Key Words For Writing And Expressions

By learning to use common phrases and set expressions, you can add variety and interest to your writing. You will also be able to write more quickly and effectively during exams when time is limited.

Of course, you won’t need to use all of the expressions on the IELTS. Ideally, you should be comfortable using at least three or four expressions from each group below, so they come to mind easily during the IELTS. It is also helpful to have someone call them out so you can test your spelling. Unfortunately, students sometimes make spelling errors even in these commonly occurring expressions. Exercise sufficiently so you don’t lose points unnecessarily on something that’s within your control.

Stating Your Opinion, comparing, generalizing, giving examples, contrasting, expressing certainty, expressing partial agreement, Showing cause, Showing effect, Marking time, Adding Information, Expressing condition, and Concluding.

Key Words & Expressions

Stating Your Opinion

From my point of view…
I feel…
I imagine…
I realize…
In my opinion…
In my view…
It appears that…
It seems to me that…
To my way of thinking…
From my perspective
According to
To me
I think
I believe
I suppose
I understand

Comparing

Also
As … as
At the same time
Either … or
In common
In the same way
Just as
Neither … nor
Similar to
resemble

Generalizing

All in all
All things considered
By and large
Essentially
On the whole
Generally speaking
Generally
Overall
I believe
As a rule
In general
Basically
It seems to me that

Giving Example

As
For example
For instance
Namely
Such as
That is
like
In other words
To illustrate
To paraphrase

Contrasting

Although
though
Differ from
even though
However
Instead
alternatively
On the contrary
Otherwise
But
On the other hand

Expressing Certainty

Certainly
Doubtless
Definitely
Undoubtedly
No doubt
Of cource

Expressing Partial Agreement

More or less
Up to a point
In a way
To some extent
Almost
So to speak

Showing cause

Due to
Because
Because of
Owing to

Showing effect

Therefore
As a result
Consequently
For this reason
Thus
So
thereby
Eventually
Hence
The reason why

Marking time

First
Last
Second
Lastly
Third
Then
Firstly
First of all
Secondly
Before
Thirdly
After
During
While
To begin with
At the same time
Simultaneously
After this / that
Since
Meanwhile
Afterwards
Following this
When
As soon as

Adding Information

Furthermore
In addition
Also
And
Moreover
Similarly
Likewise
As well as
Besides
Too
Even
What’s more

Expressing condition

If
Whether
In case
Unless
Provided that
So that

Concluding

To summarize
In conclusion
Lastly
Finally
To conclude with
In short

Contrast Connectors in English	Important Connectors and Examples
Compound Words	Most Common Grammar Mistakes Related To Article

Key Words For Writing And Expressions