Table of Contents
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.
Contents:
Words to Use in the Essay Introduction
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
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.
Words to Use in the Body of the Essay
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.
Transition Words and Phrases
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
Also
Secondly
Furthermore
Another key thing to remember
In the same way
Similarly
Likewise
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:
Thus
As a result
Hence
Therefore
Accordingly
Due to
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:
Moreover
Further
What’s more
As well as
Along with
Besides
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
Conversely
However
Alternatively
In contrast to
On the contrary
Whereas
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
That said
Even so
Then again
Differing from
Granted
Despite
Yet
In spite of
While
With this in mind
Provided that
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Notwithstanding
Admittedly
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.
Strong Verbs for Academic Writing
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:
Alter
Accommodate
Evolve
Fluctuate
Generate
Transform
Transition
Vary
Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:
Constrain
Control
Govern
Ignite
Impact
Influence
Inhibit
Initiate
Instigate
Introduce
Promote
Provoke
Stimulate
Trigger
Verbs that show increase:
Advance
Develop
Enlarge
Exceed
Extend
Facilitate
Improve
Implement
Maximize
Verbs that show decrease:
Alleviate
Cease
Decline
Depress
Descent
Deteriorate
Minimize
Subside
Reduce
Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:
Comprises of
Is composed of
Constitutes
Encompasses
Includes
Incorporates
Verbs that show a negative stance:
Caution
Challenge
Contend
Contradict
Deny
Disagree
Dismiss
Dispute
Disregard
Invalidate
Misconstrue
Negate
Refute
Reject
Question
Verbs that show a positive stance:
Admit
Advocate
Affirm
Assert
Complement
Emphasize
Endorse
Highlight
Declare
Maintain
Substantiate
Suggest
Support
Underscore
Uphold
Validate
Verify
Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:
Allude
Attest
Confirm
Convey
Corroborate
Demonstrate
Document
Entail
Establish
Hint
Imply
Indicate
Present
Reveal
Signify
Summarize
Surface
Unearth
Yield
Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:
Analyze
Appraise
Assess
Believe
Clarify
Concede
Contend
Consider
Contemplate
Define
Derive
Determine
Diagnose
Discuss
Dissect
Evaluate
Examine
Explore
Hypothesize
Identify
Ignore
Infer
Interpret
Investigate
Observe
Perceive
Postulate
Presume
Recognize
Refer
Scrutinize
Speculate
Surmise
Theorize
Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:
Denote
Depict
Describe
Display
Illustrate
Portray
Represent
Typify
Useful Adjectives and Adverbs for Academic Essays
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:
Beneficial
Clear
Effective
Important
Invaluable
Main
Major
Persuasive
Relevant
Significant
Strong
Successful
Unbiased
Useful
Valid
Valuable
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:
Biased
Controversial
False
Flawed
Insignificant
Invalid
Irrelevant
Limited
Minor
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:
Accordingly
Adequately
Barely
Briefly
Certainly
Completely
Comprehensively
Consequently
Entirely
Exhaustively
Extensively
Generally
Hardly
Initially
Nearly
Possibly
Presumably
Probably
Regularly
Respectively
Scarcely
Surprisingly
Thoroughly
Typically
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.
Words to Use in Your Essay 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
To sum up
In summary
In a nutshell
In brief
In short
In essence
All in all
Given the above
As described
All things considered
Finally
Lastly
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
Especially
Importantly
Singularly
Chiefly
Namely
Conclusively
It should be noted
Above all
Ultimately
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.
How to Improve Your Essay Writing Vocabulary
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!
Good writing = better grades
ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.
