IELTS Writing: Phrases To Avoid

There are a lot of common phrases students like to use in their writing, and a great many schools who will teach them to you. There are some phrases you should not be using (even if your teacher says you can), they are what we are looking at today. We will also suggest some better phrases to use too.

In my judgment

Good or bad? It is a good phrase, but you have to be careful. Academic English doesn’t use personal pronouns. 

Suggestion: It could be said that … / An overall judgement might be …

Note: US English judgment UK English judgement   

Every coin has two sides

Good or bad? This is terrible, for a few reasons, firstly it is old fashioned, secondly it is not academic, and thirdly too many English language learners use it 

Suggestion: An alternative view would be … / Another point to consider is …

I reckon / believe / think

Good or bad? Not good at all, it is for informal writing or speaking. Also again, you should not be using personal pronouns in your academic writing.

Suggestion: It could perhaps be that … / It might be the case that …

As I said before

Good or bad? Another phrase that you should keep for spoken English or informal writing, as it is not academic enough.

Suggestion: As referred to, as mention before, as previously mentioned / referred to

By and large

Good or bad? This is great, as long as you are using it to mean overall, in general or considering everything

There has been heated / strong / intense debate (about something)

Good or bad? You need to be careful with this a heated, strong or intense debate would mean it is an issue, which makes people very emotional when they discuss either side of the issue. Often your IELTS questions are not over such emotional issues.

The point I am trying to make is

Good or bad? Again this is not good, using personal pronouns again. Secondly if you write this, it would mean that everything you have written before it was not clear. 

Suggestion: They key point is … / The relevant idea is …

Owing to the fact that

Good or bad? Great, it is a better way to say ‘because’ and it is 5 words instead of 1 too.     

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