Appendix 2. Useful phrases for writing essays and rendering texts

This list is not exhaustive, but has been designed to give you the basic phrases that you can use to structure your essays coherently. Do not overuse these phrases, and make sure that your essays have plenty of interesting and relevant content.

A. General Essay Phrases

Developing the argument

1. The first aspect to point out is that...

2. Let us start by considering the facts.

3. The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…

4. Central to the novel is…

5. The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…

The other side of the argument

1. It would also be interesting to see...

2. One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.

3. Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of...

Conclusion

1. The arguments we have presented... suggest that.../ prove that.../ would indicate that...

2. From these arguments one must.../ could.../ might... conclude that...

3. All of this points to the conclusion that...

4. To conclude, …

Ordering elements

1. Firstly,.../ Secondly,.../ Finally,... (note the comma after all these introductory words.)

2. As a final point, …

3. On the one hand, …. on the other hand, …

4. If on the one hand it can be said that... the same is not true for...

5. The first argument suggests that... whilst the second suggests that...

6. There are at least xxx points to highlight.

Adding elements

1. Furthermore, one should not forget that...

2. In addition to...

3. Moreover...

4. It is important to add that…

5. furthermore; again; further; what is more;

6. besides;

7. above all;

8. as well (as)

9. either; neither…nor

10. not only…but also;

11. similarly;

12. correspondingly;

13. in the same way;

14. indeed

15. in fact;

16. really;

17. in reality,

18. it is found that…

19. as for;

20. as to;

21. with respect to;

22. regarding

Accepting other points of view

1. Nevertheless, one should accept that...

2. However, we also agree that..

Personal opinion

1. We/I personally believe that...

2. Our/My own point of view is that...

3. It is my contention that…

4. I am convinced that …

5. My own opinion is …

Others' opinions

1. According to some critics...

2. Critics believe that/say that/suggest that/are convinced that/point out that/emphasise that/contend that/go as far as to say that/argue for this

Introducing examples

1. For example, …

2. For instance, …

3. To illustrate this point...

Introducing facts

1. It is... true that.../ clear that.../ noticeable that...

2. One should note here that...

Saying what you think is true

1. This leads us to believe that...

2. It is very possible that...

3. In view of these facts, it is quite likely that...

Certainty

1. Doubtless,...

2. One cannot deny that...

3. It is (very) clear from these observations that...

Doubt

1. All the same, it is possible that...

2. It is difficult to believe that...

Accepting other points to certain degree

1. One can agree up to a certain point with...

2. Certainly,... However,...

3. It cannot be denied that...

Emphasising particular points

1. The last example highlights that fact that...

2. Not only... but also...

3. We would even go so far as to say that...

Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing

1. By and large...

2. Perhaps we should also point out the fact that...

3. It would be unfair not to mention that fact that...

4. One must admit that...

5. We cannot ignore the fact that...

6. One cannot possibly accept the fact that...

Consequences

1. From these facts, one may conclude that...

2. That is why, in our opinion, ...

3. Which seems to confirm the idea that...

4. Thus,.../ Therefore,...

Comparison

1. Some critics suggest..., whereas others...

2. Compared to...

3. On the one hand there is the firm belief that... On the other hand, many people are convinced that...

B. Phrases For Balanced Arguments