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Connectors in English: How to Use Them

Are your essays in English marked poorly despite your grammatically correct sentences?

Have you ever been told that your paragraphs don’t connect to each other even though they talk about the same topic?

This is where English connectors come in—a.k.a., the words I’ve marked in bold above!

Today, I’m going to talk about what connectors in English are, the most common ones you’ll come across and how to practice them.

Once you’re done with this article, I hope you’ll agree that these words and phrases are simply magical!

What Are English Connectors?

English connectors for cause and effect, english connectors for illustration, english connectors for emphasis, english connectors for comparison, english connectors for contrast, english connectors for sequence, english connectors for conclusion, tips for practicing english connectors, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

English connectors are little words and phrases that help you connect sentences, paragraphs and ideas. Used both in spoken and written English, they help make your English sound more logical and structured.

You can think of connectors as like the thread that holds a necklace’s beads (i.e. sentences, paragraphs and ideas) together.

In fact, you probably already use them without even realizing it!

Note that English connectors are different from English conjunctions . While conjunctions link two or more words or clauses within a sentence, connectors establish that two separate sentences or ideas are related to each other. 

To help you understand further, I’m going to walk you through some of the most common connectors in English and how they’re used. Some are used formally, while others are more casual. Some are even  interchangeable —that is, you can use them in place of similar words.

In everyday conversations , we often need to explain things.

Perhaps you were late for school because your car ran out of gas. Or you want to buy chocolates because you want to surprise your mother on her birthday.

Explaining things will be much easier if you throw in these important English connectors.

Let’s take a look at them!

Giving illustrations or examples helps us prove our point and convince other people to believe us. These words help people understand what you’re trying to say and can help them see why you believe what you believe.

While discussing an issue or idea, you may want to focus on a particular point or example. To make the listener understand the importance of that specific idea, you can use the following connectors.

Sometimes, we need to draw attention to certain similarities to make a point or explain something. This is especially important in writing!

To make better comparisons, use the following English connectors.

Sometimes, we need to express different or contradicting ideas side-by-side. Doing this helps the listener or reader focus on important differences and makes them aware of the many sides of a topic.

These connectors are useful when you’re giving step-by-step instructions or listing points.

Finally , how do you let your reader know that you’ve reached the end? (See what I did there?)

There are certain connectors that we usually use during conclusions or when we’ve reached the end of what we wanted to say. When writing or stating conclusions, you usually repeat the most important points.

Here are some quick tips that’ll help you learn English connectors more efficiently.

Make Your Own Sentences

To explain the meanings and uses of different connectors, I’ve provided example sentences for each. However, you’ll remember them much better if you come up with your own examples.

You can start by using connectors in your diary entries, notebooks, essays and the like. Soon, you’ll find yourself using these connectors in everyday speech as well!

Write a Short Story or Essay

To see the huge difference English connectors can make, try writing a paragraph without any connectors and then rewrite it using some of the connectors above. You’ll quickly realize that your sentences will flow better, sound more logical and become easier to understand.

Learn English with Authentic Content

You probably want to speak English like a native (or at least try to). So why not learn from natives? Try watching a speech in English to get a good idea of how these fit together. Look for the ones with transcripts that you can write notes in, maybe even circling all of the connecting terms as you see them. 

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Do Online Exercises

Finally, to check whether you’ve understood how to use connectors correctly, you can try online exercises from websites that cover English grammar .

For example, the ones on English Daily  and English Grammar are pretty short and can be completed in a few minutes.

There’s also ToLearnEnglish , which provides a brief list of common connectors before you solve the exercise, making it a great resource for review.

Now that you know the most commonly-used English connectors, you can use them in sentences and paragraphs with great confidence. Try your hand at some of the exercises I’ve suggested for practice.

So what are you waiting for?

Get out there and start incorporating these useful English connectors into your everyday life!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

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If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

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FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

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FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

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FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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essay writing connectors and useful expressions

75 linking words for academic writing (+examples)

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Linking words play an important role in academic writing: They connect different paragraphs, sections or ideas in a text. Therefore, they considerably improve the readability and argumentation of academic texts such as a thesis, dissertation, essay or journal publication. This list of 75 linking words includes examples of how they can be used in academic writing.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using the links below at no additional cost to you . I only recommend products or services that I truly believe can benefit my audience. As always, my opinions are my own.

Linking words expressing order and sequence in academic writing

Linking words expressing additions in academic writing, linking words expressing cause and effect in academic writing, linking words expressing contrasts and comparisons in academic writing, linking words expressing emphasis in academic writing, linking words expressing illustrations in academic writing, linking words expressing summaries and conclusions in academic writing, linking words expressing conditionality in academic writing, linking words expressing generalisations in academic writing, linking words expressing concessions in academic writing.

1. First(ly), second(ly), third(ly)

Example: First, I review the existing literature on cross-border collaboration. Second, I explain the methodology …

Example: The thesis starts with a literature review. Next, I describe the case study design.

Example: Finally, recommendations for future research are presented.

4. Subsequently

Example: Study participants underwent several experiments and were subsequently examined.

5. Afterwards

Example: The event increased public awareness of this issue. Afterwards, politicians debated it more openly.

6. Eventually

Example: Eventually, this led to the creation of a social movement.

Example: Before scientists discovered the role of neurons in information processing, they assumed that…

8. Previously

Example: Previously, scholars believed that nurture was the most important factor in a child’s development.

essay writing connectors and useful expressions

Example: Scholars examine the causes and effects of poverty.

10. Furthermore

Example: Furthermore, the data illustrates the number of chemicals that can be found in drinking water.

11. Additionally

Example: Additionally, the interviewee lamented a lack of attention to his work.

12. As well as

Example: Scholars utilise qualitative as well as quantitative methods to study this phenomenon.

13. Besides

Example: Besides the public outreach component, we wrote a handbook to disseminate the research results in the academic community.

Example: The financial compensation was also appreciated by the study participants.

15. Moreover

Example: Moreover, interviewees were asked to describe their own experiences.

You may also like: How to paraphrase a quote: 4 simple strategies

16. Because

Example: This theory was ultimately rejected because it was built on a flawed dataset.

Example: The outcomes improved since different parties joined forces.

Example: As the number of studies increases, better conclusions can be drawn.

Example: Scientists realised that the data analysis had flaws. So they decided not to run the same data analysis again.

20. Therefore

Example: Many researchers have conducted this experiment with similar results. Therefore, this theory can be debunked.

21. Consequently

Example: The literature highlights the importance of age and physical fitness. Consequently, these factors will be investigated further.

Example: Due to a low response rate, the study’s validity is low.

23. Nevertheless

Example: One academic study found the opposite results. Nevertheless, it can be argued that…

Example: Many scholars have explored this issue. Yet, to date, no inclusive framework exists to explain…

25. Although

Example: Although a confidentiality agreement was provided, study participants were hesitant to disclose private information.

26. In spite of

Example: In spite of the different study contexts, all experiments pointed to similar results.

27. Whereas

Example: People often stated that they are aware of the rules whereas they behaved as if they did not.

Example: While older studies often emphasise structural effects, newer ones tend to highlight the role of agency.

29. In contrast

Example: In contrast to previous findings, my analysis shows that…

30. Similarly

Example: One study found that the majority of residents in disadvantaged areas do not have access to sufficient resources. Similarly, my research revealed that most residents live too far away from the services and resources they would need to climb the social ladder.

31. Equally

Example: E qually important, however, is the role of personal beliefs in decision-making processes.

32. Likewise

Example: The interviewee considered this issue important and expected his colleagues to do likewise.

33. On the other hand

Example: On the one hand, research in this field advanced considerably in the last 20 years. On the other hand, a lot remains unclear.

Example: Unlike social scientists, physical scientists often conduct laboratory examinations.

essay writing connectors and useful expressions

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35. Particularly

Example: Particularly relevant for this study is the molecular orbital theory.

36. Especially

Example: Especially younger interviewees expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo.

37. Above all

Example: Above all, this method can generate better insights into the physical processes at hand.

Example: Indeed, motivation turned out to be a defining factor of academic success.

38. Clearly

Example: Clearly, these scholars were not aware of recent advances in medical sciences.

39. Definitely

Example: This was definitely the most important event of the year.

40. Importantly

Example: More importantly, the findings underscore the importance of conflict resolution.

41. Undoubtedly

Example: Undoubtedly, all stakeholders had good intentions.

42. Obviously

Example: Obviously it is too early to draw final conclusions.

43. Of course

Example: Of course, this study should be replicated in a different context.

44. Surprisingly

Example: Surprisingly, all results were unambiguous.

45. Such as

Example: Scientists have explored different parts of the problem, such as CO2 emissions and hydrological processes.

46. For example

Example: Many interviewees were nervous. For example, when asked to describe the event, some of them started to stutter.

47. For instance

Example: Scholars have criticised this approach for different reasons. For instance, they argued that qualitative methods are insufficient to draw generalisable conclusions.

48. In this case

Example: Difficulties arise when no study participants can be found. In this case, alternative methods should be considered.

50. To conclude

Example: To conclude, the empirical analysis supports previous research findings.

51. In conclusion

Example: In conclusion, the reviewed literature highlights a clear research gap.

52. To sum up

Example: To sum up, a mixed methods approach is a better choice than a purely quantitative one.

53. In summary

Example: In summary, it is my opinion that conditions should be improved.

54. In short

Example: In short, scholars call for more research on climate change mitigation.

55. Altogether

Example: Altogether, these examples support the main argument.

Example: Energy supply became a growing problem. Thus, new policies were implemented.

Example: The first dataset was incomplete. Hence, a new dataset had to be developed.

Example: Unless stated otherwise, I refer to the concept as…

59. As long as

Example: As long as the conditions do not change, the results should remain stable.

Example: If scientists study this phenomenon in the future, they should pay attention to structural drivers.

61. Provided that

Example: Provided that nothing changes, the effects on society will be negative.

Example: Should the distribution change, it is fair to expect…

63. Even if

Example: Even if more experiments are conducted, human behaviour remains hard to predict.

Example: Often, this issue was flagged by interviewees themselves.

65. Commonly

Example: Commonly, this criterion is used for categorising plants.

66. Overall

Example: Overall the data confirmed the hypothesis.

67. Typically

Example: Typically emotions run high in such situations.

68. Generally

Example: Generally speaking, scholars address this issue from two angles.

Example: Mainly researchers in the global North discuss this phenomenon.

Example: Mostly, these results cannot be replicated outside of the lab.

71. Even if

Example: This is hard to prove. Even if the study sample is large enough.

72. Regardless of

Example: Regardless of their genetic makeup, mice showcased the same symptoms.

Example: Albeit experiencing setbacks, successful students do not get discouraged.

74. Admittedly

Example: Admittedly, the validity of this study should be increased.

75. Nonetheless

Example: Nonetheless, this study can be seen as a valuable contribution to the international literature.

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Using connectors in English to improve your writing skills

Using connectors in English to improve your writing skills - Illustration by Lucy Vigrass (2)

The most common connectors, and the ones used most frequently in speech, are and , but , or , because , so and then , and with them you can express most ideas quite well. However, in order to demonstrate a more sophisticated knowledge of the language and to express more nuanced ideas, especially in formal writing, there are many other connectors that you need in your repertoire. Let’s have a look at some of them.

CONNECTORS IN ENGLISH:

***Connectors that add information or strengthen an assertion***

in addition to : In addition to numerous seminars and workshops, conference participants will also be able to attend the screenings of several documentaries.

moreover : The new software is cheap and easy to use; moreover , it’s compatible with most operating systems.

furthermore : Candidates caught cheating will be asked to leave the exam hall immediately. Furthermore , they will be banned from taking the exam in the future.

***Connectors that weaken an assertion**

mind you (informal): John’s one of the friendliest people I know. Mind you , he can be a bit shy when you first meet him.

having said that : The city centre is generally very safe for tourists. Having said that, visitors should keep an eye on their belongings while travelling on public transport.

***Connectors that show a contrast between ideas***

however : Mike didn’t think he had studied enough to pass the exam. I n the end, however , he passed it with flying colours.

although : Simon has a credit card, although he very rarely uses it.

even though : Even though  you’ve studied this grammar before, it’s still a good idea to review it from time to time.

nevertheless/nonetheless : A lot of improvements have been made to internet security over recent years. Nevertheless , stories of hacked accounts and stolen identities are still worryingly common.

even so : Jack was concerned he might not be fit enough to climb the mountain. Even so , he went ahead and climbed it anyway.

despite : Despite being turned down at first by dozens of publishers, J. K. Rowling finally went on to become one of the most successful writers of our era.

in spite of : The match went ahead in spite of the rain .

whereas : It used to be expensive to travel by plane between different European cities, whereas these days it is often much cheaper than taking the train.

(On the one hand) … on the other hand… (This shows a balanced contrast of ideas): ( On the one hand, ) I would like to earn more money. On the other hand , I don’t really want to work longer hours.

***Connectors that show the cause of something***

because of : Joe was finally expelled from school because of his ongoing bad behaviour.

owing to : Owing to low ticket sales, several shows have been cancelled.

due to : The school has reported improved student engagement due to the increased use of interactive technology in the classroom.

***Connectors that show the result of something***

consequently : The cost of living has risen tremendously in recent years. Consequently , more families than ever are struggling to survive.

therefore : Student numbers have been steadily increasing over the last few years. Therefore , the college has decided to move to larger premises.

as a result : The company was making considerable losses. As a result, nearly a third of staff had to be made redundant.

***Connectors that show the reason for something***

in order to : The police have installed security cameras in the town centre in order to help reduce crime.

so that : I started using the cloud so that I could access my files from anywhere.

so as to : The government is relaxing visa regulations so as to make it easier for overseas students to study here .

Using connectors in English to improve your writing skills - Illustration by Lucy Vigrass (1)

You might also be interested in…

– 35 common English proverbs

– 21 unusual English expressions from around the world

–  30 useful English idioms and expressions

–  10 unusual expressions in English and where they come from

–  50 of the most useful English abbreviations and acronyms

– 20 words and phrases English owes to Shakespeare

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Formal Linking Words / Cohesive Devices

Linking words can also be referred to as connectors, conjunctions, and cohesive devices. This webpage includes a useful lesson on helping improve students’ knowledge of these linking words. It includes a lesson plan using a kinaesthetic matching activity and worksheet.

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Linking Words Reference Sheet

Print off and give this to students as a helpful reference guide. 

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essay writing connectors and useful expressions

  • Academic writing
  • Commonly confused words
  • Critical thinking
  • PEEL Paragraphs
  • Linking/transition words
  • Paraphrasing
  • Proofreading
  • Terms and definitions
  • Action Words: What is description, application, analysis and evaluation

Linking/transition words: Things you need to know...

All assignments are written in formal language.   You need to ensure that you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding alongside your ability to answer the question/solve the problem. 

Below are some ideas to help you to develop your structure and flow.

  • Linking / transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences and paragraphs together. They should be used within sentences and to move from one idea to another (between sentences).   

These words and phrases indicate the direction, order and flow of ideas. Significantly, they strengthen the quality and structure of your work.

  • Redundant Words - less is more.  P articularly when trying to reduce the word count, it is important to look for phrases which can be replaced with a single word.

Linking/Transition Words

Transitions link one main idea to another separated by a semi-colon or full-stop.  When the transition word is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma:

Among other functions, they can signal cause and effect or sequencing (see examples in the table below).

Linking words: conjunctions

Linking words within a sentence  are referred to as coordinating conjunctions.  Do not worry about the term: think about the function.

Conciseness / redundant words

Microsoft Word now has an additional feature within the Edito r - it is called conciseness or wordiness.  

  • If you cannot see the Editor menu a quick tip is to hold down the function (fn key at the bottom left of the keyboard) + F7 (top line of keys).
  • From the Refinements section - select Conciseness - if there are any suggestions a number will appear in the box alongside this option
  • A dotted line will appear under any groups of groups
  • Either select the identified text by clicking with your right mouse button OR click on the down down next to the Conciseness menu.
  • MS Word will display any alternative words which you can either select and they will be replaced in your text or reject if you want to keep the original phrases.

Examples:  try to replace phrases with a single words which mean the same.

Need to know more...

  • Related pages
  • External links
  • Academic writing Illustrates the main features of academic writing so that you are aware of what it is and what it involves
  • Critical Thinking Academic work involves thinking, not just accepting what you read or are told.
  • Terms and Definitions Important words appear in your assignments and examinations. The aim of this factsheet is to help you to fully understand what they mean.

Additional resources to help you to improve your confidence and grades:-

  • Writing Effectively  demonstrates the importance of: clarity, structure, relevance, argument and precision.
  • Writing Mechanics  gives further examples and resources on areas including: sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Linking/Transition words - Scribbr  https://www.scribbr.co.uk/syntax/transition-words-examples/ [Accessed 10 February 2023]

There are many books concerning academic writing, look around Dewey number  808

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Linking Words: List of Sentence Connectors in English with Examples!

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Struggling to connect ideas? ‘Connectors in English’ have your back. Connect, express, and impress – all with Connectors in English!

Connectors Definition

Linker Words or Word Connectors are used to link large groups of words: phrases and sentences . You can also use them to connect paragraphs to give them coherence. Sentence connectors are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence and may be categorized as follows:

  • This restaurant has the best kitchen in town. However, their staff are quite rude.

2. IN CONTRAST

  • House prices have gone up this year. In contrast, car prices seem to be stagnating.

3. NEVERTHELESS

  • I was in so much pain I didn’t want to get up in the morning. Nevertheless, I went to football practice as usual.

4. NONETHELESS

  • I don’t think Sean has serious behavioural problems. Nonetheless, I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning.
  • I’ve asked you a thousand times not to leave your dirty socks on the floor. Yet, you keep doing it.

6. ON THE OTHER HAND

  • England has the best language schools. On the other hand, it has the worst weather.

7. BY COMPARISON

  • Going out with Jim has its risks. By comparison, being with Tim is as easy as falling off a log.

8. ON THE CONTRARY

  • I don’t hate Jim. On the contrary, I’m rather fond of him.
  • I didn’t want to take a side in the argument. Instead, I put my headphones on and listened to some smooth jazz.

10. IN ANY CASE

  • I was thinking of going round Jim’s place. In any case, I haven’t been invited.

11. ALL THE SAME

  • Yes, he’s very good-looking. All the same, I don’t think you should go out with him.

Read more: Other ways to say ON THE OTHER HAND!

transition in a sentence

👉 SIMILARITY

1. LIKEWISE

  • You can’t give your phone number to every man who asks for it. Likewise, you can’t go out with everyone who fancies you.

2. SIMILARLY

  • You’re not allowed to use your phone here. Similarly, you have to switch it off when you’re in the library.

3. CORRESPONDINGLY

  • She’s an excellent photographer. Correspondingly, her paintings are works of art.

4. IN THE SAME WAY

  • Cutting down on sugar will help you lose weight. In the same way, doing more exercise will help you get rid of a few kilos.
  • I want to talk to Prince Harry when I’m in England. Also, I want to meet his sister-in-law.

Read more: Difference between COMPARED TO and COMPARED WITH

linker words

1. AS A RESULT

  • I’ve done a pranic healing course. As a result, I’ve been able to cure my neighbour’s sick cat.

2. AS A CONSEQUENCE

  • Zack has skipped school on many occasions. As a consequence, he’s failed his French test.

3. THEREFORE

  • We’re going to experience some meteor showers in the next few days. Therefore, the number of miraculous self-healings will rise.
  • You didn’t tell me you wanted to come. Thus, we won’t be taking you with us.

5. ACCORDINGLY

  • Plenty of tourists visit the area in summer. Accordingly, selling hand-made objects is the main source of income for locals.

Read more: 6 Ways to Improve Your English Writing Skills

connectors-of-sequence

👉 SEQUENCING

1. FIRST, FIRSTLY, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE FIRST PLACE

  • First of all, I’d like to talk about the benefits of having a pet pig.

2. TO BEGIN WITH

  • To begin with, pet pigs are cleaner than dogs.

3. FOR ONE THING

  • For one thing, they’re completely loyal to their owners.

4. SECOND, SECONDLY, IN THE SECOND PLACE

  • Secondly, their impressive numeracy skills must be mentioned.

5. FOR ANOTHER THING

  • For another thing, you might want to consider how cute they look in pyjamas.

6. THIRD, THIRDLY, IN THE THIRD PLACE

  • In the third place, you can always count on your pet pig to perform some tricks for you when you’d like to impress a pretty girl.
  • Also, they don’t eat much.
  • Besides not eating much, they won’t ever chew on your electric cords.

9. IN ADDITION

  • In addition, they can be taught to feed themselves if you allow them access to your pantry.

10. FURTHERMORE

  • Furthermore, they make wonderful walking buddies.

11. MOREOVER

  • Moreover, they’ll show you the way home when you’re drunk.

12. FINALLY

  • Finally, pet pigs are fantastic guards. No burglar would ever have the heart to hurt a pet pig.

13. LAST, LASTLY, LAST OF ALL

  • Lastly, your reputation as an eccentric will rapidly grow in the neighbourhood if you’re seen walking a pet pig on a leash every morning.

Read more: 18 Powerful Websites to Improve Your Writing Skills in English

connectors

👉 ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

1. MOST IMPORTANTLY

  • I’d like to talk to you about how to keep calm at your workplace. Most importantly, never go to the canteen while your boss is there.

2. PRIMARILY

  • You’ll have to focus on your immediate surroundings. Primarily, on your computer screen.

3. ABOVE ALL

  • Above all, don’t ever look up from your notes when people are around.

4. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY

  • Most significantly, avoid eye-contact at all costs.

5. ESSENTIALLY, BASICALLY (usually spoken)

  • How can I put this? Essentially, having an affair with one of your colleagues should be the last thing on your mind.

Read more: 7 Special Apps To Quickly Improve Your Typing Speed

Sequence-Connectors-and-Example-Sentences

👉 PARTICULARIZATION

1. IN PARTICULAR, PARTICULARLY

  • Nearly a third of marriages end in divorce. In particular, it’s middle-aged couples that yearn for much more from life.

2. MORE SPECIFICALLY

  • Couples tend to argue about financial issues. More specifically, they argue when one of them is out of work.

Read more: How Many Types of Expressions there are in English?

words connectors

👉 EXAMPLIFICATION

1. FOR EXAMPLE

  • To solve this problem, you might want to try making small gestures. For example, making your spouse’s favourite meal for dinner or giving him a massage after a tiring day.

2. FOR INSTANCE

  • Appreciate the small things your spouse does for you. For instance, leave thank-you notes for them every now and then.

3. TO ILLUSTRATE

  • Misunderstandings can be highly destructive. To illustrate, if your spouse sees you with a friend of the opposite sex in a café, he might not understand why he hasn’t been invited and demand an explanation.

Read more: Other ways to say for example?

👉 EXPLANATION

1. THAT IS TO SAY, THAT IS

  • Keep romance alive. That is to say, don’t let your lovelife fall into routine.
  • I have a very good reason for not trusting my ex. Namely, he’s a convicted felon.

3. IN OTHER WORDS

  • Don’t be unsociable. In other words, go out and make some friends.

4. PUT DIFFERENTLY

  • John has managed to get over Jane. Put differently, he’s started seeing other women.

Read more: 10 Common English Expressions with Explanation (Video)

👉 EMPHASISING

1. AS A MATTER OF FACT

  • I love sleeping with my pet pig. As a matter of fact, I can’t fall asleep unless he’s in my bed.
  • I told them not to invite Rachel to the party. In fact, I was the only person who saw what a party pooper she really was.

3. ACTUALLY

  • I think it would be a good idea to send her some flowers. Actually, you should get her a hundred orchids.
  • He may be the best-dressed man around. Indeed, he has a really good taste in fashion.

Read more: Essential Academic Writing Examples and Phrases!

👉 FOCUSING AND LINKING

1. AS FOR (often suggests disinterest or dislike)

  • I’m going to Janet’s party at the weekend. As for Mary’s, I think I’ll pass.

2. WITH RESPECT TO

  • Starting your own IT company may be the one of the best things you can do right now. With respect to opening a pet shop, it’s hard to say the same thing.

3. REGARDING

  • Start your day with making the most important phone calls. Regarding emails, you might put them off until later.

4. WITH REGARD TO

  • With regard to handling complaints, you might want to keep in mind that your customers are always right.

5. AS REGARDS

  • Working from home has many advantages. As regards disadvantages, it might be difficult to keep your cat off your keyboard.

6. TALKING OF

  • Talking of cats, you can’t trust them to keep you company when you need it. They’re quite selfish creatures.

7. AS FAR AS … CONCERNED

  • As far as dogs are concerned, they might give you a chance to get up from your desk and get some exercise during the day.

Read more: English Grammar: Sentence Structure in English

👉 CONCLUSION

1. IN CONCLUSION

  • In conclusion, it may be said that pigs make the best pets.

2. IN BRIEF

  • Meeting my boss at the pub was an interesting experience. In brief, it was a disaster.

3. IN SUMMARY

  • In summary, it may not be the best idea to frequent the same pubs as your boss.

4. TO SUM UP

  • To sum up, some people are better suited to working from home than others.

5. ALL IN ALL

  • All in all, you have to make sure both you and your customers are satisfied with your work.

Read more: What are the other ways to say in conclusion ?

👉 CORRECTION

  • I thought it was a good idea to get a ferret. Rather, it had always been my dream to get one.

2. TO BE MORE PRECISE

  • You might want to change a few things. To be more precise, I think you should start again from scratch.

Read more: Best English Grammar and Spelling Checkers Online

1. AT FIRST

  • It wasn’t a piece of cake to learn English. At first, I couldn’t pronounce all the words correctly.
  • Then, I couldn’t spell all the words correctly.

3. AFTERWARDS

  • Afterwards, I had a hard time understanding the tenses.
  • Later, I couldn’t memorize phrasal verbs and idioms.

5. IN THE MEANTIME

  • In the meantime, I was getting some help from MyEnglishTeacher .

6. MEANWHILE

  • Meanwhile, I was enjoying my skype lessons more and more.

Read more: A Visual List of 100 English IDIOMS FOR TIME with Examples

👉 DISMISSAL

(of what was said before)

  • I couldn’t get my head around the Passive Voice. Anyway, I don’t think it’s important to use it all the time.
  • Anyhow, I’ve just decided to learn Russian next.

3. AT ANY RATE

  • At any rate, I don’t want to become a simultaneous interpreter in five languages.

Linking Words Quiz › TEST YOURSELF

  • To begin with
  • For one thing
  • In other words
  • Along those lines
  • On the other hand
  • All the same
  • Firstly / Secondly
  • Soon / After
  • Now / Later
  • Before / After
  • As for / treated
  • However / asked
  • As far as / concerned
  • As far as / thinking
  • On the other side
  • Despite this
  • Another / like
  • Just as / so too
  • Likewise / equally
  • In the back
  • On top of that
  • Subsequently
  • Nevertheless
  • In particular
  • Furthermore
  • Accordingly
  • As a result
  • In contrast
  • At any rate

👉  Connectors Synonyms

Connectors are not only used in grammar . Connectors are things that are used to connect or tether two, or more, things together. There are many different synonyms for connectors:

  • Bond, coupling, joint, link, adapter, clamp, fastener, junction, tie, terminal, plug, fitting, splicing, fastener, sleeve, etc.

👉  Sentence Definition

A sentence is a set of words that forms a coherent and complete thought and message. This means that a sentence says something concrete. It has to be structured and logical in order for the sentence to be correct.

Sentences are made up of various parts , such as: nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, articles, etc. Within a sentence, there are parts that relate the thought and message , such as: subject, predicate, object, phrase, punctuation, etc. Each of these parts is important for a sentence to be complete.

Through sentences we tell other people what we think, feel, or what we want to do . In order to relate those thoughts we string together words into groups. These finally relate our message to other people and the world.

There are four different types of sentences , and each has its own specific goal and structure. These types are: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.

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One of the best posts I’ve ever read here. Congrats!!

It’s awesome so useful and practical thanks a million. I’m gonna share it with my friends.

Daniel Deressa

I liked it so much. Thank you Mr/Mrs tutor.

Durga Karki

Indeed, it refreshing our vocabulary

Anom

Thank you very much!! This must be by far one of the greatest post I’ve seen to improve my writing skills and expand the vocabulary of connectors. Therefore 😉 , I will add to my list of resources and share with my friends

So glad! 😃❤️

Avik

Thanks a ton, teacher!

Sure, anytime!

Simran kalsi

Thankyou soo muchhh for this usefull info..

pathmawathy anuratharan

Thank you so much for this useful

Mathew TD

Excellent exercise

My great thanks

It is highly appreciated

alim

Thanks a lot

you are welcome!

Mohan

Helpful post! You have nicely divided all the connectors in group like result, time, explanation, conclusion …. and present them with accurate examples. Everything is easy to grab. Thanks for sharing this rare post.

Thank you so much Mohan! I’m glad you loved it!

Akande Kola

Thanks for this usefull lessons. They are highly educattive.

Thank you so much!

Oscar

So far this is the best post I’ve ever seen. I find it hard to use those connectors in statements. I can speak basic English and sometimes not concise with my statements because I’m not good in using connectors in English. Thank you for this great post. It will help a lot of speakers to become articulate with the language.

Thank you so much Oscar for your feedback!

Nam

Thanks millions for posting the tables of connecting sentences. Have a great life

Mica

I love this array of connectors. Great selections to fit our lesson. Thank you to all who are part of this website and contributors. God bless you all!

Thank you so much Mica.

Concept Mastery

Linker words, also known as sentence connectors, play a crucial role in connecting phrases, sentences, and paragraphs for enhanced coherence in writing. In terms of contrast, words like “however,” “in contrast,” and “nevertheless” emphasize opposing ideas. For expressing similarity, “likewise,” “similarly,” and “correspondingly” are effective. Result-oriented connectors include “as a result,” “therefore,” and “accordingly,” signaling outcomes or consequences. These words help create a logical flow within text, ensuring a smooth transition between ideas. Whether highlighting differences, similarities, or results, these connectors contribute to cohesive and well-structured writing, facilitating the comprehension of complex information.

himali

Its very useful , thank you.

Thank you so much Himali!

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  • 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

essay writing connectors and useful expressions

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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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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  • Writing Task 2
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Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2

The linking words list below is essential for IELTS writing task 2 for high score. The examiner needs to see a range of linking words in your essay to award you a high score for the criterion of Coherence and Cohesion which is 25% of your marks. You will be checked on your range, accuracy and your flexibility of linking words in IELTS writing task 2. These connecting words are suitable for all types of essay writing as well as GT IELTS writing task 2

IELTS Writing Linking Words

Download PDF:  Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2

This is often used to either put your paragraphs in order or used inside the paragraph to list your supporting points.

  • lastly /last but not least / finally

Adding Information

You will need to support your main points in your IELTS essay. These linkers inform the reader that extra information is about to be presented.

  • in addition
  • additionally
  • furthermore
  • not only … but also

Giving Examples

It is often useful to give examples to support your ideas in IELTS writing task 2. Make sure you use this range of linking words to do so.

  • for example
  • one clear example is
  • for instance
  • to illustrate
  • in other words

To learn how to put examples in sentences for essay writing, please follow this link: How to Add Examples to Essays .

Results and Consequences

These linking devices can be used for solution essays or any essay when you need to explain the consequences of something.

  • as a result
  • consequently
  • for this reason

Highlighting and Stressing

It is important to be clear about what you mean in your essay. These linking words help you stress particular points.

  • particularly
  • in particular
  • specifically

Concessions and Contrasts

You often need to give opposite ideas, particularly for discussion essays so the linking words below will help you show the reader when you want to introduce an opposite point. Also you might want to give exceptions to a rule for a concession.

  • nevertheless
  • even though
  • in spite of
  • on the other hand
  • by contrast
  • in comparison
  • alternatively
  • another option could be

Reasons and Causes

These connecting words will help you explain reasons and causes for something which is very common in IELTS writing task 2, especially for cause / solution essays.

Giving your Opinion

  • in my opinion
  • I concur / agree
  • I disagree / I cannot accept

Don’t make a mistake with the way you express your opinion. Watch this video for useful tips on giving your opinion and how to avoid mistakes: IELTS: Presenting your Opinion

Concluding Linkers

  • in conclusion
  • to conclude

To get more tips and advice on linking words to start your IELTS conclusion, please watch this video lesson: IELTS Conclusion Linkers

Practice with Linking Words

Improve your use of linking words by fill in the gaps below with linking words from the above list.

  • There are a number of drawbacks to people using Facebook as a way of communicating (1)………………… it is (2)…………….. one of the most common social networking platforms for both individuals and businesses.
  • (3)……………………….. the lack of exercise taken by average people, obesity and other weight related problems are on the rise.
  • Unemployment and poverty, (4) ………….. in urban areas, is often deemed to be the cause of rising crime rate.
  • (5) ……….. the rise in urban crime, more and more people continue to move to cities looking for a better life.
  • More children are becoming obese and (6)…………….. schools should be encouraged to provide more sports lessons and outdoor activities.

Click below to reveal the answers:

  • Due to / Owing to ( you can’t have “because of” because it is at the beginning of a sentence)
  • particularly / especially / specifically
  • therefore / so / for this reason

IELTS Speaking Linking Words

Linking words for IELTS speaking . Both word list and tips.

Recommended

  • All Linking Word Practice Exercises
  • All Writing task 2 Model Answers, Tips and Videos
Main IELTS Pages Develop your IELTS skills with tips, model answers, lessons, free videos and more. IELTS Listening IELTS Reading IELTS Writing Task 1 IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Speaking Vocabulary for IELTS IELTS Test Information (FAQ) Home Page: IELTS Liz

Get my free lessons by email

Subscribe for free to get my new IELTS lessons sent to your email inbox.

Email Address

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Hi liz, Could you please provide the marking scheme writing and reading module of IELTS or in other words I am asking for the factors on which student’s band score is decided.

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You can find those linked in the main sections for Writing Task 1, Writing Task 2 and Reading, which are all linked by the RED Menu Bar at the top of the website. Marking for reading is based on correct or incorrect answers, but for the writing and speaking test, it’s based on marking criteria. You can also find a link by clicking on the TEST INFO option on the RED Menu Bar which shows band score information.

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I just saw on the IDP IELTS website it says, “Don’t overuse basic linking words like firstly (instead, try using ‘The first reason for/ The primary reason for this”). Is that really better? Can I continue using ‘firstly’ like you do?

Sincerely, Draven

It is fine to use it. But don’t then use Secondly, Thirdly. When you write like a machine, you get a lower score in Coherence and Cohesion, which counts for 25% of your marks. You could try: Firstly / Another point to consider The first point to consider is / A further consideration it You shouldn’t just learn one option. The linking words you use will depend on the points you want to present. You must learn how to use them flexibily.

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liz thank you lot for making all videos. take care of you

You’re welcome 🙂

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Hello Liz, Thank you for this very educative blog. when giving examples in task 2 writing for the academic test, are correct statistics important or can one just use made-up stats?

Your are marked on ideas, supporting ideas, developing ideas, but not numbers. The examiner is not going to check statistical data in task 2. The examiner is marked Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Vocabulary and Grammar. This means writing numbers does even help your score that much. Which is better: 1) 75% of people in urban areas feel public transport could be improved. 2) The majority of people living in urban areas feel the public transport could be improved. The second option boosts your vocab score. It is a simple essay based on relevance, not stats and research.

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Hi Ms. Liz. Thank you for your lessons 🙂

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Thank you very much for your lessons..you deserve to ” The most effective IELTS teacher award ” Thanks once again

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It is a misfortune that IELTS mandates the use of linking words for high scores. Especially at the beginning of sentences, linking words quickly tire the reader being pushed around.

If linking words tire the reader, they are not being used properly. You are being tested on using them flexibly in a way that supports the reader.

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mam I would like to share a small problem which I facing almost last 10 days in IELTS classes. I’m not good in writing even I don’t know what to write or what to add .and what to think . could you tell me how can I improve .I will looking for your generous response

You can find model essays and tips on the main writing task 2 page of this website for free: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . But for some people, they need more training. My advanced lessons take you step by step through each paragraph and explain the content of each type of essay. You can find these lessons in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . You can also find an Ideas for Essay Topics E-book, which contains ideas and vocabulary for topics. You memorise the ideas and adapt them to your essay topic. There’s also a Grammar E-book with many examples of sentence structures to help you. Hopefully all these will help you be clearer about how to tackle an IELTS essay and what to write.

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Hi Liz, Can you allocate me some of the pre-ready templates which can be used as a topic statement in starting of the paragraph.

I do not provide them because they are the worst thing to do for your IELTS essay. IELTS does not accept memorised language and the higher band scores are all about flexibility, not templates. Writing task 1 is more formulaic than task 2 because task 1 is a report and most reports are pretty standard. But writing task 2 is all about creating unique sentences connected directly to the topic. This website is about learning and preparing for IELTS the right way.

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very clear explanation Liz, Thanks !

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Could i use the word “To recapitulate” in position of “To Conclude”? However l really impressed a lot to see your tremendous efforts for students. THANK YOU SOO MUCH MAM. may God bless you. Love from india 🇮🇳

Yes, you can use it but it won’t increase your score.

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Teacher Liz, this is just a general question. Will points be deducted if literary words/phrases are used in IELTS Writing (or Speaking). Is literary factor considered informal? Thank you very much! Looking forward to hearing from your

I’m not exactly sure what you mean as you’ve provided no examples. However, to help understand: The writing test is formal. So, this means all informal language will cause you to lose marks. The only exception is the informal letter in GT writing task 1. The speaking test is informal and you can use all types of language and be as casual as you want in chatting to the examiner. But language should be used naturally, not poetically or in an overemphasized manner. You should talk as though you were talking to a friend.

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I love you mam your are such a great teacher i appreciate your work 👍

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Hey liz, I wanted to ask that for conclusion using “all in all” and “to wrap it up” are correct to use or not ?

They are informal and Writing Task 2 is formal.

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Hi, Liz! You said in one of your videos that “to sum up” is rather informal for IELTS writing task 2. Why is it in the concluding linkers list then? Can I use it or not?

It is an option but some examiners think it is too informal. There are no rules in IELTS which have word lists that lower your score. It is examiner interpretation. I do not teach this linking word for a conclusion, but other teachers do. This is why it is in the list. My recommendations are recommendations, not rules.

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Hi Liz, all your videos are very helpful to have a quick look on the respective modules. Thank you so much for sharing them.

You’re welcome.

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Thanks for response

Hello Liz 👋, is it true that reading books or newspapers will improve our writing skills. If yes, what books or newspapers can you suggest to read.

They will certainly help you develop your writing, but they won’t help you develop your writing for IELTS.

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I wonder if I am allowed to use specialized words in writing task 2 (as long as they are related to the task rubrics and the usage and the collocation is contextually appropriate). For instance, if the topic of the essay is “imprisonment”, am I allowed to use words like “criminals set free might resort to recidivism”? what happens if the examiner doesn’t know that term? I already know that IELTS guidelines demand that the underlying assumption in the writing exam be the candidate is writing for an academic “non-specialist” reader. Is this fact in contradiction with using technical terms?

With regards, Reza

It is not a case of being allowed or not allowed. It is about how you use language. If you are pushing high level words into your essay for effect, the language in the essay will become unnatural and will be marked down. So, never aim to impress. However, your example is completely fine. The word “recidivism” is an appropriate word to use for that sentence. Certainly not many candidates will know this word, but it is 100% accurate and appropriate. So, my advice is to use language naturally with the right intent and appropriacy based on your level of English. The examiner will not be specialised in law or other fields – bear that in mind. Your aim here is to hit band score 8 or 9, not to showcase specialised vocabulary. This is a basic English language test, not a test of legal language for example. Pay attention to the context of the essay – it isn’t an essay for a university degree in law. You don’t need to use specialised language to achieve your aim in IELTS. I would not recommend using such specialised language that a layperson would not understand. That isn’t an IELTS rule, it is just logical – use such language as is appropriate for the audience and the context.

Many thanks for the exhaustive response. You’re simply the best in the field, bar none!

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I wonder if it is appropriate to use some linking words like ‘Moreover, Furthermore, Further’ to start a new paragraph? or they should be used to link ideas in between the sentence?

Thank you, Micaela

There are no rules about this. Linking is about being logical. I personally use these linking words for within the paragraph to add more information. When starting a new body paragraph I tend to use something more flexible, such as “Another point to consider is ..” – basically indicating the start of a brand new point rather than additional information to an existing point.

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Can we use listing linkers (firstly, secondly etc) for inside the paragraphs? Or is it better to use linkers for organising paragraphs?

I believe we should use the additonal information linkers to support our main idea or present extended ideas.

Any thoughts?

Best using them within paragraphs. To each paragraph, try: Firstly, Another point, Finally. But to be honest, you can’t learn formulas like this for task 2. It all depends what your ideas are as to what linking words to use. You need to learn flexibility if you want a high score. Yes, you should use a good range of linking words in your essay.

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Hlo madam , tomorrow will be my ILETS exam

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Hi Liz, Do we need to use comm a after these linking word . If yes then in what circumstances. For instance if we use these linking words at the start of sentence what will the case. Also what will be case if we use these linking words in middle of sentence ?

This is an aspect of grammar that you need to study in depth. In a few weeks, I’ll be releasing a Grammar E-book. It will explain all of that and much much more.

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Can I use ‘For one’ instead of ‘Firstly’? Can I continue using ‘Secondly’ and ‘Finally’ with ‘For one’ or it’s not correct usage?

“For one”, is informal and not suitable for IELTS essays. Be flexible with your use of linking devices but stick with formal ones.

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Hi Liz, Thanks for the article. Is it safe to use comma (,) after every linking word?

Thanks Sirdhar

It depends which linking word and how the sentence is constructed.

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”Poor sanitary conditions lead to wide range of bacterial and viral diseases as well as become a dangerous spot for the growth of dengue leading to dengue fever which is fatal.In order to avoid such consequences, my endeavour would be to construct underground pipes which prove to be effective giving a sensation of cleanliness.” Ma’am this is my answer to a direct question,” If you could change your hometown to make it a better place what changes would you make? ” Plz tell me the mistakes in structure or anything.

That question usually comes from speaking part 1. In part 1, they are relatively short answers – not deep discussions. The examiner would interrupt this answer. Just be direct and then add a bit more for part 1: “I’d change the sanitary conditions because … ” – then add one of two more sentences. Be chatty, not formal. You really need to start paying attention to what each part of the speaking test is like. There’s no point developing answers that aren’t appropriate to the section of the test. Your answer would be possible in part 3.

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being a teacher, I feel that you the best.

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Hello Liz. I just wanted to confirm that can I start the arguments in general by saying, “On the other hand, it is argued by some that …”. Can I use this to introduce people’s opinion? Please reply ASAP, I have my IELTS test in 2 days.

“On the other hand” is used to introduce an opposing view. “it is argued by some that” is used to express other people’s views.

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Hi, Liz! I love your website! I have a question, though. Would it be helpful if I used paragraph links instead of standard transitional devices? Say, instead of starting a paragraph with a word such as “Secondly” or “On the other hand”, I could use either a word-link or idea-link. I don’t want my writing to look so mechanical. Will it affect my score if I try making my transitions “smoother”?

It is not necessary to start a paragraph with a linking word. You are right. It needs to be less mechanical. You can actually start your body paragraph with any word you want. Just make sure it is coherent and cohesive.

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Hello Liz, are the following phrases ok? 1- tethered to this idea is its conjugate (in discussion essays where i am mentioning opposing views) ex: on the other hand, tethered to the previous idea is its conjugate. where some people believe that …… 2- a few bad apples spoil the batch (is it informal?) 3- X issue is not black and white.

Do not use descriptive language in a formal IELTS essay.

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Hey! Lizz what about your ebook is it going to be published soon or not?

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I just want to say how much I appreciate your hard work and love for putting these lessons together!

I am also so happy that you have offered us 50 discount! I am so happy! <3 Thank you very much!

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Hello liz…. I have a confusion some of the Ielts trainers say that ‘Firstly’ isn’t exist in English language means it’s not a word…. We can’t use it…. I want to ask to you is this true???

I need to get a good dictionary (English – English). You shouldn’t be preparing for an English language test without one: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/firstly

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Hi.. I just want to ask that is it necessary to use linkers in writing as firsty, secondly, etc. while writing reasons or advantages. And on the other hand etc for starting new paragraph in opinion essay

The choice of linking words is not fixed. You use them flexibly, not in an automated way. There are many linking words you can use and also different methods of linking.

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Hye Liz…your way of teaching is so clear..When I attend your lessons through videos, I feel your devotion to your work and really seems that you want to do your best for our best…may Allah bless you more and more.

I’m really pleased that my lessons are useful 🙂

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Hello Liz pls can you discover an e book for the students which contains ideas, linking words and ….

I will be releasing an Ideas for IELTS Essay Topics E-book this month or early next month. I am also writing a Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 2 E-book which will be ready at the end of the year.

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Your lessons are wonderful. Thanks.

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Hello Liz, Have you released ideas book for IELTS writing Task-2 or not yet? Regards

Yes, you can find it here: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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I am really worried for Reading section it’s too much difficult to handle within short time. kindly let me know appropriate techniques as I have very short time, please.

Regards Khan

Click on “Reading” on the RED BAR at the top of the website – you will find the main page with tips, lessons etc to help you.

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I need to say Liz, I have so much fun reading your answers, you are the best sincere person I have ever known. Continue like this please! Pietra

Thanks 🙂 Funny 🙂

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Thank Liz for your help my question is that I want to know if I there is any number of times for the linking words to appear in my easy Wishing you successfull ending love your lecture

Linking words should not be repeated. You are being marked on your ability to use a range. However, words such as “and” or “but” are naturally going to be used a few times. Words such as “for example” can be paraphrased as “such as” or “namely” or “for instance”.

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What it is meant by ‘the linking words shouldn’t be mechanical’?

This means to use them like a machine. For example, always putting them at the start of a sentence or starting every sentence with a linking word. Be flexible.

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To use some less common linking words, Could you advise whether its appropriate to write ‘on the whole’ rather than ‘in conclusion’?

Also, in some model answers written by examiners in official ielts books, they start their last paragraph with “in my opinion”, and they dont say anything like “to conclude”. Is this risky to do?

Linking words are linking words – they do not need to be less common. Do not confuse vocabulary with linking words – they are part of different marking criterion.

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Hello Liz. I am learning a lot from your tips. Thank you! Can you please elaborate more the linking phrases ‘moreover’ and ‘furthermore’. Thank you!

I’m not sure what else I can say. They are used when you want to add information to an existing point.

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In one of articles relating to capital letters (link below) you mentioned that you should never start with – “But/ Because/ And”. In essays which require us to share multiple contrasting views, sometimes we may start a sentence with “But”. What are your views on that ?

No writing task 2 essay should have a sentence that starts with “But/And/Because”. You can use “However” instead of But.

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Hi Liz. Which is the best book to practice for IELTS. Please suggest. I have been struggling to find a suitable book.

The reason I wrote over 300 pages of free lessons and tips is because didn’t like the IELTS books on offer. Have you completed the 300 pages of free lessons?

I didn’t find 300 pages of free lessons.

Because you didn’t read the HOME PAGE properly. The HOME page explains that you access the main pages through the RED BAR at the top of the site. The main pages contain over 300 pages of tips, lessons etc. Did you use the RED BAR?

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I am convinced that you are best tutor ,I have best wishes for you ,thank you so much from your excellent site

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Thank you so much for the useful information!

I have a question about the linking phrase “on the other hand”. Is it possible to use it independently, without mentioning ”on the one hand’? Or would it be a mistake?

Thank you in advance!

Yes. You can use “On the other hand” without “on the one hand”.

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Hi Liz In one comment you’ve mentioned that you’ll publish a book discussing required grammars for writing task-2. Has it been published? Thanks. Mostafa

No, it is being written at this moment. I don’t know how long it will take to finish, but it will be this year.

Thank You for the reply. Mostafa

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Why is apparently not there in the above list? Is it frequently used word, hence ommited deliberately Liz?

It’s fine to use that word.

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This lecture is helpful.your god gifted voice is sweat ,crystal and clear. I respect it.may your voice always reply to untold question of liseners who are similar to me.

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HI LIZ, thank you for your helpful information i need to ask whether words like ( IT , AS , IF, SO , THE )are counted as words to reach 150 words in letter writing ?

All words are counted – small, big – all words.

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Thanks a lot Kiz for doing this great job

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btw, does linking-word need to be followed by a comma? (,)

Depends on the linking words and how it’s used.

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You are really doing a wonderful job, what baffles me your ability to reply these long comments , you are really awesome. However, I want to ask you about linking words such as , firstly, secondly, thirdly. I read it somewhere that they are old fashioned, is that true???

It isn’t about being old fashioned at all. It’s about flexibility which is what the examiner is looking for. It’s fine to use them inside one paragraph to show support points. It isn’t flexible to use them at the start of each body paragraph – that is called being “mechanical”, which means using them like a machine – that is a characteristic of band 6 in Coherence and Cohesion.

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Hi Liz , Somewhere in your topics you have mentioned that one should not use ” last but not the least” as a linking word

But here it is written under heading of linking words.. Kindly guide on this

The linking word is : last but not least – no “the”. Also it depends HOW it is used. It’s about using them effectively. It shouldn’t be used a conclusion linking words. See this page for all tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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hi liz HOW TO ADD EXAMPLE IN AN ESSAYon this page is not opening. can you please share the link?

The link opened for me – it might be a problem with your internet Try it again: https://ieltsliz.com/how-to-put-examples-in-your-essay/

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Honestly, you are the best tutor ever in this IELTS course, how I wish I knew you before, I could use only materials to help me pass well. My Test is after tomorrow and I have just landed your very impressing training work. Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful knowledge with us. Am sure I will pass with a band 9.0 God bless you Liz

You can learn a lot in one day – focus on the areas you most wish to understand and improve. Good luck tomorrow! Keep your eye on the clock for reading and writing!

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dear Liz I have met your page by yesterday,many thanks for such a great page,

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Hi Liz, I hope, you are doing good. Actually, I appeared for ielts exam today but due to poor time management, I was not able to complete task 2 of writing. I wasted a lot of time on Task 1. I know, because of this, I would not be able to score 6 or more than that, as the task 2 holds more weightage. So, I have applied for the exam again. I have some concerns regarding writing section, I don’t know about the proper use of punctuation, especially commas. Also, sometime I write out of the context in essay writing. Please could you provide me some help with this. I would be really thankful.

The use of commas is simple. Just them to divide appropriate clauses. Punctuation is marked, but not at a high level. The main point is that commas are used in clauses, correctly and that full stops are used at the end of a sentence. Also that sentences are not too long. A very long sentence shows lack of punctuation because the person isn’t controlling the length of sentences. For ideas, it’s all about planning properly. See my advanced lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . You also need to prepare ideas for topics – you do this by googling ideas on line.

Thank you so much for the response 🙂 So, is it okay, if we use short sentences instead of long? Using them won’t be a reason to deduct marks? And, what about the complex sentences? Would it be advisable to attempt task 2 first and then task 1, as it carries more weightage, because I always face the issue of time management but I am working on it.

A complex sentence does not need to be very long. It just needs to be a sentence which is not simple – this is a way the sentences are categorised for IELTS examiners, not for grammar books. Having short, simple sentences is not a good idea if you are aiming for a higher band score. You need to show control and a good range of sentence structures. I am currently writing an e-book which is a Grammar List for IELTS Writing Task 2 – I’ll post a notice when it’s finished and ready to buy.

I’ll keep these points in my mind. Yes, please let me know, whenever you have completed E-book. Thankyou Liz 🙂

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Hello teacher! I have a query about other words that can be used, besides the word “overall”, for the overview part. Can I use ” as a whole” or “in general” instead of that? Are those words considered as formal writing in IELTS?

Please enlighten me! Also, thank you so much for giving out this linking words. 🙂

It is possible to use those words, but the word “Overall”is the most logical to use and the most appropriate.

Thank you so much for the reply! 🙂

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Under the Adding Information section, I have a doubt on below sentence

These linkers inform the reader or read?

Thanks, Kishore

Thanks – a typo 🙂

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You are the best teacher ever and I hope you are doing fine.

I wanted to ask you whether it is okay use “i.e.” in my IELTS writing exam ?

You are being assessed on your use of linking words, “ie” is not a word. Don’t use it. Use “for instance” or “for example” – the list is given on the page above.

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I like your teaching.and I appreciate it.

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Thank you soo much mam..That was really really helpful..

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to conclude to sum up these are very short pharse i want write a long pharse for example Before putting my pen down i would like to deduce tha ….

This page is about linking words and signposting. It is fine to learn linking words which are part of coherence and cohesion. It is NOT good to memorise phrases for IELTS. See all tips on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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Hello Liz, How to use the linking phrase ” last but not least” ? Should it comes at the last body paragraph or the conclusion paragraph?

It indicates the final main point – it does not indicate a conclusion.

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hello liz , I am not form any English specking country, i’m thinking that i’m good at specking.But my main problem is at spellings, how can i decline my spelling mistakes

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/useful-websites-and-resources-for-ielts/

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Hi,Liz How are you? Thank you for your suggestion,it’s so useful

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Hi Liz, love your blog, would like to know if there is a direct link to all your pdf’s. It would be very helpful.

I don’t have my pdf files ready yet.

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Hi Liz, Can we use “Because of that” in blank 6???

The word “because” can’t be put at the beginning of a sentence in formal essay writing for IELTS.

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Thank you liz i wasn’t aware

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Thank you, again and again…

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Hi Liz, Can I conclude the essay by writing, ‘Hammering the last nail, I reckon that..’ or ‘I pen down by saying that..’?

No, you can’t. I am very confused. This whole page offers all the best linking words for a high score – even up to band 9. Use them, learn them. Stop trying to improve them. Do you want band 10? Just relax and start using appropriate language and linking words.

Thanks a lot mam!

Thanks a lot mam for your guidance. I have scored overall score of 8.50 with L-9.0, R-8.5, W-7.5 and S-8.5 as individual scores. I followed you religiously and I just can’t thank you enough! 🙂

Brilliant !! Very well done 🙂 Thanks for letting me know 🙂

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I really appreciate the way you have described the small errors we all students keep on doing in daily essay writing. I have few questions in my mind, but without wasting your time I will put only one basic question that I am facing daily with the essay writing. If the topic of the essay mention ” to what extend do you agree”. So, in such essay do we have to write only paragraph in the notion of the topic. As my aim is to score band 7.5 and this confusion. IELTS have a feeling of schadenfreude when they see my low score in writing only.

I don’t understand your question. When you give your opinion, the whole essay will explain it. You will give an opinion based on the issue or issues given to you in the question.

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hi mam I’m very bad in speaking part I have no Idea how to improve and how imagine more idea

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-free-lessons-essential-tips/

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Hello Liz, My handwriting is poor and somewhat clumsy …. To improve legibility may I write in alternate lines on ielts answer sheet… Do you recommend it?… In case, if i need extra sheet, do they provide?…

I don’t recommend doing as you are planning. It makes it difficult to identify paragraphs and can be confusing for the reader. Just try to keep your handwriting as clear as possible so that the examiner can read it. Practice, practice and do more practice. Yes, you can ask for extra paper. Usually you just put your hand up and then explain you need more paper. But I have heard from one student that they wasted precious minutes waiting for the extra paper.

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Hi Liz, thank you for precious advices, in your opinion is the use of Latin expression, such as “e.g.” or “i.e” useful in writing tasks for the academic module?

Avoiding using them. Instead such linking words: for example, such as …

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I was told overuse of linking words could lead scoring less.is that true?

Yes. There is a criterion for marking which states that if you overuse linking words or if you use them mechanically (this means without flexibility), your score will not go higher in that marking criterion. This related to Coherence and Cohesion which is 25% of your marks for writing task 2. See my advanced lessons if you need training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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What about an expression “all in all”?Can it be used in a conclusion paragraph?

I have known students use this. But I would stay with linking words most suitable for a conclusion = In conclusion

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Thank you Liz for this useful lesson The answer is for instance , still , because , especially , consequently , therefore

Check the answers on the page above.

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Thank you for your great lessons. It really helps a lot. I have a question about a linking word ‘and’. Would it be okay to start a sentence with ‘and’?

For example, this is mainly because of lack of physical activity and the poor quality of food. People are too busy. And in spite of economic growth, the quality of food has diminished.

Not in IELTS writing task 2. Never use “and, but, because” at the start of a sentence in writing task 2.

Thank you for your answer. I highly appreciate your great lessons and help.!

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I am not clear why a sentence can not be started using “because”. Since we have mentioned both: subordinating clause and main clause, there should not be any issue to the examiner.

The words “because, and, but” should not be placed at the start of a sentence in formal writing. They come between clauses in formal writing.

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Please guide me, how i can get good score in writing, Is it good to use idioms, Phrasal verbs in writing task 2

On this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ you will find advice about idioms

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Hi Liz Can I expree my opinion by using this sentence (in my own point of view) or it’s informal Thanks

No, it’s not right to use that. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-expressing-your-opinion/

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Hello Liz I have question . If I use idioms or slangs to essay , could they help me to get higher score

They might help you get a lower score. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/using-quotes-or-idioms-in-your-ielts-essay/

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Hi Liz I have a problem with writing task, I can’t have enough time for task 2, I’m constantly thinking about what to write next. can you give me some suggestion? Thanks Abdullah

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-essay-planning-tips/

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hi madam if we are confused or not sure about answer can we can we write both the answer by using // in the middle

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Hi Liz Can we use the phrase “my personal sentiments” to give opinion in task 2 instead of I believe or I think

thanks alot

No. It is informal and not suitable for writing task 2. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-expressing-your-opinion/ and then check all writing task 2 tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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Hi mam, Thanks for your kind initiatives for the IELTS students like us. It is really fortune for me to have an online teacher like you. Please keep continuing.

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Hi mam.. What is the procedure? to send u ielts writing for checking …..

Plz plz tell me…

There is a teacher who can help you on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

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HI! I’m one of your avid fan. I just want to say thank you. I recently got the score I needed for Writing after 2 takes. I used all your guidelines in making it coherent and scoring higher using your tips on having a balance essay for every kind of questions. I also did task2 first to make me more calm and relax in writing the ardous part. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

That’s really great news!! Well done!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂

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thanks Liz ,was very efficiently significant

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I had written my IELTS test twice before coming across your website. Both the times I scored 6.5 in Writing which scoring above 7 in all the other 3 sections. I needed 7 in writing and hence I enrolled for the third time. I came across your website 3 weeks before my test and went through all the study material in your web pages. I got my scores last week and was ecstatic to see that I managed 7 in my writing section.

I am thankful to you and your website for helping me achieve my goal. You are doing such a commendable work. Keep it up.

That’s really good news! I’m so pleased for you. It can be hard to hit that elusive band 7 in writing. Well done 🙂

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Hi Liz, are you available to correct my essay? If not, could you suggest another teacher? Thanks.

You can find a teacher called Tony to help you on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

My God! You are doing a beautiful job. More I’m studying from your website more I’m impressed! I can’t explain how much I feel grateful. Thanks a lot.

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Hi liz, Is the writing matters for writing task 1 and 2? If so then whether we need to write in cursive or just clear.. I mean is any writing method acceptable?

You just need clear writing. As long as the examiner can read it, you are fine. It doesn’t matter what style of handwriting you choose.

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hi mam, Task 2 which you provided is for BC or IDP.Because i am taking idp exam,pls give me reply

The tests are the same in IDP and BC – they are both owners of IELTS.

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Hi Liz thank you a lot for giving us all this informative lectures and publishes. But why different teachers give different IELTS writing rules. Example you teach us hooking in your introduction is not important, but other teachers demonstrate that it is very important. And if we add hook to our writing could it reduce our marks?

Some teachers have completed the IELTS examiner training and others have not.

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Hi Liz, beautifully you have explained variety of expression, i am preparing for ielts and having many issues while putting pencil on paper to write answer for Writing task 2, would you please suggest how to get it done within stipulated time frame such as in month so that i can fulfill my dream to study abroad…..

Firstly try to develop as many ideas for writing task 2 topics as you can. You can do this by taking ideas from model essays and other sites online. See this page for common topics: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/ . For techniques, see my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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First, I would like to say to you thank you for very nice lessons. I was wondering to ask if you correct essay task 2 ?

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

thank you very much.

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hlo mam, i just wanted to say that you are the best teacher.

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Hi mam i need your help how to write task 2 to get 8 band can you give 9band samples writing answer pls

You can find model answers on the main writing task 2 page of this blog.

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hi liz, i will give my ielts test after three month please help me in all. modules plss

There are 300 free pages of help on this blog. If you need more help with writing task 2, see my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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Hope you are fine.

My name is Gagandeep. I have IELTS test on 16th July and I feel I am not able to structure my ideas in writing task 1 and task 2 both. Please let me know how can I bulid my ideas perfectly to get band 8.

Regards Gagandeep

At present, I can only suggest you get my advanced writing task 2 lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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Thank you so much for being replying to people i have recently got the IELTS date which is on 16th of jun its my second time i am giving ielts the first time i got 5 bands and i need at lest 6.5 so how can i improve my grammar and vocabulary i have just 20 days remaining..

please do reply me soon.

It is normally best to take the test when you repeatedly get the score you want in practice tests. To improve English in just 20 days is a challenge. I can only suggest you decide what your main grammar problems are and deal with them one at a time. For vocabulary, review common topics for speaking ad writing – you can find word lists on google.

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this is my first query from you. please clarify.

how to use furthermore,morever,in addition in an essay please clarify.

Excessive use of computers has many detrimental effects on childrens health.Firstly, frequent joint pain and fatigue are most likely to be experienced by young individuals and these issue seems to be prevaile till the death.Morever(do we use morever here to introduce new idea such effect of exceissive computer usage and academic grades or do we have to discuss another health related issue)(moreover will be used to introduce new idea such as school performance or anyother health related issue?

thank you very much

Sorry I don’t comment on writing.

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thanksssssssssssss

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Thank you for all the tips on how to write a meaningful essay. However could you please help out on how to paraphrase the question as that part is posing a lot more difficulty for me at the moment.

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-liz-news/

Thank you so much for the tips on how to write a meaningful essay. However could you please help out with how to paraphrase the question, which is posing as the most difficult part for me right now.

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Hi liz i am going to take my test in 3days , i am not perfect at task2 i can”t able to know how many word are of mandetatory can i write more than 250 words , can you please give me any suggestion how to get good score in task2 any key words etc

You can find information and tips for writing task 2 on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ and you can find advanced training on this page: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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thank you very much. I’m going to take IELTS on 16th April)

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hey liz i am learn many things related to ielts but my writing skill is not development and is it important strength of the sentence suggest me about this

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

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A.A mam my problem is vocabulary. Plz help me by giving tips and vocab words. I need 7 in ielts.

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Hi Liz. My general english is good. I can cope up with more complex sentence structures too. But when it comes to writing task 2 , my brain just stops working. My main problem is I cant brainstorm on the topic. How can I improve my brainstorming for different topics. Thanks.

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Hello Mam,can you assess my writing task if i mail it to you please? Further I do not have good command on spelling. how can i improve it within one month effectivly.

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I can found some problems in writing task2 and i can not used rich vocabulary and some time i can’t get good points.so how can i improve???

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Hi Liz, I know that native english speakers rarely use ” moreover”. Is it safe to use it in IELTS Essay?

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Thank you for your useful lessons. I have a question that worries me lately. Would the assessor count repetitive words? For example if I used the word “students” 9 times in the whole essay? Or another example, if in writing task 1, I used countries’ names all the time (besides making it nationality: Britain = British).

Each word is counted. It is the same as using word count on a word document. Liz

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Hi Liz Are the following answers appropriate for the respective questions? 1. because 2. obviously Thank you for the help Lahari

No, both answers can’t be used. Liz

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Hi Liz, I appreciate your help on this question: can we use FIRST AND FOREMOST and LAST BUT NOT LEAST in Academic Writing? Thank you. Trang

Yes, but they are over used. Liz

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Dear Liz, This question is not about the linking words, its about grammar. In the 2nd question, why you have not use ” ……. problems ARE on the rise.” instead of ” …… problems IS on the rise”?

Well spotted!

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Hello liz thanks for your good websites. how can i submit my writing for checking? thanks in advance baazoft

Unfortunately, I don’t offer essay marking and I don’t have any teachers to recommend. All the best Liz

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i wanna ask that sometimes like ….to…. like question are there in listening task what is the right way to answer this. it is 4to5 or it is4,5

Just “4 5”. You don’t need punctuation. Just make sure the numbers are easily read and separate. If you write “4 to 5” is would be marked wrong. Liz

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Mam I weak in writing I Write only simple sentence then I lose band score…… What I use to get high score

You need to improve your English. This is a language test – make sure your English is good. Get a teacher and start learning from English language websites. Do this before you do IELTS.

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can i say, “as a result” in place of “for this reason / therefore “

Yes, you can use that. Liz

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We shouldn’t use these terms in the speaking part, should we? – The first thing i should mention is… – And i shouldn’t forget to mention – There’s a mixed variety of things but i guess the most popular one is… I think that i had better answer directly and spend time on expressing my ideas rather than using these phrases, but my teacher told me that i should use these to help organize my answer

You can use those phrases if they help you explain your ideas but they won’t necessarily give you a higher score. In part 1, you must answer quickly and directly so don’t use them. In part 3, you might use them to explain your ideas. The most important thing is to speak naturally. All the best Liz

Thank you for your help. 🙂

I just want to ask about the appropriate answers for a listening practice test 🙂 The questions are about ticket prices: $30 (1)…, or (2)… return According to what i heard, (1) is “one(-)way”. So is this written with or without a hyphen? For the second blank i heard “$45 in return” . so should i write down “$45 in” into the blank or just “$45” ? Thank you for your help.

One-way has a hyphen. For your second question, always look at the example they gave you. If the first one is “$30 one-way” then the second one must be “$45 return”. Always check the grammar. For note, form or table completion, grammar is rarely involved. All the best Liz

Thanks a lot. May all the best things come to you, teacher.

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Can I answer questions 1 and 2 in a different way ? 1- .However, 2- still

It can’t be “However” because there is no full stop. Always check grammar. For the second question, “still” is possible. All the best Liz

Thank you so much.I really appreciate your reply.

Would my answer be correct if I used a full stop (.However, ) ?

I am asking because I could not see any grammatical difference in this sentence between using (even though ) or ( . However, ) .

That’s right. You need the full stop. Liz

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Is not it possible to write the word this way: “…a way of communicating; however, it is…”?

You would need to write the full sentence for me to check. Liz

I meant the first sentence you gave to practice. You answered Ahmad that is not right to use “However” there, and decided to ask if it can be “1st sentence ;however, 2nd sentence”. Julia

Avoid using “;” in IELTS writing. Just use full stops or commas. Liz

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You are great …God bless you.

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Hi mam.i want to study with you online, if you have time please teach me.

At present the only lessons I offer are on my video course which I have only just started making. At present there is one lesson available for writing task 2 and tomorrow I hope to put my second lesson up: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

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Hello mam, Today while searching some helpful tips for ielts exam i went through your videos and i found it vry easy and helpful ways to improve our writing skills. Hope it will work during my exam too. Thank you mam for such a wonderful tips and guidance.

How i can improve my vocabulary please give me suggestion.my vocabulary is so poor.

Start reading. That is the surest way to develop vocabulary and understanding. Liz

Thank you so much

Thank you so much for your wonderful tips

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Hello mam. I am Sandeep. Please help me. How i will get 6.5 band in writing task.

Take a look at the band scores to learn: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/ Liz

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Dear Ms.Liz,

I have just received my Ielts result. Thanks to your help, I have got an overall band score of 7.5, 8.0 for the listening and reading test, 6.5 for the writing section and 7.0 for the speaking part. I am really delighted with this result because this is my first time ever studying on my own by using the materials on the Internet. Thank you so much for all of your lessons, I really appreciate what you have been doing and your dedication to teaching. May all the best thing come to you and your family.

Your Vietnamese student, Hanh Tran 😀

Hi Hanh Tran,

I’m really pleased to hear your result. 7.5 is a really good score, particular for your first try. In Vietnam the average is around band 6. So, band 7.5 puts you much higher than most students in your country. I hope you celebrated your result !

Good luck with your future plans 🙂 Liz

Thank you, teacher 😀

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Hi liz I have my ielts exam on Thursday. I just wanna ask you that in writing task 2 general ielts training test ” in my opinion….” Should write in introduction or conclusion? I am little confused with that. And suggestions like “they should do that ……” That will come in conclusion or in body paragraphs? Where are they appropriate ? Looking forward for your reply thanks

You put your opinion in the introduction, if the instructions ask for your opinion or for you to answer a direct question. If the instructions don’t ask for your opinion, don’t give it. Please see my model essays to see how and where I put my opinion. There is also a separate lesson about giving your opinion on the writing task 2 page. Liz

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Hi Liz, Is it advisable to use the listing words such as firstly, secondly, thirdly and finally at the last paragraph before the conclusion or I could use it also at my initial paragraph after the introduction? Thank you!

You use them as you want. They can order your paragraphs (although that is slightly mechanical) or you can use them to order supporting points in any paragraph you wish. Liz

Thank you for your response liz 🙂

Hello mam, i need your help how to complete reading task in one hour. There is some technic to do task as soon as possible because read full paragarh then find out ans. Is take so much time. Also how i improve my listening skills mam please help me.

Please read my tips about comprehension and strategy on the reading page. Thanks Liz

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Hi Liz; I want to ask you about linking that are related to giving opinion. May I use them “I take the view that…” and “I subscribe to the theory that…” in writing Task 2 or just in Speaking.

Regards, Sherzod

Just be direct and don’t try to learn phrases – the examiner isn’t impressed by students who purposely learn phrases to boost their score and will not award points for it. You can use “In my opinion” or “I think” or “I agree” for task 2. You can also find a lesson on my task 2 page about how to give your opinion. For speaking, it is informal so you can use a range “I suppose”, ” I guess” or “I reckon” or “I think” etc. All the best Liz

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Hi Liz, My ILETS exam was on the 4th of July and today I got my results’ message (listening 6, reading 6, writing 5.5, speaking 6.5). I am really shocked by my speaking and listening results. Do you you think I will get any new result if I reject and apply for remarking?

Listening rarely changes with a remark because it is marked by right or wrong answers and mistakes almost never happen. For speaking, band score 6.5 means you make more than a few mistakes in your grammar and vocabulary or possibly that your fluency is strong enough to be able to talk at length without effort. It is possible to get a remark for speaking but looking at your writing, it is even lower. So, it doesn’t give confidence that your score will go up with a remark. However, you must judge for yourself. All the best Liz

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Dear Liz I have recently found out about your videos and website and I deeply appreciate your effort. I am preparing for an Academic module in a limited time so I found your lessons and instructions very useful to manage my studies. Although I am still struggling with Reading skill.

The key to reading is to spend time understanding the language in the questions and thinking about paraphrasing before you try and find the answers. The more time you spend with the questions, the quicker it is to find answers. You should also be writing down a list of paraphrases from all reading exercises you do. Lastly, spend time planning a strategy for each question type and learning which questions have answers that come in order. You can find a page about question types in the reading section of this blog. All the best Liz

Really this is a stategy

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Dear Liz, Thank you for such a useful note, but it seems you missed contrast/opposite connection words.

Regards, Amir

You will find contrasting linking words in the concessions and contrast section. All the best Liz

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Hello teacher,

I’m confused using between these two words. Is the same ” as a result ” and ” therefore”.?

Could you explain it to me, please? Thank you very much

They have the same meaning and you can alternate using them. All the best Liz

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This is such a big help Ms. Liz. Thank you for always updating your site! Love you! 🙂

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Please give me a common sentences of task 2 i can write in all type of essay

Sorry but that is not the right way to approach IELTS. The examiner is trained to spot learned sentences and you will lose marks. The sentences you should aim for are based on grammar structures or tenses: clauses, conditionals, prefect tenses, gerunds etc. Just review your grammar structures. All the best Liz

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Hi Liz; Thanks to publish this useful words for writing task. I need 7 in that task while I was got 5.5 in my first attempt after that I had knew about your site and I register myself in it and from that day onwards I regularly follow your tips hope i will improve in my writing. Thanks again

Make sure you check your level of English to get band 7. In the message above, your first 9 words contain 2 mistakes and the second sentence contains 5 mistakes. You will need to reduce your errors to get band 7. Good luck Liz

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Connectors / Linking Words for Writing – Functions and Tips

Janet

Updated On Sep 15, 2023

essay writing connectors and useful expressions

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Connectors / Linking Words for Writing – Functions and Tips

Effective IELTS Essay Connectors for Writing Task 2 & Task 1

Linking words or connectors are the adverbs that turn out to be the easiest way to connect ideas or sentences with one unique word. Such linking words or connectors make the entire sentence look appealing. In IELTS, if you use the connesctors appropriately, it will showcase your advanced English communication skills.

So, in any way, if you find yourself stuck with handling these linking words or connectors, here are a few tips that will help you out.

How do Linking Words or Connectors Function? 

Jotted down below are a few reasons why you should be using linking words or connectors in your IELTS writing tasks:

  • They make your writing clear and appealing.
  • You get to provide meaning to otherwise complex sentences.
  • They help readers understand how one sentence is related to the other.
  • They help to know the purpose of the question and also give an appropriate answer to the question.

Tips to Use Linking words or Connectors

Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind when using linking words or connectors:

Are you being accurate with your choice of words?

There are a lot of linking words that can be used in a sentence, so you need to be careful while using the linking words and use them accurately.

Are you overusing linking words or connectors?

The linking words can be used once or twice in the sentence. Making overuse of the linking words in the sentence makes the sentence meaningless.

Are you mixing up?

Try to use a lot of linking words in the paragraph, but make sure the sentence is meaningful while using these words. Using a single word many times in a paragraph doesn’t make any sense. So while using the linking words, use them wisely.

Common Linking words and Connectors used in IELTS Writing

When writing an essay or a report in an IELTS exam, there are plenty of linking words or connectors used throughout. You can take ideas from the ones mentioned below:

Also check :

  • IELTS Writing tips
  • IELTS Writing recent actual test
  • IELTS Writing Answer sheet
  • IELTS Writing Practice tests

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are connectors important in writing?

Name some of the common connectors used in IELTS Writing?

What are some linking words expressing differences or contrasts?

Mention some linking words that can be used to express a finale or summarization

Where do you use connectors or linking words in IELTS writing?

Explore IELTS Writing

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Proven tips to score Band 9 in IELTS Writing

Janet

Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

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100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

By: Author Sophia

Posted on Last updated: October 25, 2023

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How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let’s take a look!

The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.

Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

Overview of an essay.

100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays

Developing the argument

  • The first aspect to point out is that…
  • Let us start by considering the facts.
  • The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
  • Central to the novel is…
  • The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…

The other side of the argument

  • It would also be interesting to see…
  • One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
  • Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
  • The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
  • From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
  • All of this points to the conclusion that…
  • To conclude…

Ordering elements

  • Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
  • As a final point…
  • On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
  • If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
  • The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
  • There are at least xxx points to highlight.

Adding elements

  • Furthermore, one should not forget that…
  • In addition to…
  • Moreover…
  • It is important to add that…

Accepting other points of view

  • Nevertheless, one should accept that…
  • However, we also agree that…

Personal opinion

  • We/I personally believe that…
  • Our/My own point of view is that…
  • It is my contention that…
  • I am convinced that…
  • My own opinion is…

Others’ opinions

  • According to some critics… Critics:
  • believe that
  • suggest that
  • are convinced that
  • point out that
  • emphasize that
  • contend that
  • go as far as to say that
  • argue for this

Introducing examples

  • For example…
  • For instance…
  • To illustrate this point…

Introducing facts

  • It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
  • One should note here that…

Saying what you think is true

  • This leads us to believe that…
  • It is very possible that…
  • In view of these facts, it is quite likely that…
  • Doubtless,…
  • One cannot deny that…
  • It is (very) clear from these observations that…
  • All the same, it is possible that…
  • It is difficult to believe that…

Accepting other points to a certain degree

  • One can agree up to a certain point with…
  • Certainly,… However,…
  • It cannot be denied that…

Emphasizing particular points

  • The last example highlights the fact that…
  • Not only… but also…
  • We would even go so far as to say that…

Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing

  • By and large…
  • Perhaps we should also point out the fact that…
  • It would be unfair not to mention the fact that…
  • One must admit that…
  • We cannot ignore the fact that…
  • One cannot possibly accept the fact that…

Consequences

  • From these facts, one may conclude that…
  • That is why, in our opinion, …
  • Which seems to confirm the idea that…
  • Thus,…/ Therefore,…
  • Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
  • Compared to…
  • On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 1

100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay 1

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 2

100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay 2

Phrases For Balanced Arguments

Introduction

  • It is often said that…
  • It is undeniable that…
  • It is a well-known fact that…
  • One of the most striking features of this text is…
  • The first thing that needs to be said is…
  • First of all, let us try to analyze…
  • One argument in support of…
  • We must distinguish carefully between…
  • The second reason for…
  • An important aspect of the text is…
  • It is worth stating at this point that…
  • On the other hand, we can observe that…
  • The other side of the coin is, however, that…
  • Another way of looking at this question is to…
  • What conclusions can be drawn from all this?
  • The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…
  • To sum up… we are convinced that…/ …we believe that…/ …we have to accept that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 3

100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay 3

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Useful Academic Expressions & Phrases For Essay Writing

These useful academic expressions , words, vocabulary and phrases will help you to write a top-notch essay. Writing an essay can be a challenging task. However it becomes simpler if it is divided into manageable pieces. There are three main parts in an essay: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You can easily overcome your essay writing task with these academic phrases and vocabulary for essay writing.

essay writing connectors and useful expressions

Phrases to Finish an Introduction Paragraph

In this essay, I will look at some of the arguments for This essay will discuss different ways of … This essay outline some of the reasons why… Let us examine both views before reaching a concrete decision. The following essay takes a look at both sides of the argument.

Vocabulary for Opinion Essay 

In my opinion, I strongly agree with the idea that … I strongly disagree with the idea that … I strongly opine that… I strongly believe that… In my view… As far as I am concerned… It seems to me that… However, I strongly believe that… I oppose the view and my reasons will be explained in the following paragraphs. I will support this view with arguments in the following paragraphs. I personally believe that… Thus the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages…

Useful Expressions For Listing Your Ideas

First… First of all… Firstly… First and foremost… Initially… To begin with… To start with… In the first place…

On the one hand… Second(ly)… (do not use ‘Second of all’) Third(ly)… Then… Next… After that… And… Again… Also… Besides… Likewise… In addition… Consequently… What’s more… Furthermore… Moreover… Apart from that…

Finally… Last but not the least…

Check Also: Vocabulary for Starting Your Essay How to Write The Best Essay Ever!

Phrases to Show a Comparison in Your Essay

In the same way… Likewise… Similarly… Like the previous point… Similar to… Also… At the same time… Just as…

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases to Show Contrast

On the other hand… On the contrary… However… Nevertheless…/ Nonetheless… But… Nonetheless/ Nevertheless… Oppositely… Alternatively… Unlike… While… Whilst… Although… Though… Even though… Despite… / In spite of… In spite of the fact that… Alternatively… In contrast to this… Then again… On the other hand… Despite the fact that… Even so… Yet… Meanwhile…

Vocabulary For Expressing Condition

If… Provided that… Because of that… For this reason… Unless… Providing that… So that… In case… Whether…

Phrases for Expressing Certainty in Your Essay

Certainly… Definitely… No doubt… Of course… Doubtlessly… Without any doubt… Undoubtedly…

Vocabulary for Adding Further Information

In addition… And… Moreover… Similarly… Furthermore… Also… As well as… Besides… Even… Too… What’s more… Again… In a similar fashion… Likewise…

Expressions for Agreement & Disagreement in Your Essay

While writing your essay, as a writer you are required to show whether you agree & disagree or partially agree with a given statement or opinion.

Vocabulary for Expressing Agreement

I strongly agree… I completely agree that… I totally agree with the given idea that… I agree with the opinion that… I am quite inclined to the opinion that… I accept that… I accept the fact that… I am in agreement… I consent that…

Vocabulary for Expressing Disagreement

I disagree with the opinion that… I strongly disagree… I completely disagree with… I totally disagree with the given idea that… I disagree with the statement… I quite oppose the opinion that… I disapprove that… I totally do not accept the fact that… My own opinion contradicts… I disagree with the group of people… However, my opinion is different from…

Vocabulary for Expressing Partial Agreement

To some extent… In a way… I agree with the given statement to some extent… Up to a point, I agree… More or less… So to speak…

Essay Writing Expressions PDF

  Essay Expression PDF – (download)

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  1. Connectors List

    essay writing connectors and useful expressions

  2. Useful Linking Words for Writing Essays in English

    essay writing connectors and useful expressions

  3. Useful Linking Words and Phrases to Use in Your Essays

    essay writing connectors and useful expressions

  4. Connectors in English

    essay writing connectors and useful expressions

  5. Linking Words for Writing Essay

    essay writing connectors and useful expressions

  6. Useful Linking Words and Phrases to Use in Your Essays

    essay writing connectors and useful expressions

VIDEO

  1. Linking Words of contrasts #shorts #connectors

  2. 30 Sec For OET-WRITING|Connectors|M&M

  3. Using sequence connectors and Writing a speech

  4. High quality AD monolisa stone connectors useful for nath making jewellery & fashion accessories

  5. Connectors in OET Writing

  6. Connectors To Add Information: Writing Tasks & Speaking #abroad #Ielts #trendingshorts #academic

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Victoria's Secret English blog for EOI students

    ESSAY WRITING Connectors and useful expressions 1. CONNECTORS What are connectors? Connectors (also called conjunctions) are words or expressions which we use to establish different types of relationships between words or sentences. When we use connectors appropriately, we organise what we say in a more logical, understandable way.

  2. Connectors in English: How to Use Them to Make Your English ...

    English connectors are little words and phrases that help you connect sentences, paragraphs and ideas. Used both in spoken and written English, they help make your English sound more logical and structured. You can think of connectors as like the thread that holds a necklace's beads (i.e. sentences, paragraphs and ideas) together.

  3. Linking Words

    Linking words and phrases are connectors or transitional phrases. They are also part of formal language, so you'll find them in academic writing, opinion writing, critical essays, dialectic essays, journalism, and business documents. Some linking verbs link clauses within a sentence, such as although, in case, and whatever.

  4. Transition Words & Phrases

    Common mistakes with transition words. Transition words are often used incorrectly. Make sure you understand the proper usage of transition words and phrases, and remember that words with similar meanings don't necessarily work the same way grammatically. Misused transition words can make your writing unclear or illogical.

  5. 75 linking words for academic writing (+examples)

    Linking words play an important role in academic writing: They connect different paragraphs, sections or ideas in a text. Therefore, they considerably improve the readability and argumentation of academic texts such as a thesis, dissertation, essay or journal publication. This list of 75 linking words includes examples of how they can be used in academic

  6. The Complete Guide to Using English Connectors and Linkers ...

    A1: Connectors and linkers are words or phrases that help link ideas and sentences together, establishing logical relationships between them. They are essential for structuring arguments ...

  7. Useful Linking Words and Phrases to Use in Your Essays

    Sharing is caring! Linking words and phrases are used to show relationships between ideas. They can be used to join two or more sentences or clauses. We can use linking words to give a result, add information, summarize, give illustrations, emphasize a point, sequence information, compare or to contrast idea.

  8. Using connectors in English to improve your writing skills

    For this, you need a good command of connectors, or linkers, those little words and phrases like but, however, in spite of, because of and in order to. In this article we look at using connectors in English to improve your writing skills. The most common connectors, and the ones used most frequently in speech, are and, but, or, because, so and ...

  9. Linking words in academic writing / AEUK

    Linking: Cohesion & Coherence Worksheet. This worksheet helps to consolidate what is 'cohesion' with a focus on pronouns, word forms and summary nouns. It also includes a coherence sheet on key connections and two practice activities. Example Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Webpage Link / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP.

  10. Linking/transition words

    Linking/Transition Words. Transitions link one main idea to another separated by a semi-colon or full-stop. When the transition word is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma: Among other functions, they can signal cause and effect or sequencing (see examples in the table below). Additional comments or ideas.

  11. Linking Words: List of Sentence Connectors ...

    Connectors Definition. Linker Words or Word Connectors are used to link large groups of words: phrases and sentences. You can also use them to connect paragraphs to give them coherence. Sentence connectors are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence and may be categorized as follows: 👉 CONTRAST. 1. HOWEVER

  12. Linking Words, Connecting Words: Full List and Useful Examples

    Here are some examples: It started to rain and I got soaked - 'and' is the linking word that connects the two ideas of the individual being in the rain and getting soaked. It can't be the dog's fault nor the cat's - 'nor' connects the idea that neither the cat or dog was at fault. We could go shopping first then get a bite to ...

  13. 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

    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".

  14. Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2

    The linking words list below is essential for IELTS writing task 2 for high score. The examiner needs to see a range of linking words in your essay to award you a high score for the criterion of Coherence and Cohesion which is 25% of your marks. You will be checked on your range, accuracy and your flexibility of linking words in IELTS writing ...

  15. Connectors / Linking Words for Writing

    In IELTS Writing, connectors or linking words are used in understanding the transitioning between paragraphs, presenting an opinion, providing instances and reasons, and illustrating consequences and/or conditions of various scenarios. Useful Connectors / Linking Words for Writing to improve your skills in IELTS writing test which includes ...

  16. Linking words

    We'll consider both the meaning and the use of linking words and phrases. The topic focuses on money and wealth, which can pop up anywhere from B1 level onwards. Use them to improve writing skills, especially in formal writings like essays, reports and proposals. EXAM PART: Writing. EXAM SKILLS: Using cohesive devices to improve organisation

  17. Connectors in academic writing

    The difference between these three connectors lies in their strength. 'In addition' is a neutral connector that you can use to add information. You're not necessarily strengthening an argument. The same goes for 'additionally' and the less frequently used 'Also' and 'Plus'. For example:

  18. 100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

    Sharing is caring! How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let's take a look! The secret to a successful essay doesn't just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.

  19. Useful Academic Expressions & Phrases For Essay Writing

    These useful academic expressions, words, vocabulary and phrases will help you to write a top-notch essay. Writing an essay can be a challenging task. However it becomes simpler if it is divided into manageable pieces. There are three main parts in an essay: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You can easily overcome your essay writing ...

  20. PDF Opinion Essay- Expressions and Linkers You Can Use

    OPINION ESSAY- EXPRESSIONS AND LINKERS YOU CAN USE TO EXPRESS OPINION To express opinion In my opinion, Personally, I think/ I believe (that I strongly believe that…. It is clear (to me) that I (completely) agree/disagree with … It seems to me that… As I see it, … In my view,...

  21. Essay Writing Connectors and Useful Expressions PDF

    essay-writing-connectors-and-useful-expressions.pdf - Free download as PDF File (.pdf) or read online for free. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.

  22. Linkers: Useful expressions for essay-writing worksheet

    Useful expressions for essay-writing. Welcome to ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc. Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. ... Connectors and linkers Level: intermediate Age: 10-17 Downloads: 596 COMPLEX CLAUSES AND LINKERS Level ...