The language that we use for writing essays is
often more formal than the language that we use in conversation. The next four
pages give you help with the more formal type of language that is usually used
in writing. They give words and phrases that will help you to write your ideas
clearly and naturally, and in a way that is suitable for an essay.
An example essay
You could be asked to write many different types
of essays in English during the course of your studies. These may include
factual essays, descriptive essays or stories. You may also be asked to write
letters, emails, reports or pages from a diary as writing exercises. The phrases below all relate to the language you
might want to use in a discursive essay (= an essay in which you are asked to
discuss something). The title of the example essay is: ‘Despite the increased availability of ‘healthy’ food and our
greater knowledge of what makes a healthy diet, we are fatter and less healthy
than ever before.’ Discuss.
Before you start
Make sure you understand what you are expected
to do in writing the essay. If you do not understand some words, look them up
in this dictionary. It might help for you to put the essay title into more
simple language – the process of doing this will help you to be sure that you
understand it. Another way of writing this essay title might be: Although we know more about healthy food and healthy eating
than ever before, we are fatter and less healthy than ever before.
In a discursive essay, you will have to write
about the things you agree or disagree with about the title of the essay, give
your reasons for your opinions, and finally state what your conclusions (= your
final opinions) are, based on the things you have discussed.
Saying what you agree with
You will first need to read the essay title
carefully, and decide what you agree or disagree with about it or whether you
think it is true. Use these words and phrases to say what you agree with or
what you think is true about the statement:
Certainly . . .
It is certainly true that . . .
It is certainly the case (= true) that . . .
Examples:
Certainly more people than ever before are overweight.
It is certainly the case that we know more about healthy eating than ever before.
Giving reasons for why you think something
is true
Use these phrases to give reasons why you think
something is true about the statement in the essay title:
Perhaps this is because . . .
This could be because . . .
This could/may/might be a result of . . .
This could/may/might be due to . . .
This may be attributable to . . . (formal)
Examples:
Perhaps this is because people today eat the wrong kinds of food.
This could be due to the fact that people today eat the wrong sort of food.
Giving additional reasons
Use these words and phrases when you want to
give another reason why you agree or disagree with the statement:
Another reason (for this) might be . . .
It is also true/the case that . . .
In addition . . .
Furthermore . . .
Moreover . . .
Examples:
People often eat the wrong types of food.
Furthermore, they exercise less.
People often eat the wrong types of food
and in addition they exercise less.
Adding a more important reason
Use these phrases to add a reason that you think
is more important than the one you have just given:
More importantly . . .
More significantly . . .
What is more . . .
Examples:
People often eat the wrong types of food
and what is more, they exercise less.
People often eat the wrong types of food
and more importantly, they exercise less.
Saying what the result of something is:
Use these phrases when you have just given an
example of a particular situation that exists and you now want to say what the
effect of this is:
Thus . . .
As a result . . .
For this reason . . .
Consequently . . .
This has the effect of . . .
Therefore . . .
Examples:
People these days take less exercise.
As a result, they are overweight and less fit.
People these days take less exercise.Consequently,
they are overweight and less fit.
People these days take less exercise. This has the effect of making them overweight and less fit.
Giving a different opinion
When you write a discursive essay, you will
probably want to mention more than one side of an argument. Use these words and
phrases to write about fact or opinions that might not support or might be very
different from those you have just mentioned:
However, . . .
Nevertheless,/nonetheless, . . .
On the other hand, . . .
Even so . . .
Yet (formal) . . .
Examples:
There is no doubt that people are getting
fatter. However, we are not unhealthier in every way.
There is no doubt that people are getting
fatter. On the other hand, we are not unhealthier in every way.
There is no doubt that people are getting
fatter, but even so we are not unhealthier in every way.
Making an argument stronger
Often you will want to add facts to further
support an argument. Use these words and phrases to do this:
Indeed, . . .
In fact/the fact is/in actual fact . . .
*Actually . . .
* Do not use this at the beginning of a sentence
in formal writing.
Examples
People are not less healthy in every way.
Indeed, in some ways we are healthier.
People are not less healthy in every way.
In fact, in some ways we are healthier.
People are not less healthy in every way.
In some ways we are actually healthier.
Introducing facts to support your opinion
It makes your argument much stronger if you can
use some proven facts or evidence to support your opinion. Use these phrases to
mention research or other proof that supports your argument:
Recent research shows/suggests…
A recent report/survey showed…
There is evidence to suggest that . . .
The latest/ most recent figures suggest (that)…
Examples:
A recent report/survey showed that on average we are living ten years longer than our parents.
There is evidence to suggest that on average we are living longer than our parents.
Ending an essay
At the end of your essay you will want to state
your conclusions (= your final opinions after you have considered all the
facts). This usually involves summarizing the main arguments and facts that
support your opinions. Use these phrases to write your conclusions:
To conclude . . .
To sum up . . .
In summary . . .
In conclusion. . .
Example:
To conclude/In summary, while we are in some respects less healthy, in many ways we
are healthier than ever before.
Other useful phrases
Below are some other phrases that you may find
useful in your essay writing:
Saying that something is generally true
Very often in a discursive essay you may want to
say that something is true for most of the time or on most occasions, even
though it may not be true in every case. Use these words and phrases to say
that something is generally true:
Generally/in general . . .
Generally speaking . . .
As a (general rule) . . .
In most cases . . .
On the whole . . .
For the most part . . .
Example:
On the whole we are a fatter nation than we were fifty years ago.
Generally speaking we are a fatter nation than we were fifty years ago.
Writing
about the present, the past and the future
a. The
present
Use these words
and phrases to say that something is true or something is happening at the
present time:
Today . . .
Currently . . .
Nowadays . . .
These days . . .
Recently . . .
In this day and
age . . .
In recent years .
. .
In/over the past
few years . . .
Examples:
Nowadays
it is quite normal to snack between
meals.
It
is quite normal to snack between meals these
days.
Over
the past few years it has become
quite normal to snack between meals.
b. The
past
Use these words
and phrases to write about what happened or was true in the past:
In the past . . .
In previous years . . .
Previously/formerly . . .
At one time/once . . .
Then/at that time . . .
Examples:
In
previous years food was eaten
only at mealtimes.
At
one time, food was only eaten at mealtimes.
Food
was previously/formerly only eaten at mealtimes.
c. The
future
Use these words
and phrases to write about something that might happen or be true in the
future:
In the future . . .
One day/some day . . .
The day will come when . .
In years to come . . .
Examples:
One
day/some day scientists may discover a cure for
obesity.
Scientists
may discover a cure for obesity in
the future.
In
years to come scientists may discover a cure for
obesity.
Giving your opinion
Use these words and phrases to write about what
your opinion is:
I believe that…
It is my feeling that . . .
It is my opinion that…
In my opinion/view . . .
Example:
In my opinion/ view, far too much advertising of fast food is aimed at children.
It is my opinion that far too much advertising is aimed at children.
I believe that far too much advertising is aimed at children.
Giving other people’s opinions
Use these words and phrases to say what someone
else’s opinion is:
According to x . . .
In x’s opinion /view . . .
Many/some people argue (that) . . .
As x says/writes . . .
As x argues/claims/explains/points out . . .
Examples:
According to Ian Thompson, the fast-food industry is partly to blame.
As Ian Thompson points
out, the fast-food industry is partly to
blame.
Saying that something is certainly true
Use these words and phrases to say that you
think something is definitely true:
Undoubtedly/without a doubt . . .
Definitely/certainly . . .
Undeniably . . .
Unquestionably . . .
Example:
Children today are unquestionably/undoubtedly less active than their parents were as children.
Children today are definitely/certainly less active than their parents were as children.
Saying that something might not be true
Use these phrases to say that something might
not be true:
It is not necessarily true (that) . . .
It is not necessarily the case (that) . . .
Not everyone agrees that . . .
It seems unlikely that . . .
It is not very likely (that) . . .
Example:
It is not necessarily the case that fatter people are less healthy than thin people.
Not everyone agrees that fatter people are less healthy than thin people.
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