaurant — which, of course, means that you can't object to the chicken? Waiter, check please!

Kathy and Ross Petras are the brother-and-sister co-authors of "Awkword Moments," "You're Saying It Wrong" and "That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means." Their work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Harvard Business Review. Follow them on Twitter @kandrpetras .

Don't miss:

Want to sound smarter? Avoid these phrases that make you sound 'pretentious,' say grammar experts
11 common grammar mistakes that make people cringe—and make you look less smart: Word experts
14 common words and phrases you've probably been saying wrong this whole time

20 Words to Make your Essays Sound Smarter

24 August 2020

7 minutes to read

01. Grammar points to smarten up your essays
02. 20 Words to Smarten up your Essays

Essays seem to come out of the blue sometimes, leaving you feeling apprehensive and underprepared.

Using the right vocabulary to convey a sense of intelligence is oftentimes a big source of anxiety when it comes to writing essays. That, and the at times overwhelming information you need to know with Harvard referencing.

While you shouldn’t try to fill your essay with flowery language and turns of phrase, it isn’t a bad idea to dust off the thesaurus and dictionary from time to time and get searching.

If you’re strapped for time though and would appreciate a few fancy words to sprinkle into your next essay then we’ve got you covered.

The 20 words we’ve listed in this article are all perfectly suited for use in essays, whether the topic is business or Shakespeare’s plays.

Grammar points to smarten up your essays

Before we tackle this vocabulary though it’s worth taking a moment to consider the different categories they fall into, so you can become more familiar about their purpose in a sentence.

While it may seem unnecessary to review the basics, we could all benefit from a refresher of the fundamentals every now and again. You never know, it could just improve your student performance and elevate your writing ability.

Connectors Words

If you’re trying to improve your essay writing skills then narrative flow is something you should take seriously.

Narrative flow refers simply to how well an argument or plot can be followed in a text.

A good author takes the reader along for a journey with compelling storytelling, and this is a technique you can use even in an essay about business.

At the beginning of an essay you want to pose a question which ideally you’ll answer in some way in the conclusion. Your job then is to keep the reader’s interest and focus on the question throughout the text.

If you stop too many times to digress, you may end up diluting the focus of the essay and confusing the reader.

One of the ways to effectively string together a coherent argument in an essay is through the use of connectors.

Connectors are the glue that keep the structure of an essay intact, and are crucial for linking together all of your key points and arguments.

While you don’t need to know too many smart connectors to write a stellar essay, you will want to make sure you have enough to cover each possible transition you could make.

Another part of speech to master if you want to improve your coursework is the adjectives.

Not enough adjectives and your essay might come across as bland.

Too many adjectives though and your essay could seem bloated.

Striking the balance is important if you want to come across as intelligent with your words, since too far either way and might lose a reader’s interest.

To make the most of adjectives, you should try to use them sparingly and only when they add real meaning.

For example, to claim that a building is ‘very tall’ might well be acceptable in speech, but can come across as a little redundant in the written word.

Instead, aim to use adjectives to point out something that is slightly unusual, or to reinforce a point.

‘The emotional scientist’ has more weight behind it than the ‘logical scientist’, since the reader would probably already assume that a scientist is logically-minded.

The ‘sharp decline’ in sales is an example of when an adjective can be used to reinforce a point well as it creates a visual image of a line dropping suddenly on a graph. A decline on its own doesn’t have as much impact on the reader, and doesn’t tell them how quickly it is happening either.

Get information about English tuition here.

Getting to grips with the use of verbs in an essay can be one of the biggest factors in getting a higher mark.

To improve grammar and convince your teacher or examiner that you have a solid grasp of it, you’ll need to be familiar with the active and passive forms of verbs and when to use both of them.

Verbs in the active voice are those which highlight the person doing the action in the sentence and as a result come across as more direct.

Those in the passive voice instead emphasise another element of the sentence.

As an example, ‘the woman swings her racket’ shows off the active form of the verb swing. We know in this sentence that it is the woman that is highlighted, not the racket which is the object of the sentence.

If you were to instead write ‘the racket was swung by the woman’, then you would place more emphasis on the racket than the woman.

As a general rule, it’s best to stick with using verbs in the active voice as much as possible . This is a great way to keep the reader engaged without causing any confusion as to who is doing what.

In some cases, it might seem difficult not to use the passive voice.

It can be very tempting in an essay to say something along the lines of ‘it is said that’ or ‘it has been claimed’, and while you might think that this sounds good, it’s often the better option to identify the subject.

That way, you add clarity to your writing, which you should value above all else. So instead of ‘it is said’, you can think about who is speaking, for example ‘students say’ or ‘experts say’.

While the passive voice certainly has its uses, and can be a great way to vary up your language, if you don’t use it correctly you risk confusing the reader and detracting from the clarity of your writing.

Find an English tutor on Superprof.

If you upgrade the nouns you use in your essays, you can take large strides towards better grades.

By upgrade, I don’t mean replacing the nouns you use frequently with ones that sound smarter. I mean replacing nouns which don’t fully capture what you want to say with ones that are more specific.

For example, if you were to describe something as a ‘cure’, you could be saying one of various things. It could be medication, treatment, or something else designed to help you heal from an injury.

Cure is a perfectly valid word to use to refer to a new medicine that eradicates an illness, but ‘antidote’ is the best word to use for something that cures you from poisoning.

While it’s difficult to know the right noun for every situation, you will likely be able to figure out when a noun is too vague or general to capture a specific meaning.

You should also be careful when using a word that sounds smart and correct in context but you don’t know its exact meaning.

For example, ‘fortuitous’ could be used to describe a situation in which you were lucky, right?

The correct word here is ‘fortunate’, but unfortunately many have taken to using the ‘fortuitous’ instead.

As a general rule, if in doubt, check the word in the dictionary . If you’re in an exam setting and you don’t have that luxury, then resort to the simplest way you know of expressing what you want to say. Using a very simple word is far better than using a long yet incorrect one.

This comes back to the point of clarity in your writing, which is something you should look to uphold no matter what the cost.

One way to improve your essays is to get private English tuition . Working with a tutor can offer you personalised assistance and help you to develop your essay writing skills.

20 Words to Smarten up your Essays

If you have to weigh up potentially sounding smarter vs absolutely sounding clear, then you should always pick the latter option.

Anomaly (noun)

An anomaly is something which doesn’t conform to what’s normal. That could be a stray statistic in a chart, or an odd sibling in an otherwise normal family.

Avant-garde (adjective)

Avant-garde is an adjective you can use to refer to something or someone with radical new ideas or a novel methodology.

Capricious (adjective)

Capricious is an adjective to describe someone or something that is very unpredictable or changes suddenly.

Dichotomy (noun)

A dichotomy can be used to describe a divide between two very different ideas or concepts.

Epitome (noun)

The epitome of something the perfect form of it.

Ubiquitous (adjective)

When an idea, object or anything else is ubiquitous, it means it can be seen everywhere.

Moreover (connector)

Moreover is a connector you can use to double down on your last point.

Compelling (adjective)

Compelling is an adjective which suggests something is so fascinating you have to pay attention.

Acrimonious (adjective)

Acrimonious is an adjective which suggests a conversation or person was full of bitterness.

Brusque (adjective)

To be brusque in conversation is to be very abrupt or impatient with someone.

Catch-22 (noun)

A catch-22 is a problem which will result in a negative either way.

Attest (verb)

Attest is a verb to describe when someone has proof of something.

Indicate (verb)

Indicate is a simple verb which you can use to replace ‘show’.

Constraints (noun)

Constraints is a noun which refers to limits that have been placed.

Incremental (adjective)

To make an incremental change is to do so in small steps.

Substantiate (verb)

The verb substantiate refers to the process of backing up a point with evidence.

Quintessential (adjective)

Quintessential refers to a strong example of a particular characteristic or type.

Machiavellian (adjective)

To describe someone as Machiavellian is to accuse them of scheming or using their cunning to get what they want.

Idyllic (adjective)

Idyllic can be used to describe a perfect scenario or place.

Malaise (noun)

Malaise can be used to refer to feeling less than ideal, or in a state of discomfort.

Find how to improve grammar on Superprof.

Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!

Sam is an English teaching assistant and freelance writer based in southern Spain. He enjoys exploring new places and cultures, and picking up languages along the way.

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15 Words That Will Make You Sound Smarter

Homework Tips
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Do you remember how exciting it was when you learned to say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ? Didn’t you feel smart? Just because you're older, doesn't mean acronyms and emojis should be your main form of communication. After all, if you want to be successful in life, you have to make an unforgettable first impression.

Why Word Choice Is Important

Having a strong vocabulary allows you to communicate in a thoughtful and intelligent way. Whether you're trying to land a job, impress your 3rd-period teacher, or nail a scholarship interview, your ability to choose your words carefully will help you stand out. But here’s something to consider: overusing complex language can turn people off, so it’s best to test out a few new words at a time and see what kind of reaction you get.

Chances are, you’ve seen (or maybe even used) a few of these words. And while there are hundreds of words that can make you sound smarter, some are definitely more fun (and easier) than others to use. So, the next time you're toe-to-toe with your AP English teacher, ditch the toady act and impress her with a few of these scintillating words instead.

Words to Add to Your Vocabulary

Accolade: a mark of acknowledgement; an honor. Even though he received numerous accolades at the senior awards night, Ben is still one of the most humble people I know.
Acquiesce: to go along with something without protest, even if you don't really want to. My grandma loves the ballet and bought tickets for us to go. I really wanted to watch the basketball game, but her sweet smile eventually caused me to acquiesce.
Bamboozle: conceal one’s true motives; to cheat or deceive another person. I got bamboozled by my buddy to buy him a pair of new shoes even though his mom picked up a pair yesterday.
Camaraderie : trust existing between friends who spend time together; a spirit of familiarity. There was a sense of camaraderie among the soccer team after they spent two weeks together at a wilderness camp.
Conundrum: a difficult problem. Looks like you have a bit of conundrum, but that's what happens when you cheat on a test and the teacher finds out.
Idyllic: peaceful, happy, pleasing. The outdoor classroom at our school is in an idyllic location because you can see the mountain range and several acres of forest from every open window.
Impeccable: faultless or without defect; incapable of wrongdoing. Have you ever had that one teacher who won’t accept any work unless it’s impeccable? There’s no way my essays are ever going to be that perfect.
Perfunctory: something done without much care or attention. You did a perfunctory job including descriptive words in this essay. Next time, I expect you to show more interest in what you are writing.
Ruminate: to think about something thoroughly and in great detail. People who struggle with anxiety tend to ruminate and fixate on their thoughts.
Tempestuous: identified by explosive conditions. My older brother’s tempestuous relationship with our mom has led to very little communication between the two of them.
Tenuous: very weak or slight and likely to change. We’re not sure if our boating store is going to survive this harsh winter season. Your employment will remain a bit tenuous until we know the total number of sales from this month.
Vacillate: to go back and forth between two points, waver between different opinions, or to be indecisive. When I ask my sister where she’s going to college, she vacillates between her two favorite schools; but I know she will eventually make the best decision for her.
Vitriolic: harsh or corrosive in tone. The student body election turned into an argument reaching vitriolic levels. The two candidates ended their speeches by shouting harmful words at each other.
Wheelhouse : a metaphor for an individual's area of comfort or expertise. I need you to cover this story about the construction at our school, even though it’s not in your wheelhouse.
Zealous: displaying or feeling energetic support for a person, cause, etc. My neighbor has been a zealous supporter of animal rights for as long as I’ve known her.
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Aside from this web based software being used as a paraphrasing tool or a text spinner, it can also be used as a vocabulary improvement tool. The artificial intelligence of this paraphrase generator is so sophisticated that it is capable of understanding context. Use the dictionary or thesaurus to learn definitions for words or discover more synonyms.

Complex Sentence Generator is very easy to use. After typing or pasting content in the first text box, press the convert button to automatically paraphrase the content. This generator can also work as a random sentence generator. Click on the random sentence button to generate random complex sentences and have them paraphrased. This software works as a paraphrase converter for transforming simple and common english into more complex english. It can be useful as a free article spinner due to its' ability to rephrase a large body of text and potentially generate multiple unique versions with each conversion of the same content. With complex sentence generator you can reword content online and rewrite up to 10000 characters or less at a time/per conversion. This should be more than enough for spinning articles, essays or paraphrasing website content for blogs which usually consists of a large amount of content.

In order to rephrase a sentence, paragraph, essay or article effectively, content with good grammar and spelling is important when using this automatic paraphraser because it can only recognize, understand and rewrite correct grammar. For an article rewriter that is in the form of a bot, it does a good job of respecting english and using replacements that make sense. Content that is written in all caps or with the first letter of every word capitalized can still be rephrased by this software. Otherwise, as long as the grammar of the content is sensible and recognizable, complex sentence generator can make the task of paraphrasing easy. Rather than having to research synonyms for words or phrases and deduce which ones are the most suitable substitutes for any context a word or phrase may be used in, paraphrasing is done on auto pilot.

Aside from simply being used as a tool to spin text or paraphrase content, complex sentence generator can be instrumental towards accomplishing a number of additional tasks. Improving vocabulary, learning new ways to utilize english words and phrases and adding more uniqueness to the process of generating new content. You can also use paraphrase search to learn new words by searching for examples of words/phrases being used in a sentence and paraphrased in a sentence. Due to how rare and uncommon a lot of the words and phrases are in the database of this paraphrase generator, it can create and exhibit a unique style of writing and vocabulary. It also makes it easier to encounter and discover new words.

20 Words to Make your Essays Sound Smarter

26 August 2020

7 minutes reading time

01. Grammar points to smarten up your essays
02. 20 Words to Smarten up your Essays