In IELTS Writing Task 2 you should avoid using informal English. Obviously, slang is inappropriate, however, many everyday words and expressions we use in speech are too informal for an essay, especially an academic essay. You should try to maintain a semi-formal or formal register throughout.
Tips for avoiding an informal register in your essay:
1. Don’t use contractions
Avoid contractions such as I’m, they’re, we’re, etc.
2. Avoid using “get”
Get can have many meanings but it is more informal than the other verbs with the same meaning such as, receive, obtain, arrive, travel, reach, and attain.
Example: Passengers can get to work on public transport (informal) > passengers can travel to work on public transport. (academic)
3. Avoid using idioms
Idioms are widely used in spoken English and informal writing, but are not generally used in formal English writing, so avoid using them in IELTS Writing Task 2.
Example: It is common for people who speak different languages to get the wrong end of the stick (informal) > It is common for people who speak different languages to misunderstand each other. (more formal)
4. Be careful with phrasal verbs
While many phrasal verbs are semi-formal and can be used in IELTS Writing Task 2, some phrasal verbs are informal. If you are not sure, it is better to choose an alternative verb or phrase with the same meaning. As you learn phrasal verbs, pay attention to their register - can they be used in more formal writing?
Example: It is important to hang out with family (informal) > It is important to spend time with family (more formal).
Below are some examples of some informal phrasal verbs to avoid and more formal verbs and expressions you can use instead:
hang out > spend time
fork out > pay
get along/ on > have a good relationship
get rid of > dispose
check out > examine/ evaluate
show off > try to impress/ flaunt
5. Use real nouns + of instead of gerunds
In general, real nouns sound more formal than a gerund made from a noun. For example,, “the exclusion of the young” sounds more formal than “excluding the young”*.
*If you would like to emphasise the continuous nature of an action it is sometimes preferable to use the gerund instead of the real noun. However, for IELTS writing task 2, in the majority of the time, the real noun is preferable.
6. Avoid overgeneralisation
Your essay will appear more academic if you avoid overgeneralisation. In addition, the IELTS marking criteria show that to achieve above band 7 for Task Response you should avoid over-generalising.
This is quite easy to do. Qualify statements so that they are more limited. Instead of saying, “people aren’t willing to pay extra for their grocery items”, you should say, “many people aren’t willing…”. Likewise, instead of saying, “there is a problem with congestion and traffic jams in city centres”, you should say, “there are often problems with congestion and traffic jams in the majority of city centres”.
You can also qualify statements with adverbs of probability. So, instead of saying, “this will lead to a reduction”, you should say, “this will probably/ likely lead to a reduction” or “in most cases this will lead to a reduction”.
7. Avoid using “I” too often
In formal writing, we tend to avoid using “I” a lot. It is ok to use “I believe” or “I think” in your introduction, but after the introduction try to present ideas without “I”. You can usually show your opinion without mentioning yourself using modal verbs such as should, and expressions such as it would be beneficial/ advantageous if….
Example: I think that governments should provide free meals to schoolchildren > Governments should provide free meals to schoolchildren.
Example: I think that governments should provide free meals to schoolchildren > It would be beneficial if the government provided free meals to school children
8. Use the passive voice
The passive voice tends to be used a lot in formal English. Use it regularly in IELTS Writing Task 2 to sound more formal.
Example: Teachers teach children important skills at school > Children are taught important skills at school.
Example: You can enjoy a wider variety of goods and services > A wider variety of goods and services can be enjoyed.
9. Common informal words and their more formal synonyms (informal: more formal):
Below, I've compiled a list of informal words commonly used in IELTS Writing with more formal alternatives. Remember that you should only use words that you know. Do not assume that the formal synonym will always fit in a sentence in place of the informal word. In most cases, they will, however, sometimes words are only appropriate in certain contexts.
about: concerning/ regarding
after/ later/ then: subsequently
aim/ goal: objective
as well: in addition
ask: enquire
ask for: request
ban: prohibit/ forbid
besides/ as well/ also: moreover/ furthermore/ in addition
but: however
buy: purchase
can: be able to
change: modify/ revise
cheap: economical/ reasonable
choose: select
decide: determine
do: carry out/ implement/ perform/ undertake
enough: sufficient
find: locate
get: receive/ obtain/ arrive/ reach/ attain
give: provide/ supply
grow: foster
guess: estimate
have: own/ possess
help/ make possible: facilitate
in the end: ultimately
large: substantial/ significant
leave out: exclude
let: allow/ authorise/ give permission/ permit
main: principal/ predominant
make: produce/ generate
make sure: ensure
many: numerous/ a great deal of/ a large amount of
meet: encounter
most: the majority of
move: transfer
need: require
often: frequently
pay back: reimburse
plus: additionally
predict: envisage/ foresee
problem: difficulty/ challenge
reason: factor
send/ give: submit
show: demonstrate/ indicate/ suggest/ illustrate
so: consequently/ as a result/ in consequence
spending: expenditure
tell/ say/ talk: inform/ communicate/ update/ advise/ discuss/ state
test/ check: evaluate
the same as: equivalent to
think about: consider
try: attempt
until now/ up to now: to date
use (noun): usage/ utilisation
use (verb): utilise
wages/ salary: remuneration
want: wish for/ desire
wrong: erroneous/ inappropriate/ unsuitable
Exercise 1:
There are 9 instances of informal English in the following essay paragraph. Find and correct them so that a more formal register is used throughout. (See points 1 - 8)
Apartments are cheaper to have than houses for several reasons. Firstly, I think that apartment owners do not need to fork out as much for maintenance as homeowners. For example, paying for the repair of a house’s roof can cost an arm and a leg. Houses are more expensive to heat or cool than apartments as well. Even if you properly insulate a house, it will lose more heat than an apartment and be less energy efficient.
Exercise 2:
There are 9 words or phrases in the following essay paragraph with a more formal alternative. Find them and replace them with the more formal alternative. (See point 9)
Governments should not ban a product just because it is bad for one’s health. Most people can make rational and informed decisions and should therefore be free to choose the products they want without government involvement. Plus, governments can collect a large amount of tax from the sale of unhealthy products. For example, tax on cigarettes and alcohol give governments a huge amount of revenue. In the end, consumers should make their own decisions about their health, and meanwhile, the state will benefit from high tax revenues on unhealthy products.
Answer Key:
Exercise 1:
Apartments are more economical to own than houses for several reasons. Firstly, (-) apartment owners are not required to pay as much for maintenance as homeowners. For example, paying for the repair of a house’s roof can cost a huge amount. In addition, houses are more expensive to heat or cool than apartments. Even if a house is properly insulated, it will likely lose more heat than an apartment and be less energy efficient.
Exercise 2:
Governments should not prohibit a product just because it is bad for one’s health. The majority of people are able to make rational and informed decisions and should therefore be free to select the products they want without government involvement. Additionally, governments can collect a substantial/ significant amount of tax from the sale of unhealthy products. For example, tax on cigarettes and alcohol provide governments with a huge amount of revenue. Ultimately, consumers should make their own decisions concerning/ regarding their health, and meanwhile, the state will benefit from high tax revenues on unhealthy products.
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