impressive vocabulary words for essays

Save £500 when you enrol by 30th September!

• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

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

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

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

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

General explaining

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

1. In order to

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

2. In other words

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

3. To put it another way

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

4. That is to say

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

5. To that end

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

Adding additional information to support a point

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

6. Moreover

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

7. Furthermore

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

8. What’s more

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

9. Likewise

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

10. Similarly

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

11. Another key thing to remember

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

12. As well as

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

13. Not only… but also

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

14. Coupled with

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

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

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

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

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

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

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

17. However

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

18. On the other hand

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

19. Having said that

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

20. By contrast/in comparison

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

21. Then again

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

22. That said

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

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

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

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

24. Despite this

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

25. With this in mind

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

26. Provided that

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

27. In view of/in light of

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

28. Nonetheless

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

29. Nevertheless

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

30. Notwithstanding

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

Giving examples

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

31. For instance

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

32. To give an illustration

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

Signifying importance

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

33. Significantly

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

34. Notably

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

35. Importantly

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

Summarising

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

36. In conclusion

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

37. Above all

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

38. Persuasive

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

39. Compelling

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

40. All things considered

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

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

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

Comments are closed.

Improve your English. Speak with confidence!

• Free Mini Course

• Posted in in Writing

30 Advanced Essay Words to Improve Your Grades

• Posted by by Cameron Smith
• 12 months ago
• Updated 2 months ago

In this guide, you’ll find 30 advanced essay words to use in academic writing. Advanced English words are great for making academic writing more impressive and persuasive, which has the potential to wow teachers and professors, and even improve your grades.

30 Advanced Essay Words

• Definition: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
• Example: The smartphone has become ubiquitous in modern society.
• Replaces: Common, widespread, prevalent.
• Definition: Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
• Example: Her eloquent speech captivated the audience.
• Replaces: Well-spoken, articulate.
• Definition: To make less severe, serious, or painful.
• Example: Planting more trees can help mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Replaces: Alleviate, lessen, reduce.
• Definition: In contrast or opposite to what was previously mentioned.
• Example: Some believe in climate change; conversely, others deny its existence.
• Replaces: On the other hand, in opposition.
• Definition: Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so.
• Example: His ostensible reason for the delay was a traffic jam.
• Replaces: Apparent, seeming, supposed.
• Definition: A countless or extremely great number.
• Example: The internet offers a myriad of resources for research.
• Replaces: Countless, numerous.
• Definition: Exceeding what is necessary or required.
• Example: His lengthy introduction was filled with superfluous details.
• Replaces: Excessive, redundant.
• Definition: To cause something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly.
• Example: The economic crisis precipitated widespread unemployment.
• Replaces: Trigger, prompt.
• Definition: Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
• Example: The beauty of the sunset over the ocean was ineffable.
• Replaces: Indescribable, inexpressible.
• Definition: Having knowledge or awareness of something.
• Example: She was cognizant of the risks involved in the project.
• Replaces: Aware, conscious.
• Definition: Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
• Example: Please provide only pertinent information in your report.
• Replaces: Relevant, related.
• Definition: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
• Example: The researcher conducted a meticulous analysis of the data.
• Replaces: Thorough, careful.
• Definition: Capable of producing the desired result or effect.
• Example: The medication has proved to be efficacious in treating the disease.
• Replaces: Effective, successful.
• Definition: Mentioned earlier in the text or conversation.
• Example: The aforementioned study provides valuable insights.
• Replaces: Previously mentioned, previously discussed.
• Definition: To make a problem, situation, or condition worse.
• Example: His criticism only served to exacerbate the conflict.
• Replaces: Worsen, intensify.
• Definition: The state or capacity of being everywhere, especially at the same time.
• Example: The ubiquity of social media has changed how we communicate.
• Replaces: Omnipresence, pervasiveness.
• Definition: In every case or on every occasion; always.
• Example: The professor’s lectures are invariably informative.
• Replaces: Always, consistently.
• Definition: To be a perfect example or representation of something.
• Example: The city’s skyline epitomizes modern architecture.
• Replaces: Symbolize, represent.
• Definition: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
• Example: The cacophony of car horns during rush hour was deafening.
• Replaces: Discord, noise.
• Definition: A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage.
• Example: He surrounded himself with sycophants who praised his every move.
• Replaces: Flatterer, yes-man.
• Definition: To render unclear, obscure, or unintelligible.
• Example: The politician attempted to obfuscate the details of the scandal.
• Replaces: Confuse, obscure.
• Definition: Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
• Example: Her sagacious advice guided the team to success.
• Replaces: Wise, insightful.
• Definition: Not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.
• Example: His repeated explanations were redundant and added no value.
• Replaces: Unnecessary, surplus.
• Definition: Unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something.
• Example: The intransigent negotiators couldn’t reach a compromise.
• Replaces: Unyielding, stubborn.
• Definition: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.
• Example: The mansion’s ostentatious decorations were overwhelming.
• Replaces: Showy, extravagant.
• Definition: A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition.
• Example: She had a proclivity for taking risks in her business ventures.
• Replaces: Tendency, inclination.
• Definition: Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.
• Example: The artist’s enigmatic paintings left viewers puzzled.
• Replaces: Mysterious, cryptic.
• Definition: Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
• Example: The pernicious influence of gossip can damage reputations.
• Replaces: Harmful, destructive.
• Definition: Shining with great brightness.
• Example: The bride looked resplendent in her wedding gown.
• Replaces: Radiant, splendid.
• Definition: Optimistic, especially in a difficult or challenging situation.
• Example: Despite the setbacks, he remained sanguine.
• Replaces: Optimistic, hopeful.

Using these advanced words in your essays can elevate your writing, making it more precise, engaging, and impactful.

As you work on your essays, consider the nuanced meanings and applications of these advanced words, and use them judiciously to enhance the quality of your academic writing.

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith is an English Communication Coach based in Vancouver, Canada. He's the founder of Learn English Every Day, and he's on a mission to help millions of people speak English with confidence. If you want longer video content, please follow me on YouTube for fun English lessons and helpful learning resources!

Post navigation

• Posted in in ESL Conversation Questions

170 Small Talk Questions to Start a Conversation with Anyone

• September 12, 2023

• Posted in in Business English

60 Essential Business Idioms: Sound Fluent at Work!

• October 14, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Critique Report
• Writing Reports
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Words to Use in an Essay: 300 Essay Words

By Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

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

It’s not easy to write an academic essay .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To use the words of X

According to X

As X states

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

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

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

In this essay, I will…

The purpose of this essay…

This essay discusses…

In this paper, I put forward the claim that…

There are three main arguments for…

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

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

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

First and foremost

First of all

To begin with

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

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

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

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

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

Transition Words and Phrases

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

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

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

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

Additionally

In addition

Furthermore

Another key thing to remember

In the same way

Correspondingly

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

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

In other words

To put it another way

That is to say

To put it more simply

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

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

For instance

To give an illustration of

To exemplify

To demonstrate

As evidence

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

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

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

As a result

Accordingly

As you can see

This suggests that

It follows that

It can be seen that

For this reason

For all of those reasons

Consequently

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

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

What’s more

Not only…but also

Not to mention

To say nothing of

Another key point

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

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

On the one hand / on the other hand

Alternatively

In contrast to

On the contrary

By contrast

In comparison

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

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

Having said that

Differing from

In spite of

With this in mind

Provided that

Nevertheless

Nonetheless

Notwithstanding

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

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

Strong Verbs for Academic Writing

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

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

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

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

Verbs that show change:

Accommodate

Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:

Verbs that show increase:

Verbs that show decrease:

Deteriorate

Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:

Comprises of

Is composed of

Constitutes

Encompasses

Incorporates

Verbs that show a negative stance:

Misconstrue

Verbs that show a positive stance:

Substantiate

Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:

Corroborate

Demonstrate

Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:

Contemplate

Hypothesize

Investigate

Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:

Useful Adjectives and Adverbs for Academic Essays

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

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

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

Significant

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

Controversial

Insignificant

Questionable

Unnecessary

Unrealistic

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

Comprehensively

Exhaustively

Extensively

Respectively

Surprisingly

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

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

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

In conclusion

To summarize

In a nutshell

Given the above

As described

All things considered

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

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

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

Unquestionably

Undoubtedly

Particularly

Importantly

Conclusively

It should be noted

On the whole

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

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

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

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

So how do you improve your vocabulary skills?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good writing = better grades

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

Hannah Yang

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

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via:

100 Words and Phrases to use in an Essay

Thomas Babb

Writing a compelling essay involves much more than simply putting your thoughts on paper. It demands the use of a precise vocabulary that not only enriches your content but also structures it in a way that is both logical and engaging. The right words and phrases can transform your essay from a basic assignment to an insightful and persuasive piece of writing.

This guide introduces you to 100 essential words and phrases recommended by expert English tutors that will help you convey your ideas more effectively. From adding information to expressing contrasts, and from illustrating examples to summarising your points, these carefully selected terms will enhance the clarity and impact of your essays.

Adding Information

When crafting an essay, integrating additional details effectively can enrich the written content and present a well-rounded argument. Here's how you can use each phrase under this category:

1. Furthermore - Use this to add weight to a point already mentioned, providing further evidence without redundancy.

2. Moreover - Similar to "furthermore," it introduces information that not only adds to the argument but enhances it.

3. Similarly - This indicates that the upcoming point shares notable characteristics with the previous one, aiding in drawing parallels.

4. Additionally - Introduces extra information or arguments that augment the current discussion.

5. Also - A simpler form of "additionally" that integrates extra facts smoothly.

6. Likewise - Indicates similarity and supports points by showing how they relate to each other in terms of qualities or actions.

7. In addition - This phrase is useful for contributing additional supportive details in a clear manner.

8. As well as - Functions to include another subject or item into your discussion without diverging from the main topic.

9. Not only... but also - A powerful structure for emphasizing not just one, but two important points, enhancing the depth of the argument.

10. Alongside - Implies that the information being added runs parallel to the already established facts, reinforcing them.

These phrases, when used correctly, help to build a strong, cohesive narrative flow in your essays, guiding the reader through a logical progression of ideas. For more on enhancing your writing with effective information addition, explore resources like Oxford Royale's Essay Writing Tips .

Introducing Examples

Introducing concrete examples is crucial in illustrating and supporting your claims effectively in an essay. Here’s how to use each word or phrase linked to this category:

11. For instance - Introduces a specific example that illuminates a broader point, helping to clarify complex ideas.

12. For example - Functions similarly to "for instance," offering a direct illustration to support or demonstrate a claim.

13. Such as - Prepares the reader for an example that is part of a larger category, typically used to list items or concepts.

14. Like - Introduces comparisons or examples in a casual and relatable manner.

15. Particularly - Highlights an example that is especially relevant to the argument, focusing attention on significant details.

16. In particular - Similar to "particularly," but often used to introduce a standout example that underscores a critical point.

17. Including - Serves to add examples to a list that may already be understood to be part of the topic being discussed.

18. Namely - Specifies and introduces exact and often multiple examples or details directly related to the point.

19. Chiefly - Points to the most important or significant examples or reasons in support of an argument.

20. Mainly - Indicates that the examples provided are the primary ones to consider, focusing on the most relevant instances.

Effective use of these phrases not only clarifies your points but also strengthens your arguments by making abstract concepts tangible. For detailed guidance on how to incorporate examples effectively in your essays, refer to academic resources like Harvard College Writing Center .

Demonstrating Contrast

IB English tutors suggest that Using contrast effectively in your essays can highlight differences that clarify your points or show alternative perspectives. Here’s how to use each phrase to demonstrate contrast:

21. Conversely - Signals a stark contrast to what has just been discussed, often introducing an opposing viewpoint.

22. However - A versatile tool to introduce a contradiction or counterpoint, breaking from the previous line of reasoning.

23. Nevertheless - Indicates persistence of a stated fact or opinion despite the contrasting information that follows.

24. On the other hand - Used to present a different perspective or an alternative to the argument previously mentioned.

25. Although - Begins a sentence where the main clause contrasts with the lesser significant, conditional clause.

26. Even though - Similar to "although," but often emphasizes a stronger degree of contrast between the conflicting elements.

27. But - A simple and direct way to introduce a contradiction to the preceding statement.

28. Yet - Suggests a contrast that is surprising or unexpected based on the previous statements.

29. Instead - Introduces an alternative action or thought in response to what has been previously discussed.

30. Rather - Used to correct or propose a different idea from what was initially stated or understood.

These phrases are essential for essays where comparing and contrasting ideas, arguments, or perspectives is necessary to deepen understanding or enhance the argument’s complexity. To learn more about using contrast in writing, visit educational resources such as Purdue Online Writing Lab .

Showing Cause and Effect

A-Level English tutors point out that effectively indicating cause and effect relationships in your essays helps clarify the reasons things happen and the consequences that follow. Here’s how to use each word or phrase to illustrate these relationships:

31. Consequently - Signals a direct result from the action or situation mentioned, highlighting the effect or outcome.

32. Therefore - Used to introduce a logical conclusion or result that follows from the reasoning presented earlier.

33. Thus - Indicates a conclusion or result that is a natural consequence of the facts previously mentioned.

34. Hence - Similar to "thus," it conveys a consequence that is a logical extension from the argument or data presented.

35. Accordingly - Shows that an action or decision is a logical response to the circumstances or facts discussed.

36. As a result - Directly points out the outcome or effect resulting from a specific cause or set of conditions.

37. This leads to - Introduces a sequence where one event or fact causes another, often used to chain multiple effects.

38. It follows that - Used when deducing a conclusion that logically arises from the preceding argument or evidence.

39. Leading to - Connects an initial action or decision directly with its consequences, highlighting a progression of events.

40. Contributing to - Indicates that the action or event adds to a situation, leading to a particular result or effect.

Mastering the use of these phrases can enhance the persuasive power of your writing by clearly linking actions and their consequences.

Adding Emphasis

Effectively emphasising key points in your essays can make your arguments more compelling and memorable. Here’s how to appropriately use each word or phrase to add emphasis:

41. Significantly - Indicates that something is of great importance or consequence, drawing the reader's attention to the gravity of the point being made.

42. Importantly - Prioritises the following information as crucial for understanding the argument or situation.

43. Indeed - Reinforces the truth of a statement, often used to confirm and agree with a previously mentioned point that might be surprising or emphatic.

44. Absolutely - A strong affirmation that leaves no doubt about the veracity or importance of the statement.

45. Definitely - Communicates certainty about a fact or opinion, strengthening the author's stance.

46. Certainly - Similar to "definitely," it expresses a high degree of assurance about the information being provided.

47. Undoubtedly - Suggests that there is no doubt about the statement, reinforcing its truth and relevance.

48. Without a doubt - A more emphatic form of "undoubtedly," eliminating any ambiguity about the point’s validity.

49. Particularly - Highlights specific information as especially significant within a broader context.

50. Especially - Used to indicate that something holds more significance than other elements, often emphasizing exceptional cases or instances.

Using these expressions strategically can enhance the persuasive impact of your writing by underscoring the most critical elements of your argument. To see more words and further explore techniques for adding emphasis in academic writing, visit resources like Cambridge Dictionary Blog .

Explaining and Clarifying

In academic essays, clearly explaining and clarifying complex ideas is essential for effective communication. IGCSE tutors and GCSE tutors suggest that each of these phrases can be used to enhance understanding:

51. That is to say - Used to introduce a rephrasing or elaboration on something that has just been stated.

52. In other words - Helps clarify a statement by expressing it in different terms for better understanding.

53. To put it another way - Similar to "in other words," it offers an alternative explanation or perspective to ensure clarity.

54. To clarify - Directly states the intent to make something clearer or to resolve any misunderstandings.

55. To explain - Introduces a detailed explanation aimed at enhancing understanding of a complex issue or point.

56. This means that - Connects a statement or idea to its implications or necessary interpretations.

57. This implies - Suggests a deeper, often unspoken consequence or meaning behind the given information.

58. Put simply - Introduces a simpler or more straightforward version of what has been discussed, making it more accessible.

59. In simpler terms - Another phrase to ease comprehension by breaking down complex concepts into basic language.

60. Thus - Concludes an explanation by summarizing the logical result or conclusion derived from the argument made.

Using these phrases effectively can help articulate intricate arguments in a more digestible format, aiding the reader’s understanding and engagement.

Summarising and Concluding

Expert IB tutors and A-Level tutors recommend that effectively summarising and concluding your essays is crucial for reinforcing your main points and providing a satisfying closure to any persuasive essay. Here’s how to use each word or phrase to effectively wrap up your discussions:

61. In conclusion - Signals the beginning of the final summary, clearly stating that the argument is drawing to a close.

62. To sum up - Introduces a concise summary of the key points discussed, often used before the final conclusion.

63. Ultimately - Indicates a final, overarching conclusion derived from the arguments and evidence presented.

64. Finally - Marks the introduction of the last point or an additional important point that concludes the discussion.

65. Lastly - Similar to "finally," it is used to introduce the final argument or point in the list.

66. To conclude - Directly states the intent to wrap up the essay, leading into a summary of the main findings.

67. In summary - Offers a recap of the essential elements discussed, reinforcing the thesis without introducing new information.

68. All things considered - Provides an overall conclusion, taking into account all the points made throughout the essay.

69. In the final analysis - Suggests a thorough consideration of all aspects discussed, leading to a concluding viewpoint.

70. After all - Implies that the conclusion takes into account all arguments and evidences previously presented.

Mastering the use of these concluding phrases ensures that your essay ends on a strong note, summarising key points and reinforcing your argument.

Discussing Similarities

Highlighting similarities effectively can enhance your argument by showing connections and parallels between ideas or topics. Here’s how to use each phrase to discuss similarities in your essays:

71. Similarly - Indicates that what follows is in alignment with the previous statement, reinforcing the connection between two points.

72. Likewise - Also used to show agreement or similarity, it confirms that the upcoming point supports the previous one in terms of characteristics or outcomes.

73. Just as - Introduces a comparison, suggesting that the situation or argument is equivalent to another.

74. As with - Used before mentioning another example, indicating that it shares properties or conditions with what has been discussed.

75. Equally - Implies that two or more elements are on the same level in terms of importance, quality, or characteristics.

76. Analogous to - Introduces a more formal comparison, indicating that one situation is comparable to another, often used in more scientific or technical discussions.

77. Comparable to - Suggests that two things can be likened to each other, providing a basis for comparison.

78. In the same way - Confirms that the action, process, or idea mirrors another, reinforcing the similarity.

79. Just like - A more casual phrase used to draw a direct comparison, making the similarity clear and understandable.

80. Similarly important - Asserts that the importance or relevance of two or more aspects is equal, emphasising their comparative significance.

Utilising these phrases allows you to effectively link concepts and arguments, showing how they complement or mirror each other, which can strengthen your overall thesis. For further reading on comparing and contrasting ideas effectively, the University of North Carolina Writing Center offers excellent resources.

Providing Alternatives

Offering alternatives in your essays can demonstrate critical thinking by showing different possibilities or approaches. Here’s how to use each word or phrase to introduce alternative ideas:

81. Alternatively - Introduces a different option or suggestion, providing another route or perspective.

82. On the contrary - Used to present a direct opposition to the previously mentioned idea, emphasising a contrasting point.

83. Rather - Suggests a preference for one choice over another, typically used to propose a different approach or opinion.

84. Conversely - Indicates a reversal of what has been previously stated, introducing an opposing viewpoint.

85. Instead - Specifies a substitute or replacement, clearly stating that one option is to be considered in place of another.

86. On the flip side - Introduces a contrasting scenario or viewpoint in a more informal manner, often used in conversational or less formal writing.

87. Rather than - Presents a comparison between two choices, highlighting a preference for one over the other.

88. As an alternative - Explicitly states the introduction of a different option or method, providing variety to the discussion.

89. Either...or - Sets up a choice between two distinct options, forcing a decision that impacts the argument’s direction.

90. Neither...nor - Used to deny two possibilities simultaneously, often restructuring the argument by excluding common options.

Incorporating these phrases allows you to explore and present multiple facets of an issue, enriching the essay’s depth and persuasiveness. For tips on effectively presenting alternative arguments, visit Harvard College Writing Center .

Expressing Conditions

Effectively expressing conditions in your essays can help outline scenarios where certain outcomes or arguments hold true. Here’s how to use each word or phrase to specify conditions:

91. If - Introduces a conditional statement, setting up a scenario where a specific result depends on a preceding condition.

92. Unless - Specifies an exception to a general rule or statement, indicating that a condition will change the outcome if not met.

93. Provided that - Sets a stipulation or requirement for a scenario to occur, emphasizing that certain conditions must be satisfied.

94. Assuming that - Suggests a hypothesis or a precondition that needs to be accepted before proceeding with an argument or conclusion.

95. In case - Prepares for a situation that might occur, setting up precautions or actions based on potential scenarios.

96. Even if - Acknowledges that even under certain circumstances, the primary argument or conclusion still holds.

97. Only if - Restricts the conditions under which a statement or outcome is valid, narrowing down the scenarios to very specific ones.

98. Whether - Presents alternatives, usually offering a choice between possibilities within the condition stated.

99. As long as - Indicates that a condition is contingent upon the duration or continuation of a specified situation.

100. Given that - Introduces a premise as a fact, assuming its truth for the sake of argument or to advance the discussion.

Final Thoughts

In crafting compelling essays, the strategic use of specific words and phrases can significantly enhance both the clarity and persuasiveness of your writing. By mastering the use of these 100 essential terms, students can effectively structure their essays, convey complex ideas, and articulate contrasts and comparisons with precision. Each category of phrases serves a unique purpose, from adding information to providing alternatives, which empowers writers to construct well-rounded arguments and engage their readers more deeply.

As you continue to refine your essay-writing skills, remember that the power of your arguments often lies in the details—the precise words and phrases you choose to express your thoughts. The power of a well crafted essay introduction and precise essay conclusion should also not be overlooked. By integrating these tools into your writing repertoire, you are better equipped to present clear, persuasive, and engaging essays that stand out in academic settings.

How can I improve my essay planning process?

Effective essay planning begins with a clear understanding of the essay question. Break down the question to identify key terms and the required response. Create an outline to organise your main points and supporting arguments logically. Consider using a mind map to visually plot connections between ideas, which can spur creative thinking. Allocate time for research, writing, and revision within your plan. Practising essay plans for different questions can enhance your ability to organise thoughts quickly and efficiently, a crucial skill especially under exam conditions.

What makes an essay introduction effective?

An effective introduction grabs the reader's attention, sets the tone, and provides a clear thesis statement. Start with a hook such as a provocative question, a startling statistic, or a compelling quote. Provide some background information to set the context, ensuring it's directly relevant to the essay's question. The thesis statement should be concise and outline your main argument or response to the question. This setup not only intrigues but also informs the reader about the essay's focus, establishing your understanding and control of the subject.

How do I choose the best evidence for my essay?

The best evidence is relevant, credible, and supports your thesis directly. Use primary sources where possible as they provide first-hand accounts that you can analyse directly. When primary sources are not available, rely on peer-reviewed journals and reputable publications. Diversify your sources to avoid over-reliance on a single type of evidence, and critically evaluate sources for bias and reliability. Properly integrating this evidence into your argument involves summarising, paraphrasing, and quoting sources while always linking back to your main argument.

How can I make my essay arguments more persuasive?

To make your arguments more persuasive, begin with a clear, assertive thesis statement. Structure your essay so each paragraph introduces a single point supporting your thesis. Use credible evidence and explain how this supports your argument. Address potential counterarguments to show the depth of your understanding and strengthen your position by demonstrating why your approach is preferable. Employing a confident but respectful tone and precise language also enhances the persuasiveness of your essay.

What are common pitfalls in essay writing to avoid?

Common pitfalls in essay writing include poor structure, weak thesis statements, and lack of coherence. Avoiding these starts with a robust plan and clear outline. Stay on topic by linking each paragraph back to your thesis statement. Avoid plagiarism by properly citing all sources. Overly complex sentence structures can confuse readers, so strive for clarity and conciseness. Finally, neglecting proofreading can leave typographical and grammatical errors, which diminish the quality of your work, so always review your essay thoroughly.

How do I manage time when writing an essay under exam conditions?

Time management in exams is crucial. Allocate about 10% of your time for planning, 80% for writing, and 10% for revising. Quickly outline your main points to structure your essay from the start. Write your body paragraphs first, as these contain the bulk of marks, then your introduction and conclusion. Keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself to ensure you have enough time to adequately develop your arguments and conclude effectively.

What are the best practices for editing and proofreading essays?

After writing your essay, take a break before you start editing to give you a fresh perspective. Read your essay aloud to catch awkward phrasing and sentences that don't flow logically. Check for consistency in tense and point of view throughout the essay. Use spell-check tools, but do not rely on them solely—manually check for homophones and commonly confused words. Consider having someone else read your work to catch errors you might have overlooked and to provide feedback on the clarity of your arguments.

How can I develop a strong thesis statement?

A strong thesis statement is clear, concise, and specific. It should express one main idea that is debatable, meaning there is potential for argument. Reflect on the essay prompt and decide on your position regarding the topic. Your thesis should guide the reader through your arguments and indicate the rationale behind your viewpoint. It serves as the backbone of your essay, so ensure it is robust and directly linked to the question asked.

How do I handle counterarguments in my essays?

Handling counterarguments effectively involves acknowledging them and then refuting them with stronger evidence or reasoning. Present them fairly and objectively, then use logical, fact-based arguments to demonstrate why your position remains valid. This not only shows critical thinking but also strengthens your original argument by showing you have considered multiple perspectives.

What is the role of a conclusion in an essay?

The conclusion of an essay should effectively summarise the main arguments discussed while reaffirming the thesis statement. It should synthesise the information presented rather than introducing new ideas. Provide a final perspective on the topic or suggest implications, further research or practical applications to leave the reader with something to ponder. A strong conclusion can reinforce your argument and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

How can I ensure my essay flows logically?

To ensure logical flow, each paragraph should seamlessly connect to the next with clear transitions. Focus on structuring paragraphs around one main idea that supports your thesis. Use transitional words and phrases to show the relationship between paragraphs. Consistency in your argumentation style and maintaining a clear focus throughout the essay will help keep your writing coherent.

What techniques help maintain reader interest throughout an essay?

To maintain reader interest, start with a strong hook in your introduction and use engaging content like relevant anecdotes, striking statistics, or interesting quotes throughout your essay. Vary your sentence structure and use active voice to keep the narrative dynamic. Also, ensure your topic is relevant and your arguments are presented with passion and clarity.

How can I integrate quotes effectively in essays?

To integrate quotes effectively, introduce the quote with a sentence that sets up its relevance to your argument, then follow the quote with analysis or interpretation that ties it back to your main point. Do not rely heavily on quotes to make your points; use them to support your arguments. Ensure that every quote is properly cited according to the required academic style guide.

What are the differences between descriptive and argumentative essays?

Descriptive essays focus on detailing a particular subject to give the reader a clear image or understanding of the topic through vivid language and sensory details. In contrast, argumentative essays aim to persuade the reader of a particular viewpoint or position using evidence and reasoning. The former is more about painting a picture, while the latter is about convincing through argument.

How can I use feedback to improve my essay writing skills?

Feedback is invaluable for improving essay writing skills. Actively seek out feedback from teachers, peers, or tutors and focus particularly on recurring themes in their comments. Reflect on this feedback critically and apply it to your future essays. Regularly revisiting and revising your work based on constructive criticism allows you to develop a more refined and effective writing style over time.

Need help from an expert?

4.93 /5 based on 486 reviews

The world’s top online tutoring provider trusted by students, parents, and schools globally.

Study and Practice for Free

Trusted by 100,000+ Students Worldwide

Achieve Top Grades in your Exams with our Free Resources.

Practice Questions, Study Notes, and Past Exam Papers for all Subjects!

Need Extra Help?

Stuck on your analytical essay? Connect with our English tutors for expert assistance in crafting a compelling analysis!

Professional tutor and Cambridge University researcher

Written by: Thomas Babb

Thomas is a PhD candidate at Oxford University. He served as an interviewer and the lead admissions test marker at Oxford, and teaches undergraduate students at Mansfield College and St Hilda’s College. He has ten years’ experience tutoring A-Level and GCSE students across a range of subjects.

Related Posts

How to Write a Narrative Essay

How to Write an Argumentative Essay

How to Write a Persuasive Essay

Hire a tutor

Please fill out the form and we'll find a tutor for you

• Select your country
• Afghanistan
• Åland Islands
• American Samoa
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bouvet Island
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Brunei Darussalam
• Burkina Faso
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
• Cook Islands
• Cote D'Ivoire
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
• Faroe Islands
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• French Southern Territories
• Guinea-Bissau
• Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands
• Holy See (Vatican City State)
• Iran, Islamic Republic Of
• Isle of Man
• Korea, Democratic People'S Republic of
• Korea, Republic of
• Lao People'S Democratic Republic
• Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Liechtenstein
• Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia, Federated States of
• Moldova, Republic of
• Netherlands
• Netherlands Antilles
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Palestinian Territory, Occupied
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Russian Federation
• Saint Helena
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia and Montenegro
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Svalbard and Jan Mayen
• Switzerland
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Taiwan, Province of China
• Tanzania, United Republic of
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• United States Minor Outlying Islands
• Virgin Islands, British
• Virgin Islands, U.S.
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara

Alternatively contact us via WhatsApp, Phone Call, or Email

Tower Language

Foreign Language Lessons, In-Company Classes, Translation

60 Useful Words and Phrases for Outstanding Essay Writing

General explaining.

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

1. In order to

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

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

2. In other words

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

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

3. To put it another way

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

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

4. That is to say

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

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

5. To that end

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

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

Adding additional information to support a point

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!

Additional Information ( more examples)

+20 examples of important transition words, additional information.

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

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

Compare and Contrast

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

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

Clarification

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

Consequence and Conclusion

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

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

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.

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)

You May Also Like

5 Best Free Punctuation & Grammar Checker Tools

Bitcoin Breaks Language Barriers:Digital Currency and Online Language Learning

50+ Confusing Words in English (PDF)

• +44 (0) 207 391 9032

Recent Posts

• Why Is Your CV Getting Rejected and How to Avoid It
• Where to Find Images for Presentations
• What Is an Internship? Everything You Should Know

How Long Should a Thesis Statement Be?

• How to Write a Character Analysis Essay
• Best Colours for Your PowerPoint Presentation: Top Colour Combinations
• How to Write a Nursing Essay – With Examples
• Top 5 Essential Skills You Should Build As An International Student
• How Professional Editing Services Can Take Your Writing to the Next Level
• How to Write an Effective Essay Outline: Template & Structure Guide
• Academic News
• Custom Essays
• Dissertation Writing
• Essay Marking
• Essay Writing
• Essay Writing Companies
• Model Essays
• Model Exam Answers
• Oxbridge Essays Updates
• PhD Writing
• Significant Academics
• Student News
• Study Skills
• University Applications
• University Essays
• University Life
• Writing Tips

17 academic words and phrases to use in your essay

(Last updated: 20 October 2022)

Since 2006, Oxbridge Essays has been the UK’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

For the vast majority of students, essay writing doesn't always come easily. Writing at academic level is an acquired skill that can literally take years to master – indeed, many students find they only start to feel really confident writing essays just as their undergraduate course comes to an end!

If this is you, and you've come here looking for words and phrases to use in your essay, you're in the right place. We’ve pulled together a list of essential academic words you can use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essays .

Whilst your ideas and arguments should always be your own, borrowing some of the words and phrases listed below is a great way to articulate your ideas more effectively, and ensure that you keep your reader’s attention from start to finish.

It goes without saying (but we'll say it anyway) that there's a certain formality that comes with academic writing. Casual and conversational phrases have no place. Obviously, there are no LOLs, LMFAOs, and OMGs. But formal academic writing can be much more subtle than this, and as we've mentioned above, requires great skill.

So, to get you started on polishing your own essay writing ability, try using the words in this list as an inspirational starting point.

Words to use in your introduction

The trickiest part of academic writing often comes right at the start, with your introduction. Of course, once you’ve done your plan and have your arguments laid out, you need to actually put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and begin your essay.

You need to consider that your reader doesn’t have a clue about your topic or arguments, so your first sentence must summarise these. Explain what your essay is going to talk about as though you were explaining it to a five year old – without losing the formality of your academic writing, of course! To do this, use any of the below words or phrases to help keep you on track.

1. Firstly, secondly, thirdly

Even though it sounds obvious, your argument will be clearer if you deliver the ideas in the right order. These words can help you to offer clarity and structure to the way you expose your ideas. This is an extremely effective method of presenting the facts clearly. Don’t be too rigid and feel you have to number each point, but using this system can be a good way to get an argument off the ground, and link arguments together.

2. In view of; in light of; considering

These essay phrases are useful to begin your essay. They help you pose your argument based on what other authors have said or a general concern about your research. They can also both be used when a piece of evidence sheds new light on an argument. Here’s an example: The result of the American invasion has severely impaired American interests in the Middle East, exponentially increasing popular hostility to the United States throughout the region, a factor which has proved to be a powerful recruitment tool for extremist terrorist groups (Isakhan, 2015). Considering [or In light of / In view of] the perceived resulting threat to American interests, it could be argued that the Bush administration failed to fully consider the impact of their actions before pushing forward with the war.

3. According to X; X stated that; referring to the views of X

Introducing the views of an author who has a comprehensive knowledge of your particular area of study is a crucial part of essay writing. Including a quote that fits naturally into your work can be a bit of a struggle, but these academic phrases provide a great way in.

Even though it’s fine to reference a quote in your introduction, we don’t recommend you start your essay with a direct quote. Use your own words to sum up the views you’re mentioning, for example:

As Einstein often reiterated, experiments can prove theories, but experiments don’t give birth to theories.

Rather than:

“A theory can be proved by experiment, but no path leads from experiment to the birth of a theory.” {Albert Einstein, 1954, Einstein: A Biography}.

See the difference?

And be sure to reference correctly too, when using quotes or paraphrasing someone else's words.

Adding information and flow

The flow of your essay is extremely important. You don’t want your reader to be confused by the rhythm of your writing and get distracted away from your argument, do you? No! So, we recommend using some of the following ‘flow’ words, which are guaranteed to help you articulate your ideas and arguments in a chronological and structured order.

4. Moreover; furthermore; in addition; what’s more

These types of academic phrases are perfect for expanding or adding to a point you’ve already made without interrupting the flow altogether. “Moreover”, “furthermore” and “in addition” are also great linking phrases to begin a new paragraph.

Here are some examples: The dissociation of tau protein from microtubules destabilises the latter resulting in changes to cell structure, and neuronal transport. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction leads to further oxidative stress causing increased levels of nitrous oxide, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidases.

On the data of this trial, no treatment recommendations should be made. The patients are suspected, but not confirmed, to suffer from pneumonia. Furthermore, five days is too short a follow up time to confirm clinical cure.

5. In order to; to that end; to this end

These are helpful academic phrases to introduce an explanation or state your aim. Oftentimes your essay will have to prove how you intend to achieve your goals. By using these sentences you can easily expand on points that will add clarity to the reader.

For example: My research entailed hours of listening and recording the sound of whales in order to understand how they communicate.

Dutch tech companies offer support in the fight against the virus. To this end, an online meeting took place on Wednesday...

Even though we recommend the use of these phrases, DO NOT use them too often. You may think you sound like a real academic but it can be a sign of overwriting!

6. In other words; to put it another way; that is; to put it more simply

Complement complex ideas with simple descriptions by using these sentences. These are excellent academic phrases to improve the continuity of your essay writing. They should be used to explain a point you’ve already made in a slightly different way. Don’t use them to repeat yourself, but rather to elaborate on a certain point that needs further explanation. Or, to succinctly round up what just came before.

For example: A null hypothesis is a statement that there is no relationship between phenomena. In other words, there is no treatment effect.

Nothing could come to be in this pre-world time, “because no part of such a time possesses, as compared with any other, a distinguishing condition of existence rather than non-existence.” That is, nothing exists in this pre-world time, and so there can be nothing that causes the world to come into existence.

7. Similarly; likewise; another key fact to remember; as well as; an equally significant aspect of

These essay words are a good choice to add a piece of information that agrees with an argument or fact you just mentioned. In academic writing, it is very relevant to include points of view that concur with your opinion. This will help you to situate your research within a research context.

Also , academic words and phrases like the above are also especially useful so as not to repeat the word ‘also’ too many times. (We did that on purpose to prove our point!) Your reader will be put off by the repetitive use of simple conjunctions. The quality of your essay will drastically improve just by using academic phrases and words such as ‘similarly’, ‘as well as’, etc. Here, let us show you what we mean:

In 1996, then-transport minister Steve Norris enthused about quadrupling cycling trips by 2012. Similarly, former prime minister David Cameron promised a “cycling revolution” in 2013…

Or Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) aims to bridge the gap of access to electricity across the continent (...). Another key fact to remember is that it must expand cost-efficient access to electricity to nearly 1 billion people.

The wording “not only… but also” is a useful way to elaborate on a similarity in your arguments but in a more striking way.

Comparing and contrasting information

Academic essays often include opposite opinions or information in order to prove a point. It is important to show all the aspects that are relevant to your research. Include facts and researchers’ views that disagree with a point of your essay to show your knowledge of your particular field of study. Below are a few words and ways of introducing alternative arguments.

8. Conversely; however; alternatively; on the contrary; on the other hand; whereas

Finding a seamless method to present an alternative perspective or theory can be hard work, but these terms and phrases can help you introduce the other side of the argument. Let's look at some examples:

89% of respondents living in joint families reported feeling financially secure. Conversely, only 64% of those who lived in nuclear families said they felt financially secure.

The first protagonist has a social role to fill in being a father to those around him, whereas the second protagonist relies on the security and knowledge offered to him by Chaplin.

“On the other hand” can also be used to make comparisons when worded together with “on the one hand.”

9. By contrast; in comparison; then again; that said; yet

These essay phrases show contrast, compare facts, and present uncertainty regarding a point in your research. “That said” and “yet” in particular will demonstrate your expertise on a topic by showing the conditions or limitations of your research area. For example:

All the tests were positive. That said, we must also consider the fact that some of them had inconclusive results.

10. Despite this; provided that; nonetheless

Use these phrases and essay words to demonstrate a positive aspect of your subject-matter regardless of lack of evidence, logic, coherence, or criticism. Again, this kind of information adds clarity and expertise to your academic writing.

A good example is:

Despite the criticism received by X, the popularity of X remains undiminished.

11. Importantly; significantly; notably; another key point

Another way to add contrast is by highlighting the relevance of a fact or opinion in the context of your research. These academic words help to introduce a sentence or paragraph that contains a very meaningful point in your essay.

Giving examples

A good piece of academic writing will always include examples. Illustrating your essay with examples will make your arguments stronger. Most of the time, examples are a way to clarify an explanation; they usually offer an image that the reader can recognise. The most common way to introduce an illustration is “for example.” However, in order not to repeat yourself here are a few other options.

12. For instance; to give an illustration of; to exemplify; to demonstrate; as evidence; to elucidate

The academic essays that are receiving top marks are the ones that back up every single point made. These academic phrases are a useful way to introduce an example. If you have a lot of examples, avoid repeating the same phrase to facilitate the readability of your essay.

Here’s an example:

‘High involvement shopping’, an experiential process described by Wu et al. (2015, p. 299) relies upon the development of an identity-based alliance between the customer and the brand. Celebrity status at Prada, for example, has created an alliance between the brand and a new generation of millennial customers.

Concluding your essay

Concluding words for essays are necessary to wrap up your argument. Your conclusion must include a brief summary of the ideas that you just exposed without being redundant. The way these ideas are expressed should lead to the final statement and core point you have arrived at in your present research.

13. In conclusion; to conclude; to summarise; in sum; in the final analysis; on close analysis

These are phrases for essays that will introduce your concluding paragraph. You can use them at the beginning of a sentence. They will show the reader that your essay is coming to an end:

On close analysis and appraisal, we see that the study by Cortis lacks essential features of the highest quality quantitative research.

14. Persuasive; compelling

Essay words like these ones can help you emphasize the most relevant arguments of your paper. Both are used in the same way: “the most persuasive/compelling argument is…”.

15. Therefore; this suggests that; it can be seen that; the consequence is

When you’re explaining the significance of the results of a piece of research, these phrases provide the perfect lead up to your explanation.

16. Above all; chiefly; especially; most significantly; it should be noted

Your summary should include the most relevant information or research factor that guided you to your conclusion. Contrary to words such as “persuasive” or “compelling”, these essay words are helpful to draw attention to an important point. For example:

The feasibility and effectiveness of my research has been proven chiefly in the last round of laboratory tests.

Film noir is, and will continue to be, highly debatable, controversial, and unmarketable – but above all, for audience members past, present and to come, extremely enjoyable as a form of screen media entertainment.

17. All things considered

This essay phrase is meant to articulate how you give reasons to your conclusions. It means that after you considered all the aspects related to your study, you have arrived to the conclusion you are demonstrating.

After mastering the use of these academic words and phrases, we guarantee you will see an immediate change in the quality of your essays. The structure will be easier to follow, and the reader’s experience will improve. You’ll also feel more confident articulating your ideas and using facts and examples. So jot them all down, and watch your essays go from ‘good’ to ‘great’!

Essay exams: how to answer ‘To what extent…’

How to write a master’s essay.

• academic writing
• writing a good essay
• writing essays
• writing tips

Writing Services

• Essay Plans
• Critical Reviews
• Literature Reviews
• Presentations
• Dissertation Title Creation
• Dissertation Proposals
• Dissertation Chapters
• PhD Proposals
• Journal Publication
• CV Writing Service
• Business Proofreading Services

Editing Services

• Proofreading Service
• Editing Service
• Academic Editing Service

Additional Services

• Marking Services
• Consultation Calls
• Personal Statements
• Tutoring Services

Our Company

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Become a Writer

Terms & Policies

• Fair Use Policy
• Policy for Students in England
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Editing Service Examples
• [email protected]
• Contact Form

Payment Methods

Cryptocurrency payments.

25 Ways to Improve Your Writing Vocabulary

Building your vocabulary is one of the easiest ways to improve the power of your writing and make any writing task that much easier, as you will have several synonyms in your repertoire to pull from every time. Developing your vocabulary need not be difficult or painful. Here are 25 ways you can improve your writing vocabulary every day.

Use New Words

Use a word immediately after you learn it. Try to make a game out of using a new word as soon as you learn it. Every day, try to slip in a new word into the conversation, a journal entry, an assignment or an email to a friend. Do this as often as possible, and repeat the word to yourself.

Read Every Day

Once you’re out of school, word drills and assigned reading become things of the past. While these were tools for building your vocabulary repertoire while you were young, it doesn’t mean you should abandon reading. Try to read a well-written and edited essay, magazine article, book or news article every day. Nonfiction and technical books will quickly teach you new ways to think and speak with words you may be unfamiliar with, but any type of reading will help you along.

Learn Roots

Learn the roots of words. Most words in the English language are built from a common root, prefix, and suffix, usually with an origin in the Greek or Latin language. Once you learn a root, you’ll begin to understand more words that use the same root. For example, -duc- (Latin root word) means to lead or to make, such as in the words produce or deduce.

Use a Thesaurus

Keep a thesaurus handy. As you write, keep a thesaurus handy and use it when you find yourself using a word too often, or using a word that you know doesn’t quite convey the right meaning. This will help you better express yourself, and you’ll also learn a new word in the process.

Develop Practical Vocabulary

This means you should start by learning words that express what’s important to you for the task at hand. A good example of this is learning trade language or words you use often in a hobby or vocation. Rather than immediately turning to cliches or jargon that’s tossed around, look for clearer words to express to peers what you’re writing about.

Learn New Words Every Day

To improve your vocabulary quickly, make an effort to learn at least one new word every single day. There are plenty of ways to do this, such as a Word of the Day calendar or email list, or simply picking a word from a thesaurus or dictionary.

Look up Words You Don’t Know

How often do you come across words that are unfamiliar as you read? Don’t just gloss over them; take the time to look them up, and if you don’t have the time right then, write them down and look them up later.

Keep a Journal

Journaling won’t just help you develop your writing style, it will also help you improve your vocabulary. Try to use new or interesting words you’ve learned recently into a journal entry for the day or the week.

Identify Empty Words

You’re probably familiar with empty words in your speech (such as “uh” or “um”), but your writing probably has empty words as well. Look for these empty words in your writing that do not offer any substance to your reader and replace them with something more appropriate. The same principle applies to phrases and sentences, so make sure that you haven’t used six or seven phrases to say something that could be better communicated in one sentence filled with carefully-chosen words.

Diversify Your Reading List

If you tend to read the same sort of things day in and day out, you may not be exposing yourself to a wide enough range of vocabulary. Diversify the topics you read to include natural science, Shakespeare, contemporary literature, politics, history, philosophy or any other topics you think you may enjoy.

Do Word Puzzles

Word puzzles in the newspaper or a magazine aren’t just a fun way to fill time, they’re also perfect for boosting your working vocabulary. Crossword puzzles are a challenge that get your brain working hard to search your memory for words you do know but don’t use, and this can help you move words from your memory banks into your working set of vocabulary which will come across in your writing.

Try Word Board Games

There are plenty of word games on the market designed to improve vocabulary and language skills without being a bore. Some of these games you may have played as a child, so it’s time to break them out again and get to “work.” If you have a friend who could also use some help — or someone with a great vocabulary you think will challenge you — invite them over for a game night.

Practice New Words in Divergent Ways

It takes between 10 and 20 repetitions to make a new word a part of your vocabulary. To help the word settle into your mind and memory, write it down (both the definition and a sentence you make up using the word), use it in conversation, include it in an email or any other way you can think of.

Make up Associations

Start by saying the new word aloud, then relate it to a word you already know. A good example of this is gargantuan, which means “very large” or “gigantic.” Say a sequence aloud: small, medium, large, very large, gargantuan. Then list things you think are gargantuan.

Use Mnemonics

Mnemonic techniques are memory tricks you can use to remember new words. You may remember a word by sounding it out and thinking of a funny sentence that matches the meaning, such as turning egregious (extremely bad) into “Don’t let that smelly rotten egg reach us!”

Visualize New Words

Research shows that visualization is a great way to remember new words and their meanings. A good example of this is the word stratovolcano, which is a high, pointed mountain with a violent explosion. One way to remember this meaning is the fact that the prefix “strato” sounds like “straight-oh,” which may make you think of a straight ruler or a “straight-o-volcano,” which describes the word’s definition.

Make Your Own Vocabulary Tests

Keep a list of the new words you learn each week and incorporate into writing and conversation. At the end of each week, make yourself a quiz using the words to cement them in your memory.

Make Synonym Word Lists

Do you find yourself turning to the same word again and again in your writing? Grab a piece of paper and write it at the top. Next, brainstorm or use a thesaurus to generate a list of ten to twenty new words you can use instead. You can keep these lists in a vocabulary notebook and add to them whenever you learn a new synonym.

Take a Writing Course

There are plenty of online courses as well as in-person classes you can attend to boost your writing vocabulary and learn how to use new words correctly. Try to find a self-paced course that uses assignments and quizzes to hep you increase fluency and brush up on your writing skills. Some classes are aimed at essay writing or creative writing, so you can find a class that will help you improve the style you need the most help with.

Edit Your Own Writing

After you finish writing, be your own editor and go though the piece with a fine-toothed comb to identify overused and nondescript words with something more precise or colorful. Editing is an important process for spotting writing errors, but it’s also great for improving the tone, style, and clarity of your writing. It might help to read the sentences aloud, then note any lack of precision. Search through your memory for more descriptive words, or consult a thesaurus if you need to.

As you replace words, remember that using a large number of complex words won’t necessarily clarify the meaning, and it may just make your writing more pompous. Ask yourself, “Do I know a better word to use instead?” You may replace “use” with “acquire” or “obtain,” or “do” with “perform.”

Move Words from Comprehensive to Expressive Vocabulary

You actually have two types of vocabulary: one is a much larger set of words you understand, even if only vaguely, and the other is a smaller set of words you actually use to express yourself. Moving words from your comprehensive, but passive vocabulary, to your active, expressive vocabulary is easier than you think. To do this, you’ll need to know how to define, pronounce and spell the words. Say them out loud and use them at every opportunity to move them into your active set.

Ask for Feedback

Do you think your writing could use some help? If you’re struggling with your written vocabulary, try asking someone else for help. A second set of eyes can offer a great deal of insight and spot problems you may not notice yourself, including poor word choice. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend, teacher, co-worker or someone online to review your writing for feedback on your vocabulary.

Carry a Dictionary and Thesaurus with You

How often do you find yourself with free time and nothing to do? Carry a pocket thesaurus or dictionary with you and you’ll find time to beef up your vocabulary while you’re waiting for an appointment, commuting to work or waiting for a bus. Whenever you have a few minutes to spare, read a page or two and learn a new word to add to your writing. It’s also a great idea to look up obscure words you don’t quite grasp that come to you on the fly as you go about your day. You can also use the dictionary or thesaurus to look up unfamiliar words you come across in your daily life.

Use College Preparation Tests

College prep tests that use SAT and ACT-type words are a great way to take your writing to the next level. This form of advanced study will challenge your mind and give you a new set of words to use that are practical and offer your writing the clarity it needs. You’ll also get the chance to brush up on the most important Latin and Greek roots and get a new set of words with activities to help move them into your active vocabulary set.

There are tons of non-board games that will help you improve your writing vocabulary while you have fun. Try downloading fun word games onto your phone or computer so you can get some practice while you unwind after a busy day. Some games are designed to build vocabulary skills, but there are plenty of others that will help you practice spelling, phonics, and even typing skills. There are even some designed for college students to prepare for testing and vocabulary-rich exams.

Hopefully, this list has given you an excellent place to start to build your vocabulary a bit at a time. If you think about it, there are opportunities all around you to develop this important skill, so spend time every day reading and listening to take in new words and then develop a system to incorporate these new words in your writing and speech. Before long, you’ll find your vocabulary has grown to a new level and your writing has gained the clarity you need with an ease you didn’t think possible.

Author: Jovell Alingod

(Image courtesy of Michael Coghlan )

One of the way to improve your vocabulary is to take up a vocab challenge.

Having a good vocabulary is more than knowing a large number of words. It is ability to choose words with greater precision and at the appropriate time.

Any type the word challenge to increase vocabulary is a great way to do this. I personally like to find five new words in the dictionary each day that I didn’t know the meaning to before them. I don’t always remember them all, but I do remember some and this helps me build my vocabulary.

Knowing when to use a word appropriately is far more important to knowing what a word means. It’s like all the students who study English and know the definition of the words, but can’t speak English. it’s the same thing here.

i agree with you Pratigya

well, I agree with you on that statement because most of the time my friend who is studying literature would use words that do not feel appropriate sometimes or just feel off

Linguistically there are two techniques for improving your lexical strength (vocabulary) :

Active learning and Passive learning

1. Passive learning: New words are acquired subconsciously, while doing some daily life stuff, like reading a newspaper.

Vocabulary is an abstract skill due to reasons like reading habits, family background, schooling, culture etc. The conventional methods are very generic and are made of masses. They do not allow personalised learning to an individual’s current vocabulary.

2. Active learning: Active learning methodology has become a preferred way to change the traditional teacher oriented classroom into the newer student oriented approach to learning. In active learning, acquisition of new words is done with conscious and great efforts.

Usually active vocabulary building is quite rigorous and boring due to its monotonous nature.

Thank you for this informative reply. I have never considered it in this way, but it makes a lot of sense. Active learning has always been tedious for me, but I really enjoy reading books, and this has helped improve my vocabulary greatly compared to my classmates. While I know I should spend more time actively learning new words, I feel a lot better knowing I’m subconsciously learning new ones everytime I pick up a book.

not clear meaning vocabulary

Reading is good “Passive” way of improving vocabulary, but when you are resorting to making lists, that is “Active” method. Problem with active method of learning words is that it is cumbersome and boring, and you doing retain and unless you use it in writing sentences to apply the word, very little chance is that you increase your lexical size.

I think it’s important to do both passive and active vocabulary learning. It’s true that you are going to have to figure out a way to make active learning interesting so that you can continue to do it long term, but there are ways to do that. I love getting up in the morning and looking at my new word for the day calendar in trying to figure out how I will use that new word sometime during the day. If you can find an easy way to incorporate active learning into your daily life, it can be fun.

You can improve your vocabulary by playing this different Wordgame based on the Oxford dictionary.

Hey Nicklas do you have a brother named Markus??

I’ve been trying to find good ways to improve the writing vocabulary of my students. Techniques to improve passive vocabulary are quite well established – SRS, etc. However, the jury is still out on the best strategies to improve active/writing vocabulary.

Have you found any to be effective since you left this comment? I’m looking for some good ways to improve my vocabulary and if you found some good ones, that might save me a lot of time experimenting until I found a good method. Anyone else who has had success improving their vocab is also welcome to chime in. I would love to get some good methods going.

thank you for these pics. I want to write but dont have many words.i will try to write daily and follow your tips to improve my vocabulary

I’d say, just start writing. You’ll start to learn which words you use are repetitive, and find words to replace them. It helps me to keep writing. Just because you don’t have a well defined vocabulary yet, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start writing. You learn by positioning yourself to learn, then the waters of knowledge flows.

“the waters… flows.” Waters is your subject and requires a plural verb. Waters…. flow. “of knowledge” is a prepositional phrase and does not impact the verb.

Water is uncountable and it is a universal fact that ,it flows ,hence, i think it is “water flows”.

Exactly dude

This is so important to good writing. If you aren’t improving your vocabulary on a daily basis then you aren’t improving your writing. Thanks for so great suggestions on how to keep those new words coming!

This is something that many writers neglect to their own detriment. You should always be trying to improve your writing and these are some good ideas on how you can improve your vocabulary. Too many writers forget about this, and it shows in their word choices. Don’t forget to spend time improving your craft!!

I agree with this. It’s important to always be trying to improve whatever craft you have chosen to pursue. If your craft has something to do with words for speaking, improving your vocabulary is something that you should spend time doing. But this isn’t limited to just vocabulary. You should be trying to improve other areas of your craft as well.

Yo Starcraft do you play Minecraft???

I try to learn at least one new word every day to improve my vocabulary. I like to read a lot, and I can usually find a word that I’m not familiar with while reading. I will look up this word so that I understand what it means and then try to use it in conversation during the next week. If I don’t find the word while reading, then I’ll just randomly open up my dictionary to find a word that I wasn’t familiar with before.

I think this is a great habit to get into for anyone who wants to improve their vocabulary. If you do this for a while, you begin to love learning new words, and when you love doing something like this, it’s easy to build your vocabulary each and every day.

I’m curious if anyone actively tries to improve their vocabulary each day. If so, how do you do it? I would like to learn tips and tricks on how to improve my vocabulary each day. I look forward to seeing your comments on how I can do this.

I think it’s different for everybody. What will work for one person, won’t work for the next. Chances are you’ll need to experiment quite a bit with a variety of the different suggestions above in the article to find which works best for you. I know that I learned vocabulary very different than my friend does. She does it by rote learning using flashcards. That would drive me absolutely crazy. I like to learn new vocabulary in a more natural way. But each of those ways works for each of us.

I second that! You’ll have to spend time trying different techniques, and using the ones that work well for you. There is no magical answer! There is magic in the word ‘practice’. Allow yourself time to make mistakes, so you do not quit trying. I think often, we do not allow a little wiggle room. You can do this!

This is a pretty extensive list of ways one can improve their vocabulary. I find the best way to increase my vocabulary is to make the conscious effort to use words that I would not normally use in conversation. It takes some work to do this, but a lot of people say I have the best vocabulary of any person that they know. When you begin to learn a lot of new words, you become more articulate and are able to express yourself in ways you might not have been able to do before. I encourage everyone to give it a try.

Also, It pays to converse with people who can articulate outside of your normal word range. I listen to many people speak words that are outside of my range. You’d be surprised at the information that is stored in your subconscious when its time to pull out “that one word”. Try using it even if it sounds silly, others will help you learn too.

Having a big vocabulary isn’t always good, especially if you use it to try and show off like my friend. What’s the use of using words that most people won’t understand just to make yourself feel smarter than others? It’s much better to use words everyone understands so they actually know what you’re trying to say. Don’t act like a pompous jackass.

That’s not having a large vocabulary — that’s simply being an ass. being able to come up with the specifically correct word for a certain situation is a wonderful thing to be able to do. It’s not for trying to show off, but just to be able to express yourself accurately.

Some of us just think it’s fun!! 🙂

The thing that people forget is that it takes a bit of work to improve your vocabulary. It’s better to find ways that are enjoyable like reading books or a “word a day” email than trying to study them which can be boring. If you make it a game, it will be a lot more fun.

I agree that it’s important to find a way to enjoy learning new vocabulary rather than trying to learn it from the list. This is why he did vocabulary in school. All they would do is give you a list of words that you had to memorize. Why can’t teachers figure out a way to make learning new words more enjoyable than just memorizing lists? It seems like it would be a simple thing to do and then students would enjoy English a lot more.

What’s the very best way to learn vocabulary? There are always these lists of different ways, but nobody ever tells you the very best way. I want to know the best way to learn English vocabulary.

daily read English newspaper and magazines.

I not only became better to write and pass examinations at the university but also to improve my colloquial English. In fact, many people do not know even their own language. I’m writing a dissertation and just now I realized that I needed to increase my vocabulary. Without it, a person can not consider himself competent. To write a thesis is important not only choose an interesting topic, but also competently and clearly put down it on paper. Without it your ideas, your thoughts will not be able to understand people and professor – will not be able to evaluate your work. Thesis – that’s what I need, what I have to do for my future. And so I do not regret my time and effort to find more information about thesis writing. I do not cease to learn and improve my skills for my studies, for my future.

Very well said Nancy!

How do you know if you have a good vocabulary or not? Is there a standard number of words you need to know for others to identify you as having a good vocabulary? I think if there was a number of words everyone knows they needed to know, more people would try to reach that goal. As it is now, it’s difficult to know if I have an adequate vocabulary or not.

I’ve been working on improving my vocabulary for the last two months. I found that it was difficult to begin, but once I started, it became much easier. I try to do most of my vocabulary improvement through a lot of reading, but I do make an effort to look up words that I’m not familiar with while I’m reading instead of just passing them over or trying to guess their meaning.

I also try to use new words each day. For me at least, if I use the word I’m able to retain it much better. I would say over this last two months, I’ve been able to learn between one and five words a day and I’ve added well over 100 new words to my vocabulary.

It’s a great or impressive, certainly you made an effort , But me myself I was trying to polish up my Engish for the last months and I attempted to collect and Memorized some of them, but unlucky because I have not the suitable place which I can display my Vacapularies the people of my country do not speak The English Language , Give me your recommendation .

Vocabulary : start with simple words, like house hold, transportation, communication, vegatables, fruits, trees, animals, weekdays, months, numbers.

All basic vocabulary words. It seems like, you are a beginner, dont let people break you down. We are all human, nobody is better than the next.

Sickness and death, reach us all, rich and poor.

I’ve high respect for you mr english i respect your honesty an willingness to help

Does anyone visualize words to help them improve vocabulary? I started doing this a few months ago and it’s help me improve my vocab quite a bit. I’m a visual person, though, so that may be something that applies to me more than others. If you happen to be a visual person, try visualizing new words and you may be amazed at how many you are able to learn over a short period of time.

I like to visualize as well, but I have never done it with vocabulary building. It may be what I’ve been missing. I’m going to give it a try and see if doing so helps me retain more words.

This is something that everyone should be striving to do no matter their age. I think it’s important to teach kids at a young age how interesting words are so they can find value and love within them. Being curious about words and where they came from (and finding the perfect word for what you want to say) is a type of curiosity we’d all be better having.

Why do we need to learn so many different vocabulary words in school??!!?? All I do is spend hours and hours learning new words that I’ll never use when I’m older. It seems so stupid!

Knowing a large number of words will make you much more articulate in your conversations with others. Knowing words can help out in a lot of ways in life. Those hours of learning will pay off. You need to figure out a fun and entertaining way to learn those words.

Before you work on new vocabulary, you should make sure you already understand the basics. There is nothing worse than someone using big words while the small words are being incorrectly used. A sure sign the person thinks big words are important, but has no idea how to use words in general.

I don’t think these two things are exclusive. You can work on the basics and learn new vocabulary at the same time. It isn’t an “either / or” choice. Do both.

It depends on the person who learns the language. If he is a fast learner, he will learn both the basics and big words fast.

Melvin I am also practicing to write English like native speakers.if your English is good then help in writing passage I write a passage on some topic and you will point out my errors.I am so obliged if you help me

Melvin, I too am practicing to write English like native speakers. If your English is better than mine, then would you help me improve my writing. I will write a passage on a topic and if you would point out any errors I make it would help me greatly. I am very thankful for any help you provide.

I am a native English speaker and this is how I would have written the post.

Sure why not?

I am not agree with your ideas Because those people have not english native language Those people how to increase your vocabulary They read english but not understand because english is not whose native language

Please give me some 💡

I want to improve my english vocabulary

start reading books and blogs that you like to read everyday. Consistency is the major key of success in all kind of drills.

then I don’t have time to do something else

yes you said well

you’re are right!

“you’re are right!” ?? = you are are right! Contractions are wonderful when used correctly. There IS a word represented there….

You are so right. I am 40 years old i should know better I’m so rush to high up. In my learning I have a habit of skipping over the small and rush. Myself to the big ones

This looks like a great list of resources/apps. Using a variety of these should make learning vocabulary a breeze.

I don’t understand why so many people don’t like to learn new words. They are so interesting!

I am improve my vocabulary so u tell me why can I do

I am *improving my vocabulary so u *can *advise me *what to do Maybe you should study the Grammar Formation first;before u learn new words.

Woah! That was a little bit savage

No it wasn’t that’s a very good suggestion i myself think i should take go study it.

Hi Louis Alion, “Maybe you should study the Grammar Formation first;before u learn new words” I don’t know the other think. but for me, if you know only the grammar after that you can not make the sentence because of we don’t know new words.

I believe that you should do the same. Practice what you preach. There is always room for improvement, always.

Grammar and Vocabulary, goes hand in hand. Communication and Vocabulary, goes hand in hand.

Dont get confused.

learn vocabulary first

Maybe they have more and better work. Duhhhh!

the power writing is power of vocabulary

for learning the basic knowledge should be complete .every new knowledge need some basic knowledge first

Yes U r right

You are absolutely right Rudra.

Such a thanks for sharing these words and good experience for me ,I saw every point .who became me bold and improve my english skills .today i had built more confidence ,and promise you . I will improve my english as soon as possible Once again Thanks

Thanks for the advice I thing I’ve got an enough idea on how I will improve my grammar and vocabulary. 🙂

When I will summerise the article may be it would be like this, # Increase vocabulary # Read news paper # Play game

Thank’s…

Thanks for writing this wonderful article, I have learned new words while reading the article.

I too learned lots of new words in your Article

It’s really helpful. keep it up!

My vocabulary is vry weak.vocabulary words are vry difficult to learn…

Then you have to study hard.

i really want to improve my vocabulary but ,i always loose concentration whenever i start reading a magazine or a newspaper

Good approach

It is a stepping stone. I am going to improve drastically

game part is not important

Thank for your marevlous explaniation

I enjoy learning new words,but I’m too lazy to do this! Hope that one day I will realize how important it is!

I think reading is quite important. It doesn’t only enrich your vocabulary. But also gives your new knowledges.

thank you for the tips

Hi It is good to know this knowledge.

Thanks, helpful tips. but I don’t understand some things due to my poor education background, wish I could get more explicited ones. But great job though

Great article!

I will give the IELTS test two month later as English isn’t my own language and I will be confused that what am l doing There are a lot of references and books and I don’t have a plan for test Please tell me what am l doing?

Like im in school, so this wasnt that useful. Thank u though about the thesaurus and stuff!

When I see a new word, I looking for a root of that and try to find it on some film and article and know the synonyms and how we can use it I myself use some applications like Word Up which is so useful for me because at the first you can see the root of word, meaning of that, synonym and also some film which help me alot. l recommend you to use it once 😊

Thank you for your valuable suggestions.

This tell how important on reading books or any materials that fully satisfy your vocabulary. And Verily important notice or learning to us, are keep reading books and love it. Specially in this new technological era where people really sucks on gadgets and any technologies . This article help me more.Thanks a lot. And keep it up!!

I want to prove my writing power and also professional email power.

I might try these!

I can say it depends on the person who is learning the language, because even though you are good at vocabulary, if you are poor in grammar your English will never be good, so if you ask me learn both of them at the same time….

Reading is life

Very helpful practical advice thanks

Hello everyone! This is a platform to learn and or improve one’s English speaking and writing abilities, so I think it would be best to help yourself as best as you can. I say this because, going through the comments, I noticed quite a handful of comments written in funny contractions. examples; ‘U’, ‘ur’, ‘re’, and the likes of which literally do not exist anywhere but the “Social media world”. No offense to anyone, but I think his will be a step toward improvement. Thank you!

This simple description sounds to be quite useful. I will try using these tips for my students.

Amazing ideas for a beginner

Best ways to improve self and others in speaking and writing , making choices of words to communicate in dynamic and vibrant manners.

I do appreciate the way you explained, how to improve Vocabulary! In fact, I was not at all comfortable with English Language but some how I managed to start communicating in English, as it was basic need to go ahead with my career. I am still facing issues in writing as my vocabulary is not that good. I will keep trying to get it improved everyday by adopting the ways you explained. Thank You!

I love to learn English how to read, speak and write Vocabularies

I think new words can be practicing by speaking and writing daily on going situation in world . Otherwise native environment in common atmosphere will never be much helpful to learn English quickly . Secondly seeker must have to think in English. Thirdly student must have to write his or her basic routine in English . That what he was doing in entire day on his diary

It is very essential or Vital to follow for the instruction and I will apply and abide by it in order to polish up my English Language.

my son, in junior high, asked his English teacher, “do you know another word for thesaurus? “

Don’t think that only big words is very important and useful but some small words is also there who can improve your vocabulary though there are small words

I get that but don’t big words make our vocabulary grow?

thanks that was very good example

It’s time to break the limits to become limitless and bending the reality.

Thanks very helpful

Very good indeed to have this opportunity to read the 25 way of improvement

I just almost glass over the word itself. Then I use google to find its meaning

It really nice. I’m perfect sure it will help me through the help of God. Thanks

Popular Posts

• The Top 10 Most Difficult-to-Spot Writing Mistakes
• 4 Simple Tips for Great Writing
• Avoiding Wordiness: 330 Examples & What to Use Instead
• The Oxford Comma: The Splice of Life
• Who vs. Whom
• Affect vs. Effect
• How to Take Notes: The 10-Step Guide to Note-Taking (Infographic)
• CMOS vs. AP – Recent Changes & Comparison (Updated 1. Nov. 2021)
• The Daily Word Counts of 19 Famous Writers
• The Ideal Length of Everything You Write Online ( Infographic)

Recent Comments

• Trilby on Words Everyone Seems to Hate
• Sarah on Words Everyone Seems to Hate
• Justin Robinson on Words Everyone Seems to Hate
• Muhammad Abdullah on Word Counter Reading Level Feature

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Essential words to improve vocabulary

Enhancing your vocabulary is a powerful way to improve how you express yourself and engage with others. Whether you're writing essays, delivering presentations, or simply conversing, having rich vocabulary skills allows you to communicate with precision and impact. Here’s a guide to essential words that can help elevate your vocabulary from average to advanced.

Understanding vocabulary levels

Before exploring the words, it's useful to understand different vocabulary levels :

• Basic : Words that most native speakers know, can include overused words and phrases.
• Intermediate : Words needed for professional fluency and nuanced expression.
• Advanced : Complex words used in specialized or academic contexts.

Essential words for an advanced vocabulary

Advancing your vocabulary involves adopting words that not only enhance your language but also allow you to express ideas more clearly and accurately. Here are several categories and examples of essential words that can enrich your vocabulary:

Words that express magnitude

• Colossal : Extremely large or great.
• Minute : Extremely small.
• Plethora : A large or excessive amount of something.

These words help you describe quantities and sizes with greater accuracy and impact.

Words for describing feelings and emotions

• Euphoric : Intensely happy or confident.
• Melancholic : Sad, typically with no obvious cause.
• Apathetic : Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Using precise emotional descriptors can make your stories and explanations more engaging and empathetic.

Descriptive adjectives

• Pristine : In its original condition; unspoiled.
• Surreptitious : Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
• Volatile : Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.

Rich adjectives like these can deepen your descriptions and offer clearer, more detailed imagery.

Verbs to express action

• Galvanize : Shock or excite (someone) into taking action.
• Mitigate : Make less severe, serious, or painful.
• Usurp : Take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force.

Dynamic and specific verbs can invigorate your sentences, making them more powerful and memorable.

Strategies to incorporate new words into your vocabulary

Read widely and often.

Reading a variety of genres and styles is an effective way to encounter new vocabulary. Challenge yourself with materials that go beyond your current level to discover new and useful words. And if you find yourself in a rush for time, you can count on Elevate’s reading games as a time-sensitive substitute.

Use a vocabulary journal

Maintain a journal where you record new words, their definitions, and example sentences. Regular review will help reinforce your memory of these terms.

Practice using new words

Make an effort to use new vocabulary in your everyday communication. This practice helps integrate new words into your active vocabulary, making them more familiar and easier to recall.

Engage with interactive learning tools

Consider using apps like Elevate, which provide engaging exercises and vocabulary games designed to enhance your speech systematically and enjoyably.

Your guide to a richer vocabulary

Becoming more articulate is a journey of continuous learning and application. By focusing on key words that elevate your language skills and actively using them, you can significantly enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your communication and learn to speak eloquently .

Ready to expand your vocabulary and transform your communication skills? Download the Elevate app today and start improving with every word you learn!

Related articles

Improve vocabulary with fun brain games

Discover how games and exercises are actually effective ways to build your vocabulary.

Improve vocabulary, become more articulate

Looking to leave a lasting impression? Read on to learn how to become more articulate.

Improve your vocabulary and memory with mnemonics

Mnemonics can boost memory and enrich vocabulary. Learn how to apply them in your everyday life.

Discover 40+ Brain Training Games

Amazing Words: The Ultimate Vocabulary Boost for Your English Writing Skills

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: December 7, 2023

Sharing is caring!

In this piece, we’ll introduce you to a variety of amazing words that you might not have encountered before. From words with unusual spellings to those with complex meanings, we’ll cover a wide range of vocabulary that will challenge and inspire you. Whether you’re a native English speaker or are learning the language as a second language, these words will help you to communicate more effectively and express yourself with greater precision.

Amazing Words

Understanding Amazing Words

Definition of amazing words.

Amazing words are those that hold extraordinary power, capturing attention, evoking emotions, and inspiring action. They often surpass the ordinary in their ability to leave a lasting impression on those who hear or read them. These words are the building blocks of influential language, enabling us to articulate complex ideas, emotions, and experiences in a meaningful way.

The Importance of Amazing Words

While any vocabulary expansion is beneficial, learning amazing words can have a significant impact. Amazing words are words that are not commonly used in everyday conversation but can make your writing and speech more impressive and engaging. They can help you stand out from the crowd and boost your confidence in social situations.

Learning amazing words can also help you become a more independent and individual learner. When you have a larger vocabulary, you can understand more complex texts and express yourself more effectively. This can lead to better academic performance and greater success in your professional life.

Examples of Amazing Words

To give you an idea of what we mean by amazing words, here are some examples:

Using these words in your writing and speech can make you sound more confident and knowledgeable. Here are some example sentences using these words:

• The feeling of euphoria I experienced after winning the race was indescribable.
• It was pure serendipity that I stumbled upon the perfect gift for my friend.
• The mellifluous sound of the violin filled the concert hall.
• The politician’s speech was deliberately obfuscated to avoid answering the difficult questions.
• His perspicacious analysis of the situation impressed his colleagues.

Types of Amazing Words

Positive words.

Positive words carry a light and uplifting connotation, often used to praise or motivate.

• Astonish : To amaze with something unexpected.
• Euphoria : A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.

Here is a list of positive words for your reference:

Negative Words

Conversely, negative words convey feelings of displeasure or describe less than ideal situations.

• Arrogant : Having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.
• Imperious : Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.

Here is a list of negative words for your reference:

Action Words

Action words, or verbs, indicate what is being done in a sentence, driving the action forward.

• Absquatulate : To leave somewhere abruptly.
• Astound : To shock or greatly surprise.

Here is a list of action words for your reference:

Emotion Words

Emotion words vividly express feelings and states of being, enhancing the emotional resonance of our communication.

• Anguish : Severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
• Ardent : Characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion.

Here is a list of emotion words for your reference:

Amazing Words in Different Situations

In academic contexts.

When it comes to academic writing, using precise and sophisticated language can help you convey your ideas more clearly and effectively. Here are some amazing words that can help you sound more scholarly:

In Professional Contexts

In professional settings, using appropriate language can help you establish credibility and build strong relationships with colleagues and clients. Here are some amazing words that can help you sound more professional:

In Personal Communications

In personal conversations, using expressive and engaging language can help you connect with others and build meaningful relationships. Here are some amazing words that can help you sound more personable:

Whether you are a student, a professional, or just looking to improve your communication skills in general, adding these amazing words to your vocabulary can help you express yourself more effectively in different situations.

List of Amazing Words

Here is a list of Amazing Words for your reference:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some unique English words with deep meanings?

“Sonder” refers to the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own. “Serendipity” describes the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Can you suggest some interesting words that aren’t commonly used?

“Yonderly,” meaning mentally or emotionally distant, transports you to a different, more introspective state. “Petrichor” captures the distinct scent accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

What are some beautiful words that can elevate my vocabulary?

“Ephemeral,” describing something that lasts for a very short time, evokes a sense of fleeting beauty. “Mellifluous” refers to a sound that is sweet and smooth, pleasing to hear.

Which words could be used to describe an amazing person?

Use “indefatigable” to describe someone who never gets tired of doing something, showing remarkable endurance and stamina. “Magnanimous” is perfect for a person who is generous in forgiving an insult or injury, free from petty resentfulness.

What are some cool and fancy words I can use in my writing?

Incorporate “quixotic” to describe someone or something that is exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical, yet charming. “Plethora” suggests a large or excessive amount of something, adding a tone of abundance.

What are words with significant impact that sound impressive?

“Penultimate” refers to the second last in a series, often used to emphasize the nearness to the end. “Perspicacious” means having a ready insight into and understanding of things, ideal for describing keen minds.

Improving writing skills requires a good command of vocabulary. Here are some advanced vocabulary words that can help in improving writing skills:

• Perspicacious
• Magnanimous

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which websites are recommended for learning English vocabulary?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

There are several websites that can help in learning English vocabulary. Some of the best websites are:

• Vocabulary.com
• Memrise.com
• Quizlet.com
• Duolingo.com
• EnglishCentral.com

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is a good vocabulary builder for students?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

A good vocabulary builder for students is one that is easy to use and provides a wide range of words. Here are some of the best vocabulary builders for students:

• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know
• Merriam-Webster's Vocabulary Builder
• Oxford Word Skills
• Vocabulary Workshop

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where can I find a PDF of 1000 vocabulary words with meaning and sentence?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

There are several websites that offer PDFs of 1000 vocabulary words with meaning and sentence. Here are some of the best websites:

• EnglishWale.com
• EnglishForEveryone.org
• EnglishLearner.com
• EnglishLeap.com
• EnglishMaven.org

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are some interesting words to learn for expanding vocabulary?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

Expanding vocabulary can be fun and interesting. Here are some interesting words that can help in expanding vocabulary:

• Mellifluous
• Serendipity
• Supercilious
• Quintessential

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which vocabulary websites are best for students looking to improve their English skills?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

There are several vocabulary websites that are best for students looking to improve their English skills. Here are some of the best ones:

In conclusion, expanding vocabulary is an essential aspect of learning English. By using the above-mentioned resources, learners can improve their vocabulary and writing skills.

• Recent Posts

• Ed Words: Expand Your Vocabulary and Improve Your Writing! - April 15, 2024
• List of Ethnicities and Their Cultures from Around the World - April 2, 2024
• Mastering English Writing: Essential Transitional Words for Body Paragraphs - March 25, 2024

Related posts:

• Amazing Words that Start With A: Expand Your English Vocabulary Today!
• Words That Start with J: Jaw-Dropping Vocabulary
• The Ultimate List of Words that Start with R: R is for Remarkable
• A Comprehensive List of Words Ending in H: Hone Your Vocabulary

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, expanding high-level vocabulary for essays.

I'm working on my college essays and I want to improve my vocab to make my writing stand out. Any suggestions on how to incorporate high-level vocabulary or resources to expand my lexicon?

Incorporating high-level vocabulary in your college essays is a great way to showcase your writing skills and stand out. Here are some suggestions on how to expand your lexicon and effectively use a sophisticated vocabulary in your essays:

1. Read widely: To expand your vocabulary, read a variety of materials including novels, newspapers, and even academic papers. This exposes you to new words and phrases that you can naturally incorporate into your own writing. Take note of unfamiliar words, look up their meanings, and try to use them in sentences for practice.

2. Use vocabulary-building tools: There are several resources available for vocabulary expansion, such as flashcard apps, websites like Vocabulary.com, and even classic books like "Word Power Made Easy" by Norman Lewis. These tools help you learn new words in a structured manner and provide exercises to reinforce your learning.

3. Keep a vocabulary journal: Whenever you encounter a new word, write it down in a journal along with its definition and an example sentence. Review your journal regularly to reinforce your learning and expose yourself to these words more frequently.

4. Revise selectively: Instead of trying to replace every simple word with a more complex one, focus on key phrases and descriptions where a higher-level word would add nuance or impact. Overstuffing your essay with complex vocabulary can make it difficult to read and may detract from your message. Aim for a balance of clarity and sophistication.

5. Use words in context: When incorporating new words into your essay, ensure their usage is contextually appropriate. Misusing a word can create confusion and cast doubt on your grasp of the language. It's always better to use a simpler word correctly than a complex one incorrectly.

6. Practice writing: Familiarize yourself with using high-level vocabulary by regularly writing essays, journal entries, or even fiction. Like any skill, the more you practice, the more natural it will become. Challenge yourself to incorporate new words in your writing to expand your active vocabulary.

7. Edit and revise: Once you have a draft of your essay, go through it to identify areas where you can improve your word choice. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms if needed, but remember that context matters – always double-check if the suggested synonyms fit the intended meaning.

Remember, while a high-level vocabulary can enhance your college essay, the most important aspects are still the quality of your storytelling and your ability to convey your thoughts and experiences effectively. Focusing on a clear, engaging narrative with well-structured sentences is the foundation upon which you can layer a sophisticated vocabulary. Good luck with your college essays!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

• Personal Development
• Sales Training
• Business Training
• Time Management
• Leadership Training
• Book Writing
• Public Speaking
• Live Speaker Training With Brian
• See Brian Speak
• Coaching Programs
• Become a Coach
• Personal Success
• Sales Success
• Business Success
• Leadership Success

How to Improve Your Vocabulary for Writing & Speaking Success

Language is a powerful tool, and the better you are at wielding it the better your results will be. If you want to engage your audience and pique their interest, you need to develop exceptional written communication skills. A big part of improving your writing skills is simply learning how to improve your vocabulary .

Below, we’ll take a comprehensive look at why improving your vocabulary matter, and we’ll review a variety of methods that you can use to quickly grow your vocabulary.

Why Learn Vocabulary?

When you’re working as a writer, words are the only tool that you have available to help you communicate a personality, an emotion, or an idea.

Therefore, the more words you know and can use, the more likely it is that you will be able to find the perfect way to string together your thoughts into a message that will get the job done.

Having a large vocabulary allows you to say the same thing in a variety of different ways.

This means that you will be able to rewrite ideas from resources that you find without plagiarizing the original source.

You’ll also be able to better customize your message to specific audiences.

Of course, having a mastery of the English language will also improve the quality of your writing as well, and help you establish a sense of professionalism and expertise.

Is one of your dreams to learn how to write a book ?

Writing a book that is free of grammar and spelling errors will increase your chances of actually getting it published. By the way, this free guide to publishing books  will show you a lot more ways to improve your odds with a publisher.

In summary, if you intend to use written material to share a message or communicate with the masses, in any way, expanding your vocabulary is an excellent way to make it easier for you and for your readers.

Expand Vocabulary No Matter What Level

You may already have an impressive vocabulary or you may be starting out with only a basic set of words that you are able to pull from when you’re writing.

The good news is that no matter where you are starting out, the process for improving your vocabulary even further remains the same.

How to Expand Your Vocabulary as a Writer

Expanding your written vocabulary is, fortunately, much easier than expanding your speaking vocabulary.

The reason for this is that writing offers two big advantages that speaking does not: time to think and a backspace key, however this time to think, something introduces people to writer’s block .

When you’re writing, you’ll have all the time you need to search your mind (or a thesaurus) for the exact word that you need.

You’ll also have the ability to delete a word or a sentence and start over if need be.

Nevertheless, the goal is to eliminate the need for these things as much as possible.

Consulting a dictionary or a thesaurus every few minutes may be fine starting out, but it’s going to make for a slow, painstaking writing process.

You’ll be much better served by having a deep vocabulary that you can draw from at-will in your writing so that the words flow quickly and effortlessly from your mind to the keyboard.

Vocabulary Strategies

If you’re ready to start improving your vocabulary, there are a variety of strategies that you can employ. It’s important to note, though, that all of these strategies take time and effort.

Mastering the English language overnight is no more possible than it is to master any other skill overnight.

With that said, these strategies are still designed to help you improve your vocabulary skills as quickly and as effectively as possible.

Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the strategies you can use to expand your vocabulary.

How can I Learn Vocabulary Words?

Some effective strategies for learning new vocabulary words that you can put to use in your writing include:

1. Read…a lot

Reading everything you can get your hands on is one of the most passive and most effective ways to boost your vocabulary.

When you read, you’ll see new words put into use by writers who are likely to have a diverse vocabulary and you can add these words to your own vocabulary as you come across them.

The best part about reading to improve your vocabulary is that it doesn’t matter what it is that you read; whether it’s a how-to guide on the internet, a romance novel, or anything in-between, the simple act of digesting written material will drastically improve your vocabulary over time.

2. Keep a Thesaurus and a Dictionary Nearby

Dictionaries and thesauruses are the two most effective vocabulary-expanding tools that you have available, and you can use each of them in a slightly different way.

Whenever you come across a word that you don’t understand, look it up in a dictionary and take the time to commit the word and its definition to memory.

Meanwhile, you can look up words that you already know in a thesaurus at any time to find other words that mean the same thing.

Commit a few of those words to memory and you’ll have the ability to say the same thing in a number of different, more eloquent ways.

3. Make Flashcards

There’s a good reason why flashcards are a favorite memorization tool for students everywhere, and that reason is that they work well.

Start by putting together a few dozen flash cards filled with words that you don’t yet have committed to your vocabulary, and frequently add new flashcards to your collection.

If you run through these flashcards just once a day you will be well on your way to expanding your vocabulary.

4. Describe Your Surroundings

Whenever you’re sitting in traffic, relaxing at home, waiting in line at the coffee shop, or otherwise not preoccupied, try a mental exercise where you describe your surroundings in your head.

Do you know the name of everything in your setting?

What words would you use to describe the people around you?

Ask yourself questions such as this and paint a mental picture of the world around you using the most descriptive language that you can.

Exercises such as this will help you put the new words you use into practice in order to better commit them to your memory.

5. Listen to Music

In the same way that reading grows your vocabulary, listening can grow your vocabulary as well.

Listening to music is one good option, especially if you are listening to artists that are creative with their verses and rhymes.

However, listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and more can also improve your vocabulary over time as well.

6. Commit to Learning One New Word Every Day

Learning just one new word a day isn’t a particularly challenging goal, yet it is one that can make a dramatic difference in your vocabulary.

Each day, choose a new word to memorize and try to use that word as often as you can throughout the day.

Daily Vocabulary Words

Learning just one new word every day is a highly effective way to incrementally expand your vocabulary over time.

To use this method, you can pick a word at random from the dictionary or you can use one of many daily vocabulary word programs that will send a new word to your inbox each day.

Dictionary.com and other online dictionaries also feature a new word each day on the homepage of their website that you can check out.

However, you choose your daily word, though, take the time to memorize the word and try to use it as much as possible in conversation or in your mind throughout the day.

If you give your daily word enough focus, you should be able to make it a permanent part of your vocabulary after just 24 hours.

Learn a New Word a Day

Learning a new word a day is such an effective strategy thanks to the fact that it requires only a minimal amount of commitment and effort yet still allows you to add a new word to your vocabulary each and every day.

If there’s only one vocabulary-building strategy that you choose to implement, it should be this one.

Vocabulary List

An effective addition to your strategy of learning a new word a day that you might want to consider is keeping a list of the words that you choose to learn along with their definitions.

If you keep a list such as this, you’ll be able to review it from time to time in order to further commit your daily vocabulary words to memory and ensure that you don’t forget them as time goes by.

Your list will also serve as a visual example of how much your vocabulary has expanded, which can be a big motivator to keep up your progress.

Vocabulary Practice

Learning new words alone isn’t enough to truly improve your vocabulary; in order to make the words you memorize a functional part of your vocabulary that you can use in your writing, you also need to put the words you memorize into practice.

In the next section, we’ll look at some activities and exercises that you can use in order to practice using the words that you learn.

Vocabulary Activities to Help You Grow

There are plenty of effective activities that you can use to put the words you learn into practice as well as learn new vocabulary words in the process.

These activities include things such as:

1. Vocabulary Games

There is a wide range of online games designed to help you improve your vocabulary.

These games can serve as a fun and entertaining way to learn new words and put the words that you already know into practice.

Many online dictionaries such as Dictionary.com offer free vocabulary games, and a quick Google search for vocabulary games will turn up even more options.

2. Vocabulary Test

Vocabulary tests allow you to test your current vocabulary and receive a score at the end of the test that lets you know what level you are on. In addition to improving your vocabulary by exposing you to new words, these tests also allow you to gauge your progress so that you will know if and by how much your vocabulary is improving.

As with vocabulary games, a wide range of vocabulary tests can be found with a quick Google search .

3. Vocabulary Quiz

Vocabulary quizzes are similar to vocabulary tests, but are typically shorter and may not provide a very detailed analysis of your vocabulary level once the quiz is complete.

Nevertheless, vocabulary quizzes are still a great way to practice your vocabulary and measure your results.

4. Vocabulary Worksheets

Vocabulary worksheets come in a wide range of formats.

Some can be completed online while others can be printed off and completed by hand, and the exact goal and instructions for the worksheet vary from worksheet to worksheet.

Whatever format you choose, though, vocabulary worksheets are a great way to practice your vocabulary skills.

What is the Best Way to Learn Vocabulary?

There is no single best way to learn vocabulary, and the most beneficial approach will come from implementing a number of different practices and strategies.

Hopefully, this guide has given you plenty of vocabulary-building methods for you to consider implementing.

If you choose a handful of these methods and commit to them each day, you can rest assured that your vocabulary will improve over time, helping you write more effective content for your business.

« Previous Post The Ultimate Guide to Business Coaching [With a Special Offer From Jack Canfield] Next Post » How to Maintain the Willpower to Achieve Your Goals

About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

• Most Recent
• How To Publish A Book: Your Go-To Guide To Becoming An Author
• Potential Ways To Make More Money: 20 Creative Ideas
• Top 10 Leadership Qualities of Great Leaders
• How to Write a Book: Proven Start-to-Finish Steps
• 117 Leadership Quotes for Inspiration
• How to End a Speech: What You Need for a Bang
• How to Start a Speech: The Best Ways to Capture Your Audience
• Eat That Frog: Brian Tracy Explains the Truth About Frogs
• How to Set SMART Goals
• How to Develop Self-Discipline to Succeed
• How to Set Priorities Using the ABCDE Method
• Free Webinar: How To Write a Book and Become a Published Author
• Free Video Series: 3-Part Sales Mastery Training Series
• Free Assessment: The Confidence Factor
• Free Assessment: Discovering Your Talents

Browse Categories

• Financial Success

Follow Brian & Join the Discussion

• Free Resources
• Best Sellers
• Knowledge Base
• Shipping & Returns
• Privacy Policy
• About Brian
• Brian Recommends

Your Privacy is Guaranteed. We will never give, lease or sell your personal information. Period!

© Copyright 2001-2024 Brian Tracy International. All Rights Reserved.

5 Unique Ways to Boost Academic Vocabulary and Elevate Your Essays

by Suzanne Davis | Apr 2, 2018 | Academic Writing Skills | 4 comments

Do you feel overwhelmed by academic vocabulary?

Do you read articles and books filled with academic vocabulary?  Sometimes all those words can be confusing.  But understanding academic words and using them in your writing is essential.  If you have a strong command of academic vocabulary, it’s easy to find the right words that are specific to your field and words that suit formal writing.  And it’s easier to write essays and papers that impress your professors and other academic readers.

So, how can you best learn new academic vocabulary and add it to your writing?  Well, there are 5 great ways to practice and increase your academic vocabulary.  Each strategy for studying new words helps you learn any kind of academic vocabulary.

Types of Academic Vocabulary

There are two kinds of academic vocabulary you need to use in your writing: subject area vocabulary and common academic vocabulary.

Subject–area vocabulary — represents the words you use in a specific field of study. These could be words in the fields of technology, physics, chemistry, economics, math, psychology, sociology, and any other discipline.

You find these words in your textbooks, academic journal articles, books on your subject, blogs about your subject and anywhere else you read something related to the courses you take.

Common academic vocabulary- -represents words and phrases you find in essays, academic papers, textbooks and articles across all fields. Some examples of these words are: analyze, constitute, derive, source, theorize and evidence.

You can find this type of vocabulary on the Academic Word List(AWL).  This list was created by Dr. Averil Coxhead (Senior Lecturer, School of Linguistics and Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington).  It is a list of the most common words used in educational and professional settings.  There are 570-word families on the AWL and you can find all the words online: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist/sublists

The AWL is divided into sublists and the most common words are on Sublist 1.  Each word lists the root word and different forms of that word. These are called word families.

Here is a word family from Sublist 1:  source, sourced, sources .

Yes, there are a lot of academic words.  But, when you know these words you will elevate your academic writing.  So, focus on learning 5-7 words at a time. Don’t try to learn too many words too fast.  It makes it hard to remember all the words!

5 Unique Ways to Study Academic Vocabulary

1. Keep a Word Journal

A word journal is one place (a notebook, a computer document, etc.) where you write down words you don’t know. This is the process for keeping a word journal:

• Look up the definition of the word, and think of your own definition.
• Write a definition in your own words.
• Copy the exact sentence where you found the word.
• Write or draw your own example of that word.

What makes this method great is that you can always look up the words you’ve learned if you can’t remember them. You could create a word journal for each of your classes. Then you have a place to find vocabulary words and phrases related to the readings you do in class.

If you are a visual learner you may prefer drawing examples of your words.  In this case, use a physical journal, so you have room to be creative.

2. Highlight or Underline and Define Words in a Text

Read academic texts, articles, blogs, in your field, classes, etc. and highlight or underline the words you don’t know.  Re-read the sentence or paragraph again, look the words up and write your own definition in the margins of what you’re reading.

You can find many ways to do this with online reading too.  Adobe Acrobat Reader has a highlight and comment feature you can use to take notes on vocabulary.  You can do the same thing with e-books on Kindle, Nook, and other e-readers.

Writing (or typing) definitions in the margins will help you remember the words. Those notes are also useful when you refer back to that article or study it for a test!

A tip for learning words is that when you write something by hand you remember it better than when you type something.  Compare writing with typing and see which works best for you.

3. Create a Vocabulary Map

A vocabulary map is where you write a word in a circle in the middle of your paper (or in a computer document) and have other words or ideas connected to that word.  Some words or concepts you could include in your map could be:

• Examples of the word
• Definition of the word (dictionary)
• Your own definition
• Related words

There are many different types of vocabulary maps online.  Search for the phrase academic vocabulary map in Pinterest or Google Images and you will see many results.   There are also great free mapping tools that you can use to create vocabulary maps:

• Wise Mapping http://www.wisemapping.com/
• Mind Mup 2 https://www.mindmup.com/
• Connected Mind Map App for Google Chrome http://connected-mind.appspot.com/

If you are a visual learner, vocabulary maps are a great way to study words and remember them. To see more about how to use vocabulary maps, check out my blog post, “Vocabulary Maps 101: How to Rapidly Increase Your Academic Vocabulary” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/vocabulary-maps-101-how-to-increase-academic-vocabulary/

And watch the video to see the vocabulary map I created with Mind Mup 2.

4. Make Vocabulary Flashcards

This is like a word journal, but instead of writing the words in a journal, you create flashcards for each word. I recommend using 5 X 8 index cards.  For each flashcard:

• Write the main word on the top of your flashcard.
• Look up the definition in the dictionary and write your own definition of that word.
• Write a sentence using that word.
• If the word is part of a word family, write those words underneath, and define them in your own words.

Flashcards are a great way to practice vocabulary from the Academic Word List (AWL) because it’s easy to flip through your cards and practice 5-7 words a day.

5. Use Academic Vocabulary in Your Essays

Use academic words in your essays and papers!  A great time to do this is when you write the first draft of your academic paper. When you revise your paper, ask the person reading it to check and see if the academic words are used correctly.  When your teacher, tutor or other students read your paper they will know to check the words you used.

Adding common and subject-area academic vocabulary to essays and research papers elevates your academic writing.  It shows your readers you have a thorough understanding of your content.  Also, these words give you a chance to be clear and specific about what you mean. The right blend of vocabulary in your writing ups the level of your essays and papers. But beware of using too many academic words or using words you don’t understand. The best way to avoid that is by having someone else read your writing–someone who will tell you when your ideas and words are confusing.

Boost your academic vocabulary

Academic vocabulary is crucial to your success as a student.  It helps you with reading comprehension and it helps you write impressive academic essays and papers. These 5 methods are great for learning academic vocabulary, but the best way to master new words is by using them every chance you get.

So, decide what technique/s above you like to boost your academic vocabulary, and start using academic vocabulary in your writing.  Over time it will raise the quality of your essays and academic papers making them more persuasive and effective.

What way of learning academic vocabulary is your favorite?  Please comment below with your ideas.

I love being able to write the word down and the definition. I then add to it and do a quick sketch to really give the word meaning to it.

Yes, that is a really a good idea. I like being able to sketch the word too. I love this idea for subject and discipline words. It can make them very clear in my mind. My problem is drawing sketches for the Academic Word List words. I get stumped on drawing them. I will try doing sketches some more, and see if I can do better with them.

I used to keep a word journal (and called it my own dictionary) as a kid. It was a good way to consciously learn new words from all the books (fiction) I read. Given that I went through 3 books a day during my summer holidays the journal became very fat. I just used to browse through those words later and see if I can remember the context in which it was used and then come up with a sentence on my own. That was an interesting exercise. I love the idea of flashcards. Am going to implement that going forward.

Vasudha, what a great story. I know many people who like to use word journals. They’re a great way to learn vocabulary.

Tutorpreneur Hero Award

http://becomeanonlinetutor.com/tutorpreneur-hero/

SSL Certificate Seal

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Privacy Overview

Powerful Sight

Relationship Advice, Self-Improvement Tips & Positive Life Quotes

8 Proven Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

A strong vocabulary serves as a cornerstone for effective communication, impacting both written and spoken interactions. When individuals possess an extensive range of words, they can articulate their thoughts and ideas with greater precision and clarity. This, in turn, fosters better understanding and connection with others. Whether drafting an email, participating in a discussion, or delivering a presentation, a rich vocabulary allows individuals to convey their messages more persuasively and confidently.

In the academic and professional spheres, a robust vocabulary can be a significant advantage. Students with a well-developed lexicon tend to perform better in reading comprehension, writing, and standardized tests. In the workplace, employees with strong verbal skills are often perceived as more competent and are better equipped to tackle complex tasks that require nuanced communication. Consequently, building a substantial vocabulary can lead to enhanced job performance and career advancement, opening doors to new and exciting opportunities.

The benefits of expanding one’s vocabulary extend beyond communication. Engaging in the process of learning new words can have profound cognitive effects. It stimulates mental activity, enhances memory, and promotes cognitive flexibility. Additionally, exploring new words and their meanings contributes to lifelong learning, keeping the mind sharp and curious. This continuous pursuit of knowledge not only enriches personal and intellectual growth but also fosters a deeper understanding of language and culture.

Ultimately, knowing how to improve your vocabulary and actively applying these strategies can result in significant personal and professional rewards. Whether through deliberate practice, immersive environments, or leveraging technology, the journey to a stronger vocabulary is both enriching and empowering.

How to improve your vocabulary

1. read regularly.

Reading regularly is one of the most effective strategies to improve your vocabulary. Immersing yourself in books, articles, or any form of literature exposes you to a wide array of words and phrases in their natural context. This not only introduces you to new vocabulary but also helps you understand how these words are used in sentences, enhancing your ability to recall and use them correctly.

Engaging with a diverse range of genres can significantly heighten your vocabulary skills. Fiction can introduce you to creative and narrative language, while non-fiction offers a more factual and explanatory style. Reading newspapers and blogs, on the other hand, provides contemporary vocabulary and colloquial expressions, keeping you up-to-date with modern language use.

Selecting the right reading materials plays a crucial role in expanding your vocabulary. Aim for texts that are both interesting and slightly challenging. If the material is too easy, you’ll not be exposed to enough new vocabulary. Conversely, if it’s too difficult, you may find it hard to understand and enjoy, leading to frustration and discouragement. Balance is key: opt for books, articles, or blogs that engage you but also push your linguistic boundaries.

Additionally, keeping a dictionary or a notepad handy can greatly enhance your learning experience. When you encounter unfamiliar words, jot them down and look them up later. This practice not only helps in remembering new words but also encourages active learning. Over time, you’ll find that your vocabulary steadily expands, allowing you to express yourself more precisely and confidently.

Ultimately, the habit of reading regularly not only entertains and informs but also significantly contributes to vocabulary improvement, making it a highly recommended approach for those eager to enhance their language skills.

Related:  7 Effective Strategies to Increase Your Study Time

2. Use Flashcards

Flashcards are an incredibly effective tool for improving your vocabulary. They capitalize on active recall and spaced repetition, two key cognitive processes that enhance memorization. When you create a flashcard with a specific word on one side and its definition on the other, you force your brain to engage deeply with the material by actively recalling the information. This process strengthens neural connections, making it easier to remember the word and its meaning in the long run.

The method of spaced repetition further amplifies the benefits of flashcards. By reviewing the flashcards at strategically spaced intervals, you reinforce your memory just before it starts to fade. This reinforces the retention of new vocabulary over an extended period, aiding in long-term memory formation. Such a technique ensures that the words you learn are not quickly forgotten, but instead become a permanent part of your lexicon.

In today’s digital age, there are several apps designed to make the flashcard experience even more effective and user-friendly. Apps like Anki and Quizlet offer customizable decks that allow you to tailor your vocabulary learning to your specific needs. Anki, for example, uses an advanced spaced repetition algorithm to ensure optimal review times. Quizlet, on the other hand, offers interactive learning methods like games and quizzes, making the process more engaging.

Incorporating flashcards into your daily routine can significantly enhance how you improve your vocabulary. Whether you prefer the tactile sensation of physical flashcards or the convenience of digital versions, this method is both versatile and effective. By consistently using flashcards, you can expand your vocabulary with minimal effort while maximizing retention and recall.

Related:  How to Retain What You Read Without Cramming

3. Engage in Word Games and Puzzles

Engaging in word games and puzzles is an interactive and enjoyable way to enhance your vocabulary. Activities like Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and word searches not only provide entertainment but also reinforce understanding of word meanings, spelling, and usage. Such games challenge you to think critically about language, expanding your word knowledge while you play.

Scrabble, for instance, demands a robust vocabulary to place high-scoring words on the board. Each turn requires strategic thinking and a deep knowledge of an extensive word list. By regularly playing Scrabble, one can naturally improve their vocabulary and grasp of language nuances. Additionally, crossword puzzles are excellent tools for learning as they combine word recall with general knowledge. Solving clues requires identifying synonyms, antonyms, and precise definitions, promoting a deeper understanding of each word’s context.

Word searches may seem simple, but they are effective for practicing word recognition and spelling. They train the brain to swiftly identify letter patterns and familiarize players with new and often complex words. Moreover, they can serve as a gentle introduction to more challenging memory and spelling exercises for those looking to gradually enhance their linguistic skills.

For a more modern approach, a plethora of mobile apps and online platforms offer word games that are both educational and engaging. Apps like “Words with Friends” and “Wordscapes” provide opportunities to play with friends or compete against other users, adding a social element to your learning experience. These platforms often include daily challenges and varying levels of difficulty to keep users motivated and progressively improve their vocabulary.

By regularly integrating word games and puzzles into your routine, you can make the process of improving your vocabulary both enjoyable and effective. These activities offer a dynamic way to learn that goes beyond traditional study methods, ensuring that vocabulary expansion becomes an engaging part of your daily life.

Related:  How to Study Like Hermione Granger

4. Learn a New Word Daily

The practice of learning one new word every day is an effective strategy to enhance your vocabulary incrementally. This approach is grounded in the principle that small, consistent efforts accumulate over time, leading to significant improvements. By incorporating just one new word into your lexicon daily, you will steadily build a robust vocabulary without feeling overwhelmed.

The benefits of incremental learning are manifold. Firstly, it allows for sustained, manageable growth rather than trying to absorb a large quantity of information at once, which can be counterproductive. By focusing on one word per day, you can dedicate time to understanding its meaning, usage, and context, ensuring it is fully integrated into your language skills.

There are numerous resources available to aid in this daily practice. ‘Word of the day’ calendars and mobile applications are highly efficient tools, delivering a new word directly to your digital device or workspace each morning. Websites dedicated to vocabulary enhancement also offer daily word suggestions, complete with definitions and example sentences.

Keeping a journal or a digital record of the new words you learn can be immensely beneficial. This practice not only helps you track your progress but also provides a personalized reference that you can revisit. Note down each new word, its meaning, an example sentence, and perhaps even a synonym or antonym. Over time, this compilation becomes an invaluable resource, reinforcing your learning and allowing for periodic revision.

In summary, adopting the habit of learning a new word every day is a practical and sustainable method to bolster your vocabulary. Utilize the available tools and maintain a record of your progress, and you will find your linguistic proficiency flourishing gradually yet surely.

Related:  10 Essential Study Tips for 7th Grade

5. Use New Words in Conversations

Integrating new vocabulary into daily conversations is a crucial step in mastering how to improve your vocabulary. Actively using newly learned words in your dialogues not only helps reinforce understanding and familiarity but also solidifies these words in your long-term memory. This practical application can transform passive knowledge into active skills, making it an essential component of any effective vocabulary enhancement strategy.

One effective method to incorporate new terms naturally into conversation is by contextually embedding them. Rather than awkwardly inserting unfamiliar words, try to use them where they fit most appropriately within the context of your discussion. For example, if you’ve just learned the word “elucidate,” use it during a conversation about explaining complex ideas to clarify your point. This approach ensures that the integration feels seamless and organic.

Additionally, practicing using new vocabulary in low-stakes environments can significantly boost confidence. Engage in conversations with close friends or family members who can provide constructive feedback without judgment. This setting can offer a supportive space to experiment with new words, reducing the fear of making mistakes and enhancing overall retention.

The psychological benefits of using new vocabulary in real-world contexts are manifold. Engaging in conversations that demand active recall of new words can improve cognitive function and memory. Furthermore, each successful integration of a new word bolsters confidence, leading to a positive feedback cycle that encourages continuous learning and usage.

Thus, practicing how to improve your vocabulary by incorporating new words in daily conversations not only strengthens your language skills but also enhances your communication prowess. By adopting strategic and thoughtful methods to embed new terms, you can expand your vocabulary effectively and naturally.

6. Take Vocabulary Tests and Quizzes

Engaging in regular vocabulary tests and quizzes is a highly effective strategy for those looking to improve their vocabulary. By routinely assessing your command of words and phrases, you can track your progress and pinpoint areas that need further development. This approach not only provides a measurable indicator of improvement but also aids in reinforcing new vocabulary through repetition and active recall.

There are numerous resources online for accessing both formal and informal vocabulary tests and quizzes. Websites such as Vocabulary.com and Quizlet offer a wide range of tests tailored to different difficulty levels and contexts. These platforms can make the process of learning new words engaging and interactive, allowing you to see immediate results.

The formal vocabulary tests, often standardized and comprehensive, can give you a more structured understanding of your vocabulary prowess. Meanwhile, informal quizzes, which can be casual and less time-consuming, serve as quick checkups on your language skills. Both types have unique benefits; formal tests are great for thorough assessments while informal quizzes inject a bit of fun into your learning routine.

To maximize your vocabulary improvement, consider these tips for self-testing: First, set clear and attainable goals. Determine the aspects of vocabulary—such as synonyms, antonyms, or definitions—that you wish to enhance. Next, track your scores over time to observe patterns and improvements. Keeping a record of your progress can be motivating and illuminating regarding what strategies work best for you.

Furthermore, take the time to reflect on any errors made during tests and quizzes. Understanding why a mistake occurred and learning from it can be more beneficial than simply memorizing correct answers. This reflection helps in grasping the nuances of word usage and context, contributing to a more in-depth mastery of the language.

By incorporating regular vocabulary tests and quizzes into your study regimen, you are actively engaging in a process of continuous improvement. Not only do these assessments help solidify your existing knowledge, but they also uncover new words and meanings, ensuring a steady and robust enhancement of your vocabulary.

7. Write Regularly

Fostering a habit of regular writing is instrumental in effectively enhancing one’s vocabulary. Engaging in frequent writing exercises offers a practical avenue to utilize newly acquired words and solidify their meanings and usage. One of the simplest and most impactful forms of writing is journaling. By keeping a daily or weekly journal, individuals can not only express their thoughts and experiences but also make a conscious effort to incorporate unfamiliar words, thereby enriching their lexicon.

Blogging is another formidable option for those seeking to know how to improve their vocabulary. This medium encourages writing within a specific domain of interest, which offers opportunities for targeted vocabulary expansion. Crafting blog posts on varied subjects can help writers stumble upon and adopt niche terminologies and expressions, making their language repertoire more diverse and sophisticated.

Essay writing, often associated with academic exercises, also serves as an excellent practice for vocabulary enhancement. Structuring arguments, presenting evidence, and articulating conclusions require a precise and, at times, more formal choice of words. By engaging in such structured writing tasks, one can experiment with and adopt a wide range of lexical items that extend beyond colloquial usage.

An essential component of writing regularly to improve vocabulary is reviewing and editing one’s work. During the review process, writers should focus on identifying repetitive or simple words and replacing them with more advanced synonyms. This practice not only diversifies the vocabulary but also encourages a deeper understanding of word meanings and context-appropriate usage.

Lastly, experimenting with different writing styles and genres can significantly contribute to vocabulary growth. From creative fiction to informative articles or technical reports, each genre requires a unique set of vocabulary. By dabbling in various forms of writing, individuals can develop versatility and depth in their word usage. Ultimately, consistent writing, coupled with mindful editing and genre experimentation, crafts a more articulate and proficient communicator.

8. Explore Etymology

Understanding the origins and roots of words, a practice known as etymology offers a profound approach to expanding one’s lexicon. Studying etymology reveals the interconnectedness of words and unraveling their histories can dramatically improve your vocabulary. By delving into the roots of words, learners not only grasp their meanings more fully but also establish enduring memory connections that aid in retention.

The study of etymology unveils the genealogy of words, tracing their evolution through languages and cultures. For instance, the word “benevolent” derives from the Latin roots ‘bene’ meaning “good” and ‘volent’ meaning “wishing”. Recognizing these components helps in understanding and memorizing the term. Similarly, comprehending common prefixes, such as ‘un-‘ meaning “not”, or suffixes like ‘-ology’ meaning “the study of,” empowers learners to decipher unfamiliar words. By breaking down complex words into comprehensible parts, one can extrapolate their meanings even without prior exposure.

Additionally, exploring shared roots among words reveals meaningful connections. The root ‘scrib,’ meaning “to write,” appears in words like “describe,” “inscribe,” and “manuscript.” Identifying such patterns enriches understanding and facilitates the learning of new vocabulary organically, as it aligns with cognitive recognition processes.

Numerous resources can assist in this linguistic exploration. Etymology dictionaries and dedicated websites like Etymonline provide exhaustive origins and transformations of words. Many educational apps and platforms also incorporate etymology in their learning modules, making it accessible and engaging through interactive content.

Incorporating etymological studies into your vocabulary-building regimen not only augments your repository of words but also deepens your appreciation for the richness of the language. This approach demystifies the construction and evolution of words, rendering them more approachable and memorable.

Conclusion:

Enhancing your vocabulary is an endeavor that indeed requires diligent and persistent effort. By harnessing the various strategies outlined in this blog post, from reading extensively and engaging in word games to utilizing vocabulary-building apps and keeping a vocabulary journal, you can foster significant growth in your linguistic abilities. Each of these practices, when integrated into your daily routine, contributes incrementally towards a more robust and dynamic vocabulary.

Moreover, incorporating diverse forms of media, such as podcasts and audiobooks, can further bolster your word bank and expose you to how words are used in different contexts. Engaging with new cultures and languages is another enriching method that not only improves your vocabulary but also expands your cultural awareness and understanding.

It is essential to approach this journey with the recognition that vocabulary expansion is not a finite task but rather a continuous, lifelong process. Viewing it as such enables you to embrace the learning curve, find joy in small victories, and stay motivated even when progress seems slow. Always be curious, ask questions, and never hesitate to seek out new words and expressions that pique your interest.

The key lies in consistency and making these practices a habitual part of your life. With sustained effort, you will find that not only does your vocabulary improve, but your overall communication skills will flourish. This, in turn, will open doors to new opportunities and enhance your personal and professional interactions.

So, begin today. Integrate these words into your thoughts and conversations, play with them, and let them become a natural extension of your expression. Commit to this path, and you will soon witness the transformative power of a rich and expansive vocabulary. Your linguistic prowess awaits; just take the first step and watch it grow.

Save the pin for later

• Recent Posts

• How to Rapidly Improve Your Grades - 09/09/2024
• 10 Effective Strategies to Stop Talking to Someone - 09/09/2024
• 8 Proven Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary - 09/09/2024

Words for Essay Writing

More useful words to use for essay writing to impress your teachers.

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities, teaching tools, full list of words from this list:.

• scrupulous characterized by extreme care and great effort
• assent agree or express agreement
• conciliatory making or willing to make concessions
• manifold many and varied; having many features or forms
• cessation a stopping
• supercilious having or showing arrogant superiority
• contrive make or work out a plan for; devise
• surmise infer from incomplete evidence
• analogy drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
• reproach express criticism towards
• actuate put in motion
• incongruity the quality of disagreeing
• incite provoke or stir up
• antecedent a preceding occurrence or cause or event
• remonstrate argue in protest or opposition
• unabashed not embarrassed
• acquiescence agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
• predisposition an inclination to interpret statements in a particular way

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

16 Vocabulary Words To Make You Sound Smarter

Smart words

When we write or talk, most of us tend to use a lot of familiar, simple words to make communicating quick and easy. Usually, we focus more on what we’re trying to say rather than how we say it, and that’s just fine when you’re telling your friends about the wacky hijinks you got up to on the weekend or tweeting out another hilarious cat meme.

However, when you really want to impress your teacher or your boss, it is good to have a few extraordinary words on the tip of your tongue that you confidently know how to use. Of course, you can always use our amazing Thesaurus to guide you, but we’ve gathered up some great words you can bust out in the heat of the moment to show just what a masterful wordsmith you are. ( Hmm …  or perhaps you’d prefer to besprinkle your scintillating vocabulary with these scholarly  terms.)

Ennui often headlines lists like this one probably because it just sounds so fancy. Say it with us, [ ahn- wee ]. Ennui is “a feeling of weariness or discontent resulting from a lack of interest.”

The closest word in meaning to ennui is boredom , but ennui is also an exciting alternative to its synonyms, words like apathy , tedium , or disinterest .

• Jessica was overwhelmed by ennui as she listened to the long lecture about the different types of fertilizers.

A cacophony is a “discordant mixture of sounds.” A cacophony is not pleasant to listen to, and you’ll be rushing for some earplugs if you hear one.

However, cacophony will be music to your listener’s ears when you use it to replace words like noise , racket , crash , clamor , and clatter .

• The maestro dropped the instruments down the stairs and caused a terrible cacophony that could be heard across the street.

Cicadas are known for their cacophonous buzzing, and for being confused with locusts. Do you know the difference?

quintessential

Quintessential is an adjective that describes something as being of “the purest essence” or “perfect embodiment.” For example, a quintessential children’s story would be one that has everything a person would expect to find in the perfect children’s story, such as talking animals or an important life lesson.

Quintessential is the perfect example of an upgrade to words like ideal , typical , ultimate , classic , model , or textbook .

• The comic book was a quintessential Batman story: the caped crusader used his wits and gadgets to foil the Joker’s evil schemes in the nick of time.

Guile is a noun that refers to clever or crafty intelligence.

Guile is perfect when you want to perform a sneaky switcheroo and replace words like cleverness , slyness , trickery , cunning , or craftiness .

• Robin Hood used his guile to outwit and frustrate the Sheriff of Nottingham.

insinuation

An insinuation is an “indirect or covert suggestion.” An insinuation is something (often something negative) being implied without actually saying it.

Now, far be it from us to imply that insinuation is a good substitute for the words implication , hint , suggestion , or innuendo , but you may just want to think about it is all we are saying. (Hint, hint.)

• The coach was hammered by questions that were loaded with insinuations that his team lacked discipline.

Fortuitous is an adjective that means something is a result of chance or good fortune.

What great luck! Fortuitous just so happens to be the word we were looking for to replace words like lucky , fortunate , random , accidental , and coincidental .

• In a fortuitous turn of events, the replacement stuntwoman looked exactly like the lead actress.

How fortuitous that we have a collection of different ways to wish someone good luck!

Esoteric is an adjective that describes something as being “understood or meant for a select few with special knowledge” or being “limited to a small group.”

Keep it just between us that esoteric is an upgrade to the words obscure , mysterious , arcane , mystical , or cryptic .

• The newest book was full of esoteric callbacks and references that only the most dedicated fans would get.

Opulent is an adjective that means something displays or is made of riches or vast wealth.

Opulent is a first-class upgrade to words like rich , wealthy , luxurious , lavish , swanky , and lush .

• The neighborhood had many opulent mansions that only the wealthiest people in the country could afford to live in.

A menagerie is a collection of unusual animals or the place where they are kept.

Menagerie has a pretty unique meaning, but you could use it to colorfully describe a zoo , a farm , a circus , a petting zoo , or a house full of pets .

• My brother has a lot of pets: his menagerie includes a cat, a parrot, a turtle, a snake, three bunnies, and four guinea pigs.

Add these animal adjectives to your list as well , next time you’re describing a trip to the zoo … or your own household.

Propensity is a noun that means “a natural inclination or tendency.” For example, a social media influencer probably has a p ropensity to share everything and anything with their followers.

If you know what it means, you’ll be inclined to swap in propensity for words like inclination , tendency , habit , penchant , or leaning .

• My curious kitten has a propensity for getting stuck in cardboard boxes.  

ostentatious

Ostentatious is an adjective that describes something as being intended to draw attention or describes a person as wanting to draw attention to themselves.

Ostentatious is an attention-getting alternative to words like flashy , showy , gaudy , garish , and flamboyant .

• The pop singer liked to wear ostentatious tuxedos made out of purple and pink fabrics.

circumspect

Circumspect is an adjective that describes someone as thinking carefully and not taking risks.

Circumspect is a thoughtful back-up plan to words like cautious , careful , discreet , vigilant , or wary .

• The experienced hunter was circumspect as she entered the woods, keeping an eye out for any wild animals.

Take the time to cautiously review the difference between perspective and prospective.

Apropos is an adjective and an adverb that describes something as being relevant or appropriate. Apropos is also used in the phrase apropos of , which means “concerning” or “regarding.”

Apropos is a perfect selection if you want to upgrade words like relevant , opportune , fitting , suitable , and apt .

• With Easter right around the corner, it seemed apropos to find lots of bunnies at the petting zoo.

incongruity

Incongruity is a noun that refers to something that is incongruous or the act of being incongruous. As a bonus word, incongruous is an adjective that describes something as being out of place or having parts that don’t mix well together.

Incongruity won’t be out of place if you use it instead of the words discrepancy , inconsistency , inappropriateness , or mismatch .

• My little sister’s movie collection is an incongruity of romantic comedies and slasher films.

Spurious is an adjective that describes something as being fake or not true.

Spurious is an honest-to-goodness alternative to words like fake , false , counterfeit , phony , bogus , or not real .

• The director criticized the tabloid for spreading spurious rumors that he wasn’t getting along with his lead actor.

inconspicuous

Inconspicuous is an adjective that describes something as not being easily seen or noticed.

Inconspicuous is an easily overlooked upgrade to words like hidden , unnoticeable , low-profile , low-key , and subtle .

• Aladdin tried to remain inconspicuous as he snuck past the palace guards looking for him among the crowd.

Take the quiz

You’ve seen the words— now take the quiz. Are you ready to make these a part of your everyday vocabulary? If you need a refresher, find these words in a custom word list that also allows you to practice spelling and create flashcards.

Level up your skills with these untranslatable words from around the world that describe the indescribable in English.

Can you guess the definition?

[ ban -ish ]

• By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Language Stories

Hobbies & Passions

Word Origins

Current Events

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Learn English Daily with This Quick Study Routine

The more you study and expose yourself to the English language , the better you’ll become—but you don’t have to spend hours a day studying. You can squeeze in some learning, even when you don’t have much time in your busy schedule.

Use this short but effective study routine below so you can use to help learn English daily.

5 Simple Steps to Learn English Daily

1. learn a new vocabulary word, 2. learn a new phrase, 3. strengthen your grammar skills, 4. read the news, 5. review what you learned, resources to practice english daily, 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)

Even if you don’t understand all the words you read or hear, a lot of times you can understand the basic idea of what they mean.

Instead of using context clues (the words around a vocabulary word in a sentence), take just 7 minutes a day to really learn one word well.

Or you can visit this website . Or this one . Yes, that’s right—you can learn vocabulary from a comedy website or a fashion magazine!

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.)

Try FluentU for FREE!

Vocabulary Word Exercise:

1. Get a blank piece of paper (or an index card).

2. Choose a vocabulary word to learn.

3. Divide the paper into four parts.

4. Write the vocabulary word in the center.

5. In the top left, write the definition and the part of speech (e.g. noun, adjective, verb, etc.) of the word.

6. In the top right, write a sentence using the word.

7. In the bottom left, write synonyms for the word. Synonyms are different words that mean the same thing.

8. In the bottom right, write the different forms of the word. For example, for “swim” you would also write “swims,” “swimming,” “swam” and “swum.” Try to understand when you would use each form.

Now use your new word during the day!

Phrases are just as important as individual words. If you only learn the meanings of single words, you might be able to say “How are you?” but you won’t know the phrase “What’s up?”

It’s not always obvious when something is a phrase and not just a regular sentence. One way to tell is if you hear the same words repeated in the same order more than once. You can also search for the phrase in the Free Dictionary’s idioms section .

Another way is to look them up on websites like English Daily , which has a huge list of English idioms. Not all the idioms you find on websites like English Daily are actually used in everyday English conversations though, so you’ll need to learn how and when they’re used as well.

You can also check PhraseMix , which has many lessons about more common English phrases available for free.

And of course, immersing yourself in native English media will expose you to tons of English phrases. I highly recommend this video from the FluentU English YouTube channel if you want to start learning with TV shows:

Phrase Learning Exercise:

1. Choose a phrase from any of the sources above.

2. Read the phrase and the sentence that the phrase is in.

3. Answer these questions: Does your native language use a similar phrase? When might you use the phrase?

4. Come up with your own sentence using the idiom in a way that you would in your everyday life.

Can you name all the word forms and tenses in a sentence in your own native language? You probably can’t!

As a language learner, though, it’s important to understand grammar rules.

Learn a little at a time! Choose one grammar rule to learn each day. You might be surprised at how much better you remember things when you learn them one at a time.

There are plenty of websites that give very short and clear explanations of single grammar rules. One good source is 5 Minute English .

Another great website is the British Council’s English Grammar Reference . You can test yourself here with interactive quizzes for each grammar rule.

Grammar Building Exercise:

1. Read a short grammar lesson from any of the websites mentioned above (or your own source!).

2. Visit any website you love that has at least a little writing. For this example, you can find an article in Elle .

3. Look for examples of the grammar rule being used on the website. For example, if you’re learning about conditionals, you can search the page for the word “if” (just press Ctrl+F and enter the words you’re looking for).

Reading the news in English not only helps you learn the language. It also gives you something current to talk about when you meet with others who are speaking English.

There are many websites with news articles written for English learners. Voice of America has articles that are easy enough to understand but still have some challenging words and sentences. Breaking News English and News In Levels have different levels of news that you can choose based on your English skill level.

You can also visit any English news website like Yahoo News  or ABC News , but articles on these websites can be harder to understand.

If you love technology, you might enjoy TechCrunch . If you prefer music news, maybe MTV is the better website for you.

Check out this video to find more tips and resources for learning English with the News:

News Reading (and Speaking) Exercise:

1. Find a news article that interests you.

2. Scan the article for words you don’t know and find their definition. That means you should look through the article without actually reading every word.

3. Read the article.

4. Did you understand at least the basic idea of the article? Explain out loud what the article was about as if you’re talking to someone about it.

Take five minutes to review (go over) the things you studied. How much do you actually remember from what you learned?

Review Exercise:

1. When you do this exercise, do everything out loud to practice speaking. Write everything down on paper to practice writing. You can also quietly review it all in your head.

2. Use your new vocabulary word in a sentence.

3. Use your new phrase in a sentence.

4. Use the grammar rule you learned in a sentence.

5. Summarize the article you read in a sentence or two.

• Language exchange apps. Tandem and HelloTalk are popular choices for language exchange apps. They let you connect with native speakers online. You can make video or audio calls, send text messages, post on your feed and more. Your language partners help you learn English and in exchange, you help them learn your native language. You can read our in-depth HelloTalk review here and our Tandem review here .
• Use free daily learning apps. For example, the Learn English Daily app teaches you everyday vocabulary. It includes lessons like “100 Common Conversations,” “Essential Phrases,” “Essential Words” and more. It includes pronunciation guides, basic grammar and even advanced lessons. “Word of the Day” apps are also incredibly useful—they teach you one new word every day.
• Conversation videos on YouTube.  YouTube has hundreds of hours worth of English conversations geared towards learners. For example, the Daily English Conversation channel has over 300 videos of English conversations and listening practice videos.

If you feel like you don’t have enough time to learn English daily, now you do! All it takes is about 35 minutes per day and you’ll discover how fun and easy learning English can really be.

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:

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.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

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

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.

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.)

Related posts:

Enter your e-mail address to get your free pdf.

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe