By Hannah Yang
Words to use in the essay introduction, words to use in the body of the essay, words to use in your essay conclusion, how to improve your essay writing vocabulary.
It’s not easy to write an academic essay .
Many students struggle to word their arguments in a logical and concise way.
To make matters worse, academic essays need to adhere to a certain level of formality, so we can’t always use the same word choices in essay writing that we would use in daily life.
If you’re struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay.
The introduction is one of the hardest parts of an essay to write.
You have only one chance to make a first impression, and you want to hook your reader. If the introduction isn’t effective, the reader might not even bother to read the rest of the essay.
That’s why it’s important to be thoughtful and deliberate with the words you choose at the beginning of your essay.
Many students use a quote in the introductory paragraph to establish credibility and set the tone for the rest of the essay.
When you’re referencing another author or speaker, try using some of these phrases:
To use the words of X
According to X
As X states
Example: To use the words of Hillary Clinton, “You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health.”
Near the end of the introduction, you should state the thesis to explain the central point of your paper.
If you’re not sure how to introduce your thesis, try using some of these phrases:
In this essay, I will…
The purpose of this essay…
This essay discusses…
In this paper, I put forward the claim that…
There are three main arguments for…
Example: In this essay, I will explain why dress codes in public schools are detrimental to students.
After you’ve stated your thesis, it’s time to start presenting the arguments you’ll use to back up that central idea.
When you’re introducing the first of a series of arguments, you can use the following words:
First and foremost
First of all
To begin with
Example: First , consider the effects that this new social security policy would have on low-income taxpayers.
All these words and phrases will help you create a more successful introduction and convince your audience to read on.
The body of your essay is where you’ll explain your core arguments and present your evidence.
It’s important to choose words and phrases for the body of your essay that will help the reader understand your position and convince them you’ve done your research.
Let’s look at some different types of words and phrases that you can use in the body of your essay, as well as some examples of what these words look like in a sentence.
Transitioning from one argument to another is crucial for a good essay.
It’s important to guide your reader from one idea to the next so they don’t get lost or feel like you’re jumping around at random.
Transition phrases and linking words show your reader you’re about to move from one argument to the next, smoothing out their reading experience. They also make your writing look more professional.
The simplest transition involves moving from one idea to a separate one that supports the same overall argument. Try using these phrases when you want to introduce a second correlating idea:
Additionally
In addition
Furthermore
Another key thing to remember
In the same way
Correspondingly
Example: Additionally , public parks increase property value because home buyers prefer houses that are located close to green, open spaces.
Another type of transition involves restating. It’s often useful to restate complex ideas in simpler terms to help the reader digest them. When you’re restating an idea, you can use the following words:
In other words
To put it another way
That is to say
To put it more simply
Example: “The research showed that 53% of students surveyed expressed a mild or strong preference for more on-campus housing. In other words , over half the students wanted more dormitory options.”
Often, you’ll need to provide examples to illustrate your point more clearly for the reader. When you’re about to give an example of something you just said, you can use the following words:
For instance
To give an illustration of
To exemplify
To demonstrate
As evidence
Example: Humans have long tried to exert control over our natural environment. For instance , engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900, causing it to permanently flow backward.
Sometimes, you’ll need to explain the impact or consequence of something you’ve just said.
When you’re drawing a conclusion from evidence you’ve presented, try using the following words:
As a result
Accordingly
As you can see
This suggests that
It follows that
It can be seen that
For this reason
For all of those reasons
Consequently
Example: “There wasn’t enough government funding to support the rest of the physics experiment. Thus , the team was forced to shut down their experiment in 1996.”
When introducing an idea that bolsters one you’ve already stated, or adds another important aspect to that same argument, you can use the following words:
What’s more
Not only…but also
Not to mention
To say nothing of
Another key point
Example: The volcanic eruption disrupted hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover , it impacted the local flora and fauna as well, causing nearly a hundred species to go extinct.
Often, you'll want to present two sides of the same argument. When you need to compare and contrast ideas, you can use the following words:
On the one hand / on the other hand
Alternatively
In contrast to
On the contrary
By contrast
In comparison
Example: On the one hand , the Black Death was undoubtedly a tragedy because it killed millions of Europeans. On the other hand , it created better living conditions for the peasants who survived.
Finally, when you’re introducing a new angle that contradicts your previous idea, you can use the following phrases:
Having said that
Differing from
In spite of
With this in mind
Provided that
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Notwithstanding
Example: Shakespearean plays are classic works of literature that have stood the test of time. Having said that , I would argue that Shakespeare isn’t the most accessible form of literature to teach students in the twenty-first century.
Good essays include multiple types of logic. You can use a combination of the transitions above to create a strong, clear structure throughout the body of your essay.
Verbs are especially important for writing clear essays. Often, you can convey a nuanced meaning simply by choosing the right verb.
You should use strong verbs that are precise and dynamic. Whenever possible, you should use an unambiguous verb, rather than a generic verb.
For example, alter and fluctuate are stronger verbs than change , because they give the reader more descriptive detail.
Here are some useful verbs that will help make your essay shine.
Verbs that show change:
Accommodate
Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:
Verbs that show increase:
Verbs that show decrease:
Deteriorate
Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:
Comprises of
Is composed of
Constitutes
Encompasses
Incorporates
Verbs that show a negative stance:
Misconstrue
Verbs that show a positive stance:
Substantiate
Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:
Corroborate
Demonstrate
Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:
Contemplate
Hypothesize
Investigate
Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:
You should use adjectives and adverbs more sparingly than verbs when writing essays, since they sometimes add unnecessary fluff to sentences.
However, choosing the right adjectives and adverbs can help add detail and sophistication to your essay.
Sometimes you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is useful and should be taken seriously. Here are some adjectives that create positive emphasis:
Significant
Other times, you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is harmful or ineffective. Here are some adjectives that create a negative emphasis:
Controversial
Insignificant
Questionable
Unnecessary
Unrealistic
Finally, you might need to use an adverb to lend nuance to a sentence, or to express a specific degree of certainty. Here are some examples of adverbs that are often used in essays:
Comprehensively
Exhaustively
Extensively
Respectively
Surprisingly
Using these words will help you successfully convey the key points you want to express. Once you’ve nailed the body of your essay, it’s time to move on to the conclusion.
The conclusion of your paper is important for synthesizing the arguments you’ve laid out and restating your thesis.
In your concluding paragraph, try using some of these essay words:
In conclusion
To summarize
In a nutshell
Given the above
As described
All things considered
Example: In conclusion , it’s imperative that we take action to address climate change before we lose our coral reefs forever.
In addition to simply summarizing the key points from the body of your essay, you should also add some final takeaways. Give the reader your final opinion and a bit of a food for thought.
To place emphasis on a certain point or a key fact, use these essay words:
Unquestionably
Undoubtedly
Particularly
Importantly
Conclusively
It should be noted
On the whole
Example: Ada Lovelace is unquestionably a powerful role model for young girls around the world, and more of our public school curricula should include her as a historical figure.
These concluding phrases will help you finish writing your essay in a strong, confident way.
There are many useful essay words out there that we didn't include in this article, because they are specific to certain topics.
If you're writing about biology, for example, you will need to use different terminology than if you're writing about literature.
So how do you improve your vocabulary skills?
The vocabulary you use in your academic writing is a toolkit you can build up over time, as long as you take the time to learn new words.
One way to increase your vocabulary is by looking up words you don’t know when you’re reading.
Try reading more books and academic articles in the field you’re writing about and jotting down all the new words you find. You can use these words to bolster your own essays.
You can also consult a dictionary or a thesaurus. When you’re using a word you’re not confident about, researching its meaning and common synonyms can help you make sure it belongs in your essay.
Don't be afraid of using simpler words. Good essay writing boils down to choosing the best word to convey what you need to say, not the fanciest word possible.
Finally, you can use ProWritingAid’s synonym tool or essay checker to find more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. Click on weak words in your essay to find stronger alternatives.
There you have it: our compilation of the best words and phrases to use in your next essay . Good luck!
ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.
Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.
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Are you worried about consistently using “and” at the start of a sentence?
Perhaps you find it too repetitive, or you’re worried it’ll take your reader’s attention away from your words.
Fear not! This article is here to help.
We’ll teach you how to start a sentence without “and” to help spice up your essays and other academic writing pieces.
You should try to avoid starting a sentence with “and.”
It is correct , but it’s not always a good choice. If you’re going to use it, you should only use it once or twice in an essay, if at all.
It is informal , though. So, you’ll need to account for that before using it in an essay.
You can use it when writing about yourself or other informal essay tropes. But still, it’s best to limit how often you do it if you want to sound proper.
Here are two examples showing you how it works:
I liked most of the things I did. And I’m sure I’ll find plenty of other ways to excite myself.
This is the best way to continue. And it’s clear that people aren’t looking for alternatives right now.
While there isn’t anything wrong with using “and” to start a sentence, that doesn’t mean you should stick to it. So, it’s time to explore some alternatives to see what else works.
Keep reading to learn what words to use instead of “and” when writing an essay or in other professional contexts. We’ve gathered some great options to help you.
One of the most common ways to replace “and” at the start of a sentence is “additionally.”
You can use this to keep things formal and direct . It shows you have something to add to a sentence, but you feel it’s worthy of a new sentence before adding it.
For the most part, this keeps the reader engaged .
So you can use it in academic writing . It shows you’ve got a few additions to make to a sentence, and you’d appreciate the reader’s full attention when doing so.
Here are some great writing samples to show you more about how to use it:
This appears to be the best way forward. Additionally , it makes the most sense, as it covers all angles.
I have thought about the opportunity for a while. Additionally , I’m sure there will be plenty of backlash.
You can spice up your formal writing by including “furthermore” instead of “and.”
This is a good synonym to start a sentence with, as it keeps things direct and clear . Most of the time, the reader will understand that you’re linking new information to the previous sentence.
Remember, whenever you start a new sentence with “and” or a synonym, it implies that it relates to the information you just shared.
The reader should be following along. So, this is just a way to keep things as clear as possible for them.
Here are some great essay samples to help you understand a bit more about it:
This could go either way. Furthermore , it’s important to let things settle before we try to fix anything.
I’m looking for some more variables. Furthermore , there are options to expand on the experiment that I can pursue.
We also recommend using “moreover” as another way to start a sentence instead of “and.”
You can include this in an essay . It’s a great choice that will impress a teacher when used correctly.
Feel free to include it to keep things formal and direct . It shows you have more to add, and readers should be able to see more about what you’re trying to say.
However, as with many synonyms in this article, it’s best not to overuse it! Stick to using it just once or twice in an essay to keep things clear and readable.
Also, you can review these examples to learn a little more about it:
It’s clear that they haven’t thought about the direction. Moreover , they’ve been questioned on it and can’t decide what comes next.
I have decided that this makes the most sense. Moreover , it’s going to be the best way for us to handle it.
We also think it’s good to use “however” in your writing. However, it’s not quite as versatile as “and,” so you need to know the difference.
For starters, “and” adds information. It can add positive, negative, or contradictory information. It’s a completely open-ended word that changes the course of a few sentences.
With “however,” you can only contradict the previous sentence . So, it works well to replace “and,” but it’s more limited inf how useful it is.
Still, we recommend using it because it keeps the reader engaged when starting a new sentence.
You can also review these examples to learn a bit more:
I’m unsure if this is the answer to the question. However , I’m willing to explore it more to see whether it sticks.
It’s clear that they have multiple issues. However , they’re still worth supporting to see what comes next.
You can also use “nevertheless” as an alternative to starting a sentence with “and.” This is a great way to contradict previous information in a sentence.
Generally, this keeps things formal and direct . It helps readers to understand that the information in the previous sentence does not directly impact the new sentence.
Therefore, it’s a good way to engage readers and show them that you’ve thought things through. The more well-thought-out your essay is, the better it’ll be overall.
Feel free to review these essay samples to learn more:
This is the best option for the situation. Nevertheless , I will still explore alternatives to see what else works.
I’m going to look into it. Nevertheless , it’s important for you to do the same to see what comes out of it.
If you’re still struggling with what to start a sentence with instead of “and,” perhaps “conversely” is the one for you.
It works well when introducing a contradicting idea . Of course, this makes it a bit more limited than “and,” but it’s still a great alternative.
Generally, you can use this when sharing information with the reader that goes against the previous piece of information they learned.
It shows that you’ve explored alternative options. So, it works quite well when writing a persuasive essay .
You can also review the following examples to learn more:
It’s clear that this option works well. Conversely , plenty of others have pointed towards the other one as the best to move with.
I’m sure the statistics are correct. Conversely , there is a large margin for error here that we need to focus on.
Also, it’s good to use “to add to that” when trying to find a replacement for “and” in your writing.
It’s much more suitable in formal writing because it’s a phrase showing you’ll add further information. For the most part, this makes what you aim to achieve really clear.
Generally, readers will appreciate this . It’s direct and clear , making it obvious that you’re adding something new for them to pay attention to.
You can also review these examples to learn a bit more about it:
I’m not sure if they touched on the topic. To add to that , it’s not evident whether they’re willing to expand their search.
We have looked into it before. To add to that , there wasn’t much of a need for us to try harder.
It’s also good to write “alternatively” instead of “and” to start a sentence.
You can’t go wrong with this if you’re introducing an alternative idea . Generally, this means it relates to something from the previous sentence, but it comes about it from a different perspective.
You can use this when writing an academic paper . Generally, it’s a good way to explain something to a reader quickly.
Here are some examples if you still need help with it:
This seems to be the best move. Alternatively , we can look into other options before trying again.
It’s good to try it like this. Alternatively , we will have to find another outlet.
And finally, we think it’s good to write “meanwhile” instead of “and.”
This works well at the start of a sentence because it helps you to group two sentences or clauses together.
And it helps that “meanwhile” sounds natural at the start of a sentence . So, most readers will already be used to it.
Here are some examples to help you:
This is a good choice. Meanwhile , there are other options that need to be explored fully.
I’m sure it’s going to work well for us. Meanwhile , can we look into some variations that might change the outcome?
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"Alternatively" is another word to use instead of "however" in academic writing. Like the original phrase, it can be used at the start of a sentence. Essentially, "alternatively" means "as another possibility." ... It is perfectly okay to use "however" in an essay. However, we do advise that you use it with caution.
Though. "Though" is another common choice which we often see instead of "however.". Many people think it works in the same way as "although.". It's simply a shorter version of "although" in the case of countering an argument. "Though" is a great choice, like "yet" and "but," which only requires a comma to work.
At the same time. With that said. Still. Be that as it may. But. Keep reading to learn more words to replace "however" in an essay. 1. Though. One of the more common synonyms for "however" in academic writing is "though.".
With this in mind, we might identify THEREFORE, THUS, and SO as antonyms for however. By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) There are lots of strange ideas surrounding the word 'however'. Some teachers tell their students they shouldn't begin a new sentence with the word 'but', and should substitute the word 'however' instead.
Summary: Words to Use Instead of "However" However is a useful word, because it links phrases or sentences and indicates a change in your line of reasoning. If you want to avoid repetitive use of however in your writing, be sure to choose an alternative word or phrase that has the same meaning, that is, a transition word that introduces a ...
The following are some of the formal synonyms for "however": Synonym. Definition. Notwithstanding. Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with what has already been said. Conversely. Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with what has already been said. In contrast.
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".
Yes, there are several synonyms for 'however' that are suitable for use in formal writing. Some of these include 'nevertheless', 'nonetheless', 'yet', 'although', 'in spite of that', 'still', 'notwithstanding', 'regardless', 'albeit', and 'despite this'. It is important to choose the appropriate word ...
Nevertheless. Just like "however", we use "nevertheless" to show contrast. It has a similar meaning to "despite that". Tom was tired and sleepy; nevertheless, he kept on walking. Though enormously rich, he was nevertheless a thrifty, penny-pinching person. Mary never wanted to be a housewife but she nevertheless got married and ...
The word "however" is used to lead off a sentence that counters a previous thought. Are there any alternative words or phrases that can substitute? I'm even looking for old English and obsolete words and phrases. I'm trying to add some creativity to my writing. I'll start by including words that are nearly as tired: Nevertheless
However (see I can't even help myself), I feel compelled to use words like "however" to help with flow. To me, the "however" in the last sentence is optional. You add it to emphasize contradiction with the previous statement. You could replace with. Unfortunately, I still feel compelled to use words like "however" to help with flow.
Be that as it may. But. Despite. For all that. In spite of. On the other hand. Per contra. Though. Without regard to.
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:
Synonyms for HOWEVER: though, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, yet, notwithstanding, at the same time, all the same, just the same, even so
Other Ways to Say However | Infographic. Pin. Other Ways to Say However However Synonyms with Examples. Learn another word for however with example sentences. All the same; All the same, there is some truth in what he says. Although; Although it was late, there was still enough time to keep the rendezvous. And yet; The boy is so fat and yet he ...
Summary: Words to Use Instead of "However" However is a useful word, because it links phrases or sentences and indicates a change in your line of reasoning. If you want to avoid repetitive use of however in your writing, be sure to choose an alternative word or phrase that has the same meaning, that is, a transition word that introduces a ...
Honestly, I don't see the problem with many of the uses in your example. The first example reads well. In the second I would remove the first "but." The third and fourth read fine. - Chris. Jan 19, 2014 at 1:27. I had a therapist who suggested that, as I talked to her, I replace "but" with "and." It frequently worked!
However (Whatever) This sense of "however" typically means "to whatever extent" or "in whatever manner": I'll catch you one day, however far you run! It's not a formal event, so dress however you want. Note that in the examples above, there's no punctuation between "however" and the thing it's modifying (i.e., distance ...
even so. in any case. all the same. at any rate. in any event. albeit. at the same time. howbeit. for all that.
despite that. regardless. but despite that. but for all that. but in spite of that. even so. having said that. in spite of that. nonetheless.
If you're struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don't worry—you've come to the right place! In this article, we've compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay. Contents: Words to Use in the Essay Introduction. Words to Use in the Body of the Essay.
1. Additionally. One of the most common ways to replace "and" at the start of a sentence is "additionally.". You can use this to keep things formal and direct. It shows you have something to add to a sentence, but you feel it's worthy of a new sentence before adding it. For the most part, this keeps the reader engaged.