IELTS Vocabulary Tips – Improving Conciseness in Academic Writing

In this article, I would like to share common mistakes of conciseness that IELTS candidates often make in their Writing tests and how to improve them.

1. Because of the fact that

Example: Because of the fact that the student didn’t finish his homework, he failed his final exam.

Improved: Because the student didn’t finish his homework, he failed his final exam.

2. Be of the opinion that

Example: I am strongly of the opinion that more public schools and hospitals should be built in this area.

Improved: I (strongly) believe that more public schools and hospitals should be built in this area.

3. For the purpose of

Example: The government introduced the policy for the purpose of creating more jobs.

Improved: The government introduced the policy (in order) to create more jobs.

4. It can be seen as a good idea

Example: It can be seen as a good idea for employees to share ideas frequently with each other.

Improved: Employees should share ideas frequently with each other.

5. In a … manner/ way

Example: Employees in this company are required to work in a responsible manner.

Improved: Employees in this company are required to work responsibly.

6. What I mean to say is that

Example: What I mean to say is that businesses should not harm the natural environment during their operations.

Improved: Businesses should not harm the natural environment during their operations.

7. It can be easily seen/ It is clear from the graph that

Example: It can be easily seen from the graph that China will replace the USA as the world’s most powerful economy in less than 20 years.

Improved: The graph shows that China will replace the USA as the world’s most powerful economy in less than 20 years.

8. Had the appearance of

Example: The business proposals had the appearance of having been neglected.

Improved: The business proposals appeared to have been neglected.

9. By means of

Example: We travel by means of car.

Improved: We travel by car.

Even better: We drive.

This article was originally written by Mai Duc Nguyen on VnExpress, the world’s most read Vietnamese newspaper, at: https://vnexpress.net/nhung-kieu-dien-dat-dai-dong-khong-nen-co-trong-bai-luan-ielts-3701646.html

Follow us on Facebook here and Twitter here. Have a question about IELTS? Please contact us here.

#ieltsvocabulary #ieltstips #conciseness #ieltswriting #academicwriting