Academic Phrasebank
Introducing work.
- GENERAL LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS
- Being cautious
- Being critical
- Classifying and listing
- Compare and contrast
- Defining terms
- Describing trends
- Describing quantities
- Explaining causality
- Giving examples
- Signalling transition
- Writing about the past
There are many ways to introduce an academic essay or short paper. Most academic writers, however, appear to do one or more of the following in their introductions:
- establish the context, background and/or importance of the topic
- present an issue, problem, or controversy in the field of study
- define the topic and/or key terms used in the paper
- state the purpose of the essay or short paper
- provide an overview of the coverage and/or structure of the writing
Slightly less complex introductions may simply inform the reader: what the topic is, why it is important, and how the writing is organised. In very short assignments, it is not uncommon for a writer to commence simply by stating the purpose of their writing.
Introductions to research dissertations and theses tend to be relatively short compared to the other sections of the text but quite complex in terms of their functional elements. Some of the more common elements include:
- establishing the context, background and/or importance of the topic
- giving a brief review of the relevant academic literature
- identifying a problem, controversy or a knowledge gap in the field of study
- stating the aim(s) of the research and the research questions or hypotheses
- providing a synopsis of the research design and method(s)
- explaining the significance or value of the study
- defining certain key terms
- providing an overview of the dissertation or report structure
Examples of phrases which are commonly employed to realise these functions can be seen by clicking on the headings listed below. Note that there may be a certain amount of overlap between some of the categories under which the phrases are listed. Also, the order in which the different categories of phrases are shown reflects a typical order but this is far from fixed or rigid, and not all the elements are present in all introductions.
A number of analysts have identified common patterns in the introductions of research articles. One of the best known patterns is the CARS model (create a research space) first described by John Swales (1990). This model, which utilises an ecological metaphor, has, in its simplest form, three elements or moves:
- Establishing the territory (establishing importance of the topic, reviewing previous work)
- Identifying a niche (indicating a gap in knowledge)
- Occupying the niche (listing purpose of new research, listing questions, stating the value of the work, indicating the structure of the writing)
Establishing the importance of the topic for the world or society
X is fundamental to … X has a pivotal role in … X is frequently prescribed for … X is fast becoming a key instrument in … X plays a vital role in the metabolism of … X plays a critical role in the maintenance of … Xs have emerged as powerful platforms for … X is essential for a wide range of technologies. X can play an important role in addressing the issue of … Xs are the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known. There is evidence that X plays a crucial role in regulating … X is a common condition which has considerable impact on … In the new global economy, X has become a central issue for … Evidence suggests that X is among the most important factors for … X is important for a wide range of scientific and industrial processes. Xs are one of the most widely used groups of antibacterial agents and … There is a growing body of literature that recognises the importance of … X is an important component in the climate system, and plays a key role in Y. In the history of development economics, X has been thought of as a key factor in … Xs are one of the most widely used groups of Y and have been extensively used for ….
Establishing the importance of the topic for the discipline
A key aspect of X is … X is of interest because … X is a classic problem in … A primary concern of X is … X is a dominant feature of … X is an important aspect of … X is a fundamental property of … The concepts of X and Y are central to … X is at the heart of our understanding of … Investigating X is a continuing concern within … X is a major area of interest within the field of … X has been studied by many researchers using … X has been an object of research since the 1960s. X has been the subject of many classic studies in … X has been instrumental in our understanding of … The theory of X provides a useful account of how … Central to the entire discipline of X is the concept of … X is an increasingly important area in applied linguistics. The issue of X has received considerable critical attention. X has long been a question of great interest in a wide range of fields.
Establishing the importance of the topic (time frame given)
Recently, there has been renewed interest in … Traditionally, Xs have subscribed to the belief that … One of the most important events of the 1970s was … In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in … Recent developments in X have heightened the need for … The last two decades have seen a growing trend towards … Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in … Over the past century, there has been a dramatic increase in … Recent trends in X have led to a proliferation of studies that … X proved an important literary genre in the early Y community. The past decade has seen the rapid development of X in many … Since it was reported in 2005, X has been attracting a lot of interest. Recently, a considerable literature has grown up around the theme of … Recent developments in the field of X have led to a renewed interest in … The past thirty years have seen increasingly rapid advances in the field of … The changes experienced by X over the past decade remain unprecedented. In light of recent events in X, it is becoming extremely difficult to ignore the existence of …
Establishing the importance of the topic as a problem to be addressed
X is a major problem in … Of particular concern is … One of the main obstacles … One of the greatest challenges … A key issue is the safe disposal of … The main disadvantage of X is that … X is associated with increased risk of … X impacts negatively upon a range of … X is a common disorder characterised by … It is now well established that X can impair … X has led to the decline in the population of … X is a growing public health concern worldwide. The main challenge faced by many researchers is the … X is one of the most frequently stated problems with … Lack of X has existed as a health problem for many years. X is a major environmental problem, and the main cause of … Xs are one of the most rapidly declining groups of insects in … X is the leading cause of death in western-industrialised countries. Exposure to X has been shown to be related to adverse effects in … There is increasing concern that some Xs are being disadvantaged … There is an urgent need to address the safety problems caused by …
Referring to previous work to establish what is already known
Recent evidence suggests that … Extensive research has shown that … Studies of X show the importance of … It has previously been observed that … Several attempts have been made to … Previous research has established that … Data from several studies suggest that … Recent work by historians has established that … Previous research comparing X and Y has found … The existing body of research on X suggests that … There is a growing body of literature that recognises … Several theories on the origin of X have been proposed. Existing research recognises the critical role played by … It is now well established from a variety of studies, that … Recently investigators have examined the effects of X on Y. Surveys such as that conducted by Smith (1988) have shown that … Factors found to be influencing X have been explored in several studies. A number of cross-sectional studies suggest an association between X and Y… Studies over the past two decades have provided important information on … A considerable amount of literature has been published on X. These studies …
Identifying a controversy within the field of study
A much debated question is whether … One major issue in early X research concerned … To date there has been little agreement on what … The issue has grown in importance in light of recent … One of the most significant current discussions in X is … In the literature on X, the relative importance of Y is debated. One observer has already drawn attention to the paradox in … Questions have been raised about the use of animal subjects in … In many Xs, a debate is taking place between Ys and Zs concerning … Debate continues about the best strategies for the management of … This concept has recently been challenged by X studies demonstrating … The debate about X has gained fresh prominence with many arguing that … Scholars have long debated the impact of X on the creation and diffusion of … More recently, literature has emerged that offers contradictory findings about … One major theoretical issue that has dominated the field for many years concerns … The controversy about scientific evidence for X has raged unabated for over a century. The issue of X has been a controversial and much disputed subject within the field of … The causes of X have been the subject of intense debate within the scientific community. In the literature on X, the relative importance of Y has been subject to considerable discussion.
Explaining the inadequacies of previous studies
Previous studies of X have not dealt with … Researchers have not treated X in much detail. Such expositions are unsatisfactory because they … Most studies in the field of X have only focused on … Such approaches, however, have failed to address … Previous published studies are limited to local surveys. Half of the studies evaluated failed to specify whether … The research to date has tended to focus on X rather than Y. Previously published studies on the effect of X are not consistent. Smith’s analysis does not take account of …, nor does she examine … The existing accounts fail to resolve the contradiction between X and Y.
However, much of the research up to now has been descriptive in nature … The generalisability of much published research on this issue is problematic. Research on the subject has been mostly restricted to limited comparisons of … However, few writers have been able to draw on any systematic research into … Short-term studies such as these do not necessarily show subtle changes over time … Although extensive research has been carried out on X, no single study exists which … However, these results were based upon data from over 30 years ago and it is unclear if … The experimental data are rather controversial, and there is no general agreement about … Most studies in X have only been carried out in a small number of areas.
Identifying the paucity or lack of previous research
There is little published data on … No previous study has investigated X. The use of X has not been investigated. There has been no detailed investigation of … There has been little quantitative analysis of … Data about the efficacy and safety of X are limited. Up to now, far too little attention has been paid to … A search of the literature revealed few studies which … The impact of X on Y is understudied, particularly for … Few studies have investigated X in any systematic way … In addition, no research has been found that surveyed … So far, however, there has been little discussion about … So far, very little attention has been paid to the role of X. Surprisingly, the effects of X have not been closely examined. In contrast to X, there is much less information about effects of … A systematic understanding of how X contributes to Y is still lacking. Despite the importance of X, there remains a paucity of evidence on … There have been no controlled studies which compare differences in … To date, the problem has received scant attention in the research literature To date, there are few studies that have investigated the association between …
Identifying a knowledge gap in the field of study
It is still not known whether … … much less is known about X. The nature of X remains unclear. Currently, there are no data on … What is less clear is the nature of … Very little is currently known about X in … Research to date has not yet determined … What is not yet clear is the impact of X on … There is still uncertainty, however, whether … The response of X to Y is not fully understood. Causal factors leading to X remain speculative. The neurobiological basis of X is poorly understood. Little is known about X and it is not clear what factors … To date, only a limited number of Xs have been identified. The mechanisms that underpin X are not fully understood. Much uncertainty still exists about the relationship between … This indicates a need to understand the various perceptions of X that exist among … It is now well established that … However, the influence of X on Y has remained unclear.
Stating the focus, aim, or argument of a short paper
In this paper, I argue that … This paper attempts to show that … The central thesis of this paper is that … In the pages that follow, it will be argued that … In this essay, I attempt to defend the view that … The aim of this essay is to explore the relationship between … The purpose of this paper is to review recent research into the …
Stating the purpose of the current research
The specific objective of this study was to … An objective of this study was to investigate … This thesis will examine the way in which the … This study set out to investigate the usefulness of … This dissertation seeks to explain the development of … This case study seeks to examine the changing nature of … The objectives of this research are to determine whether … This prospective study was designed to investigate the use of … This research examines the emerging role of X in the context of … This study systematically reviews the data for…, aiming to provide … Drawing upon two strands of research into X, this study attempts to … This thesis intends to determine the extent to which … and whether … This dissertation aims to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding … This study therefore set out to assess the effect of X …, and the effect of … The main aim of this study is to investigate the differences between X and Y. Part of the aim of this project is to develop software that is compatible with … There are two primary aims of this study: 1. To investigate … 2. To ascertain … This study seeks to obtain data which will help to address these research gaps. One purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which these factors were … The purpose of this investigation is to explore the relationship between X and Y.
Describing the research design and the methods used
Data for this study were collected using … Five works will be examined, all of which … This investigation takes the form of a case-study of the … This study was exploratory and interpretative in nature. This study uses a qualitative case study approach to investigate … The research data in this thesis is drawn from four main sources: … The approach to empirical research adopted for this study was one of … This dissertation follows a case-study design, with in-depth analysis of … By employing qualitative modes of enquiry, I attempt to illuminate the … Qualitative and quantitative research designs were adopted to provide … Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this investigation. A holistic approach is utilised, integrating X, Y and Z material to establish … The study was conducted in the form of a survey, with data being gathered via … The methodological approach taken in this study is a mixed methodology based on … A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used in the data analysis.
Explaining the significance of the current study
This is the first study to … This study provides new insights into … This work will generate fresh insight into … The study offers some important insights into … Understanding the link between X and Y will help … This is the first study to undertake a longitudinal analysis of … The present research explores, for the first time, the effects of … The importance and originality of this study are that it explores … The findings should make an important contribution to the field of …. Characterisation of X is important for our increased understanding of … It is hoped that this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of … This study aims to contribute to this growing area of research by exploring … This project provided an important opportunity to advance the understanding of … Therefore, this study makes a major contribution to research on X by demonstrating … There are several important areas where this study makes an original contribution to … The experimental work presented here provides one of the first investigations into how …
Describing the limitations of the current study
The thesis does not engage with … It is not the task of this paper to examine … This study is unable to encompass the entire … Establishing X is beyond the scope of this study. It is beyond the scope of this study to examine the … A full discussion of X lies beyond the scope of this study. The reader should bear in mind that the study is based on … Another potential problem is that the scope of my thesis may be too broad. Due to practical constraints, this paper cannot provide a comprehensive review of…
Giving reasons for personal interest in the research
I became interested in Xs after reading … My interest in this area developed while I was … I have worked closely with X for many years and … My personal experience of X has prompted this research. My main reason for choosing this topic is personal interest. It is my experience of working with X that has driven this research. This project was conceived during my time working for X. As a medical advisor, I witnessed …
* sometimes found in the humanities, and the applied human sciences
Outlining the structure of the paper or dissertation
The first section of this paper will examine… This paper begins by … It will then go on to … My thesis is composed of four themed chapters. The essay has been organised in the following way. The remaining part of the paper proceeds as follows: … The main issues addressed in this paper are: a), b) and c). This paper first gives a brief overview of the recent history of X. This paper has been divided into four parts. The first part deals with … The third chapter is concerned with the methodology used for this study. The overall structure of the study takes the form of six chapters, including … Chapter Four analyses the results of interviews and focus group discussions undertaken during … Chapter Two begins by laying out the theoretical dimensions of the research, and looks at how … The fourth section presents the findings of the research, focusing on the three key themes that …
Explaining key terms used in the current work
(also refer to Defining terms )
Throughout this paper, the term ‘X’ will refer to … The term ‘X’ will be used in this thesis to refer to … Historically, the term ‘X’ has been used to describe … It is necessary here to clarify exactly what is meant by … The phrase ‘X’ will be used in this study to describe the … According to Smith (2002), X can be defined as follows: ‘ … ’ In this article, the abbreviation XYZ will be used to refer to … Throughout this dissertation, the term ‘X’ will be used to refer to … The term ‘X’ is a relatively new name for …, commonly referred to as … In this essay, the term ‘X’ will be used in its broadest sense to refer to all … In this dissertation, the terms ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are used interchangeably to mean … While a variety of definitions of the term X have been suggested, this paper will use the definition first suggested by Smith (1968) who saw it as …
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK
Connect With Us
The University of Manchester
Academic Phrasebank – The Largest Collection of Academic Phrases
- Importance of topic
- About research domain or topic
- Active research area
- Well studied issue or topic
- Considerable interest in community
- New or Emerging techniques
- Recent advancements
- Future expectations and predictions
- Rise to prominence
- Generally accepted findings and facts
- Importance of understanding
- Conventional approach
- Problem definition
- Known problems or issues
- Problems cited in literature
- Solving a problem
- Possible solutions
- Current solutions
- Your solution
- Partial solution
- Unconventional approach or solution
- Problem review
- Complexity of the problem
- Efforts in the research community
- Research difficulties
- Difficulties and challenges
- Difficulty peforming an action
- Difficulty in making decision
- Limiting factors or issues
- Intro to literature review
- Well studied topic in literature
- Many studies in literature
- Methods and solutions in literature
- Drawbacks of previous studies
- Recent literature
- Seminal or pioneering work
- Similar works in literature
- Comparative studies
- Derivative work
- Agreements and Disagreements in literature
- Debated or controversial issues
- Questionable studies
- Referencing literature
- Drawing inspiraton from literature
- Summary of previous literature
- More information on the topic
- Evidence from previous studies
- Evidence from previous clinical studies
- Evidence from literature review
- Supporting evidence in literature
- Strong evidence in literature
- Mixed evidence
- Limited or lack of evidence
- Disputed evidence
- Evidence of association
- Evidence of risk factor
- Evidence of prevalance
- Limited previous studies
- Unexplored research area
- Research questions
- Lack of solution
- Need for research
- Need for a better method
- Need for a better understanding
- Need for more studies
- Aims and objectives
- Specific objectives or focus
- Secondary objectives
- Developing a new approach or method
- Breakdown of your work
- Study design
- Motivation of your work
- Benefits of your research
- Extending previous work
- Previous findings by you
- Scope and remit of work
- Overview of current methods
- Intro to methods section
- Paper or section breakdown
- Scope of discussion
- Summary of section
- Referring to other sections
- Further details
- About the method
- Method implementation
- Experimental setup
- Simple method
- Fast method
- Standard method
- Popular method
- Alternative methods
- Controversial method
- Comparing methods
- Lack of methods
- Combining methods
- Origins of the method
- Adapting or extending a method
- Uniqueness of your method
- Many methods available
- Advantages and features of methods
- Advantages and disadvantages of methods
- Drawback and limitations of methods
- Using previously published methods
- Previous usage of the method
- Pilot or preliminary studies
- Lack of validation
- Validation of the methods
- Testing and evaluation
- Measurement procedure
- Multiple measurements
- Consistency in measurements
- Difficulty performing measurements
- Using previously published data
- Reason for choice
- Inappropriate choice
- Adequate for the experiment
- Inadequate for the experiment
- Conditions, constraints and criteria
- Assumptions and approximations
- No assumptions
- Incorrect assumptions
- Validity of assumption
- Starting point
- Initialization
- Simplification
- Prerequisites
- Requirements
- Neglected or ignored aspects
- Important aspects
- Taking things into account
- Careful consideration
- Drawing attention
- Prior knowledge
- Practical issues
- Improving accuracy or performance
- Making modifications or improvements
- Lack of information
- Steps and Stages
- Special cases
- Guidance and recommendations
- Lessons from previous studies
- Raising concerns
- Data source
- Data collection methods
- About the study population
- About the study group
- Confidentality
- Ethical approval
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
- Participants characteristics
- Participants behavior
- Participant recruitment
- Leaflets and information sheets
- Questionnaire
- Focus groups
- Effect or influence
- Increase or decrease
- Influencing factors
- Comparisions
- Over and under estimation
- Range and limits
- Association or relationship
- Variations or change
- Observations and behaviour
- Trend or pattern
- Reporting data
- Statistical tests
- Statistical significance
- Significance level
- Data distribution
- Correlations
- Making statistical adjustments
- Source of errors
- Small discrepancies or errors
- Large discrepancies or errors
- Reducing errors
- Error trend
- Results intro
- Analysis methods
- Analysis software
- General findings
- Positive findings
- Negative findings
- Neutral findings
- Key findings
- Interesting findings
- Expected findings
- Unexpected findings
- Inconclusive results
- Difficulty in analysis
- Additional analysis
- Comparing results with previous work
- Results in good aggreement with previous work
- Results in disaggreement with previous work
- Interpret with caution
- Generalising findings
- Future improvements
- Future work
- Further studies
- Applications
- Follow-up studies
- Implications of your findings
- Limitations of your study
- Inadequate or limited data
- Strengths of your work
- Lesson for future studies
- Novelty of your work
- Contributions
- Conclusions
- Reason or cause
- Speculations and doubts
- No explanation
- Reasons cited in literature
- Classifications
- Optimization
- Properties and characteristics
- Incidence or prevalance
- Risk factors
- Action - reasons
- Action - consequences
- Disadvantages or drawbacks
- Limitations
- Implications
- Thanking people
- Thank supervisor
- Thank colleagues
- Thank reviewers
- Financial support
- Declaration
- Partnership
- Clarifications
- Time consuming
- Reducing computation time
- Cost effective
- Publications
Phrase Templates
REF-N-WRITE is proud to announce the launch of the academic phrasebank. The phrasebank is now available as part of the Word AddIn. New buttons and options have been added to the AddIn for the users to access the academic phrasebank and search through academic phrases. A selection of academic phrases from the phrasebank has been made available above for demonstration purposes. The search results are limited to five academic phrases in the demo version.
1. Academic Phrasebank
Academic phrasebank refers to a library containing a collection of English phrases that can be readily used in scientific papers and academic reports. The REF-N-WRITE team has painstakingly created a phrasebank of 20,000 academic writing phrases for use by students and researchers writing research papers. These academic phrases were extracted from high-quality scientific journal articles by a team of academic experts. Only very small chunks of generic text were extracted from previous papers, and hence the use of these academic phrases in new papers will not constitute plagiarism. The academic phrases in the phrasebank are organized in the order in which you will be required to use in a scientific paper. The academic phrases can be accessed by simply clicking on each category.
The academic writing phrases are organized into following sections (1) Introduction; (2) Problem, Solution & Difficulties; (3) Literature Review; (4) Previous Evidence and Findings; (5) Research Gap; (6) Your Work; (7) Section Intro and Scope; (8) Materials and Methods; (9) Measurements and Calculations; (10) Technical Statements; (11) Data Collection and Processing; (12) Data Analysis & Presentation; (13) Statistics; (14) Errors and Discrepancies; (15) Results; (16) Discussion and (17) Acknowledgements. In addition to this, there are some general categories of academic phrases which include: (1) Reasons, Causes & Explanations; (2) Figures, Plots and Tables; (3) Explain or Describe; (4) General Statements and (5) Others.
The various categories available within the academic phrasebank is illustrated below in the following figure.
2. Getting Writing Ideas
You can search the academic phrasebank for writing themes and ideas by simply selecting a piece of text in MS Word and then clicking the ‘Writing Ideas’ button. The tool will perform an analysis on the selected text and bring up relevant categories from the academic phrasebank. Then the academic phrases belonging to the categories can be accessed by simply clicking on the category name. The screenshot below demonstrates how you can search for categories relevant to your writing in the academic phrasebank.
3. Getting Paraphrasing Ideas
REF-N-WRITE AddIn comes with a paraphrasing tool that allows users to search for rephrasing ideas from the academic phrasebank. The user has to select a sentence in MS Word document that they would like to rephrase or reword and click the ‘Paraphrasing Tool’ button in the REF-N-WRITE button panel. The tool will search through the academic phrases and bring up phrase templates relevant to the selected text. The user can use this collection of phrases to get paraphrasing ideas for the text. Furthermore, the user can bring up more similar phrases by clicking on the more button(…) that is shown next to each phrase template in the search results panel. The figure below illustrates how to get paraphrasing ideas from the academic phrasebank.
4. Ref-N-Write Phrasebank vs. Manchester Phrasebank
The Manchester academic phrasebank is the most popular resource of academic writing phrases and was put together by Dr John Morley at The University of Manchester. The academic phrase bank is available in different forms, it is accessible through their website and is also available to purchase as an e-book . One of the motivations behind REF-N-WRITE Phrasebank is to create a fully searchable library of academic phrases that students and researchers can search on-the-fly while writing their papers. The REF-N-WRITE phrase bank is available as a part of the REF-N-WRITE Word AddIn, it means that the users can search through the library and lookup for academic writing phrase ideas within Microsoft Word.
By combining both REF-N-WRITE and Manchester phrasebanks together it is possible to generate high-quality scientific articles. REF-N-WRITE offers import facility which allows users to import documents in PDF and word formats into MS Word and then search through them during the writing process. Since Manchester Phrasebank is available in PDF version, the user using REF-N-WRITE can import the Manchester Phrasebank PDF into REF-N-WRITE and access the phrases from both Manchester Phrasebank and REF-N-WRITE Phrasebank simultaneously. The figure below illustrates phrases from the Manchester phrasebank being accessed within REF-N-WRITE Word AddIn.
5. Importance of using Academic phrases and Scientific words in Research Papers
Academic writing is different from normal every day writing in the sense that most words and terms used in general writing will be considered colloquial if used in research papers. One of the requirements of academic writing is that it requires the use of formal language in writing. We define formal language as the use of well-accepted scientific terms and phrases widely used by your peers in your subject area. In other words, the language you use in your academic essay or paper should be broadly in line with the one used by your academic or research community.
Such a skill is not easy to acquire, it takes time. Typically, your academic supervisor will provide guidance in this regard. When you are writing a research paper, your academic supervisor will review the paper first and provide you with suggestions to improve the language. The benefit of using a good academic phrasebank is that you can start perfecting the writing right from the start as you will be able to lookup for academic phrases and scientific words as you write your first draft. This will reduce the need for multiple revisions as your first version will be in a state that is academically acceptable.
- 0.2K Facebook
- 52 Linkedin
Trinka’s Academic Phrasebank
Find phrases or sentences to best express your intent or avoid repetition
E.g. "This represents an important topic to study because"
Information available here is free to use for academic purposes. For commercial use, please contact us .
AI to Find the Right Phrase
Our specially trained AI model saves you time finding the right phrase to write confidently from our large academic phrasebank in just seconds.
Large Academic Database
Our academic phrasebank curates phrases from millions of academic publications to help you easily express your intent while meeting academic conventions.
Easy to Search and Use
Save time and write confidently using our academic phrasebank powered by AI technology that makes finding the right phrases quick and easy.
About Trinka’s Academic Phrasebank
Trinka's academic phrasebank is a large database of phrases or sentences in English that lets you find the right phrase or sentence to use to express a specific intent while meeting academic writing conventions and style.
Trinka's academic phrasebank includes phrases/sentences that have been used in scientific journal papers and other academic publications. Our database is specially curated by a team of expert academics and editors.
Our unique AI technology delivers highly relevant results and saves your time in drafting your academic content.
How Does Trinka’s Academic Phrasebank Work?
Using Trinka’s academic phrasebank , you can find the right phrases or sentences to communicate your message effectively in two easy ways.
Searching for phrases similar to ones you have. Type or paste the phrase to see all similar phrases. Trinka's AI understands the meaning of the phrase and shows you all the relevant phrases. Copy the suggestion of your choice with a click to use it.
Navigating the academic phrasebank using the sections. Say you need phrases to introduce previous work to establish the importance of your topic in the introduction section. Just click on the section “Introducing your work” and then the subsection “Establishing the importance of the topic” in the categorized academic phrasebank navigation. You get all the relevant suggestions that you can copy with a click!
Trinka’s Phrasebank vs. Manchester Phrasebank
The Manchester academic phrasebank was compiled by Dr. John Morley at the University of Manchester. The Manchester academic phrasebank can be downloaded as a pdf file or accessed on their website.
Trinka's academic phrasebank is a fully searchable and navigable academic phrasebank for authors. It provides a significantly larger database than the Manchester academic phrasebank and includes phrases from millions of published articles, making it a highly comprehensive academic phrasebank.
Furthermore, Trinka’s academic phrasebank uses AI technology to help you easily find relevant phrases with a simple search. Trinka’s categorized academic phrasebank lets you browse through the database and find the right phrase easily.
Large Curated Academic Database
Trinka’s academic phrasebank uses a large academic database containing content from millions of published papers from reputed journals across disciplines.
AI Powered Search
Trinka’s academic phrasebank uses AI to help you find the right phrase with a simple search so you can save time while drafting your manuscript.
Easy to Navigate
Trinka's academic phrasebank is categorized in logical sections so you can easily find the right phrase to communicate intended message for every section of your paper.
Trusted by Researchers Worldwide
Trinka AI is preferred by researchers worldwide for their writing and publication needs. In addition to Trinka's academic phrasebank, technical writers and academics around the globe rely heavily on its grammar corrections and language enhancements. Unlike most other tools, Trinka goes beyond grammar to ensure holistic language improvements for increased publication success.
Academic Phrasebank FAQ’s
Writing an academic manuscript is challenging, as it not only requires grammatical accuracy but also requires adhering to several writing conventions while ensuring impactful communication. Trinka’s academic phrasebank helps you prepare your manuscript faster by allowing you to use phrases from standard academic publications without the need for searching and reading several papers to identify the right phrases. Using Trinka’s academic phrasebank hence helps you save time and prepare your manuscript more confidently.
Trinka’s academic phrasebank aims to help academic authors and students write effectively. It is completely free to use, without limitations.
Trinka’s academic phrasebank provides you with phrases aimed to achieve a specific communication objective. Once you use a phrase from Trinka’s academic phrasebank, you will need to expand on it to complete communicating your message, making the final content your own unique version. Therefore, using Trinka’s academic phrasebank will not constitute to plagiarizing.
Trinka’s academic phrasebank includes standard phrases from millions of publications across all scientific disciplines and hence can be used for any subject.
Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. Enol online now or call +44 1865 954800 to book your place
- 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.
This article is suitable for native English speakers and those who are learning English at Oxford Royale Academy and are just taking their first steps into 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, 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 , politics , business , medicine and engineering .
One response to “40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays”
Thanks in favor of sharing such a pleasant idea, post is pleasant, thats why i have read it fully
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.
70 useful sentences for academic writing
Back in the late 90s, in the process of reading for my MA dissertation, I put together a collection of hundreds of sentence frames that I felt could help me with my academic writing later on. And they did. Immensely. After the course was over, I stacked my sentences away, but kept wondering if I could ever put them to good use and perhaps help other MA / PhD students.
So here are 70 sentences extracted and adapted for from the original compilation, which ran for almost 10 pages. This list is organized around keywords.
Before you start: 1. Pay close attention to the words in bold , which are often used in conjunction with the main word. 2. [ ] means “insert a suitable word here”, while ( ) means “this word is optional.” 3. Keep in mind that, within each group, some examples are slightly more formal / less frequent than others.
Argue a. Along similar lines , [X] argues that ___. b. There seems to be no compelling reason to argue that ___. c. As a rebuttal to this point, it could be argued that ___. d. There are [three] main arguments that can be advanced to support ___. e. The underlying argument in favor of / against [X] is that ___. f. [X]’s argument in favor of / against [Y] runs as follows: ___.
Claim a. In this [paper], I put forward the claim that ___. b. [X] develops the claim that ___. c. There is ample / growing support for the claim that ___. d. [X]’s findings lend support to the claim that ___. e. Taking a middle-ground position, [X] claims that ___.
Data a. The data gathered in the [pilot study] suggest that ___. b. The data appears to suggest that ___. c. The data yielded by this [study] provide strong / convincing evidence that ___. d. A closer look at the data indicates that ___. e. The data generated by [X] are reported in [table 1]. f. The aim of this [section] is to generalize beyond the data and ___.
Debate a. [X] has encouraged debate on ___. b. There has been an inconclusive debate about whether ___. c. The question of whether ___ has caused much debate in [our profession] [over the years]. d. (Much of) the current debate revolves around ___.
Discussion a. In this section / chapter, the discussion will point to ___. b. The foregoing discussion implies that ___. c. For the sake of discussion , I would like to argue that ___. d. In this study, the question under discussion is ___. e. In this paper, the discussion centers on ___. f. [X] lies at the heart of the discussion on ___.
Evidence a. The available evidence seems to suggest that ___ / point to ___. b. On the basis of the evidence currently available, it seems fair to suggest that ___. c. There is overwhelming evidence for the notion that ___. d. Further evidence supporting / against [X] may lie in the findings of [Y], who ___. e. These results provide confirmatory evidence that ___.
Ground a. I will now summarize the ground covered in this [chapter] by ___. b. On logical grounds , there is no compelling reason to argue that ___. c. [X] takes a middle-ground position on [Y] and argues that ___. d. On these grounds , we can argue that ___. e. [X]’s views are grounded on the assumption that ___.
Issue a. This study is an attempt to address the issue of ___. b. In the present study, the issue under scrutiny is ___. c. The issue of whether ___ is clouded by the fact that ___. d. To portray the issue in [X]’s terms, ___. e. Given the centrality of this issue to [my claim], I will now ___. f. This [chapter] is concerned with the issue of [how/whether/what] ___. Literature a. [X] is prominent in the literature on [Y]. b. There is a rapidly growing literature on [X], which indicates that ___. c. The literature shows no consensus on [X], which means that ___. d. The (current) literature on [X] abounds with examples of ___.
Premise a. The main theoretical premise behind [X] is that ___. b. [X] and [Y] share an important premise : ___. c. [X] is premised on the assumption that ___. d. The basic premises of [X]’s theory / argument are ___. e. The arguments against [X]’s premise rest on [four] assumptions: ___.
Research a.This study draws on research conducted by ___. b. Although there has been relatively little research on / into [X], ___. c. In the last [X] years, [educational] research has provided ample support for the assertion that ___. d. Current research appears / seems to validate the view that ___. e. Research on / into ___ does not support the view that ___. f. Further research in this area may include ___ and ___. g. Evidence for [X] is borne out by research that shows ___. h. There is insufficient research on / into ___ to draw any firm conclusions about / on ___. View a. The consensus view seems to be that ___. b. [X] propounds the view that ___. c. Current research (does not) appear(s) to validate such a view . d. There have been dissenters to the view that ___. e. The answer to [X] / The difference between [X] and [Y] is not as clear-cut as popular views might suggest. f. The view that _____ is in line with [common sense]. g. I am not alone in my view that ___. h. [X] puts forward the view that ___. i. [X]’s views rest on the assumption that ___.
If you found this list useful, check out The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need , which contains 600 sentences, as well as grammar and vocabulary tips. E-book and paperback available on Amazon.
Related Posts
Comments 180
This is incredible! Many, many thanks! I’ll start putting these into use immediately in my DipTESOL assignments.
Higor, glad I could help. Um abraço!
Thanks for letting out such a list. Seems to be of great help.
Muchas gracias hermano This is a precious crownjewel
Great list, Otávio! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Eduardo! 🙂
Wonderful! It will help indeed!
Thanks very much! Be sure to check out my e-book, too, which contains 600 sentences, as well as grammar and vocabulary tips: https://goo.gl/tAvU3P
This is very helpful, I wish I had known about this fabulous choice of words during my first year of graduate study.
Thanks, Widad! If you feel you need more help, check this out: https://goo.gl/tAvU3P
Thanks, Luiz! This list is gonna be so useful!
You’re welcome, Michele!
What a marvelous list. Thanks for your generosity.
Melanie, thank you!
my friend i cant access this book from my country pakistan… can u please tell me another source
Really nice, Luiz. I particularly like ‘yielded’. I’ll definitely try to put them to good use during my next assignment.
I remember teaching you “yielded” back in 1875, in MAC something. Maybe that’s why. 🙂
1875? You’ve been around awhile.
Haven’t I, Susan? 🙂
Wonderful Listing Dear Brother 🙂 Why were some alphabets left out ? Sure there would have been a GR8 reason ! Am converting this into a ppt and share it for many to more to access – hope no problems brother …. LOL n Laughter all the way from Mumbai, INDIA
Ramgopal, Thank you for dropping by. You can share the list with as many people as you like, of course. Please do acknowledge the source, though, ok? Maybe this will encourage more people to visit the blog.
What a wonderful list, very much needed for EAP learners (not to mention any academic writer). I’ll definitely make use of it. Thanks. 🙂
Tyson, thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated!
Obrigada Otavio, This is a great source and I will definitely use it in my current literature review class. My professor provide us with your Blog. I am very glad for two reasons, your Blog is a great source, and I think you are Brazilian ? I am from São Paulo, and as an International student I struggle written in English.
Muito… muito obrigada pelas dicas.
Thank you, Dora! Yes, I am Brazilian.
Such a great work! It helps me to improve my English…Keep It Up.
Data is the plural of datum. Therefore, it should read “The data appear…”
Hi, Pedro Thanks for stopping by. Both usages are correct. If one treats “data” as a singular / mass noun, a singular noun should be used. Here’s what the Oxford Dictionary has to say: “In Latin, data is the plural of datum and, historically and in specialized scientific fields , it is also treated as a plural in English, taking a plural verb, as in the data were collected and classified . In modern non-scientific use, however , despite the complaints of traditionalists, it is often not treated as a plural. Instead, it is treated as a mass noun, similar to a word like information, which cannot normally have a plural and which takes a singular verb. Sentences such as data was (as well as data were ) collected over a number of years are now widely accepted in standard English.” So I think it ultimately depends on the stylistic constraints of the piece of writing at hand and on the norms adopted by the academic institution you’re writing for / on behalf of. But if history is anything to go by, I think very soon “datum” will be as rare as, for example, “agendum.”
What a wonderful list: thank you for sharing. I’m going (with your permission) to use it with my EAP class. I have other lists (including from the Manchester phrase bank) but this is a list of phrases that have been used rather than could be used.
Christine, I appreciate your kind words. Of course you can use it! If you feel that your audience would profit from any of the stuff on this blog (aimed at teachers of English as a foreign language), please just say where the sentences were taken from, ok? Every little thing than can increase traffic helps! And you’re so right about the “what people do say” vs. “what people could say” dilemma. Before I put this list together, I made a point of googling each one to check its approximate frequency. This alone sifted out at least half of my original list. Best regards from São Paulo, Brazil.
Thank you, Luiz!
These are invaluable, and they’ll be put to immediate use in ICELT tasks.
Thanks a million!
Jéssica, I’m so glad you’ll be able to use some of them. Um abraço!
Thanks a zillion for sharing, Luiz! Assessors worldwide will be amazed at how much the quality of candidates’ writing has improved! hehehe
We sure hope so, right, Márcia? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Luiz Thanks for putting this work together. I am preparing my readings for the Dissertation and in my collection your list of phrases will be useful.
Regards Linda
Very useful Christine and thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Salma.
What a fabulous resource for international students as well! Thank you.
Cally, thank you!
Just great! Thanks for sharing it.
You’re welcome, Bruno!
Thanks for sharing. Definitely I will use some ideas for my TEFL essay.
Patricia, I’m glad you found the list helpful!
Courageous, generous and much appreciated.
Thank you for your kind words, Chris.
Bonjour, English is not my first language and the information contained on this page helps me to construct proper essay sentences. Obrigada !
Bonjour, Denise. As a non-native speaker myself, I know the feeling and I’m glad I was able to help! Merci!
thank you for this! it helps me tremendously 🙂
My pleasure!
You seriously saved my life when I was writing a paper due the very next day. I have bookmarked it and it will be my go-to blog for future writing assignments! Thank you for your contribution.
Glad I could help, Johana!
Thank you for this- it is fabulous!
Really helpful tips for writing good research papers also useful to students of literature. Great tips indeed. I think these tips must be shared with every student of literature as there are lot many things they have to know.
Thanks, Jeff!
Thanks a lot!!!! What an incredible work!! I will use it with my students 🙂
Thank you, Serena.
Incredible! Senor Barros, thank you for sharing. I’ve never seen something like this before–good prompts for writing.
Ken (ESL Teacher from Thailand)
Thanks, Ken. I appreciate your feedback.
These sentences are Fantabulous…!!! (Thumbs Up For You) (y)
Completely agree. Fantastic expressions. Gonna have to study them for some upcoming papers!!
Luizo, it was really generous of you to have shared such a useful collection. English is my third language and was I having difficulty writing my dissertation. Hopefully your gift will help. I cannot thank you enough. I hope one day I too can help by uploading something this useful, free. You are a saint.
thanks baby your sentences are great I am going to use them as much as possible
Нighly descriptive post, I lіked that a lot. Will there be a part 2?
10000 times thanks
Thank you a lot for sharing these useful and practical verbs and phrases ! Best wishes Habib
Habib, glad I could help!
Nice Work! Exactly what I was looking for classroom debates!
Honestly, I would seriously LOVE to see the original 10 page list!!!!
Thank you so much – you have just saved me hours of trying to make my Masters assignment sound convincing!
Sorta cool! Thanks for what you’ve done Luiz…
And give a try at updating the list, if possible.
Thank you alto, this is a great list. I prepare for TOEFL but my writing is awful, I hope by using this list it improve. Can I send my writing to you?
The list is really wonderfully helpful for any teacher or student in writing a dissertation.
Thank you so much are very goods to my tesis.
THANKS FOR HELPING PEOPLE
Thanks so much for your generosity. Just about to embark upon my MA dissertation and feeling very insecure, nervous and low in confidence: the cosmic kick in the bottom, desperately needed!
This is an awesome collection dude! I was looking something like this for my writing in TOEFL test!
Thanks for the list! It’ll really give me a boost for my future works!
Thank you very much. It is very helpful
thank you for the list, most helpful. Luella
i been using these for a yr and my grades incresed dramatically now i have got an op 2 i can’t thank u enough for these thank u
This is very useful. IF I rate it I will 10. But I hope u will also common phrases that commonly use in school reporting. Btw, I am a filipino.
This is brilliant! thanks!
Thank you so much. Great work.
Thanks, I find many of the phrases very useful for my own work.
However, I see in general a tendency of being too wordy. This probably depends somewhat on the branch of science you’re working in. For example, a phrase such as “The available evidence seems to suggest that” uses two hedges (suggest, seem) to mitigate the strength of “evidence”). If there’s a lot of such phrases in a paper, the readers just won’t believe what your saying.
First, I would like to say thank you so much for helpful idea and I really need to improve me academic English vocabulary but I t is still problem to improve it. Who will help me that.
Very good work and can be updated to help postgraduate students in their writing
Thank you! There’s some exciting news on the horizon, Abdulghadar. Stay tuned!
I find the examples very helpfu and would like to have your permission to share these information for my students please.
Absolutely, Juliana!
Juliana,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
What a great list, greetings from Poland!
Titoszka,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
These phrases are going to be very very very useful for me… Thanks a lot!!!
Akshita,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank you very much, these sentences will help a lot. Thank again.
Djibril,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank u so much:)
Thank you for this list. I m sharing it with my friends right now. It’s a great source of good wordings)))
Anastasia,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Hey this source is great! Thanks for sharing.
Jen,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thanks …
A brilliant resource for teaching academic writing, thank you!
Sharon,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
It is perfect list! Thanks a lot.
Glad you found it useful!
Kostas, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Dear LUIZ OTÁVIO, Nice list, It could be much greater If you could add any other vocabulary to use for academic writing in you blog.
Dear Professor Avinash, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Luiz your list is a time saver. you are very thoughtful. Thank you!
Diana,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank you so much for posting this list, I’ve been using it for last 3 years of my uni!
Mac, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
MANY THANKS !!
Ottotito, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
from Saudi Arabia, i would like a to thank you for those great expressions LUIZ, I admit using some of them to improve my daily English Emails as well 🙂
Majed, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Dear Louiz, I am writing my PhD proposal and this is just what I need. Thanks a lot
Marie, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thanks a lot. It is very useful
Scorneo, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thanks a lot. It is very useful…
This is what I am looking for !! Thank you so much.. I will use them in may graduation research .. Many thanks,..
Hela, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank you for sharing your superb list!
Naz,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thanks a lot. It is very useful.
Kasra, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank you so much, i am using your sentences in my thesis.
Minoo,check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank you for your help you realy helped me interms of academic work.please now will you help me on prepositions?this is when am learning English.
Hi Micheal, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZ
I heaved a sigh of relief. Because this is my major struggle in writing academic papers. Remain blessed for sharing.
Blossom, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Luiz, this is AWESOME! I’m so grateful for this. Currently I’m roasting over my dissertation and this prompts lubricate the brain and neuro pathways. Thank you so much for your generosity. Blessings to you!
Sarah, check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Sarah, check out: “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
im impressed Luiz
Thank you. Check out “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Sharing this list with my IELTS students in 3, 2, 1…
Thanks, Jorge. For those who want more sentences + grammar and vocabulary tips, you can also recommend “The Only Academic Phrasebook You’ll Ever Need”, which I’ve just published. It’s available on Amazon: http://goo.gl/3frFZW
Thank you. This is a bookmarked item
Thank you! Be sure to check out my e-book, too: https://goo.gl/tAvU3P It contains 600 sentences, as well as grammar and vocabulary tips.
A thousand million thanks
You’re welcome, Pat! If you feel you need more help, check this out: https://goo.gl/tAvU3P 5 bucks only and it contains 600 sentences + lots of grammar and vocabulary tips.
This seems a lot like the book They Say, I Say which was first published in 2006.
Hi Joelle. Thanks for the reference. Just checked a sample on Amazon. Seems like a great book. The sentences above, however, are all formal. As far as I could tell, They Say, I Say includes a number of more neutral “templates” that students can use, say, in high school essays.
E-book is not available.. only the paperpack 🙁
This is good, it will really help in preparing my research manuscripts for publication
Glad you find it useful!
Yo have no idea how much I use this page for my papers. Special thanks to you!
I’m glad you find it useful!
[…] 70 useful sentences for academic writing […]
Thanks a lot for your tremendous work, it is helpful and sophisticated. May you be rewarded.
Thanks, Sheriff!
Found the compilation very helpful. kudos!
Thank you, Abdus.
Great list! You have just saved my Final degree project Thanks!!
[…] In this blog post Luiz Otávio has collated a whole lot of useful phrases that might help you get started with your sentences. He has really helpfully categorised them into themes. https://www.luizotaviobarros.com/2013/04/academic-writing-useful-expressions.html […]
[…] abstract waarschijnlijk goed kunnen inkorten. Maak eventueel gebruik van één of meer van deze ‘useful sentences for academic writing’ als je een abstract in het Engels […]
[…] More useful language […]
I’m non-native English speager, and taking writing class. it really helped alot. Thanks.
[…] https://www.luizotaviobarros.com/2013/04/academic-writing-useful-expressions.html […]
[…] 70 Useful Sentences for Academic Writing […]
This is so fantastically useful! I can’t thank you enough. I’m writing my first (minor) thesis, and this has been incredibly helpful in getting my writing started. Thank you so, so much for your generosity in sharing.
[…] And this link for great sentence starters: https://www.luizotaviobarros.com/2013/04/academic-writing-useful-expressions.html […]
Hi! This is very helpful. I’m so glad I stumbled on your post.
thank you for great idea:)
genius. thank you!
Please, my dear colleague teacher as a qualified French teacher and researcher in a different language. I can say that your 70’s are helpful and I have shared and will recommend them to my fellow because they are a light to the research tunnel.However, can you add more and make it as a small book for sale? Kyungu Lubaba Lubadi http://www.google.com/kyungu lubaba lubadi
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.
- +44 (0) 207 391 9032
Recent Posts
- Overcoming Emotional Problems Whilst Studying
- A guide to mature finance, funding and affordability
- 6 things to consider when choosing the right postgraduate course for you
- The Viva Exam: things to consider when preparing for your exam
Four types of essay explained
- Top tips for meeting urgent essay deadlines
- How to embrace university as a mature student
- Dissertation vs thesis: what’s the difference?
- Everything you need to know about postgraduate study
- Being a university student during COVID-19
- 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 Writing Services
- Dissertation Writing Services
- Essay Plans
- PhD Proposals
Editing Services
- Proofreading Service
- Editing Service
- Academic Editing Service
Additional Services
- Marking Services
- Consultation Calls
- Personal Statements
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Fair Use Policy
- Policy for Students in England
- Become a Writer
- Affiliate Login
- Privacy Policy
- Terms & Conditions
Payment Methods
Cryptocurrency payments.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The Academic Phrasebank is a general resource for academic writers. It aims to provide you with examples of some of the phraseological 'nuts and bolts' of
There are many ways to introduce an academic essay or short paper. ... Examples of phrases which are commonly employed to realise these functions can be
Academic phrasebank refers to a library containing a collection of English phrases that can be readily used in scientific papers and academic reports. The REF-N
When is it acceptable to reuse phrases in academic writing? ... There are many ways to introduce an academic essay or short paper. Most academic writers,.
Trinka's academic phrasebank is a large database of phrases or sentences in English that lets you find the right phrase or sentence to use to express a specific
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
I have other lists (including from the Manchester phrase bank) but this is a list ... contained on this page helps me to construct proper essay sentences.
Below are examples of signposts that are used in argumentative essays. ... Signposting sentences explain the logic of your argument.
Improve your essays with this Phrase Bank! If you feel like your writing is getting a tad repetitive then check out this amazing resource from
17 academic words and phrases to use in your essay · 1. Firstly, secondly, thirdly · 2. In view of; in light of; considering · 3. According to X; X