IELTS Tips - Plague Words or Phrases for IELTS Examination

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the test of English language either for study or immigration purpose. There are four modules in IELTS Exam: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. During IELTS Reading and writing there are some problems created by words or phrases, so you must avoid these problems. Following are the list of words and phrases.

1. As to whether: The single whether will be sufficient.

2. And / or: Outer the lawful world, frequently, this structure is used; it is neither essential nor reasonable. Attempt using one word or the other.

3. And Also: This is often disused.

4. Being that or being as: These words are a non-standard substitute for because.

For example: Being that I was the youngest child, I always wore hand-me-downs.( Wrong)

Because I was the youngest child, I always wore hand-me-downs.

5. Basically, essentially, totally: These words rarely add anything helpful to a sentence. Write the sentence instead of them and, more or less always, you will see the sentence get better.

6. Considered to be: Remove the “to be” and, except it’s significant who’s doing the considering, attempt to remove the whole phrase.

7. Due to fact that: Using this phrase is a clear indication that your sentence is in problem. Did you mean “because”? Due to is suitable after a linking verb (The team’s failure was due to illness among the starts.); or else, avoid it.

8. Etc: This abbreviation often proposes a type of laziness. It might be better to give an additional example, thereby suggesting that you could have written more, but choose not to.

9. Equally as: Something can be equally significant or as important as, but not equally as significant.

10. Each and Every: One or the other, but not both.

11. He / She: is a gathering made to avoid gender bias in writing, but it does not work very well and it turns into downright conspicuous if it appears often. Use “he” or “she” or pluralize (where suitable) so you can avoid the problem of the gender-specific pronoun altogether.

12. Firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc: Numeral things with first, second, third, etc. and not with these adverbial forms.

13. Got: Alot of writers consider “got” as a horrible word, and they have a point. If you can neglect it in writing, do so. I have got to must begin studying right away. I have got two pairs of sneakers.

14. Had ought or hadn't ought. Eradicate the auxiliary had. You ought not to bother your sister that way.

15. Irregardless: No one word will get you in trouble with the boss faster than this one.

16. In terms of: See if you can eradicate this phrase.

17. Interesting: One of the least interesting words in English, the word you utilize to express an ugly baby. If you “show us” why something is interesting, you're doing your job.

18. Kind of or sort of: These are OK in casual conditions, but in proper academic prose, replace with somewhat, rather or slightly. We were kind of rather pleased with the results.

19. Lots or lots of: In academic writing style, stay away from these colloquialisms when you can use “many or much”. Keep in mind, when you do use these words, that lots of something countable are plural. Keep in mind, too, that a lot of involve three words: "He earned a lot of money" (not a lot of).

20. Literally: This word might be perplexed with literally, a rarely used adverb concerning to authors or scholars and their different professions. Generally, though, if you say it's "literally a jungle out there," you maybe mean symbolically, but you're maybe better off without either word.

21. Just: Use only when you need it, as in just the right amount.

22. Nature: If possible than don’t use this word. Images of a beautiful nature are probably just beautiful images.

23. Necessitate: It's difficult to imagine a circumstances that would necessitate the use of this word.

24. Of don’t write “should of”, “would of”, ”could of” when you mean, “should have”, “would have”, “could have”.

25. Orientate: The new students become oriented, not orientated. The same thing applies to administrate: we administer a project.

26. Only: Look out for position. Don't write "He only kicked that ball ten yards" when you mean "He kicked that ball only ten yards."

27. On account of: Use the word “because” instead of “On account of”.

28. Previous: as in "our previous discussion." Use earlier or nothing at all.