# IELTS paraphrasing

38 words from IELTS questions and reports, each with paraphrases and where each one fits.

## increase (verb)

- **rise**: Neutral and very common in Task 1. Intransitive: prices rise, but you raise prices.
- **grow**: Neutral; natural with numbers, populations, sales and economies, less usual with prices or temperatures.
- **climb**: Neutral; common with prices, rates and figures, often for a continuing rise (prices climbed to...).
- **go up**: Neutral but plain; fine in speaking, less academic than 'rise' or 'increase' in Task 1.

Original: _The number of tourists visiting the city increased between 2010 and 2020._ Rewritten: _The number of tourists visiting the city rose between 2010 and 2020._

## an increase (noun)

- **a rise**: Neutral; takes 'in': a rise in car ownership.
- **growth**: Neutral; usually uncountable ('growth in sales'); common with economies, populations and sales.
- **an upturn**: An improvement, especially in the economy or business; not used for any rising number.

Original: _There was a sharp increase in car ownership during the 1990s._ Rewritten: _There was a sharp rise in car ownership during the 1990s._

## decrease (verb)

- **fall**: Neutral and very common in Task 1; past tense 'fell', past participle 'fallen'.
- **decline**: Slightly more formal than 'fall'; usually a gradual fall.
- **drop**: Neutral; common with figures, prices and temperatures (dropped by 10%).
- **dip**: A small fall, usually for a short time.

Original: _The price of laptops decreased steadily over the decade._ Rewritten: _The price of laptops fell steadily over the decade._

## a decrease (noun)

- **a fall**: Neutral; takes 'in': a fall in unemployment.
- **a drop**: Neutral; common with a stated size: a drop of 10%.
- **a decline**: Slightly more formal than 'a fall'; usually gradual.
- **a reduction**: Often used when something is made smaller on purpose: a reduction in taxes or prices.

Original: _The graph shows a decrease in the number of people who smoke._ Rewritten: _The graph shows a fall in the number of people who smoke._

## fluctuate

- **rise and fall**: Neutral; clearly describes repeated movement up and down.
- **go up and down**: Neutral but plain; fine in speaking, less academic in Task 1.
- **vary**: Means 'change' or 'be different'; it doesn't necessarily mean repeated ups and downs over time.
- **be volatile**: Stronger: sudden, unpredictable changes; mainly used for prices and markets.

Original: _Oil prices fluctuated throughout the year._ Rewritten: _Oil prices rose and fell repeatedly throughout the year._

## peak

- **reach a peak**: Neutral; use 'of' before the figure: reached a peak of 500.
- **reach its highest point**: Neutral and clear; 'its' or 'their' must agree with the subject.
- **hit a high**: Neutral, common in news reports; often 'hit a high of' or 'hit a record high'.

Original: _Sales peaked at 500 units in March._ Rewritten: _Sales reached a peak of 500 units in March._

## remain stable

- **remain steady**: Neutral; almost the same meaning.
- **remain constant**: Neutral; stresses that there was no change at all.
- **level off**: Only after a rise or fall: it means the change stopped.
- **stay the same**: Neutral but plain; fine in speaking.

Original: _Unemployment remained stable at 5% for three years._ Rewritten: _Unemployment remained steady at 5% for three years._

## sharply

- **steeply**: Neutral; a fast rise or fall, like a steep line on a graph.
- **dramatically**: A very large or sudden change; too strong for moderate changes.
- **significantly**: A large or noticeable change; it doesn't say how fast.

Original: _The number of online shoppers rose sharply after 2015._ Rewritten: _The number of online shoppers rose steeply after 2015._

## slightly

- **by a small amount**: Neutral; the same meaning, a little wordier.
- **marginally**: Very slightly; common in reports and news.
- **a little**: Neutral but plain; fine in speaking, less academic in Task 1.
- **modestly**: Small to moderate; common with growth, prices and gains.

Original: _The average house price increased slightly in 2019._ Rewritten: _The average house price increased by a small amount in 2019._

## gradually

- **steadily**: Gradually and at an even rate; stresses regularity more than slowness.
- **slowly**: Neutral; stresses low speed.
- **progressively**: Slightly formal; often with comparatives (progressively worse).

Original: _The proportion of older workers rose gradually over the period._ Rewritten: _The proportion of older workers rose slowly over the period._

## double

- **increase twofold**: Formal; less common than 'double'.
- **rise by 100%**: Neutral and precise; useful when you want to show the calculation.
- **twice as many / much**: Use 'many' with countable nouns and 'much' with uncountable nouns.

Original: _The number of cyclists doubled between 2000 and 2010._ Rewritten: _The number of cyclists rose by 100% between 2000 and 2010._

## show

- **illustrate**: Slightly formal; works for charts, graphs, tables and diagrams.
- **depict**: Best for pictures, maps and diagrams; unusual for tables.
- **indicate**: Means 'suggest' or 'point to'; better for what the data tells us than for what the chart contains.
- **present**: Neutral; often with 'data' or 'information': the table presents data on...

Original: _The bar chart shows the number of students enrolled in three subjects._ Rewritten: _The bar chart illustrates the number of students enrolled in three subjects._

## proportion

- **percentage**: Use it when the figures are given in per cent, as here; otherwise keep 'proportion'.
- **share**: Neutral; common with money, markets and spending: a share of the budget, market share.
- **fraction**: When figures are fractions; 'a small fraction' means a very small part.

Original: _The proportion of households with a car rose from 60% to 75%._ Rewritten: _The percentage of households with a car rose from 60% to 75%._

## the number of

- **the figure for**: Neutral; refers to the value for a category: the figure for buses.
- **the total**: Only when you mean the sum of all the categories.
- **the amount of**: Only with uncountable nouns: the amount of water, not 'the amount of people'.

Original: _The number of bus passengers fell in 2020._ Rewritten: _The figure for bus passengers fell in 2020._

## compare

- **give a comparison of**: Slightly formal and wordier; fine in an introduction.
- **contrast**: Focuses only on differences, not similarities.

Original: _The table compares the average incomes of men and women in five countries._ Rewritten: _The table gives a comparison of the average incomes of men and women in five countries._

## approximately

- **about**: Neutral; common in both writing and speaking.
- **around**: Neutral; often used with figures and times.
- **roughly**: Neutral; very common in speech and fine in writing.
- **just under / just over**: More precise: says which side of the figure the value is on.

Original: _Approximately 40% of workers commuted by car._ Rewritten: _Around 40% of workers commuted by car._

## the majority of

- **most**: Neutral; no 'of' before a general noun: most people.
- **over half**: Neutral and precise; only when the figure is clearly above 50%.
- **the bulk of**: Neutral to slightly formal; means 'the largest part', usually with uncountable nouns (the bulk of the budget).

Original: _The majority of respondents preferred online shopping._ Rewritten: _Most respondents preferred online shopping._

## account for

- **make up**: Neutral; very common in Task 1.
- **represent**: Slightly formal.
- **constitute**: Formal.

Original: _Coal accounted for 40% of electricity production._ Rewritten: _Coal made up 40% of electricity production._

## nowadays

- **these days**: Neutral; slightly less formal than 'nowadays' but fine in essays.
- **currently**: About the present moment or a current state; fits less well for long-term habits.
- **today**: Neutral; context must show it means 'in the modern period', not 'on this day'.
- **in today's world**: Common in essays; can sound like a set phrase if overused.

Original: _Nowadays, many people work from home for at least part of the week._ Rewritten: _These days, many people work from home for at least part of the week._

## people

- **individuals**: Slightly formal; stresses people as separate persons rather than a group.
- **citizens**: People of a particular country with legal rights there, not people in general.
- **the public**: People in general as a group in society.
- **residents**: People who live in a particular place: city residents.

Original: _People living in large cities often suffer from stress._ Rewritten: _Residents of large cities often suffer from stress._

## very important

- **essential**: Means 'necessary'; about as strong as 'very important'.
- **crucial**: Extremely important, often for a result ('crucial to success').
- **vital**: Necessary for something to work, survive or succeed; extremely important.
- **of great importance**: Formal and as strong as 'very important': 'It is of great importance that...', 'a matter of great importance'.

Original: _It is very important for children to get enough sleep._ Rewritten: _It is essential for children to get enough sleep._

## problem

- **issue**: Neutral; interchangeable here, but it can also mean a topic for discussion that isn't negative.
- **challenge**: Something difficult that needs effort to deal with; sounds more positive than 'problem'.
- **difficulty**: Often plural for practical troubles: financial difficulties.
- **concern**: Something people worry about; it may not be a problem yet.

Original: _Traffic congestion is a serious problem in many cities._ Rewritten: _Traffic congestion is a serious issue in many cities._

## advantage

- **benefit**: Neutral; a helpful or good effect: the benefits of exercise.
- **merit**: Slightly formal; usually plural: 'the merits of an idea or plan'.
- **strength**: A good quality of a person, plan or system, often contrasted with weaknesses.

Original: _One advantage of public transport is that it reduces air pollution._ Rewritten: _One benefit of public transport is that it reduces air pollution._

## disadvantage

- **drawback**: Neutral; a negative feature of something otherwise useful.
- **downside**: Neutral; very common in speech, often 'the downside of...' or 'the downside is...'.
- **limitation**: What something cannot do or achieve, rather than a harmful effect.

Original: _One disadvantage of working from home is isolation from colleagues._ Rewritten: _One drawback of working from home is isolation from colleagues._

## government

- **the authorities**: Official bodies in general, including councils and police, not only the national government.
- **the state**: The country as a political body; close to 'government' when talking about public money (state funding).
- **policymakers**: The people who decide policy; can include advisers and officials.
- **local councils**: Only local government, not the national government.

Original: _The government should invest more money in public transport._ Rewritten: _The state should invest more money in public transport._

## believe / think

- **hold the view that**: Formal; good for reporting other people's opinions.
- **be of the opinion that**: Formal and wordy; use it once at most.
- **argue**: Stronger: suggests they give reasons for the view.
- **claim**: Can suggest the writer doubts the view.

Original: _Some people believe that university education should be free._ Rewritten: _Some people hold the view that university education should be free._

## children

- **pupils**: Children at school; common in British English ('students' is more usual in American English).
- **schoolchildren**: Neutral; children who go to school.
- **young people**: Usually teenagers and young adults, not small children.
- **minors**: Legal term for people under the age of adulthood (18 in most countries); unnatural in everyday contexts.
- **kids**: Informal; fine in speaking, avoid in essays.

Original: _Children should not be allowed to use smartphones at school._ Rewritten: _Pupils should not be allowed to use smartphones at school._

## old people

- **older people**: Neutral and respectful; the safest choice.
- **the elderly**: A polite group noun; some style guides prefer 'older people'.
- **senior citizens**: Polite and often official; usually people over 60 or 65.
- **pensioners**: Mainly British; people who receive a pension, so not all older people.

Original: _Old people often find it difficult to use online banking._ Rewritten: _Older people often find it difficult to use online banking._

## affect

- **influence**: Close in meaning here; especially common for effects on behaviour, ideas and choices.
- **have an impact on**: Neutral; suggests a strong effect.
- **shape**: A lasting effect on how something develops.

Original: _Social media affects how teenagers see themselves._ Rewritten: _Social media influences how teenagers see themselves._

## solve

- **find a solution to**: Neutral; the same meaning, a little wordier.
- **resolve**: Slightly formal; to solve or end a problem or disagreement.
- **tackle**: Start dealing with a problem seriously; it doesn't mean the problem is fully solved.
- **address**: Common in formal writing: to deal with an issue or concern, not necessarily to solve it.
- **deal with**: Neutral; means handle, not necessarily solve.

Original: _Governments need to solve the problem of youth unemployment._ Rewritten: _Governments need to find a solution to the problem of youth unemployment._

## cause

- **lead to**: Neutral; often a result that follows over time.
- **result in**: Neutral; focuses on the outcome.
- **contribute to**: Only one of several causes.
- **trigger**: Starts something suddenly, often a reaction or event.

Original: _Fast food can cause health problems such as obesity._ Rewritten: _Fast food can lead to health problems such as obesity._

## I think

- **I'd say**: Natural in speaking; gives an opinion just like 'I think'.
- **in my view**: Slightly formal; works in speaking and writing.
- **personally**: Stresses that it is your own opinion; often 'Personally, I think...'.
- **I reckon**: Informal, mainly British.

Original: _I think young people spend too much time online._ Rewritten: _I'd say young people spend too much time online._

## partly

- **to some extent**: Neutral; agreeing in part but not completely.
- **up to a point**: Neutral; partial agreement, often 'I agree up to a point'.
- **in a way**: Neutral but plain; means 'partly, from one point of view'.

Original: _I partly agree with that idea._ Rewritten: _I agree with that idea to some extent._

## it depends

- **it all depends on**: Same meaning with a little emphasis; like 'depend', it takes 'on' ('depends of' is wrong).
- **it really comes down to**: Names the single deciding factor; common in speaking.
- **it's hard to say, because...**: Use it when the answer changes with the situation, then explain why.
- **it varies**: Use when the answer changes between people, places or times.

Original: _It depends on the weather, really._ Rewritten: _It all depends on the weather, really._

## I like

- **I enjoy**: Neutral; followed by -ing or a noun: I enjoy cooking.
- **I'm keen on**: Mainly British; followed by a noun or -ing.
- **I'm into**: Informal; usually hobbies, music or sports.
- **I'm a big fan of**: Informal and enthusiastic; usually a type of thing, a team or a person.

Original: _I like cooking at the weekend._ Rewritten: _I enjoy cooking at the weekend._

## a lot of

- **lots of**: Informal; the same meaning as 'a lot of'.
- **plenty of**: Means 'enough or more than enough', so it adds a positive sense.
- **a great deal of**: Slightly formal; uncountable nouns only.
- **loads of**: Informal; speaking only.

Original: _There are a lot of parks in my city._ Rewritten: _There are lots of parks in my city._

## very good

- **great**: Informal, which suits speaking; dictionaries define it as 'very good'.
- **excellent**: Neutral; stronger: 'extremely good'.
- **fantastic**: Informal; stronger and enthusiastic.
- **impressive**: Admiring a skill, size or quality; not just 'pleasant'.

Original: _The food at that restaurant is very good._ Rewritten: _The food at that restaurant is great._

## I don't know

- **I'm not sure, but**: Admits doubt, then gives your best guess.
- **I've never really thought about it**: Buys time; then give an answer.
- **That's a difficult question**: Buys time; follow it with a real answer, not silence.

Original: _I don't know, but I guess I'd choose a job in teaching._ Rewritten: _I'm not sure, but I guess I'd choose a job in teaching._