Verbs for essay writing. Introductory words and expressions when writing essays, essays in English

Introductory phrases for essays.

Sample essay with arguments for and against

EXERCISE:

In western countriesafter secondary school , students very often do not continue immediately with their studies, but they take a one year break, called a ‘gap year’, when they travel or do voluntary work.Write an argumentative essay presenting arguments for and against the gap year.

(Introduction to the topic) In today’s world of fierce competition, it is important for young people to get well-prepared for the challenges of the future. Thus the institution of gap year can be regarded as a step in the right direction though it is also not without its problems.

(Arguments for) In its favor, the gap year seems to be useful psychologically as it helps young people understand their needs and interest better before they actually commit themselves to any particular career path. Besides the gap year has educational advantages because it offers a lot of opportunities to learn about the world and one’s own place in it. For all these reasons, the gap year can be regarded as a positive social institution.

(Arguments against) However, as critics are quick to point out, the gap year can in fact t be harmful as it interrupts with the rhythm of learning and often makes it difficult for students to return to their studies. Apart from that, unfortunately not every young person can afford to travel around the world and many of them end up sitting around at home, which can be very demotivating.

(Summing up) All in all, the gap year may arouse mixed feelings, but still thousands of people every year take a year off. One can only hope they will use it fruitfully, minimizing the dangers and taking full advantage of its benefits.

The goal of learning written English may be different for everyone: someone needs to take international exams where they need to pass the written part, someone needs to write letters for work, and someone wants to blog in English. The introductory phrases for writing an essay in English, which we will consider today, will also be needed in order to beautifully express your opinion orally.

Before we begin, I want to give a small recommendation that may seem obvious, but many people neglect it: before writing an essay or letter, make a plan. Many students consider this optional, but a clear outline will help indicate what issues you want to address in the essay. For example, if you are writing an essay for an exam, the task itself can be quite lengthy, and it is very easy to miss one of the questions posed, simply because you are immersed in your own thoughts and forget about it. A plan also helps reduce thinking time and get you started writing faster. For me, the most difficult thing about writing an essay is starting to write it. The given topic may be so alien to me that I have a question: what exactly can I write here? Or, on the contrary, there may be so many different thoughts on a given question that I’m at a loss as to where it’s best to start, and how to put all this mess in my head into a beautiful, structured text, and fit into the given word limit. In this case, the plan helps me a lot. Having spent 5 minutes writing it, I already know where to start and how to continue.

The phrases that we have given below will help you start your thought correctly and win a few correctly written words if you are writing an essay specifically for the exam.

What can you write in the first paragraph of an essay in English:

When starting to write an essay, it is important to voice the statement of the problem, and it is also worth noting what position you take on this issue. There is no need to fully disclose your opinion in the first paragraph, just express it in general terms. For example, you need to express your opinion about which vacation is better: passive or active. Then you can start your essay something like this:

• Most people think that the best way to spend their vacation is to lie on the beach and do nothing, but in my opinion, the more active you are - the more energy you will have.

Most people think that the best way to spend a vacation is to lie on the beach and do nothing, but I personally believe that the more active you are, the more energy you will have.
In this paragraph you are only expressing your opinion in general terms. Why you think this way - you will write in the next paragraph.

Now let's move on to phrases that can be used in the first paragraph of the essay:

• Most people think/suppose/reckon/consider that... - Many people think that...

If you are writing an essay for an exam, it is better to replace the word think with synonyms to demonstrate good vocabulary.

• Many people believe (any other synonym can be used instead of believe) ...., but others don’t agree. — Many people think... but others do not agree with this opinion.
• It is generally agreed today that...
• Today, with increased frequency - today more and more often...

Let's say you need to write an essay in which you need to compare live communication with communication on social networks. Then you can start it like this:

• Today, with increased frequency, people prefer to tell the news, using their phones, instead of doing it face-to-face.
• Today, more and more, people prefer to share news using their phones instead of doing it face to face.

Consider the following cliché phrases in English:

• For the great majority of people... - for the majority of people...
• We live in a world in which... - we live in a world in which
• They / people often say that ... - people often say that ....

Don't forget that we can replace the word people with they. We can also use them when talking about a person whose gender we do not know. That is, instead of writing ‘she or he’, you can simply write ‘they’.

At the end of the first paragraph, after you have written the introduction, you can summarize your arguments:

• Let us consider what the advantages and disadvantages of ... are - let us consider what the advantages and disadvantages are ...
• Let's consider some pros and cons of it. - Let's look at some pros and cons.
• Let us start by considering some facts. — Let's start by looking at some facts.
• I suppose we should start by looking at some facts - I suppose we should start by looking at the facts

Here are the arguments for and against:

• First of all, it is worth mentioning/highlighting the fact that... - First of all, it is worth noting/emphasizing the fact that...
• To begin with, ... - Let's start with that ...
• Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... - Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... .
• On the one hand…., but on the other hand…. on the one hand..., but on the other hand...

Don’t forget that if you write ‘firstly’, then you should also write ‘secondly’ so that the structure of the essay is logical. The same goes for ‘on the one hand’.

• One argument in support of - one argument in support
• The first thing that needs to be said is - the first thing that needs to be said is...
• First and foremost I want to highlight that... - first of all, I want to emphasize that...
• It is true that... the truth is that
• It is clear that - it is clear that...
• It is undeniable that.. - it cannot be denied that...
• It is a well-known fact that...
• A number of crucial issues arise from the statement. For example / for instance, ... - This statement raises many key issues. Eg,….
• One of the most striking features of this problem is - One of the most striking aspects of this problem...
• Another good thing about… is that…. - the second positive aspect regarding…. - this is what…
• What is more,… . - moreover…
  Besides, besides this...
• What I meant to say is that... - I meant that...
  Although... - although...
• In spite of... - despite...
• In spite of widespread belief that…., in my opinion…. — contrary to popular belief that…., I believe….
• Furthermore, one should not forget that .. - moreover, we should not forget that...
• In addition / moreover - in addition
• Thus, - in this way
• Nevertheless, one should accept that - However, it should be admitted that ...
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ... - Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ... .
• It would be unfair not to mention that fact that... - It would be unfair not to mention the fact that...
• We cannot ignore the fact that…. - we cannot ignore the fact that...

You can confirm your opinion by asking the reader to imagine a certain situation; this can be done using the phrase:

• Let us concede that - let’s say that...
• We are not warranted in believing.. - we have no reason to believe...
• The most common argument against this is that... - the most common argument against this is that...

Synonyms for think

We already wrote above that it is better to replace the word ‘think’ with synonyms to make the speech look richer.

• I believe... - it should be remembered that believe can mean not only “to believe”, but also to think, to believe, to be convinced. This word means your confidence in a particular issue.

You can enhance the effect by saying:

• I strongly believe... - I am firmly convinced
• I suppose... - to believe, to admit...
• In my opinion / On my mind - in my opinion...
• I’m of opinion that... - I believe that...
• it can believe that - it can be assumed that
• I ween - I think, I believe, I hope..
• As I can judge... - as far as I can judge...

We refer to the opinion of experts

Many teachers advise, whenever possible, to support your arguments with the opinions of experts.

• We can’t be dismissive of experts’ opinion... - we cannot neglect the opinion of experts...
• Experts in this field have a theory - experts in this field believe that (experts in this field have a theory)
• Specialists in this area are convinced that... - specialists in this area are convinced that...
• Experts emphasize that... - experts emphasize that...
• From these facts, one may conclude that - based on these facts, one can conclude...
• Which seems to confirm the idea that .. - which seems to confirm the idea that...

We draw conclusions:

In the last paragraph it is worth summing up the above and emphasizing your point of view. To do this, you can use the following linking words:

• To sum up what has been said - let’s summarize what was said;

Or you can simply write:

• To sum up, to summarise - let’s sum it up in this way
• In conclusion, I want to say that although...
• To draw the conclusion, one can say that - To summarize, we can say that
• The arguments we have presented prove that - the arguments presented prove that...
• So it’s up to everyone to decide whether ... or not - everyone must decide for themselves ... whether or not.

These introductory phrases for writing essays in English will help you write high-quality, coherent text, as well as express your opinion beautifully. Learn at least some of them - it definitely won’t be superfluous :).

From this article you will learn what ( linking words) are used in written English work, such as essays. This type of work belongs to the official style and has been included in the Unified State Examination in English since 2014. You can familiarize yourself with the rules for writing an essay here - At the end of the article you will also find USEFUL TIPS,

Linking words in written English work

Let's share everything linking words into groups to make it clearer what they serve:

I. Opinion Words

II. Introducing Words

III. Listing Words

IV. Adding Words

Words Another thing & too- cannot be used in an essay, since they belong to an informal style, characteristic, for example, of a personal letter.

The third and fourth groups are interchangeable!

V. Contrasting Words

Word But- cannot be used in an essay, since it belongs to an informal style, characteristic, for example, of a personal letter.

VI. Giving Examples

VII. Concluding Words

VIII. Cause and Effect Words

Be sure to use cause-and-effect conjunctions in your English essay, as they will help you express your thoughts logically, and this is very, very IMPORTANT.

Explore this below essay template to understand how to correctly use all of the above linking words in an English essay.

* * *

But that is not all! The most difficult thing is that you will have to write an essay in English in a limited time - 40 minutes. How to do this as efficiently as possible?

HOW TO WRITE AN ENGLISH ESSAY IN 40 MINUTES 1) read the assignment and identify the main problem; 2) decide on your point of view (are you for or against); 3) write arguments (2-3) and their rationale on a draft; 4) reflect various aspects of the problem (social, economic, moral); 5) reveal one of the aspects in more detail; 6) and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, You should write an essay without a draft, keeping in mind the essay template (below)

IMPORTANT: The essay belongs to the official style, therefore abbreviations like: isn't, don't, that's why phrasal verbs and other colloquial expressions such as those characteristic of informal style ( of course, etc.) do not use parentheses and exclamation marks for the same reason, do not start a sentence with the words But or And. Use any word from group 4 instead.

Writing an essay is a prerequisite for entering a foreign university, passing an international exam, or being hired. To be admitted to MBA programs at prestigious foreign business schools, you need to provide not only an essay, but also an essay in which you present yourself as the best candidate for studying in this program. The quality of the essay will depend not only on your level of English proficiency, but also, first of all, on the level of development of your writing skill. , we have already told.

In addition, a high-quality essay requires not only emotionality, interesting content, details that will attract attention, but also correct formatting. It’s good if you write your essay at home, in a calm environment and are not limited in time. For example, you have one or two days to write and edit. But what if the essay is part of the exam? Then you are limited in time, and your emotional mood is not the same: you need to write quickly and competently. In this case, introductory phrases that you can use when writing your work will help you. Such phrases will help not only to structure the entire text, but also to make it logically consistent, coherent, and reasoned.

Phrases for formulating the main thesis of an essay in English

Fear of a blank sheet, especially at a crucial moment in the exam, is not the best help. If you sit for too long and think about how to start an essay, you are unlikely to finish it. Or you will have too little time to edit it. Therefore, it is better to know a few phrases that you can use at the beginning of your written work.

Linking words for listing arguments:

Phrases for argumentation and summing up

If you want to support your idea with someone's authoritative opinion or refer to someone, you can also use standard phrases and phrases:

• Experts... Experts...
• believe that ... believe that ... .
• say that ... .... they say that ... .
• suggest that ... ... suggest that ... .
• are convinced that…. ... are convinced that ... .
• point out that…. ... note that ... .
• emphasize that... ...emphasize that...
• According to some experts... according to some experts, ... .

There is also a certain set of phrases with which you can summarize your essay and draw conclusions.

• From these facts, one may conclude that... . Based on the above facts, we can conclude that
• Which seems to confirm the idea that ... . This, as we see, confirms our idea that... .
• Thus, ... / Therefore,... Therefore... ./ Thus....
• The most common argument against this is that ... . The most common argument against this is that
• In conclusion, I can say that although … , … . In conclusion, I can say that although... , ... .
• To draw the conclusion, one can say that…. To sum it up, we can say that... .

Standard introductory phrases will be able to frame your written work within a certain framework, which is mandatory for such an official document as an essay for admission to a university.

Introductory phrases for writing essays in English.

The beginning of an essay (in fact, an essay on a given topic) is a statement of the problem. In the first paragraph (introduction), you need to tell the reader the topic of your essay, paraphrasing it, using synonyms of keywords (showing that you have understood it). Then you should hint to the reader what position you will take. Use impersonal or vaguely personal sentences to emphasize your objectivity.

1. Many people think... but others do not agree. Many people think (that) ..., but others disagree.
2. Let us consider what the advantages and disadvantages of… are. Let's look at what the advantages and disadvantages are... .
3. Let's consider some pros and cons of it. Let's look at some of the pros and cons (of this).
4. Let us start by considering the facts. Let's start by looking at the facts.
5. Let us start by considering pros and cons of it. Let's start by looking at the pros and cons (of it).
6. It is generally agreed today that... Today it is generally agreed that...

The following phrases can be used when you want to consider the pros and cons. Don't forget to use linking words.

1. To begin with, … . Let's begin with that... .
2. You can…. You can (You can) ... .
3. Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... . Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... .
4. One argument in support of ... . One of the arguments in support... .
5. The first thing that needs to be said is... . The first thing to say is that... . (First of all, it should be said that ....)
6. First and foremost…. First of all … .

1. It is true that ... / clear that ... / noticeable that ... . It is true that... / It is clear that... / It is noteworthy that...
2. One should note here that... . It should be noted here that... .

1. Another good thing about… is that…. Another positive point...is (that)....
2. The second reason for... . The second reason... .
3. It is often said that... . It is often said that...
4. It is undeniable that... It cannot be denied that... .
5. It is a well-known fact that... It is well known that... .
6. For the great majority of people... . For the vast majority of people... .
7. We live in a world in which... . We live in a world in which... .
8. A number of key issues arise from the statement. For instance, ... . This statement raises a number of key issues. For example, ... .
9. One of the most striking features of this problem is... . One of the most striking aspects of this problem... .
10. First of all, let us try to understand... . First of all, let's try to understand... .
11. The public in general tend to believe that ... . The public as a whole tends to believe that... .

1. What is more,… . Moreover, ... .
2. Besides, … because it is … . Besides... because... .
3. Doubtless, ... . Undoubtedly...
4. One cannot deny that... . It cannot be denied that... .
5. It is (very) clear from these observations that ... . From these observations it is (absolutely) clear that... .

1. On the other hand, we can observe that... . On the other hand, we can observe that... .
2. The other side of the coin is, however, that ... . However, on the other hand...
3. Another way of looking at this question is to ... . To look at this problem from the other side, you need... .
4. One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle. However, we should look at this problem from a different perspective.
5. One should, however, not forget that ... . However, we should not forget that...
6. If on the one hand it can be said that ... the same is not true for ... . And if, on the one hand, we can say that..., the same cannot be said about....
7. On the other hand, … . On the other side, ... .
8. Although…. Although... .
9. Besides... Besides, ... .
10. Moreover,…. Moreover, … .
11. Furthermore, one should not forget that ... . In addition, we should not forget that... .
12. In addition to... . Except (that) ... .
13. Nevertheless, one should accept that... . However, it must be recognized that... .
14. However, we also agree that... . However, we also agree that... .

You can support your idea with the opinion of (some abstract) experts.

1. Experts... Experts...

Believe that... ... think that … .

Say that... ... they say that … .

Suggest that... ... assume that ... .

Are convinced that…. ... are convinced that ... .

Point out that…. ... note that ... .

Emphasize that... ...emphasize that...

1. According to some experts... According to some experts, ... .
2. Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ... . Perhaps we should also note the fact that... .
3. It would be unfair not to mention that fact that ... . It would be unfair not to mention the fact that... .
4. One must admit that... . We must admit that... .
5. We cannot ignore the fact that... . We cannot ignore the fact that... .
6. One cannot possibly accept the fact that ... . It's hard to come to terms with the fact that... .
7. From these facts, one may conclude that... . From these facts, we can conclude that... .
8. Which seems to confirm the idea that ... . Which seems to confirm the idea that...
9. Thus, ... / Therefore,... Thus, ... / Therefore... .
10. The most common argument against this is that ... . The most common argument against this is that... .

At the end of the essay, you draw a conclusion.

1. In conclusion, I can say that although … , … . In conclusion, I can say that although... , ... .
2. To draw the conclusion, one can say that…. To sum it up, we can say that... .
3. So it’s up to everyone to decide whether … or not. So everyone must decide for themselves...whether...or not.
4. The arguments we have presented ... suggest that ... / prove that ... / would indicate that ... . The arguments we have presented... presuppose that... / prove that... / indicate that... .
5. From these arguments one must ... / could... / might ... conclude that ... . Based on these arguments, it is necessary... / it is possible... / it would be possible... to come to the conclusion that... .