7 words to avoid in IELTS writing
We write so many words and phrases in our daily life that they become a part of our writing. Since IELTS writing (specifically, essay writing) is academic, we need to be more careful about our word choice. So try avoiding these common informal words in your writing. However, in informal letter writing (not informal letters) you are allowed to use some colloquial.
Kids:
The word 'kid/kids' is used extensively in informal writing but should be avoided in a formal essay.
Instead of using kids, use: children, youth, youngsters, or teenagers. To mean someone really young, use 'infants'.
More and more:
'More and more' might sound okay when we talk, this is not an academic expression.
Simply replace it with the word ‘more’.
So-so:
Another word that we use in our daily conversations, but should be avoided in a formal writing.
Instead use: average, ordinary, mediocre or uninspiring to mean the same.
Crazy:
We are crazy about using the word 'crazy'! This word means 'wild or aggressive behaviour' but not an academic word.
It's better to use absurd, questionable or misguided instead of 'crazy'!
Literally:
We often use this word to mean 'exactly' but this is not formal.
Instead of using 'literally' use: 'exactly' or 'precisely'.
TV /photos/ fridge/ phone/ info:
These are so commonly used everyday abbreviations that we often forget that they are abbreviations and are not allowed in academic writing. So instead of using 'TV', for example, in your writing, use 'Television'. Following are the full forms of these words that you should be using instead of their abbreviated forms.
TV - Television.
Photos - Photographs.
Fridge - Refrigerator.
Phone - Telephone.
Info - Information.
Bad:
'Bad' is a poor choice of word to mean something of inferior quality.
'Bad' is the antonym of good, and again it is too basic for academic writing.
Use al alternative word based on the context. Soe some obvious choices are :
Poor choice, inadequate performance, shoddy product, rotten smell, incompetent skills, damaging effect.
To mean 'Very bad' use: Poor, shocking, atrocious, appalling, horrific or horrendous.
Kids:
The word 'kid/kids' is used extensively in informal writing but should be avoided in a formal essay.
Instead of using kids, use: children, youth, youngsters, or teenagers. To mean someone really young, use 'infants'.
More and more:
'More and more' might sound okay when we talk, this is not an academic expression.
Simply replace it with the word ‘more’.
So-so:
Another word that we use in our daily conversations, but should be avoided in a formal writing.
Instead use: average, ordinary, mediocre or uninspiring to mean the same.
Crazy:
We are crazy about using the word 'crazy'! This word means 'wild or aggressive behaviour' but not an academic word.
It's better to use absurd, questionable or misguided instead of 'crazy'!
Literally:
We often use this word to mean 'exactly' but this is not formal.
Instead of using 'literally' use: 'exactly' or 'precisely'.
TV /photos/ fridge/ phone/ info:
These are so commonly used everyday abbreviations that we often forget that they are abbreviations and are not allowed in academic writing. So instead of using 'TV', for example, in your writing, use 'Television'. Following are the full forms of these words that you should be using instead of their abbreviated forms.
TV - Television.
Photos - Photographs.
Fridge - Refrigerator.
Phone - Telephone.
Info - Information.
Bad:
'Bad' is a poor choice of word to mean something of inferior quality.
'Bad' is the antonym of good, and again it is too basic for academic writing.
Use al alternative word based on the context. Soe some obvious choices are :
Poor choice, inadequate performance, shoddy product, rotten smell, incompetent skills, damaging effect.
To mean 'Very bad' use: Poor, shocking, atrocious, appalling, horrific or horrendous.
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