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…
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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.
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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
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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
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●
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
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●
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
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●
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
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●
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
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●
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
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●
Refute
●
Reject
●
Question
Verbs that show a positive stance:
●
Admit
●
Advocate
●
Affirm
●
Assert
●
Complement
●
Emphasize
●
Endorse
●
Highlight
●
Declare
●
Maintain
●
Substantiate
●
Suggest
●
Support
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●
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
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●
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
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●
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:
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●
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
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●
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.
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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?
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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.
A. Describing the scope of a current project or prior
research
Purpose
Original
Recommended Substitute
Word/Phrase
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This paper + [use the verb that
To express the
● aims to
originally followed “aims to”] or This
purpose of a paper or
paper + (any other verb listed above as
research
a substitute for “explain”) +
who/what/when/where/how X. For
example:
● This paper/
study/
● “This paper applies X to Y,”
investigation…
instead of, “This paper aims to
apply X to Y.”
● “This paper explores how lower
sun exposure impacts moods,”
instead of, “This paper aims to
address the impact of lower sun
exposure on moods.”
To introduce the topic
of a project or paper
● The paper/
● discusses
● surveys
● presents
● questions
● highlights
study/ article/
● outlines
work…
● features
● Prior research/
● investigates
investigations
…
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To describe the
analytical scope of a
paper or study
● The paper/
● considers
● evaluates
● analyzes
● interprets
● explains
● clarifies
● identifies
study/ article/
● delves into
work…
● advances
● Prior research/
● appraises
investigations
● defines
…
● dissects
● probes
● tests
● explores
*Adjectives to describe degree can
include: briefly, thoroughly, adequately,
sufficiently, inadequately, insufficiently,
only partially, partially, etc.
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To preview other
sections of a paper
● Section X…
● covers
● outlines
● deals with
● highlights
● talks about
● sketches
● assesses
● contemplates
[any of the verbs suggested as
replacements for “explain,” “analyze,”
and “consider” above]
B. Outlining a topic’s background
Purpose
Original Word/Phrase
Recommended Substitute
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To discuss the
historical
significance of a
Topic significantly/considerably
● plays an important
+
in [nominalization]
● plays a vital role in
topic
● influences
[nominalization]
● controls
● Subject/
● regulates
Mechanism
● directs
…
● inhibits
● constrains
● governs
+
who/what/when/where/how…
*In other words, take the
nominalized verb and make it
the main verb of the sentence.
To describe the
historical popularity
of a topic
● …is widely
accepted as…
● …is widely used
● X Theory…
as…
● Widely accepted, … [to
eliminate the weak be
verb]
● The preferred…
● Commonly/Frequently
implemented,… [to
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eliminate the weak be
verb]
● The prevailing method
for…
To describe the
recent focus on a
topic
● Much attention
has been drawn to
● …has gained
much importance
in recent years
● Discussions regarding
X have dominated
research in recent
years.
● …has appealed to…
● …has propelled to the
forefront in
investigations of Y.
● … has
dramatically/significantl
y shaped queries on X
in recent years.
● …has critically
influenced academic
dialogue on Y.
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To identify the
current majority
opinion about a
● The consensus
has been that…
● Prior research generally
confirms that…
● Several studies agree
topic
that…
● Prior research
substantiates the belief
that…
To discuss the
findings of existing
literature
● Previous
studies…
● indicate
● contend
● have documented
● purport
● have
● suggest
demonstrated
● have shown that
● proffer
● have proven that
● evidence
To express the
breadth of our
current
knowledge-base,
including gaps
● Much is known
about…
● But, little is known
about…
● The academic
community has
extensively explored
X…
● Prior research has
thoroughly
investigated….
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● However, little research
has been conducted to
show…
● However, prior studies
have failed to evaluate/
identify / (any other
word suggested to
replace “analyze”
above)
To segue into
expressing your
research question
● Several theories
● Recent/Previous
have been
studies have
proposed to
promoted…
explain…
● To solve this
● Prior investigations
have implemented/
problem, many
queried diverse
researchers have
approaches to…
tried several
methods
● A number of authors
have posited…
C. Describing the analytical elements of a paper
Purpose
Original Word/Phrase
Recommended Substitute
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To express agreement
between one finding and
● supports
● substantiates
● confirms
another
● corroborates
● This paper/ study/
● underlines
investigation
To present contradictory
findings
● calls into
question
● This paper/ study/
investigation
● challenges
● disputes
● rebuts
● refutes
● disproves
● debunks
● invalidates
● rejects
● questions
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To discuss limitations of a
● The limitations
study
of this paper
include:
● These investigations,
however, disregards…
● This method/ approach
fails to…
● This study only…
● …falls short of
addressing/ identifying
/ illustrating…
● A
drawback/disadvantag
e of this framework
is…
● This framework,
however, solely
pertains to…
D. Discussing results
Purpose
Original
Recommended
Word/Phrase
Substitute
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To draw inferences from
results
● suggest
● extrapolate
● show
● deduce
● The data…
● surmise
● These findings…
● approximate
● derive
● extract
● evidence
To describe observations
● [Observed event or
● appeared
● manifested
● was
● surfaced
observed to
result]…
● materialized
● yielded
● generated
● perceived
● detected
E. Discussing methods
Purpose
Original
Recommended Substitute
Word/Phrase
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To discuss methods
● This study…
● used
● applied
● performed
● administered
● employed
● X method…
● diffused
● disseminated
● relayed
To describe
simulations
This study/ research…
● was
created
● A
simulation…
● simulated
to…
● replicated
● was used
● imitated
to…
● was
+
performed
“X environment/ condition to..”
to…
+
[any of the verbs suggested as
replacements for “analyze” above]
F. Explaining the impact of new research
Purpose
Original
Recommended
Word/Phrase
Substitute
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To explain the impact of a paper’s
findings
● demonstrates
● illustrates
● shows
● proves
● evidences
● This paper/ study/
● strengthens
investigation
(the position
that)
To highlight a paper’s conclusion
● This paper/ study/
● establishes
● attributes
● proves
● illustrates
● advances
investigation
(the idea that)
To explain how research
contributes to the existing
knowledge-base
● offers
● ushers in
● introduces
● proffers
● conveys
● This paper/ study/
investigation
● promotes
● advocates
● introduces
● broach
(issue)
● reveals
● unveils
● exposes
● unearths
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