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Essay Writing

Thanks to Shahzeb for contributing the notes!

Useful Expressions for Essay Writing

Introduction

first of all
to begin with
in order to decide whether.... or not
to outline the main points
firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally / eventually

Enumerating arguments

in addition to
additionally
besides
moreover
furthermore
above all

Weighing arguments

on one hand..... on the other hand
to consider the advantages and disadvantages
arguments for and against
to discuss the pros and cons
in theory ... in reality
both... and....
not only ... but also
anyway / at any rate / in any case
in fact / actually / as a matter of fact
up to a point
so to speak
by no means / not at all

Making comparisons

compared to / in comparison with
to draw / make a comparison between ...and
similarly
as well as

Restrictions

however / though
nevertheless
whereas
although / though / even though
in spite of / despite
unlike
in contrast to / with something
on the contrary
something is contrary to something

Refering to

with reference to
regarding
as regards
as far as ... is concerned
according to (according to is used to introduce someone else's opinion. Don't say "according to me")

Emphasizing

I’d like to point out that
I’d like to emphasize

Generalizing

on the whole
in general / generally speaking
as a rule
to some extent
to a large extent / to what extent ?
in many ways
in all respects
in most / many cases
basically

Giving examples

for example / for instance
such as / including
in particular / particularly
to give you an example of what I mean
to illustrate this point
what I mean is
et cetera / and so on / and so forth
that is to say / i.e

Making exceptions

apart from
except
with the exception of

Giving reasons

because
as / since
because of
the reason for this is
the reason why
for some reasons or another
I have every reason to believe that

Consequences

therefore
consequently / as a result
for this reason / all these reasons

Personal point of view

I think that
in my opinion/ in my view / to my mind
this is a matter of opinion
in my experience
as far as I know
as far as I am concerned
to be aware / unaware of a problem
to tell the truth
the fact is that
I am convinced that
I firmly believe that
I feel something should be done about that

Agreeing

I entirely / absolutely agree with
that’s exactly my own view
I’m of exactly the same opinion
that’s perfectly true
I’d like to support this view

Disagreeing

I partly disagree with
I don’t entirely agree with
I agree in principle, but
That’s not the way I see it
I see things rather differently myself
I’m not at all convinced that
I’m not absolutely sure

Interest, Plans, Intentions

to be interested in something / in doing something
It interests me a lot
My main / particular interest is
I have the intention of doing
I am prepared to do something
I am determined to do something
I’m planning to do something
I’m very keen on doing something

Lack of interest

I find ... rather uninteresting / boring
I don’t take any interest in
It’s all the same to me whether
It means nothing to me

Summarizing and drawing conclusions

finally
last of all
last but not least
in conclusion / to conclude
we can draw the conclusion
to sum up / to summarize we can say
all in all
in short / in brief / briefly
all things considered
the subject under discussion
I find it difficult to reach a conclusion but I’m tempted to say

Modifying adverbs

totally / entirely / completely
mostly / mainly / chiefly
partly
comparatively / relatively
extremely / incredibly

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