IELTS Writing Word Choices

Synonyms

Original Word/Phrase	Synonyms/Alternatives
Highest	dominant, predominant, peak, apex, zenith, maximum, pinnacle, supreme, majority
Account for	contribute to, explain, justify, constitute, represent, be responsible for, underlie, drive
Allocate	dedicate, allot, devote
Balanced	evenly distributed, stable, normalized, harmonized, steady-state, low-variance, tightly clustered
Breakdown	segmentation, decomposition, dissection, stratification, fractionalization, categorical split
Categories	groups, segments, classifications, divisions, types
Consistently	invariably, uniformly, steadily, regularly, constantly, persistently, continuously
Consumption	intake, uptake
Continue	persist, endure, sustain, perpetuate, prolong, carry forward, remain steady
Decrease	decline, dip, drop, fall, diminish, dwindle, wane, subside, plummet, nosedive, taper off, regression, descend, plunge, reduce, contract
Equal	identical, uniform, alike
Exceed	surpass, outstrip, outweigh, predominate, dwarf
Exhibit	demonstrate, manifest, display, evidence, unveil, embody, epitomize
Experience	undergo, encounter, witness, observe, sustain, endure, reflect
Followed by	succeeded by, before…, giving way to, preceded, transitioned into
Illustrate	portray, reveal, show, depict, exemplify, encapsulate, typify, mirror, present, reflect, highlight
Increase	rise, grow, increment, surge, escalate, amplify, proliferate, multiply, climb, soar, expand, augment
Increasing	upward, ascending, accelerating, proliferating, cumulative, multiplicative
Indicate	signify, denote, imply, signal, bespeak, point to
Initial	early, incipient, preliminary
Installation	facility, structure, establishment, base, center
Large	substantial, considerable, significant, marked, pronounced, dramatic, steep
Marginal	minor, negligible, nominal, trivial, peripheral, inconsequential, fractional, small, slight, minimal, modest, subtle
Moderately	temperately, reasonably, middling, intermediately, within bounds, measuredly, rather, fairly, quite, to some extent
Overall	in general, on the whole, broadly
Pattern	distribution, configuration, arrangement, sequence, periodicity, cadence, rhythm
Proportions	percentage, proportion, ratio, fraction, segment, share
Rapidly	quickly, swiftly
Rest	remaining
Sharply	intensely, piercingly, acutely, clearly, distinctly, firmly, strictly, pointedly, markedly, keenly, vividly
Significantly	notably, remarkably, appreciably, markedly, considerably, conspicuously, expressively, revealingly, indicatively, prominently
Slightly	rather, to some extent
Slow down	decelerate, stagnate, plateau, languish, drag, crawl, taper
Subsequently	later, afterwards, thereafter, thereupon, following that, next, eventually, later on
Trend	trajectory, directional tendency, momentum, drift, arc
Values	figures, statistics, data, numbers, amounts, quantities, measurements
Vary	oscillate, fluctuate, waver, alternate, undulate, diverge, differ, contrast
Volatility	variation, instability, turbulence, fluctuation, unpredictability, disparate
While	whereas, although, however, conversely, in contrast, notwithstanding

Starting sentence

A breakdown by year/category/… reveals

Linkers

In contrast, conversely, on the other hand, Moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides, as a result.

Function	Transition Words and Phrases
To show addition	again, and, also, besides, equally important, first (second, etc.), further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, moreover, next, too
To give examples	for example, for instance, in fact, specifically, that is, to illustrate
To compare	also, in the same manner, likewise, similarly
To contrast	although, and yet, at the same time, but, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, though, yet
To summarize or conclude	all in all, in conclusion, in other words, in short, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, ultimately, eventually
To show time	after, afterward, as, as long as, as soon as, at last, before, during, earlier, finally, formerly, immediately, later, meanwhile, next, since, shortly, subsequently, then, thereafter, until, when, while
To show place or direction	above, below, beyond, close, elsewhere, farther on, here, nearby, opposite, to the left (north, etc.)
To indicate logical relationship	accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for this reason, hence, if, otherwise, since, so, then, therefore, thus