7 Ways to Improve English Writing Skills | IELTS | EXAM | ESSAY | ACADEMIC

Summary

In this English with Lucy video, Lucy offers seven top tips to enhance IELTS writing skills. She emphasizes simplicity, advises against using contractions in academic writing, and suggests reducing word count by avoiding filler words. Lucy also recommends reading various document types to familiarize with different writing styles and stresses the importance of checking one's work for accuracy. Lastly, she advises writing practice and getting it checked by a trusted source, possibly through platforms like Lingoda, which also sponsors the video.

Takeaways

• 😀 Keep it simple: Use accurate, uncomplicated language rather than complex, inaccurate expressions.
• 📚 Prepare key phrases: Have a collection of set phrases and keywords ready for use in exams.
• 🔗 Use linking words: Prepare and use linking words and key phrases to enhance the coherence of your writing.
• ⛔ Avoid contractions: In academic writing, refrain from using contractions to maintain formality.
• 📉 Reduce word count: Employ strategies to minimize wordiness without sacrificing clarity or accuracy.
• 🚫 Avoid 'very', 'so', 'really': Replace these 'dead weight' words with more precise and impactful vocabulary.
• 📖 Read the right documents: Familiarize yourself with the styles of writing required for your academic exams.
• 🔍 Check your work: Always review your writing to catch and correct spelling and grammar mistakes.
• ✍️ Write and get it checked: Practice writing and seek feedback from reliable sources to improve your writing skills.
• 👀 Be cautious online: When seeking help online, ensure that the interaction is safe and the person is trustworthy.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by English with Lucy?

The main topic of the video is providing seven top tips to improve English writing skills, particularly for IELTS exam preparation.

Which online language academy is mentioned as a sponsor in the video?

Lingoda is the online language academy mentioned as a sponsor, which offers courses in English, Spanish, German, and French.

What is the first tip Lucy gives for improving writing?

The first tip is to keep it simple, suggesting that it's better to write accurately with simple language rather than inaccurately with complex language.

Why does Lucy recommend preparing key phrases for writing exams?

Lucy recommends preparing key phrases to avoid mistakes and to have a collection of set phrases and keywords ready for use in exams.

What is the significance of using linking words and key phrases in academic writing?

Using linking words and key phrases helps to improve the coherence and flow of academic writing, making it easier for readers to follow the writer's arguments.

Why should contractions be avoided in academic writing according to Lucy?

Contractions should be avoided in academic writing to maintain a formal tone and to ensure clarity and precision in the text.

What is the advice given for reducing word count in writing?

To reduce word count, Lucy suggests avoiding 'dead weight words' like 'very', 'so', 'a lot', 'really', and instead using strong, precise words.

What type of documents should one read to prepare for academic writing exams?

One should read articles, reports, essays, and reviews to familiarize themselves with the styles of writing that might be required in academic writing exams.

Why is it important to check one's own writing according to the video?

Checking one's own writing is crucial to avoid silly mistakes, ensure accuracy, and prevent point deductions in exams.

What is Lucy's advice for getting writing checked by someone else?

Lucy advises writing as much as possible, checking it oneself first, and then finding someone trustworthy to correct it, possibly through language exchange or professional services like Lingoda.

What is the potential issue Lucy warns about when seeking help with English online?

Lucy warns about the potential for online predators who may pretend to help with English practice but have ulterior motives, especially for younger viewers.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Tips for IELTS Writing Success

In this segment, Lucy introduces her video on improving English writing skills, specifically targeting IELTS exam takers. She emphasizes the importance of simplicity in writing, advising students to use accurate, uncomplicated language rather than complex constructions they may not fully grasp. Lucy also suggests preparing a collection of set phrases and keywords, including linking words, to enhance academic writing. She provides a list of examples for various writing functions such as comparison, contrast, giving examples, expressing opinions, and concluding. The segment concludes with a reminder to avoid contractions in academic writing to maintain formality.

05:01

📚 Strategies to Enhance Writing Quality and Word Count

Lucy continues with practical advice on reducing wordiness without compromising the quality of writing. She advises against using 'dead weight words' like 'very' and 'really,' recommending instead the use of more powerful, descriptive language. Lucy also suggests avoiding phrases like 'there is' and 'there are,' which can be replaced with more direct constructions to improve clarity and conciseness. The paragraph concludes with a tip to read a variety of academic texts such as articles, reports, and essays to familiarize oneself with different writing styles, which is essential for academic writing exams.

10:02

🔍 The Importance of Proofreading and Getting Feedback

In the final paragraph, Lucy stresses the critical nature of proofreading one's own work to avoid silly mistakes and improve accuracy. She shares her experience as a proofreader and the importance of meticulous checking before submitting written work. Lucy encourages students to write, check their work thoroughly, and seek external feedback, cautioning them to be wary of online interactions and to prioritize safety. She suggests using services like Lingoda, where one can have a writing analysis session with a qualified teacher. The video ends with a reminder about Lingoda's special offer for subscribers and an invitation to connect with Lucy on social media.

Keywords

💡IELTS

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, which is a globally recognized test for non-native English speakers to demonstrate their English language proficiency. In the video, the speaker addresses IELTS preparation as a primary concern for the viewers, indicating that the tips provided are tailored to improve their writing skills specifically for this exam.

💡Lingoda

Lingoda is mentioned as an online language academy that offers courses in multiple languages, including English. The video's sponsor, Lingoda is highlighted for its service that allows students to have their writing checked during private lessons, which is a valuable resource for those looking to improve their English writing skills, especially in the context of the IELTS exam preparation discussed.

💡Set phrases

Set phrases refer to prefabricated expressions or combinations of words that are used in a fixed form. In the video, the speaker advises preparing a collection of set phrases and keywords to use during an exam, which can help考生 avoid making mistakes and demonstrate a more fluent and accurate use of the English language.

💡Linking words

Linking words are used to connect ideas within a piece of writing, making the text coherent and logical. The video emphasizes the importance of having a repertoire of linking words and key phrases for academic writing, such as 'in the same way' for comparison or 'however' for contrast, to enhance the structure and clarity of one's writing.

💡Academic writing

Academic writing is a formal style of expression used in scholarly work, characterized by its objectivity, clarity, and precision. The video focuses on tips for improving academic writing, particularly for exams like IELTS, where the use of formal language, avoidance of contractions, and the inclusion of linking words are emphasized.

💡Word count

Word count refers to the total number of words in a piece of writing. In the context of the video, reducing word count is discussed as a strategy to make writing more concise and focused. The speaker provides tips on how to minimize wordiness without sacrificing the quality or clarity of the writing, which is crucial for meeting the word limit requirements in exams.

💡Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms of words, often created by combining a verb and a pronoun, such as 'don't' for 'do not'. The video advises against using contractions in academic writing, as they are considered informal and may detract from the seriousness of the writing, which is important for a high-scoring essay or exam response.

💡Dead weight words

Dead weight words are words that do not contribute significantly to the meaning of a sentence and can often be removed without loss of clarity. The speaker in the video suggests avoiding words like 'very', 'so', 'really', and replacing them with more precise and impactful vocabulary to enhance the quality and conciseness of writing.

💡Checking work

Checking work involves reviewing and proofreading one's writing to correct errors and improve clarity. The video stresses the importance of this step, especially in exam settings, where checking for spelling and grammatical mistakes can significantly improve the final score. The speaker uses personal anecdotes to illustrate the value of thorough checking before submitting written work.

💡Writing and getting it checked

This phrase encapsulates the video's final tip, which is to not only practice writing but also to have it reviewed by others. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of finding someone to check one's work but suggests using language exchange platforms or professional services like Lingoda, where one can get constructive feedback to improve writing skills.

Highlights

Lucy introduces the video as her first focusing on writing, specifically aimed at helping viewers with IELTS exams.

Lucy promotes the sponsor Lingoda, an online language academy that offers private lessons with real, qualified, native teachers.

Tip 1: Keep your writing simple. It's better to use simple, accurate English rather than complex English that could contain mistakes.

Tip 2: Prepare key phrases for your writing exams. Having a collection of set phrases can help avoid mistakes and improve the quality of your writing.

List of useful phrases: Lucy provides examples of linking words and key phrases that are useful for academic writing and IELTS exams.

Tip 3: Avoid using contractions in academic writing, as they can make the writing appear less formal and professional.

Tip 4: Reduce your word count by using strong words instead of 'dead weight' words like 'very' and 'really'.

Tip 4 (continued): Avoid using 'there is' and 'there are' to make sentences clearer and more concise.

Tip 5: Read the right documents to improve your academic writing. Familiarize yourself with different writing styles such as articles, reports, and essays.

Tip 6: Always check your work for mistakes before submitting. Even native speakers make errors if they don't proofread.

Lucy shares her personal experience as a proofreader and the importance of checking work to ensure it's error-free.

Tip 7: Write and get it checked. Practicing writing and having it reviewed by others is crucial for improvement.

Lucy emphasizes caution when seeking feedback online, especially for young viewers, and suggests using trusted services or qualified teachers.

Lucy highlights the value of using paid services like Lingoda for reliable and safe feedback on writing.

Conclusion: Lucy encourages viewers to check out Lingoda using a special discount code and reminds them to connect with her on social media.

Transcripts

(laid-back electronic music)

- Hello, everyone, and welcome back to English with Lucy.

Today, I've got a video that I've never really done before.

I've never really spoken about writing, as far as I know.

So, this one has been highly requested.

I know a lot of you are doing your IELTS exams,

so I have got seven top tips

that are going to help you improve your writing.

Quickly, before we get started, I'd just like to thank

the sponsor of today's video, Lingoda.

Lingoda is an amazing online language academy.

They don't just teach English;

they also teach Spanish, German, and French.

You can subscribe to Lingoda on a monthly package basis,

and you will gain access to a combination

of both group and private video lessons

with real, qualified, native teachers.

It's actually highly relevant to this video,

because you really, ideally want somebody

to check through your writing.

So, in your private lessons on Lingoda,

you can mention that you'd like them

to look at your writing,

and that's what you can focus on for that lesson.

Lingoda has given all English with Lucy subscribers

a special discount; you can get $50 or €50

off your first month at Lingoda.

All you have to do is click on the link

in the description box and apply this code at checkout.

Let's get started with the lesson.

So, my first tip for improving your writing

is keep it simple.

Now, I know this seems really, really obvious,

but I always say to my students simple done accurately

is better than complicated done inaccurately.

In other words, it's better to keep things simple

and do it well, rather than over-complicate everything

and do it badly.

So, in English writing exams,

you want to show off your English,

but you want to show off your accurate English,

not all this English that you don't know

or haven't learnt yet.

Now, that leads me on to point number two.

In order to avoid making mistakes in your writing,

it's a really, really good idea

to have a collection of set phrases and keywords

that you can use in that exam.

So, my tip number two is prepare key phrases.

Now, you do have to be careful with this.

You don't want to rehearse what you're going to write,

but you do want to have a nice selection of things

that you could possible say if the time arises.

Now, especially on the IELTS exam,

and I know a lot of you are studying for this

but this really goes for any academic writing exam,

you want to have linking words and key phrases prepared.

Now I'm going to give you a list

with two examples for each point.

It doesn't cover everything that you need to know,

but if you study everything in the list,

you will be much, much more prepared

for your English writing exam.

So, pay attention, and if there's any point that you think,

"I really could expand on that,"

go and do your research, and prepare yourself.

You want to make sure that you have a variety

of different ways to ...

compare: "in the same way," "at the same time,"

contrast: "on the contrary," "however,"

give examples: "for instance," "to illustrate,"

give your opinion: "from my perspective,"

"from my point of view,"

generalise: "overall," "all things considered,"

to express certainty: "undoubtedly," "of course,"

to express partial agreement: "in a way," "to some extent,"

to show cause: "owing to," "due to,"

to show effect: "for this reason," "consequently,"

to mark time: "to begin with," "following this,"

to add information: "furthermore," "moreover,"

to express condition: "unless," "provided that,"

and to conclude: "in summary," "in short."

So that's just a very brief list

showing you exactly what you need to study

to be fully prepared for any English writing exam.

Now, point number three, and definitely,

definitely, definitely for academic writing,

i.e. English tests or university pieces,

do not use contractions.

Or is that don't use contractions?

So, cannot to can't,

do not to don't,

shall not to shan't,

I am to I'm, these are all examples of contractions,

and in your writing exams you want to avoid these.

I know that you guys really, really, really

want to keep your word count down

because you are restricted,

and you want to show off as much as you possibly can,

but I've got lots of tips for reducing your word count

coming up, so make sure that you do not feel tempted

to include contractions in your academic writing.

So, tip number four, reduce your word count.

Use as few words as possible.

Completely contradictory, because I've just told you

that you should not use contractions.

But I've got some really, really good mini tips

within this big tip to help you keep your word count down

and your English level up.

The first one is avoid these dead weight words

like "very," "so," "a lot," "really."

I have mentioned this before in a video,

but if you want to show off your English,

avoid these; they're pointless.

They are empty calories in English.

Replace them, instead, with a strong word.

So instead of saying "really happy,"

I would say, "I am elated."

Instead of saying "so scared," I would say "terrified."

Okay?

So, by using strong words and avoiding these boring words,

you can reduce your word count by a fair bit.

Now, another way to really reduce your word count

but really improve the quality of your writing

is avoiding "there is" and "there are."

We want everything to be as clear as possible,

and sometimes "there is" and "there are"

can act as fillers; they add extra words to our sentences.

So, I'm going to give you an example

so you can see this and bear it in mind

next time you're doing an academic piece of writing.

Sentence one: there are many problems that we may encounter.

There are many problems that we may encounter.

Sentence two: We may encounter many problems.

We may encounter many problems.

The first sentence has eight words.

The second sentence has five words.

You have reduced your word count, and you have increased

the quality and the clarity of your writing.

So, make sure you apply this in your next exam.

Number five, read ...

the right documents.

Read the right pieces of writing.

I know many of you like to read in your spare time,

you like to do it for fun,

and a lot of you will read books in English,

which is amazing for improving you spelling

and improving your vocabulary as well.

But if you're trying to get a good score

in an academic writing exam,

you might not be reading the right kind of thing.

Look at the potential pieces of writing

that they're going to ask you to do.

Are they asking you to write article, reports, essays?

Maybe they're asking you to write all three.

If they are, read all three.

You need to go online or go to your library

and read articles, read reports,

read essays, read reviews.

Do everything you can to familiarise yourselves

with all the styles of writing.

Number six is one that you will have heard in school

so many times; but, I've worked as a teacher

for many, many years, and I get so frustrated

with silly, stupid mistakes

that I know that my students know.

They don't make these mistakes when they're speaking,

so why do they make them when they're writing?

So many times I've gone and I've prepared a lesson

because I've seen that there were some very clear mistakes

in my students' writing.

And I prepare a lesson to correct this mistake,

and when I go to teach it they say,

"But teacher, we already know this; this is baby stuff."

And it's because they don't check their work.

I have a clear example of this.

I used to work as a proofreader.

I used to check through documents

before they got sent off to publishers

to make sure that they were all correct,

that there was no spelling mistakes,

there were no grammar mistakes,

there was nothing, nothing wrong, they were all perfect.

And I was amazing at doing this.

I could get every single mistake.

Just by looking at a document from a distance

I could pick out those errors.

However, if you follow me on Instagram,

you will see that I make spelling and grammar mistakes

all the time.

Why?

Because I don't check; I don't check my writing.

I am a native English speaker, and I make spelling mistakes.

Granted, many of them are due to auto-correct on my phone,

which I am battling with.

But a lot of them are my fault.

And I don't check them, so I don't see them.

I know when you finish an exam, you're like,

"Ugh, I'm done; I want to move on to the next question,"

but you can avoid so many point deductions

just by checking through your work,

so please, please, please, make it your absolute priority.

I personally think it's much better if you write less

and check more; fewer words, higher accuracy.

And I know normally I promote fluency over accuracy,

but not in writing exams.

In writing exams, you want perfection.

Now, number seven is perhaps the most relevant

and the most difficult of all, especially if you're in

really remote parts of the world.

Number seven is write and get it checked.

Write and get it checked.

And unfortunately, the getting it checked thing

is a lot harder than it seems.

You want to write as much as possible,

checking it, of course.

It used to really annoy me when my students

would come in with five essays.

I was so happy that they'd done that,

but then I saw that they'd made loads and loads

of stupid mistakes, and I just thought,

"Ugh, why didn't you check it?

"I'm just correcting the same thing over and over again."

But write as much as you can, check it,

and then see if you can find somebody to correct it.

Now, I'm not saying find a complete stranger.

It's got to be in their interest to correct it as well.

I personally think it's very unlikely

that you're going to find a random teacher on the internet

that will be willing to check your writing for free.

However, there are lots of services and pen pal sites

if it's like a mutual exchange.

If you find somebody who wants to learn your language

and they can help you with your English,

then you can do that.

Or, like I mentioned, on services such as Lingoda,

and you can just have a straight hour of analysing writing

that you've already done and already sent them.

But I will say, especially to my younger viewers,

really, really, really be careful when you're contacting

people online to practise your English.

Make sure it's a trustworthy person, because there are

so many predators that want to talk to you,

especially young girls, to "practise their English,"

and it doesn't actually turn out to be a English practise.

It turns out to be something quite different,

so please, please, please be careful.

If you've got the funds, and if you've got the time,

get a proper teacher and pay them to help you.

Is there any way that you're going to be guaranteed

the proper skills, and the proper qualifications,

and also the proper incentive.

Why would a random stranger on the internet

want to help you with your writing?

What's in it for them?

Always think about that.

Right, guys, that's it for today's lesson.

Don't forget to check out Lingoda.

You can take advantage of this voucher code

by clicking on the link in the description

and applying it at checkout

when purchasing your first month subscription.

Don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media.

I've got my Facebook, my Instagram, and my Twitter.

And I'll se you soon for another lesson.

Mwah!

(laid-back electronic music)