A Simple Guide To Writing Well On IELTS Writing Task 2: How To Use The Correct Style And Avoid Common Errors

Do not:
- use abbreviations: here’s, it’s, don’t, shouldn’t etc.
Instead write: here is, it is, do not, should not

- use a lot of
Instead write: many (countable nouns), a great deal of (uncountable nouns)

- place And, But or So at the beginning of your sentences

- write sentences that are incomplete
Instead: make sure all of your sentences have a main clause (with a verb)
 

- use big
Instead write: large

- use redundant words or phrases (ones that provide information that is so obvious it is not worth stating)

- use colloquial expressions, phrasal verbs, idioms
e.g. put up with, be over the moon about sth

- use simplistic vocabulary
e.g. Experts say they think this is bad, …

- write a series of short sentences
e.g. many people think so. They are wrong.

- use simple linking words except for variety
e.g. and, but, so, etc.

- use very emotional language
e.g. I absolutely detest people who…

- express personal opinions too strongly, instead use milder expressions
e.g. I know… It seems to me that…

- use over-generalisation
e.g. All politicians are corrupted.

- refer blindly to statistics without accurate reference to their source
e.g. A recent study showed… - which study?

- use clichés
e.g. Rome was not built in a day.

- use personal examples
e.g. In my school…

 

Do:
- use Present Participle clauses for compact style
e.g. Between 1860 and 1900 the temperature remained steady. During that time the temperature rose and fell by no more that 0.1 Centigrade.

Instead write: Between 1860 and 1900 the temperature remained steady, rising and falling by no more than 0.1 Centigrade.

- use prepositions at and with
e.g. Australia came next, with a total of 42,215 students.
By far the greatest proportion of electricity was generated by oil, at 59%.

- use parentheses ( )
e.g. Europe, with the greatest consumption per head of cigarettes (over 200) was…

- make sure you followed the ‘agreement’ rule
- subject + verb (check both are singular/plural)
- pronoun + noun (check both are singular/plural)
- number + noun (a plural is needed with anything above ‘one’)
- after phrases such as kind of (+ singular), one of (+ plural noun + singular verb), a number of (+ plural noun + singular verb) etc.
- after many (+ plural)
- after every/each (+ singular)

- use passive voice, impersonal constructions
e.g. It is argued that…

- use a range of advanced vocabulary (verbs, adjectives, abstract nouns, etc.)
e.g. heated debate concerning the controversial issue…

- use formal linking words/phrases
e.g. furthermore, however, nonetheless, etc.

- use complex sentences with a variety of links, depended clauses, etc.
e.g. Although it is widely accepted that compulsory military service, which provides an army with abundant manpower, is beneficial to a country’s ability to defend itself, closer analysis of military efficiency suggests that it is advanced weaponry which plays a crucial role in…

- use inversion, especially in conditionals
e.g. Never has this been more obvious…

- use generalisations
e.g. In most developed countries, education…

- use sequencing
e.g. Firstly, Secondly , etc.

- make references to other sources
e.g. Experts have proved that…

- use quotations, either word-for-word or in paraphrase, being careful to identify the source
e.g. As Winston Churchill said, “…

Including Quotations In Your Essay
It is always great to be able to quote academics but if you do so, make sure you do it in a correct way. 
Are there any expected standards for using quotations in an essay? Yes, there are. The most important one is that you should not give the impression of being the author of the quotation. That would amount to plagiarism. Here are a set of rules to clearly distinguish your writing from the quotation:

- Sometimes, you describe the quotation in your own words before using it. In this case, you should use a colon (:) to indicate the beginning of the quotation. Then begin the quotation with a quotation mark ("). After you have completed the quotation, close it with a quotation mark (").

Here is an example:
Sir Winston Churchill made a witty remark on the attitude of a pessimist: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

- Sometimes the sentence in which the quotation is embedded does not describe the quotation, but merely introduces it. In this case, do away with the colon. Simply use the quotation marks.

Here is an example:
Sir Winston Churchill once said "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."”

- As far as possible, you should mention the author and the source of the quotation.

For instance:
In Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, Touchstone says to Audrey in the Forest of Arden "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." (Act V, Scene I).

- Finally, ensure that the source of your quotation is authentic. Also, verify the author of your quotation.