fancy words for college essays

50 Sophisticated Words to Trick Schools into Thinking You’re Classy

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Many students are intimidated by the essays that must be written to complete college or scholarship applications. The truth is, you don’t have to use big words or fancy words you don’t understand to write a compelling essay — a few well-placed, sophisticated words will do. College essays should be extremely polished and fluff-free.

It’s time to get creative and make every word count, so be sure to use sophisticated words rather than slang or Internet acronyms (LMAO). Forget everything Urban Dictionary taught you and add a touch of class to your vocabulary with more sophisticated words in your writing and speech.

When you are ready to choose a school, we recommend you use our ranking of the top 100 best online colleges as your starting point.

• Advantageous (adjective) beneficial; creating a favorable situation to give an advantage. My volunteer work puts me in an advantageous position over other applicants.
• Alacrity (noun) pep in your step; lively, cheerful, and eager behavior. She lit up the dull room with her alacrity; her energy was palpable. She was thrilled to have been chosen to help.
• Amiable (adjective) friendly and good-natured. He was amiable and well-liked in the community prior to the discovery in his basement.
• Aptitude (noun) talent or ability She discovered her aptitude for real-life math at a young age while shopping with her mother.
• Assiduity (noun) dedication, diligence, and great focus. I studied with assiduity for the exam and feel confident and fully prepared.
• Candor (noun) open; honest; sincere. The senator’s candor during his speech won many voters over.
• Cumulative (adjective) accumulative, all added together. Exercising for one day may not yield results, but the health benefits are cumulative over time.
• Debase (verb) to corrupt or contaminate. I don’t allow mainstream media to debase my common sense.
• Deferential (adjective) yielding out of respect. The commissioner became accustomed to deferential treatment.
• Diligent (adjective) attention to detail; careful and hard-working. My diligent work on the project was critical to its success.
• Eloquent (adjective) fluent; having a way with words; perfectly said. Her eloquent speech moved the audience to tears.
• Elucidate (verb) to explain very clearly. She was eager to elucidate the problem to the mechanic so that it could be fixed.
• Emboldened (adjective) being made bold. We were emboldened by our success and ready to take it to the next level.
• Ephemeral (adjective) fleeting or short-lived. Summer romance is often ephemeral, as is the season itself.
• Equitable (adjective) a fair division between all parties. My equitable share of the profit was 45%.
• Extol (verb) to give high praise. He gave a speech to extol the benefits of online college .
• Gratuitous (adjective) unnecessary; uncalled-for. Both parties hurled gratuitous insults at each other and nothing was accomplished.
• Gregarious (adjective) outgoing; extroverted. The gregarious host made us feel welcome and comfortable in her home.
• Hypocrisy (noun) the insincerity of pretending to believe something you do not believe. My mother’s hypocrisy was exposed when I caught her cursing and smoking after speeding home from a late night out.
• Incisive (adjective) the ability to identify or draw sharp distinctions. Her incisive remarks were hurtful, mostly because they were pointedly accurate.
• Industrious (adjective) hard-working and persevering. In order to stand out from others, you must be smart, polite and industrious at your job.
• Innate (adjective) born with it. He has the innate ability to make people smile and uses it to his advantage.
• Insular (adjective) isolated; an island unto itself. Small-town life has many advantages, but can also be insular in many ways.
• Intrepid (adjective) Bold or brave. The intrepid explorer has seen things the rest of us can only imagine.
• Latent (adjective) there, but not there; having the potential to be realized, but hidden. Since the virus is latent there are no obvious signs of infection.
• Lithe (adjective) supple, bending easily. The dancers were lithe, yet also very strong.
• Maxim (noun) a widely known saying that is accepted as truth. Gandhi’s maxim “Be the change you wish to see in the world” is one to live by.
• Meticulous (adjective) precise attention to every detail. She is always meticulous about her research, leaving no stone unturned.
• Modicum (noun) a small token amount. We enjoyed only a modicum of success so far, but are optimistic about the next project.
• Myriad (noun) a large amount; countless. With online college , there are a myriad of career possibilities.
• Nuance (noun) a very subtle difference. The nuance of her voice added new dimensions to the song she covered.
• Obsequious (adjective) subservient; brown-nosing. His obsequious behavior failed to flatter his boss and quickly became annoying to everyone.
• Panacea (noun) a cure-all. Mom’s homemade chicken soup is the ultimate panacea.
• Pellucid (adjective) clearly understandable. The assembly instructions were surprisingly pellucid, which made the desk easy to put together.
• Penchant (noun) a strong preference or liking. He has a penchant for antique automobiles and frequently attends car shows.
• Perusal (noun) studying with the intent to memorize. A perusal of the material the night before made me feel confident about taking the test.
• Plethora (noun) an abundance or extreme excess. With the plethora of choices, making a decision about which car to buy came down to consumer reviews.
• Pragmatic (adjective) realistic and practical. Her pragmatic approach offered no frills but worked perfectly.
• Predilection (noun) a preference or bias. Her predilection for the color blue was evident in her wardrobe choices.
• Repudiate (verb) to reject or refuse to recognize as valid. He began to repudiate my excuse without even letting me finish.
• Salient (adjective) something that stands out and is obvious. There may be some advantages to buying in early, but they are not immediately salient.
• Staid (adjective) dignified and with decorum. I have lived a particularly staid life, so as not to embarrass myself.
• Studious (adjective) character trait involving diligent study. She was always quite studious; it was not uncommon to find her books lying about.
• Substantiate (verb) to give facts to support a claim. He said he was robbed, but there is nothing to substantiate his claim.
• Superfluous (adjective) in excess; more than is needed. Don’t waste your precious breath with superfluous flattery; it will get you nowhere.
• Surfeit (noun) the quality of overabundance. Considering the surfeit of food in America it is amazing that we still have some of our population go hungry.
• Sycophant (noun) someone who sucks up to others for personal gain. She often wondered if Bruce really liked her or if he was simply being a sycophant because of her wealthy parents.
• Taciturn (adjective) reserved or aloof. I tried to talk to my mother about what happened, but she remained taciturn.
• Venerable (adjective) honorable; highly regarded. I was nervous about performing on opening night because of all the venerable guests in attendance.
• Zenith (noun) the highest point. Looking back, Bradley realized that winning the tournament was the zenith of his high school career.

Visit Vocabulary.com for more sophisticated words to expand your vocabulary — and always keep it classy.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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Best Words to Use in Good College Essays

Why is using good vocabulary so important in an essay?

Using strong vocabulary in college admissions essays is crucial to articulating your skills and competencies, but also central in showing admissions officers that you can express yourself clearly in written English. Although vocabulary may not be the main aspect of your essay that the admissions committee pays attention to, using appropriate and sophisticated vocabulary will nearly always make your essay more compelling. 

Choosing which vocabulary or words to use can be difficult for anyone but it can be even more challenging if English is not your first language. This article suggests some useful words to effectively describe yourself and your experiences when writing college admissions essays.

Table of Contents 

• How to Choose Vocabulary for College Admissions Essays

How to Choose Vocabulary Terms for College Applications Essays

Writing a college essay is all about describing who you are and how you fit into the school you are applying for. Therefore, an important question to ask yourself here would be “Who are you?” rather than trying to boast with elevated and “sophisticated” words that do not quite fit in your essay. It is recommended to first brainstorm and outline the aspects you would like to highlight about yourself in order to choose the right words to use.

Best Words to Use in College Admissions Essays

The following list of adjectives , verbs and nouns are the words commonly used in college admissions essays. Using these words will help you to effectively express yourself in a short essay of about 650 words. Let’s find out why they are effective terms using some specific examples within admissions essays. 

Adjectives to Use in Essays

Adjectives are words that provide information about a noun. When it comes to formatting college admissions essays , using strong adjectives will not only make your essay more visual and distinctive but also help you demonstrate that you can communicate well in English. The following adjectives signal to admissions officers that you are both a good college candidate and a capable writer.

Definition : Able to express ideas and feelings clearly in words

Example : I am an articulate writer and I always aim to intrigue audiences with my message using precise words.

Definition: Able to do things well

Example : Having part-time jobs during the semester helped me become capable at handling multiple things at once. 

Detail-oriented

Definition : Interested in and paying great attention to detail

Example : When working on a scientific report, taking a detail-oriented approach is crucial.

Definition : Giving a lot of attention to one particular thing

Example : My mentor encouraged me, saying that I would do well in college because I am very focused on my studies.

Goal-oriented

Definition : Laser-focused on achieving good results on given tasks

Example Today’s society is goal-oriented , requiring problems to be resolved quickly.

Inspirational

Definition : Making people feel full of hope or encouraged

Example : Students who share their stories of how they successfully completed degrees in foreign country are often inspirational to those who are planning to study abroad.

Definition : Very enthusiastic or determined out of a strong desire to do something

Example : Colleges often seek highly motivated people who will not readily drop out of courses.

Definition : Arranged according to a particular system

Example : My father is one of the most organized people I know, and there is no doubt that I inherited this attitude from him.

Definition : Based on or acting on good judgment and practical ideas or understanding

Example : My colleagues strongly agreed to adopt the sensible suggestions I made. 

Definition : Giving encouragement and/or providing support in the form of action

Example : Knowing that I am a supportive member of the student council, the teachers used to ask me to advocate on behalf of other students.

Verbs to Use in Essays

Verbs are used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In college admissions essays, it is essential to choose verbs that would most appropriately describe your past experiences. Similar to verbs in resume and CVs , using appropriate verbs in your admissions essay can add to the detail and action, enthralling your reader and improving your chances of acceptance.

Definition : To succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially following a significant amount of work or effort

Example : I aim to achieve my goals through continual academic and extracurricular efforts. 

Definition : To express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people

Example : I carefully chose my words to convey the proper amount of urgency about the matter.

Definition : To effectively organize so that all the parts work well together

Example : My role was to coordinate the reports from each department in school and send them to the principal.

Demonstrate

Definition : To clarify something by way of doing it in front of others

Example : As the leader of the after-school cooking club, I demonstrated each step of the recipe to introduce new menus. 

Definition : To improve or increase (especially a skill, feeling, or metric)

Example : Studying abroad was a great opportunity for me to enhance my communication skills.

Investigate

Definition : To examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially in order to discover the truth

Example : It is always important to investigate the terms and conditions before signing any contract.

Definition : To succeed in doing or dealing with something, especially something difficult

Example : After engaging in numerous debates, I managed to learn how to effectively communicate.

Definition : To (cause to) work, be in action or have an effect

Example : Having the ability to operate machines and systems is crucial for systems engineers.

Participate

Definition : To take part in an event or become involved in an activity or group

Example : Students are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and decision-making during the student council meeting.

Definition : To watch a person or activity to ensure that everything is done correctly, safely, and/or according to the rules or guidelines.

Example : I was responsible for supervising students during the event to prevent any possible accidents.

Nouns to Use in Essays

Many strong nouns exist that can be introduced in college admissions essays to help students better express their abilities, talents, achievements, etc. The following nouns will help you articulate the valuable experiences you had in the past and the abilities you gained accordingly. Be careful not to use nouns that you do not understand or that might not sound natural in your essay.

Definition : Something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability

Example: My challenge was to motivate the survey participants to provide honest responses.

Definition : Understanding of or information about a subject that you get by experience or study, either known by one person or by people generally

Example: Having relevant knowledge in a given field is a power that can only be unlocked through extended hands-on experiences. 

Opportunity

Definition : An occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something

Example: I am honored to be given the opportunity to apply for this faculty position.

Definition : An ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practiced it

Example: Through various projects, I learned that communication skills are key when working with others. 

Definition : The action of working together in a group with other people; especially used when the action is successful

Example: Seamless teamwork can drive the most satisfactory outcomes.

If you are currently writing a college admissions essay, see our Admissions Resources page for articles on writing application essays to get into any school, including How to Answer the Common App Essay Prompts. And don’t forget to receive professional English proofreading services , including essay editing services for any of your application documents.

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Words to Use in an Essay: 300 Essay Words

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

Words to use in the essay introduction, words to use in the body of the essay, words to use in your essay conclusion, how to improve your essay writing vocabulary.

It’s not easy to write an academic essay .

Many students struggle to word their arguments in a logical and concise way.

To make matters worse, academic essays need to adhere to a certain level of formality, so we can’t always use the same word choices in essay writing that we would use in daily life.

If you’re struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay.

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…

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 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.

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

Furthermore

Another key thing to remember

In the same way

Correspondingly

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:

As a result

Accordingly

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:

What’s more

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

Alternatively

In contrast to

On the contrary

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

Differing from

In spite of

With this in mind

Provided that

Nevertheless

Nonetheless

Notwithstanding

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:

Accommodate

Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:

Verbs that show increase:

Verbs that show decrease:

Deteriorate

Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:

Comprises of

Is composed of

Constitutes

Encompasses

Incorporates

Verbs that show a negative stance:

Misconstrue

Verbs that show a positive stance:

Substantiate

Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:

Corroborate

Demonstrate

Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:

Contemplate

Hypothesize

Investigate

Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:

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:

Significant

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:

Controversial

Insignificant

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:

Comprehensively

Exhaustively

Extensively

Respectively

Surprisingly

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.

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

In a nutshell

Given the above

As described

All things considered

Example: In conclusion , it’s imperative that we take action to address climate change before we lose our coral reefs forever.

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

Importantly

Conclusively

It should be noted

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.

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?

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.

There you have it: our compilation of the best words and phrases to use in your next essay . Good luck!

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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650 words on college essays.

The life of an admissions officer can be a fascinating one. I spend a lot of time traveling to faraway places to meet students from around the world, voting in committee to help determine each next college class, but I am perhaps most privileged to have a unique glimpse into the personal lives of hundreds of 17 year olds each year via my absolute favorite art form: the college essay. After 5 years I have read thousands of these 650-word windows into the minds of high school students, and can assure you that the college essay comes in many flavors: good, bad, eloquent, conversational, sarcastic, insightful, deep, shallow, hilarious, painful, delightful, disturbing, and so on.

For any high school senior working on their college applications, the essay can seem like a daunting task. For Yale, you’ll even have to write more than one. I hope you see this not as a burden or a hoop you must jump through, but an opportunity: to reflect on your past few years and look ahead to college. The skills of reflection, self-expression, and cogent writing are all ones that will serve you well in college (in fact, they will be critical), so consider this practice. You do not have to be the world’s most eloquent wordsmith to write a successful college essay; the best essays we read are those where the genuine voice of a high school student (that’s you!) comes through loud and clear and we really get a sense of who you are.

When I talk to prospective Yalies about the application process, I am often asked what my favorite essay topic is. I assure you there is no such thing. The quality of a college essay has little to do with topic, and everything to do with reflection and voice. I truly believe I could read 100 essays about the same topic, each of them completely unique and in their own ways excellent and entrancing (or not). There are certainly amusing trends that emerge over time: in the past few years, I’ve seen an uptick in essays reflecting on life lessons learned from Uber drivers. I’m told that 10 years ago, essays explaining what Hogwarts House one belongs in were abundant. I wouldn’t dare say that there are any essay topics you should shy away from, because I’m certain that a great college essay could be written about nearly anything. And it doesn’t matter if we’ve read about it before – only you can write about you.

I do have favorite essays that I can remember, but they have no particular topic in common. Instead, they are the ones where at the end I have a grasp on what it might be like to have a conversation with the writer, to be in the same room as them. This is what we mean when we talk about voice. Revise and edit, but be sure not to lose the sense of individuality that only you can put into words. Have someone proofread, but don’t get too much help. My colleagues and I can tell when an essay is written more by a parent or, dare I even say it, a college consultant than by a student – and I can promise you that those pieces are not very good.

While your grades and test scores will speak for themselves and your teachers and counselor will write on your behalf, the essays are your opportunity to really take control of your application. Every required bit of writing should be considered precious real estate on your applications; think about what you want us to know about you, and do your best to work that information into the space allotted. It is through these essays that your admissions officer revels in your successes, shares in your disappointments, gets to know – forgive the cliché – the real you. So get writing. We can’t wait to hear from you.

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Powerful words and Phrases to use in Essays

Although many might consider essay writing an easy task, it is not always the case with most students. Writing academic papers (essays, term papers, research papers, dissertations, theses, proposals, reports, and other assignments) requires students to hone and practice continuously. Thus, mastering writing at the academic level takes time and much practice, after which most students begin to be confident writing essays. For some, this confidence comes towards the end of the undergraduate course, while some master the art a few months or a week into their undergrad level studies.

This might sound like you, and you do not have to feel sorry about it. We have a list of academic writing power words that you can use when writing academic assignments. These words and phrases to use in your essay and other papers will help you avoid the dead words that probably deny you the top grade. Together with our team of experts in best essay writing, we have listed essential academic words that you can use in your introduction, body, and conclusion for all your essays and research papers .

Although you might have arguments and ideas that might attract the best grade, using the words we have listed could help you articulate, expound, and present the ideas effectively. Consequently, you will end up with a standard academic paper that any professional can grade, or that attracts your reader's attention and keeps them glued to the end.

After all, academic writing is a formal practice that disdains cliches or dead words such as colloquial expressions, controversial phrases, or casual words/slang. This means that the words you use when texting your friends, such as LOL, OMG, TIA, and the rest, should only end in the messages and not on the PDF or Word document you are typing your essay. As we have mentioned, formal academic writing is very delicate; it requires in-depth skills.

We hope that as you plan, write, and polish your essay, you will consider using the words we have listed here for inspiration and to hone your professional writing skills.

Words to Spice up your Introduction

Crafting a perfect introduction is arguably the most challenging part of academic writing. Whether you write the introduction first or last, it is always the invitation point for your readers to enjoy what is in the body. So, naturally, with adequate planning and structuring, you need to ensure that the introduction counts.

To begin an essay, you need to mind that your reader is uninformed about your arguments and topic, which means that the very first sentence has to summarize the central argument and the topic.

Although there is no preserved set of words to use in your essay introduction, you use the following words and phrases to explain what your essay is discussing (its scope) without losing the formality of your academic writing.

• For decades
• Over the years
• Challenging
• Significance
• Complex problem
• To begin with
• As far as is proven in the literature
• From the statistics presented by studies
• The main objective
• This topic resonates

This list of phrases is not complete; you can use the other phrases and words we will cover in the following sections of this guide. As long as you have a good reason to use a phrase, do not feel limited : use it for the glory of excellent grades.

General Explanations

When providing general explanations, both in the body, introduction, and conclusion of your essays, either for complex or easy points, you can use these phrases:

• In order to
• In other words
• To that end
• In another way
• That is to say

We will see (in the course of this guideline) how else you can use the exact phrases in your essay.

Giving Examples in your essay

Any standard piece of academic writing must include examples. For instance, when presenting an argument in an argumentative or persuasive essay, you must illustrate your essay with examples to make the arguments stand out. Examples help clarify explanations, which makes it easy for the reader to connect the dots. Besides, they create an ideal picture in the mind of the reader. Instead of repeating for example when introducing illustrations in your essay, here are other phrases, transitions, and words that you can use in their place.

• To illustrate
• As evidence
• To elucidate
• To exemplify
• On this occasion
• As in the case of
• Take the case of
• In this sense
• In this situation
• In another case
• In this case
• As a demonstration
• As a testament
• To demonstrate
• As an example,
• For instance
• For example
• To give an illustration

Academic essays that receive top scores always have well-kit paragraphs that entail the topic sentence, arguments, examples (illustration), and closing sentences with the relevant transition words. These academic phrases are helpful when introducing examples. You can ideally use them in any academic piece, including theses, proposals, and dissertations. They help you avoid repeating similar phrases, which facilities readability and smooth flow in your essays.

Showing importance of arguments in an essay

When writing academic essays, it is vital to demonstrate that a given argument or point is fundamental. You can highlight this in your essay writing by using the following phrases:

• In particular
• Specifically
• Importantly
• Significantly
• Fundamentally

These words can comfortably be used interchangeably when demonstrating significant ideas that are critical to understanding a topic.

Arguing based on facts from other authors

You can use phrases that acknowledge what others have said concerning a topic at the beginning of your essay. When you begin your essay with such phrases, you are posing your argument based on the authors' findings or a general interest/concern in your area of research. You can use such phrases when the evidence supports or refutes your arguments. Here are the essay phrases to use when acknowledging authors:

• Considering
• In light of
• Taking into consideration
• On account of
• All things considered
• On the whole
• Insomuch as
• Inasmuch as
• Forasmuch as

Introducing the views of an author who is an authority in your area of interest or topic is critical in academic essay writing. For example, when you include a quote but do not want to use parenthetical citation or the exact words, you can use academic phrases such as:

• According to X
• X contends that
• Referring to the views of
• Drawing from X
• As argued by Y
• Findings by Y
• As hypothesized by X
• As proposed/shown/demonstrated/suggested by X
• Studies by X
• A recent study by X

Although you are referencing a quote here, it is not always advisable to use direct quotes at the start of your essay unless directed by your instructor. This means that using the above phrases can help spice up your essay introduction.

Laying Emphasis

When writing an essay, whether it be an English class essay or any essay, you must emphasize the main argument. The idea behind this is to create coherence within your essay. You can use the transition words below to emphasize your paragraphs. This list of academic essay words can be used in the introduction, body, and even conclusion.

• In any case
• Some other words include unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically,

Showing some sequence

When describing ideas or presenting arguments in sequence within an essay, here are the proven phrases and words that can earn you the best grades in school.

• First, second, third
• First, secondly, thirdly
• Following this
• At this point
• Before this
• Consequently
• Subsequently
• At this time

It would help if you were extra careful when introducing ideas because each paragraph only has one idea. They are also ideal when giving a list of examples.

You can also show the order of events using the phrases below:

• Furthermore
• In the meantime
• Simultaneously
• In the first place
• First of all
• For the time being
• With this in mind

These phrases come in handy when writing about a linear event or a sequential occurrence of facts. They further help to maintain a good flow, clarity, and coherence.

Creating Flow and providing further information

Essays, even the short ones, should be as informative as possible. Knowing how to present arguments, points, and facts concisely and helps you avoid bluff in the essay. As the flow of your essay matters to the reader and for your grades, we recommend that you use these phrases or words that denote more information or flow. These words will help you to chronologically and structurally present your arguments and ideas

• In addition
• What's more
• Additionally

These are academic phrases that help you expand your argument; add a point you have made without interrupting the flow of your essay. You can also use them when beginning new paragraphs.

The next set of essay words are a great choice when you want to add a piece of information that corroborates the argument or point you just mentioned. When writing academic essays and papers, it is critical to concur with your arguments. Doing so not only helps you to keep your readers glued but also helps you to contextualize your research.  They also help you avoid repeating also many times. Repetitions are a sure way to score poor grades in your essay : they make your writing predictive and boring. Here are some words to save you grades and embracement.

• Another key thing to remember
• Not only but also ( use this when establishing similarity in your arguments- it makes the argument stand out)
• Coupled with
• Firstly, secondly, thirdly

You can also use the essay phrases below when stating your claim or introducing your claim. When your essay requires you to prove how you will achieve a goal- as is with a problem-solution essay or proposal argument essay , you can use these sentences to expand your points.

• To this end

You can also use the academic phrases below to improve continuity in your essay write-up. These essay phrases explain a point that you already made but differently. Avoid repetition when elaborating specific points or arguments in your essay by using the phrases below

• To put it in another way
• To put it more simply

The phrases above can also be used when rounding up a point that came before the sentence that you begin.

An Example: He was already abusive to both the mother and the kids. In other words, it was a long-term domestic violence case.

Comparing and Contrasting Points

In academic essays, there are instances when you are required to include information that proves or refutes a point. For instance, when writing an argumentative essay, you have to include a counterargument. To show the views of the researchers that disagree with your main argument or point of view, you can use these words to introduce alternative arguments:

• Nevertheless
• On the contrary
• On the other hand
• Even though

These phrases are a seamless way to include an alternative perspective.

An Example: While 35% of the population appears to be living below the poverty line, the remaining 65% seem to be doing well.

You can also use phrases that show contrast, present uncertainty, and compare facts associated with your significant arguments. Here are some of the phrases:

• By contrast
• In comparison

The phrases above demonstrate expertise in your topic, authority in writing and help you convince your readers.

When you intend to demonstrate a positive aspect of your subject matter, you can use these phrases in your academic piece:

• Despite this
• Provided that
• Nonetheless

Example : Provided that there is a red flag in a relationship, it is only safe that the victim acts or seeks help.

To add contrast, you can also highlight the relevance of an opinion, argument, point, or fact as regards your research. Here are some academic words that can help you introduce paragraphs or sentences that have big ideas in your essay:

• Another key point

Perfect words to conclude your essay

An essay conclusion carries as much weight as the introduction. Therefore, you must ensure that you have concluding words for your essay good enough to wrap up your arguments. In addition, considering that your conclusion should have a summary of the main ideas, your final statement and road plan to the conclusion must be evident. Here is a list of categorized phrases to use to conclude an essay effectively:

• In conclusion
• To summarize
• In the final analysis
• On close analysis
• As can be seen from the argument above
• The most compelling finding
• The outstanding idea
• The most persuasive point
• This suggests that
• It can be seen that
• The consequence is
• Subsequent to
• Most significantly
• It should be noted
• It is worth noting

These are essay phrases that you use when articulating your reasons in the essay. Some of them summarize the relevant ideas or arguments, while others emphasize the relevant arguments.

Parting Shot

We have explored the list of useful phrases for writing great essays. When coupled with the correct vocabulary words, an essay easily scores the top grade in a rubric. When you use the words above, you automatically sound smart.

Whether you are writing a narrative, argumentative, or descriptive essay, these are words that you can use to convince your readers. They help you maintain a good flow, play around with other vocabularies, present authors' views, and finalize your essay in a bang.

We hope that these words will transform your essays from better to best. So, stay confident while articulating points, arguments, and ideas in your essays.

If writing an essay is not your thing, and these academic words and phrases sound Greek to you, you can hire an essay writer. Sourcing essay writing help from Gradecrest guarantees you a sample academic essay that is well-formatted. In addition, we have writers who specialize in writing different essays and can deliver within the shortest turnaround time.

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis.

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now :

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

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Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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51 Sophisticated College Words Every Student Should Know

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Author: Melissa Maypole Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson Reading Level: Grade 8 Reading Time: 24 minutes, 23 seconds Original Publication Date: December 2021 Updates: 3

Once you’re in college, you may think your days of learning vocabulary words are over. Think again. Believe it or not, there is a certain vernacular associated with self-respecting individuals who are pursuing a college degree or have graduated from an academic degree program. You may think it unfair, but it’s nonetheless true—there are certain words every college student should know. In this list, we’ll feature fifty-one of the words you should make it a point to learn if you don’t know them already. These words are listed in alphabetical order.

#1: acquiesce

Official definition: (verb)—to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively.

The word acquiesce is an intransitive verb that makes our list of vocabulary words every student should know. Merriam-Webster defines acquiesce as “to accept, agree, or allow something to happen by staying silent or by not arguing.” Synonyms for the word include:

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The word’s origins can be found in Latin, specifically from the Latin word quiescere, meaning “to be quiet.” If your professor demands that you silence your phone for his or her lecture on the first day of class, it’s best to acquiesce . Take it from us.

#2: aesthetic

Official definition: (adj. or noun)— of or relating to art or beauty; a particular theory of beauty or art.

One of the college words on our list highlighting the importance of usage, aesthetic, can be used as an adjective or a noun. Here are the varying definitions, according to Merriam-Webster:

• Aesthetic (adjective): of or relating to art or beauty; alternatively, pleasing in appearance or attractive
• Aesthetic (noun): a particular theory or conception of beauty or art; alternatively, a pleasing appearance or effect

As a noun, the term is often used in the plural form. In Art History, for example, your professor may engage the class in a conversation about how aesthetics in fine art has evolved over time. Still, its primary usage is in the adjective form. For example, the same professor may point out an artist’s particular aesthetic technique when sculpting.

#3: antithesis

Official definition: (noun)— the exact opposite of something or someone.

As is the case for a lot of these college words, antithesis is a more sophisticated version of a term you already know. The term antithesis simply means “opposite,” but it makes a much better impression when used in writing and speech, especially in the classroom. Some acceptable synonyms include:

To illustrate how the term antithesis can be used in everyday speech, consider how you might feel as you’re returning home from class one evening and notice that the campus has become littered outside a frat house. In anger, you might comment that such students are displaying the antithesis of responsibility.

#4: auspicious

Official definition: (adj.)—showing or suggesting that future success is likely; propitious.

Many of the important college words we’ve featured have interesting etymological roots, and auspicious is another one of these captivating terms. The word means “showing or suggesting that success in the future is likely,” and it comes from the Latin term auspex , meaning “bird seer.” In ancient times, clairvoyants used to birdwatch in order to detect patterns that could affect future events. Today, the word auspicious can be used to describe anything that portends success or good fortune. Synonyms include:

• encouraging

To imagine the word used in context, think about how opening a college acceptance letter may mark an auspicious moment in your life.

Official Definition: (adj.)—boring or ordinary

Another word you should add to your list of vocabulary words is the term banal. Merriam-Webster defines banal as “boring or ordinary; lacking originality or freshness.” For example, no matter how banal your professors’ lectures, it’s still advisable to pay attention if you want to pass your classes. Ironically, adding the term banal to your college essays will make them less boring, not more so. Synonyms for this word include:

Banal is borrowed from the French language and has a few acceptable pronunciations, the most common of which is \buh-NAL\.

#6: brevity

Official definition: (noun)—shortness of duration, especially shortness or conciseness of expression.

The term brevity is one of the easiest college words to learn and use because of its similarity to the common word “brief.” You can think of brevity as the state of being brief. In fact, its official definition, according to Merriam-Webster is “shortness of duration, especially shortness or conciseness of expression.” Synonyms for brevity include:

• succinctness
• conciseness

To illustrate the meaning of brevity, recall a professor whose class always ran over because he or she lacked brevity . No matter how eloquent the lecturer is, you’ll most likely come to appreciate the quality of brevity over the course of your academic career.

Official Definition: (noun)—an explanation or warning that should be remembered when doing or thinking about something

The word caveat is quite useful in academic speech and writing and is one we definitely recommend you add to your repertoire of college words. According to Merriam-Webster, caveat is a phrase literally denoting “an explanation or warning that should be remembered when you are doing or thinking about something.” The term has its origins in Latin and is derived from the word “cavere,” which means to be on guard. Exact synonyms for caveat are sparse, but there are some close matches, such as:

• stipulation
• restriction

To illustrate the modern definition of the word, consider how you might feel upon discovering the one caveat of taking Fridays off from school: an 8 am Monday morning class. Ouch.

#8: conundrum

Official definition: (noun)—a confusing or difficult problem.

The origins of this college vocabulary are unknown, which is ironic when you consider its definition. Merriam-Webster defines a conundrum as “a confusing, intricate, or difficult problem.” For example, when choosing a path for their college career, many prospective students face a conundrum—to take courses online or in person. Synonyms for the term conundrum include:

The word conundrum is often used hyperbolically when exaggerating the difficulty of something. However, a secondary definition of a conundrum is an actual riddle—one whose solution includes a pun.

#9: cultivate

Official definition: (verb)—to improve by labor, care, or study; to further or encourage.

As you peruse our list of fancy words to add to your vocabulary, you’ll note multiple words that have basic meanings as well as higher-level definitions you can apply in your classes. Cultivate is one of these words. While it can mean to “foster the growth of,” as in plants and vegetables, the definitions we’re concerned with here are the more general: “to improve by labor, care, or study” and “to further or encourage.” In this sense, synonyms for the word cultivate include:

Hopefully, the school you choose to attend for your post-secondary studies will be an illustration of this word as it seeks to cultivate a supportive learning environment for students.

#10: debacle

Official definition: a great disaster; a complete failure.

One of the best college words on our list in terms of utility, the term debacle can be substituted for the more frequently used but less collegiate term, “disaster.” In fact, Merriam-Webster defines a debacle as “a great disaster” or “a complete failure.” Common synonyms for the word include:

• catastrophe

In its early uses, debacle meant a certain type of disaster—a violent flood—but today, it has a more general meaning.

#11: didactic

Official definition: (adj.)—designed or intended to teach.

When you consider the meaning of the term didactic , you’ll understand immediately why we’ve listed it among the words every college student should know. Merriam-Webster provides the following formal definition of the word: “designed or intended to teach people something.” Certainly, everything you’re exposed to in a college classroom should be didactic —well, almost everything. Synonyms for the word include:

• instructional
• educational

As the final synonym in the above list implies, didactic can sometimes have a negative connotation, especially when describing something boring or condescending. Didactic comes from the Greek word didaskein, which means “to teach.”

#12: digress

Official definition: (verb)—to speak or write about something different from the main subject.

The word digress is also a term that is doubly qualified to appear on our list of college words since it’s something professors tend to do during lectures. The term digress means “to speak or write about something that is different from the main subject being discussed,” according to Merriam-Webster. This is an idiomatic expression that has been used since the 1600s. Synonyms of digress include:

Often, when speakers realize that they’re ranting about something tangential to the main topic, they’ll say, “but I digress ” before returning to the point.

#13: egregious

Official definition: (adj.)—very bad and easily noticed.

Coming from the Latin word for “distinguished,” the term egregious makes our list of interesting words that every student should know because of its sophistication and great utility. Today, Merriam-Webster defines egregious as “conspicuous” or “very bad and easily noticed.” The word now has a negative connotation and is often used to describe errors or mistakes. For example, you may have failed your last term paper because your professor was unable to ignore your egregious errors in grammar and usage, (but hopefully not)! Some synonyms for egregious include:

This is an interesting word because its definition hasn’t changed much, but its connotation has flipped from overwhelmingly positive to positively terrible.

#14: emphatic

Official definition: (adj.)—uttered with or marked by emphasis; tending to express oneself in forceful speech or to take decisive action.

Let’s face it—some words just sound more sophisticated than others. The term emphatic is one of those words that make you sound smarter the moment it leaves your lips. Merriam-Webster defines emphatic as “uttered with or marked by emphasis; tending to express oneself in forceful speech or to take decisive action.” Synonyms include:

The English term emphatic was borrowed from the French word emphatique , meaning “forcefully expressive.” Wherever it came from, our editors were emphatic about its inclusion in this list of words every college student should know.

#15: eschew

Official definition: (verb)—to avoid habitually, especially on moral or practical grounds.

Having Germanic roots, the term eschew makes our contemporary list of words you should know, despite having been written off as nearly obsolete in the 1700s. According to Merriam-Webster, eschew means “to avoid habitually, especially on moral or practical grounds.” College students are advised to eschew late-night parties during finals, for example, though not all of them do. The word has some useful synonyms, such as:

The word eschew remains in widespread use today, especially on college campuses or in a research paper or other college writing.

#16: formidable

Official definition: (adj.)—very powerful or strong.

Another of the sophisticated words every college student should know is formidable . This word comes from the Latin term formidare, meaning “to fear.” Today’s definition, according to Merriam-Webster, is “very powerful or strong; deserving serious attention and respect.” Synonyms include:

• intimidating

Strong enemies and opponents are often described as formidable , though in academia, the most formidable force you may encounter is your end-of-term exam or research paper.

#17: fortuitous                                      

Official definition: (adj.)—occurring by chance.

You’d be remiss not to add fortuitous to your list of key vocabulary words to learn. Derived from the Latin word for “chance,” fortuitous means “occurring by chance,” according to Merriam-Webster. Though not originally used to describe things that happen by luck or good fortune, the word has come to be associated with the kind of serendipity associated with positive results. Some close synonyms for the term include:

• providential

To illustrate the meaning of fortuitous , consider turning in a college assignment just as your professor learns of receiving a departmental award. If you later receive an “A,” you might describe your timing as fortuitous .

#18: garish

Official definition: (adj.)—vividly colored.

Among the college words, you’ll need to know to hold your own in the world of academia is garish . Meaning “vividly colored,” according to Merriam-Webster, the word often has a negative connotation. In fact, secondary definitions of the term garish include “excessively or disturbingly vivid,” “offensively or distressingly bright,” and even “tastelessly showy; flashy.” Synonyms sometimes associated with the word include:

• conspicuous

If you attend college football games, you’re likely to see fans dressed in garish outfits. Whether or not that’s a positive or negative thing is up to you to decide since it’s a matter of personal preference.

#19: gingerly

Official definition: (adj./adv.)—very cautious(ly) or careful(ly).

Though it shouldn’t be confused with the spice, gingerly is one of those college words that can add variety and substance to your vocabulary. According to Merriam-Webster, gingerly is defined as “very cautious or careful; with extreme care concerning the result of a movement or action,” and synonyms include:

• tentatively

Etymologists continue to debate the origins of the word gingerly , but one theory is that it came from the Old French term gensor , meaning “delicate. Still, the spice makes a good mnemonic device if you note that because of its strength, ginger should be applied gingerly , less it overwhelms your dish.

#20: gratuitous

Official definition: (adj.)—not called for by the circumstances; not necessary, appropriate, or justified; unwarranted.

If you don’t already know the word gratuitous , it’s one you’ll want to add to your list of words to know ASAP. This is a useful word that now has a negative connotation, though it didn’t start out that way. Originally, the word simply meant “free,” but now, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the more common definition of the word gratuitous is “not called for by the circumstances; not necessary, appropriate, or justified; unwarranted.” Synonyms related to this particular usage include:

• superfluous
• unjustified
• unreasonable

 In your literature class, for example, the professor may refer to vulgar language in a particular short story as gratuitous rather than artistic.

#21: hackneyed

Official definition: (adj.)–lacking in originality and freshness.

Like many college words on our list, hackneyed has a negative connotation and is often used in a critical sense. Merriam-Webster defines the term as “lacking in originality and freshness” and lists common synonyms as:

• commonplace

In academia, you might use hackneyed in a critical paper on a piece of literature, or you may use it in your own writing. In doing the latter, you may, ironically, make your own essay less hackneyed .

#22: implicit

Official definition: (adj.)—understood, though not clearly or directly stated.

You may have heard the phrase “it goes without saying” to describe something that is understood despite not being explained verbally. If so, you already comprehend the meaning of the word implicit to some extent. According to Merriam-Webster, implicit means “capable of being understood … though unexpressed: implied.” Synonyms include:

As an illustration of the word’s definition, think about how you might feel if an advisor asks you if you’re serious about pursuing your college degree. You may be offended and clam up, presuming the answer is implicit in your enrollment.

#23: innate

Official definition: (adj.)—existing from the time a person or animal is born; existing as part of the basic nature of something.

The word innate is an essential addition to every college vocabulary list. This term means “existing from the time a person or animal is born; existing as part of the basic nature of something,” according to Merriam-Webster, and it shows up a lot in college writing and speech. You may even say its usage is innate to the postsecondary learning environment. Synonyms for innate include:

The modern word innate comes from the Latin term innatus , meaning “to be born in.”

#24: intermittent

Official definition: (adj.)—coming and going at intervals.

Coming from the Latin word “intermittere,” intermittent makes our list of the top college words every student should know. Merriam-Webster defines intermittent as “coming and going at intervals; not continuous.” Often used to describe the weather (i.e., intermittent snow or rain), the word can be used in a wide variety of scenarios to signify something that occurs time and again, but not constantly. Synonyms include:

As an illustration of the word’s meaning, consider a professor who reprimands a student for his intermittent absences from class. The student may protest that the absences aren’t excessive, but the professor will retort that they are continuous enough to have a significant impact on the student’s grade.

#25: juxtaposition

Official definition: (noun)—the placement of two or more things side by side for illustration.

The unique word juxtaposition is not only fun to say, but it also has an interesting definition, which explains, in part, its inclusion on our list of words every college student should know. Merriam-Webster defines juxtaposition as “the act or instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect.” While there are few, if any, exact synonyms for the word, some closely related terms include:

• coincidence
• collocation
• concurrence

The term has a wide range of uses, but in academia, it is often used to describe the effects of an artist’s or author’s media or stylistic choices. For example, your English professor may ask you to describe the effect of contradicting words in a certain stanza of a poem. The term juxtaposition was formed by combining the Latin word for near (i.e., “juxta”) with the English word “position.”

#26: meticulous

Official definition: (adj.)—marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details.

The word meticulous should be on every student’s college vocabulary list. This word means “very careful about doing something in an extremely accurate and exact way.” One might argue that you not only need to know what this word means, but you’d also be well-advised to adopt a meticulous approach to your studies to be successful in your higher education journey. Some popular synonyms for meticulous include:

• painstaking
• conscientious

Meticulous comes from the Latin word metus , meaning “fear” or “dread.” When you’re meticulous about doing something, you’re often fearful of making a mistake.

#27: myopic

Official definition: (adj.)—narrow in perspective.

Though it also has a medical meaning, the more widespread usage of the word myopic , according to Merriam-Webster, is “lacking in foresight or discernment: narrow in perspective and without concern for broader implications.” This latter meaning is the definition that places myopic on the list of the college words you should know. In this sense, the term myopic has a negative connotation and is used to describe someone who is ignoring other details or facts of a situation while having tunnel vision about a particular focus. It’s not uncommon for students to complain that their professors are myopic when it comes to the importance of the discipline they teach while ignoring students’ other academic pursuits. It is difficult to pin down exact synonyms of the word, but some terms related to myopic include:

• shortsighted

The origins of myopic can be found in the Greek words “ myein ” and “ ops ,” meaning “to be closed” and “eye, face,” respectively.

#28: myriad

Official definition: (adj.)—a very large number of things.

According to Merriam-Webster, definitions of myriad include “a very large number of things” and “innumerable,” and since we like this word a lot, we’ve included it on our list of college words every student should learn. Interestingly, a secondary definition of myriad is “ten thousand,” which is indeed a great number of things, but in most cases, myriad is used to describe a more general number of items. Synonyms for the term myriad include:

Myriad is more commonly used as an adjective as in: “There were myriad ways to solve the math problem.” However, it can be used as a noun as well, as in” A myriad of students filled the lecture hall.”

#29: nebulous

Official definition: (adj.)—indistinct; vague.

Though its literal meaning is related to an interstellar cloud, the meaning of the word nebulous that we’re including on our list of college words you should know is much more practical. According to Merriam-Webster, this pragmatic use of the word describes something “indistinct or vague.” Synonyms for this usage include:

The English term nebulous has evolved from the Latin nebulosus, which means “misty.”

#30: nuance

Official definition: (noun)—a subtle distinction or variation.

Nuance is a term that is not to be missed when it comes to college vocabulary words. According to Merriam-Webster, this word refers to “a subtle distinction or variation,” with synonyms spanning terms like:

This is a word that proves quite useful in introductory humanities courses since you’ll be asked to analyze works of art and literature with a fine-toothed comb, looking for nuances that separate them from comparable pieces.

#31: obfuscate

Official definition: (verb)—to obscure or confuse.

Among the college-level words students should be familiar with is the term obfuscate. As with many words, obfuscate’s etymology can give us a sense of its meaning. The word is derived from two Latin words, “ ob ” and “ fuscus,” meaning “over” and “dark-colored,” respectively. The idea of coloring over something with a dark crayon comes to mind, which is quite similar to today’s dictionary definitions: “to throw into shadow,” “to make obscure,” and “to confuse.” Synonyms for obfuscate include:

To give an example of how this word might be used in a real-life scenario, think about a particular professor whose lectures you find complicated and mind-numbing. You may wonder if he or she is intentionally obfuscating the course material.

#32: obsequious

Official definition: (adj.)—marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness.

One of the lesser-known college words on our list, obsequious means “marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness, according to Merriam-Webster. The word tends to have a negative connotation and is often associated with someone who attempts to please an authority figure, akin to a teacher’s pet. Synonyms for obsequious include:

• sycophantic
• ingratiating

The word obsequious comes from the Latin root word sequi , meaning “to follow.” As a mnemonic device, you can imagine an obsequious graduate student who follows the professor around, hanging on his or her every word.

#33: ostracize

Full definition: (verb)—to exclude from a group by common consent.

Though its pronunciation might make you think of a flightless bird, the term ostracize actually translates to the phrase denoting the concept “to exclude from a group by common consent,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. This definition makes ostracize a perfect addition to our list of words every college student should know since this concept often comes up in university classes like history, political science, and sociology, for example. Some synonyms for the word include:

Learn this word, and you may just prevent yourself from being ostracized by your well-spoken classmates.

#34: panacea

Official definition: (noun)—a remedy for all ills or difficulties; a cure-all.

In the age of Covid, everyone is looking for a panacea , so this is an apt word to add to your college vocabulary list. It is important to remember, though, that even as panacea refers to a “remedy” and “cure-all,” according to Merriam-Webster, its usage isn’t limited to medical ailments exclusively. Rather, panacea can refer to a perfect solution to a wide range of problems. Some synonyms associated with the term include:

A good way to recall the definition of the word panacea is to bring to mind the Greek goddess Panacea, who was known as the goddess of healing.

#35: pedantic

Official definition: (adj.)—unimaginative; dull with respect to instruction.

A list of college-level words wouldn’t be complete without the addition of pedantic . According to Merriam-Webster, pedantic means “narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned” or “unimaginative; dull.” Synonyms for the word include:

• hypercritical

The term has a particularly negative connotation and is often used to describe a person who is a stickler for the rules or minute and unimportant details. Someone who complains about the height of their neighbor’s mailbox to the homeowners’ association could be viewed as pedantic , for instance.

#36: prodigious

Official definition: (adj.)—extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree.

Another one of the college words that you’ll want to add to your lexicon is prodigious . This term has various definitions, according to Merriam-Webster, including: “causing amazement or wonder,” “extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree,” and “befitting or resembling a prodigy.” In the 15 th century, the term translates to the phrase literally denoting the idea of “being an omen: portentous,” but this definition has gone out of usage. Contemporary synonyms for prodigious include:

Challenges and accomplishments are often described as prodigious . For example, committing all of the college-level words on this list to memory may seem a prodigious feat.

#37: proliferate

Official definition: (verb)—to increase in number or amount quickly.

The term proliferate is one of those words every student should add to their college vocabulary. Its definition, according to Merriam-Webster, is “to increase in number or amount quickly.” This year, the word is particularly (and unfortunately) relevant as we’ve watched new cases of Covid-19 proliferate in America. Synonyms for proliferate include:

We borrowed the word from the French term prolifere , meaning “reproducing freely.”

#38: proverbial

Official definition: (adj.)—resembling a proverb.

The term proverbial has proven quite useful in postsecondary education settings, so it earns a place on our list of college vocabulary words. Merriam-Webster defines proverbial as “of, relating to, or resembling a proverb.” Synonyms include:

The term proverbial comes in handy when a writer or speaker wants to make a connection between a topic and a relevant proverb or adage. For example, if you want to describe someone who seems out of place, you could say he or she is like the proverbial fish out of water. Proverbial is a derivative of the word proverb, which comes from the Latin word “verbium,” meaning “word.”

# 39: qualitative

Official definition: (adj.)—of, relating to, or involving quality or kind.

The term qualitative isn’t the hardest or most sophisticated vocabulary words on this list but will prove useful in your college classes, especially those involving scholarly research. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, qualitative is an adjective that means “of, relating to, or involving quality or kind.” Precise synonyms for the word are rare, but some related terms include:

• observational
• comparative
• phenomenological

You’ll often see the word qualitative alongside its counterpart, “quantitative,” which relates to numerical data and statistics.” Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are typically required in many college-level classes.

#40: quintessential

Official definition: (adj.)—perfectly typical or representative of someone or something.

Another must-know vocabulary word for college students is the term quintessential . Merriam-Webster defines this whimsical-sounding adjective as “perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing.” For reference, here are a few synonyms for the word:

• prototypical

To further illustrate the meaning of the word quintessential , consider a student who opts to attend classes traditionally rather than online because they desire the quintessential college experience. The word’s roots can be found in Middle English, where it referenced a fifth element of the planet referred to as the quinta essentia.

#41: rapport

Official definition (noun)— a friendly, harmonious relationship.

An etymological analysis of the word rapport will uncover links to the more common English term “report.” Like many college words, though, the term rapport means something quite different today, however. Merriam-Webster defines rapport as “a friendly, harmonious relationship, especially one characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.” Some close synonyms for rapport include:

• understanding
• camaraderie

Though a rapport with your college professors may or may not result in an extension for your mid-term assignment, it certainly can’t hurt. Neither can using college-level words such as this one in your final report once it is turned in.

#42: recalcitrant

Official definition (adj.)—obstinately defiant of authority or restraint; difficult to manage or operate.

The roots of college vocabulary words often have intriguing stories to tell, and recalcitrant is no exception. The term comes from the Latin word recalcitrare , which to Romans meant stubborn mules. At that time, the word meant literally “to kick back,” but in modern times, recalcitrant refers to behavior that is “obstinately defiant of authority or restraint” or “difficult to manage or operate.” Contemporary synonyms include:

• uncooperative
• insubordinate

To illustrate the meaning of this word, we encourage you to recall a classmate in one of your current or past courses who made everything more difficult for the instructor due to his or her recalcitrant nature. There’s a bad apple in every bunch, or so they say.

#43: supercilious

Official definition: (adj.)—coolly and patronizingly haughty.

One of the college vocabulary words on our list with the most negative of connotations, the term supercilious is an adjective that means “coolly and patronizingly haughty,” according to Merriam-Webster. Synonyms for supercilious include:

• contemptuous
• pretentious

An easy and fun way to remember the definition of supercilious is to think of its original meaning. The word is derived from the Latin term for “eyebrow”: supercilium . Imagining someone who is condescendingly judging someone else with a raised eyebrow in the person’s direction can solidify the modern definition of the word in your mind.

# 44: superfluous

Official definition: (adj.)—beyond what is needed; unnecessary.

The term superfluous is an adjective that is synonymous with “extra.” According to Merriam-Webster, the formal definition of the word is “beyond what is needed; unnecessary.” According to this definition, something that is superfluous goes well above what is sufficient for the situation at hand. For example, bringing a corsage to your date for the prom is appropriate, but a dozen roses may be superfluous . The term comes from the Latin word “superfluus,” which means “running over” as a cup that has been overfilled with liquid. Some synonyms for the word include:

• supererogatory

The word superfluous tends to have a negative connotation, especially when used in reference to its secondary definition: “obsolete; marked by wastefulness; extravagant.”

#45: tautological

Official definition: (adj.)—needlessly repetitive.

Another of the college words you’ll hear and see often in postsecondary education is the term tautological . That’s because the word is often used in a rhetorical context. Tautological refers to a statement or sentiment that contains “needless repetition.” Clearly, the word has a negative connotation and is often used as a way to criticize or insult, especially in political realms. Synonyms for tautological include:

• unnecessary

If you want to navigate proper speech and writing at the college level, you’ll want to learn the term, even though saying so seems tautological .

#46: tenuous

Official definition: (adj.)—having little substance or strength.

Like many of the vocabulary words we’re featuring, tenuous has its roots in Latin. The term is derived from the Latin word tenuis, meaning “fine-drawn, thin, narrow, slight.” The modern definition of the word isn’t far from its original meaning. According to Merriam-Webster, tenuous means “having little substance or strength: flimsy, weak.” Some synonyms include:

• questionable

To illustrate the definition of the word in context, imagine witnessing a classmate who is constantly checking her phone during an important lecture. You may conclude that your peer’s attention span is tenuous .

#47: ubiquitous

Official definition: (adj.)—seemingly everywhere; constantly encountered.

Among the vocabulary words that should be in your lexicon is the term ubiquitous . Merriam-Webster identifies the definition of ubiquitous as “seeming to be seen everywhere; constantly encountered.” For example, have you noticed that once you buy a certain type of car, like a blue sedan, for instance, they suddenly become ubiquitous ? This term comes from the Latin word “ ubique ,” which means “everywhere.” Synonyms for “ubiquitous” include:

• omnipresent

In terms of connotation, ubiquitous is relatively neutral and can refer to both good and bad things that have become widespread. This makes it a fairly useful word that could become ubiquitous in both your speech and writing!

#48: vacillate

Official definition: (verb)—to waver in mind, will, or feeling.

Despite its meaning, our editors have taken a firm stance on the fact that vacillate belongs on our list of vocabulary words every college student should know. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the word vacillate is “to waver in mind, will, or feeling; hesitate in choice of opinions or courses.” Synonyms include:

To illustrate, think of vacillate as a word you might use to describe a classmate who can’t commit to a regular time for study group meetings, despite insisting that everyone attend. In terms of etymology, vacillate comes from the Latin word vacillare , meaning “to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant; waver.”

#49: visceral

Official definition: (adj.)—coming from strong emotions and not from logic or reason.

The term visceral is another one of the vocabulary words on our list that has both a clinical meaning and a practical one. Merriam-Webster lists this latter definition as “coming from strong emotions and not from logic or reason.” Synonyms of visceral include:

• instinctive

Although this is the definition you’ll likely use in academic speech and writing, it’s helpful to remember that the medical definition of the word is “of or relating to the viscera or internal organs of the body.” With this in mind, you can think of a visceral feeling that is so strong you feel it in your physical body.

#50: zealot

Official definition: (noun)—someone marked by fervent partisanship.

One of the vocabulary words you’ll need to know for your classes, especially in History or Political Science, is the term zealot . Merriam-Webster defines the noun zealot as a person “marked by fervent partisanship for a person, cause, or an ideal.” There are a few close synonyms for the word, including:

The term zealot has a negative connotation and is often used to describe someone who makes rash decisions or uses poor judgment as a result of misplaced passion.

#51: zenith

Official definition: (noun)— the strongest or most successful period of time.

As is the case for numerous college words, Merriam-Webster lists both a technical and formal definition of the word zenith . While the term has a literal meaning that refers to “the highest point reached in the sky,” the meaning you’ll find more useful as a student is the formal definition: “the strongest or most successful period of time.” In this sense, the word is associated with synonyms such as:

It is not uncommon for professionals to reference a particularly successful moment as the zenith of their careers, for instance. As a college student, you may come to think of a specific project or test grade as the zenith of your academic experience.

In no way is this above list of vocabulary words meant to be an exhaustive one. Of course, innumerable college vocabulary words are good to have in your lexicon once you find yourself in the realm of academia. However, after much consideration, our editors have determined that these 50 are the top words every college student should know in 2022.

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary

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• Master’s in Communication Online: Top 30 Values
• Communications Degree Online: Top 9 Values
• What Are The Benefits Of Expanding My Vocabulary?
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100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

By: Author Sophia

Posted on Last updated: October 25, 2023

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How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let’s take a look!

The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.

Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

Overview of an essay.

Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays

Developing the argument

• The first aspect to point out is that…
• Let us start by considering the facts.
• The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
• Central to the novel is…
• The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…

The other side of the argument

• It would also be interesting to see…
• One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
• Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
• The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
• From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
• All of this points to the conclusion that…
• To conclude…

Ordering elements

• Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
• As a final point…
• On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
• If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
• The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
• There are at least xxx points to highlight.

Adding elements

• Furthermore, one should not forget that…
• In addition to…
• Moreover…
• It is important to add that…

Accepting other points of view

• Nevertheless, one should accept that…
• However, we also agree that…

Personal opinion

• We/I personally believe that…
• Our/My own point of view is that…
• It is my contention that…
• I am convinced that…
• My own opinion is…

Others’ opinions

• According to some critics… Critics:
• believe that
• suggest that
• are convinced that
• point out that
• emphasize that
• contend that
• go as far as to say that
• argue for this

Introducing examples

• For example…
• For instance…
• To illustrate this point…

Introducing facts

• It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
• One should note here that…

Saying what you think is true

• This leads us to believe that…
• It is very possible that…
• In view of these facts, it is quite likely that…
• Doubtless,…
• One cannot deny that…
• It is (very) clear from these observations that…
• All the same, it is possible that…
• It is difficult to believe that…

Accepting other points to a certain degree

• One can agree up to a certain point with…
• Certainly,… However,…
• It cannot be denied that…

Emphasizing particular points

• The last example highlights the fact that…
• Not only… but also…
• We would even go so far as to say that…

Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing

• By and large…
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that…
• It would be unfair not to mention the fact that…
• One must admit that…
• We cannot ignore the fact that…
• One cannot possibly accept the fact that…

Consequences

• From these facts, one may conclude that…
• That is why, in our opinion, …
• Which seems to confirm the idea that…
• Thus,…/ Therefore,…
• Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
• Compared to…
• On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 1

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 2

Phrases For Balanced Arguments

Introduction

• It is often said that…
• It is undeniable that…
• It is a well-known fact that…
• One of the most striking features of this text is…
• The first thing that needs to be said is…
• First of all, let us try to analyze…
• One argument in support of…
• We must distinguish carefully between…
• The second reason for…
• An important aspect of the text is…
• It is worth stating at this point that…
• On the other hand, we can observe that…
• The other side of the coin is, however, that…
• Another way of looking at this question is to…
• What conclusions can be drawn from all this?
• The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…
• To sum up… we are convinced that…/ …we believe that…/ …we have to accept that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 3

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Nur Syuhadah Zainuddin

Friday 19th of August 2022

thank u so much its really usefull

12thSeahorse

Wednesday 3rd of August 2022

He or she who masters the English language rules the world!

Friday 25th of March 2022

Thank you so so much, this helped me in my essays with A+

Theophilus Muzvidziwa

Friday 11th of March 2022

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190 Good Transition Words for Essays

August 23, 2023

Essay writing consists of two primary procedures: coming up with the content we want to include and structuring that content. These procedures might take place in either order or they could occur simultaneously. When writing an essay it is important to think about the ways that content and structure complement one another. The best essays join these two elements in thoughtful ways. Transition words for essays (including for college essays) are some of our most primary tools when it comes to structuring a piece of writing.

When beginning an essay it is often recommended to begin with a messy first draft. The purpose of this draft is to get everything out on the page. You should put down as many ideas and trajectories as you can without worrying too much about phrasing or whether they will make it into the final draft. The key here is to be loose—to get ahead of our self-editors and expel everything we can from our minds.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Continued)

While this is a good strategy for beginning an essay it will likely leave you unsure how everything fits together. This is where transition words come in. As you will see in this list (which is necessarily incomplete) the range of transition words for essays is vast. Each transition word implies a different relation, often in subtle ways. After accumulating content, the next step is to figure out how the elements fit together towards an overall goal (this could be but is not necessarily an “argument”). Consulting this list of transition words for essays can provide a shortcut for determining how one piece might lead into another. Along with transition words, rhetorical devices and literary devices are other tools to consider during this stage of essay writing.

Transition Words for College Essays

While this list will be a useful tool for all types of essay writing it will be particularly helpful when it comes to finding the right transition words for college essays . The goal of a college essay is to give a strong overall sense of its author in the tight space of 650 words. As you might imagine, it’s not easy to encompass a life or convey a complex personality in such a space. When writing a college essay you are working with a huge amount of potential content. Students often want to squeeze in as much as they can. To this end, transition words for college essays are essential tools to have at our disposal.

Here is our list of transition words for college essays and other essays. It is organized by the different types of transition words/phrases and their functions. While this organization should be convenient, keep in mind that there’s plenty of overlap. Many of these words can function in multiple ways.

1) Additive Transitions

These words function in an additive manner, accumulating content to build upon what has already been stated. They can be used to construct an argument or establish a scene through the accumulation of details.

• Additionally
• In addition to
• Furthermore
• Not to mention
• In all honesty
• To tell the truth
• Not only…but also
• As a matter of fact
• To say nothing of
• What’s more
• Alternatively
• To go a step further

 2) Comparative Transitions (Similarity)

  These transition words draw a parallel or bring out a similarity between images or ideas. They can be used not only in a straightforward sense but also to establish relations of similarity between objects or ideas that might appear to be dissonant.

• In the same way
• In a similar vein
• Along the lines of
• In the key of

 3) Comparative Transitions (Difference)

  While also functioning comparatively, the following words demonstrate difference between ideas or images. These transition words are useful when it comes to establishing contrasting points of view, an important component of any argument.

• On the other hand
• On the contrary
• In contrast to
• In contradiction
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• In any event
• In any case
• In either event

4) Sequential Transitions

  The following are particularly effective transition words for college essays. They will allow you to order ideas chronologically or in a sequence, providing a sense of continuity over time. This is particularly useful when an essay leans into something more creative or involves telling a story.

• Subsequently
• At the same time
• Concurrently
• In the beginning
• At the start
• At the outset
• Off the bat

5) Spatial Transitions

Rather than organizing ideas or images in regards to sequence, these transitions indicate spatial relationships. They are particularly useful when it comes to painting a scene and/or describing objects, but they can also be used metaphorically. Consider, for example, how you might use the transition, “standing in […’s] shadow.”

• Standing in […’s] shadow
• In front of
• In the middle
• In the center
• To the left
• To the right
• On the side
• Adjacent to
• Around the bend
• On the outskirts
• In the distance
• On the horizon
• In the foreground
• In the background
• Underground
• Through the grapevine

 6) Causal Transitions

These transition words for essays indicate cause and effect relationships between ideas. They will be particularly useful when you are structuring a logical argument, i.e. using logos as a mode of persuasion . Causal transitions are an important element of academic, legal and scientific writing.

• Accordingly
• Resultingly
• As a result
• Consequently
• In consequence
• As a consequence
• For this reason
• So much that
• Granting that
• That being the case
• Under those circumstances
• With this in mind
• For the purpose of
• For all intents and purposes
• In the event that
• In the event of
• In light of
• On the condition that
• To the extent that

7) Examples/Illustration/Supporting Transition

  These transition words for college essays can be used to introduce supporting evidence, emphasis, examples, and clarification. There is some overlap here with additive transitions and causal transitions. These transitions are also useful when it comes to building an argument. At the same time, they can signal a shift into a different linguistic register.

• For example
• For instance
• In other words
• As an illustration
• To illustrate
• To put it differently
• To put it another way
• That is to say
• As the evidence illustrates
• It’s important to realize
• It’s important to understand
• It must be remembered
• To demonstrate
• For clarity’s sake
• To emphasize
• To put it plainly
• To enumerate
• To speak metaphorically

8) Conclusory Transitions

These transition words for essays serve to bring an idea or story to a close. They offer a clear way of signaling the conclusion of a particular train of thought. They might be followed by a summary or a restatement of an essay’s argument. In this way they also provide emphasis, setting the reader up for what is about to come.

• In conclusion
• To summarize
• To put it succinctly
• To this end
• At the end of the day
• In the final analysis
• By and large
• On second thought
• On first glance
• That’s all to say
• On the whole
• All things considered
• Generally speaking

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Final Thoughts)

Even when elements appear to be disparate on first glance, transition words are a great tool for giving your essay a smooth flow. They can also create surprising juxtapositions, relationships, and equivalences. The way a reader will understand a transition word depends on the context in which they encounter it.

Individual words and phrases can be used in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the literal to the figurative to the colloquial or idiomatic. “Through the grapevine” is an example of the colloquial or idiomatic. When we encounter this phrase we don’t interpret it literally (as hearing something “through” a grapevine) but rather as hearing news secondhand. There are, of course, a vast number of idioms that are not included in this list but can also function as transitional phrases.

This list of transition words for college essays (and really any form of writing you might be working on) is a resource that you can return to again and again in your life as a writer. Over years of writing we tend to fall into patterns when it comes to the transition words we use. Mixing things up can be exciting both as a writer and for your readers. Even if you don’t choose to stray from your trusted transitions, considering the alternatives (and why they don’t work for you) can offer a deeper understanding of what you are trying to say.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (An Exercise)

As an exercise in self-understanding, you may want to try highlighting all of the transition words in a piece of your own writing. You can then compare this to the transition words in a piece of writing that you admire. Are they using similar transitions or others? Are they using them more or less often? What do you like or dislike about them? We all use transition words differently, creating different tonal effects. Keeping an eye out for them, not only as a writer but also as a reader, will help you develop your own aesthetic.

• College Essay

Emmett Lewis

Emmett holds a BA in Philosophy from Vassar College and is currently completing an MFA in Writing at Columbia University. Previously, he served as a writing instructor within the Columbia Artists/Teachers community as well as a Creative Writing Teaching Fellow at Columbia, where he taught poetry workshops. In addition, Emmett is a member of the Poetry Board at the Columbia Journal , and his work has been published in HAD , Otoliths , and Some Kind of Opening , among others.

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39 Different Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay (Rated)

The phrase “In conclusion …” sounds reductive, simple and … well, just basic.

You can find better words to conclude an essay than that!

So below I’ve outlined a list of different ways to say in conclusion in an essay using a range of analysis verbs . Each one comes with an explanation of the best time to use each phrase and an example you could consider.

Read Also: How to Write a Conclusion using the 5C’s Method

List of Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

The following are the best tips I have for to say in conclusion in an essay.

1. The Weight of the Evidence Suggests…

My Rating: 10/10

Overview: This is a good concluding phrase for an evaluative essay where you need to compare two different positions on a topic then conclude by saying which one has more evidence behind it than the other.

You could also use this phrase for argumentative essays where you’ve put forward all the evidence for your particular case.

Example: “The weight of the evidence suggests that climate change is a real phenomenon.”

2. A Thoughtful Analysis would Conclude…

My Rating: 9/10

Overview: I would use this phrase in either an argumentative essay or a comparison essay. As an argument, it highlights that you think your position is the most logical.

In a comparison essay, it shows that you have (or have intended to) thoughtfully explore the issue by looking at both sides.

Example: “A thoughtful analysis would conclude that there is substantial evidence highlighting that climate change is real.”

Related Article: 17+ Great Ideas For An Essay About Yourself

3. A Balanced Assessment of the Above Information…

Overview: This phrase can be used to show that you have made a thoughtful analysis of the information you found when researching the essay. You’re telling your teacher with this phrase that you have looked at all sides of the argument before coming to your conclusion.

Example: “A balanced assessment of the above information would be that climate change exists and will have a strong impact on the world for centuries to come.”

4. Across the Board…

My Rating: 5/10

Overview: I would use this phrase in a less formal context such as in a creative discussion but would leave it out of a formal third-person essay. To me, the phrase comes across as too colloquial.

Example: “Across the board, there are scientists around the world who consistently provide evidence for human-induced climate change.”

5. Logically…

My Rating: 7/10

Overview: This phrase can be used at the beginning of any paragraph that states out a series of facts that will be backed by clear step-by-step explanations that the reader should be able to follow to a conclusion.

Example: “Logically, the rise of the automobile would speed up economic expansion in the United States. Automobiles allowed goods to flow faster around the economy.

6. After all is Said and Done…

Overview: This is a colloquial term that is more useful in a speech than written text. If you feel that the phrase ‘In conclusion,’ is too basic, then I’d also avoid this term. However, use in speech is common, so if you’re giving a speech, it may be more acceptable.

Example: “After all is said and done, it’s clear that there is more evidence to suggest that climate change is real than a hoax.”

7. All in All…

Overview: ‘All in all’ is a colloquial term that I would use in speech but not in formal academic writing. Colloquialisms can show that you have poor command of the English language. However, I would consider using this phrase in the conclusion of a debate.

Example: “All in all, our debate team has shown that there is insurmountable evidence that our side of the argument is correct.”

8. All Things Considered…

My Rating: 6/10

Overview: This term is a good way of saying ‘I have considered everything above and now my conclusion is..’ However, it is another term that’s more commonly used in speech than writing. Use it in a high school debate, but when it comes to a formal essay, I would leave it out.

Example: “All things considered, there’s no doubt in my mind that climate change is man-made.”

9. As a Final Note…

My Rating: 3/10

Overview: This phrase gives me the impression that the student doesn’t understand the point of a conclusion. It’s not to simply make a ‘final note’, but to summarize and reiterate. So, I would personally avoid this one.

Example: “As a final note, I would say that I do think the automobile was one of the greatest inventions of the 20 th Century.”

10. As Already Stated…

My Rating: 2/10

Overview: I don’t like this phrase. It gives teachers the impression that you’re going around in circles and haven’t organized your essay properly. I would particularly avoid it in the body of an essay because I always think: “If you already stated it, why are you stating it again?” Of course, the conclusion does re-state things, but it also adds value because it also summarizes them. So, add value by using a phrase such as ‘summarizing’ or ‘weighing up’ in your conclusion instead.

Example: “As already stated, I’m going to repeat myself and annoy my teacher.”

11. At present, the Best Evidence Suggests…

My Rating: 8/10

Overview: In essays where the evidence may change in the future. Most fields of study do involve some evolution over time, so this phrase acknowledges that “right now” the best evidence is one thing, but it may change in the future. It also shows that you’ve looked at the latest information on the topic.

Example: “At present, the best evidence suggests that carbon dioxide emissions from power plants is the greatest influence on climate change.”

12. At the Core of the Issue…

Overview: I personally find this phrase to be useful for most essays. It highlights that you are able to identify the most important or central point from everything you have examined. It is slightly less formal than some other phrases on this list, but I also wouldn’t consider it too colloquial for an undergraduate essay.

Example: “At the core of the issue in this essay is the fact scientists have been unable to convince the broader public of the importance of action on climate change.”

13. Despite the shortcomings of…

Overview: This phrase can be useful in an argumentative essay. It shows that there are some limitations to your argument, but , on balance you still think your position is the best. This will allow you to show critical insight and knowledge while coming to your conclusion.

Often, my students make the mistake of thinking they can only take one side in an argumentative essay. On the contrary, you should be able to highlight the limitations of your point-of-view while also stating that it’s the best.

Example: “Despite the shortcomings of globalization, this essay has found that on balance it has been good for many areas in both the developed and developing world.”

14. Finally…

My Rating: 4/10

Overview: While the phrase ‘Finally,’ does indicate that you’re coming to the end of your discussion, it is usually used at the end of a list of ideas rather than in a conclusion. It also implies that you’re adding a point rather that summing up previous points you have made.

Example: “Finally, this essay has highlighted the importance of communication between policy makers and practitioners in order to ensure good policy is put into effect.”

15. Gathering the above points together…

Overview: While this is not a phrase I personally use very often, I do believe it has the effect of indicating that you are “summing up”, which is what you want out of a conclusion.

Example: “Gathering the above points together, it is clear that the weight of evidence highlights the importance of action on climate change.”

16. Given the above information…

Overview: This phrase shows that you are considering the information in the body of the piece when coming to your conclusion. Therefore, I believe it is appropriate for starting a conclusion.

Example: “Given the above information, it is reasonable to conclude that the World Health Organization is an appropriate vehicle for achieving improved health outcomes in the developing world.”

17. In a nutshell…

Overview: This phrase means to say everything in the fewest possible words. However, it is a colloquial phrase that is best used in speech rather than formal academic writing.

Example: “In a nutshell, there are valid arguments on both sides of the debate about socialism vs capitalism.”

18. In closing…

Overview: This phrase is an appropriate synonym for ‘In conclusion’ and I would be perfectly fine with a student using this phrase in their essay. Make sure you follow-up by explaining your position based upon the weight of evidence presented in the body of your piece

Example: “In closing, there is ample evidence to suggest that liberalism has been the greatest force for progress in the past 100 years.”

19. In essence…

Overview: While the phrase ‘In essence’ does suggest you are about to sum up the core findings of your discussion, it is somewhat colloquial and is best left for speech rather than formal academic writing.

Example: “In essence, this essay has shown that cattle farming is an industry that should be protected as an essential service for our country.”

20. In review…

Overview: We usually review someone else’s work, not our own. For example, you could review a book that you read or a film you watched. So, writing “In review” as a replacement for “In conclusion” comes across a little awkward.

Example: “In review, the above information has made a compelling case for compulsory military service in the United States.”

21. In short…

Overview: Personally, I find that this phrase is used more regularly by undergraduate student. As students get more confident with their writing, they tend to use higher-rated phrases from this list. Nevertheless, I would not take grades away from a student for using this phrase.

Example: “In short, this essay has shown the importance of sustainable agriculture for securing a healthy future for our nation.”

22. In Sum…

Overview: Short for “In summary”, the phrase “In sum” sufficiently shows that you are not coming to the moment where you will sum up the essay. It is an appropriate phrase to use instead of “In conclusion”.

But remember to not just summarize but also discuss the implications of your findings in your conclusion.

Example: “In sum, this essay has shown the importance of managers in ensuring efficient operation of medium-to-large enterprises.”

23. In Summary…

Overview: In summary and in sum are the same terms which can be supplemented for “In conclusion”. You will show that you are about to summarize the points you said in the body of the essay, which is what you want from an essay.

Example: “In summary, reflection is a very important metacognitive skill that all teachers need to master in order to improve their pedagogical skills.”

24. It cannot be conclusively stated that…

Overview: While this phrase is not always be a good fit for your essay, when it is, it does show knowledge and skill in writing. You would use this phrase if you are writing an expository essay where you have decided that there is not enough evidence currently to make a firm conclusion on the issue.

Example: “It cannot be conclusively stated that the Big Bang was when the universe began. However, it is the best theory so far, and none of the other theories explored in this essay have as much evidence behind them.”

25. It is apparent that…

Overview: The term ‘ apparent ’ means that something is ‘clear’ or even ‘obvious’. So, you would use this word in an argumentative essay where you think you have put forward a very compelling argument.

Example: “It is apparent that current migration patterns in the Americas are unsustainable and causing significant harm to the most vulnerable people in our society.”

26. Last but not least…

Overview: The phrase “last but not least” is a colloquial idiom that is best used in speech rather than formal academic writing. Furthermore, when you are saying ‘last’, you mean to say you’re making your last point rather than summing up all your points you already made. So, I’d avoid this one.

Example: “Last but not least, this essay has highlighted the importance of empowering patients to exercise choice over their own medical decisions.”

27. Overall…

My Rating: 7.5/10

Overview: This phrase means ‘taking everything into account’, which sounds a lot like what you would want to do in an essay. I don’t consider it to be a top-tier choice (which is why I rated it 7), but in my opinion it is perfectly acceptable to use in an undergraduate essay.

Example: “Overall, religious liberty continues to be threatened across the world, and faces significant threats in the 21 st Century.”

28. The above points illustrate…

Overview: This phrase is a good start to a conclusion paragraph that talks about the implications of the points you made in your essay. Follow it up with a statement that defends your thesis you are putting forward in the essay.

Example: “The above points illustrate that art has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on humanity since the renaissance.”

29. The evidence presented in this essay suggests that…

Overview: I like this phrase because it highlights that you are about to gather together the evidence from the body of the essay to put forward a final thesis statement .

Example: “The evidence presented in this essay suggests that the democratic system of government is the best for securing maximum individual liberty for citizens of a nation.”

30. This essay began by stating…

Overview: This phrase is one that I teach in my YouTube mini-course as an effective one to use in an essay conclusion. If you presented an interesting fact in your introduction , you can return to that point from the beginning of the essay to provide nice symmetry in your writing.

Example: “This essay began by stating that corruption has been growing in the Western world. However, the facts collected in the body of the essay show that institutional checks and balances can sufficiently minimize this corruption in the long-term.”

31. This essay has argued…

Overview: This term can be used effectively in an argumentative essay to provide a summary of your key points. Follow it up with an outline of all your key points, and then a sentence about the implications of the points you made. See the example below.

Example: “This essay has argued that standardized tests are damaging for students’ mental health. Tests like the SATs should therefore be replaced by project-based testing in schools.”

32. To close…

Overview: This is a very literal way of saying “In conclusion”. While it’s suitable and serves its purpose, it does come across as being a sophomoric term. Consider using one of the higher-rated phrases in this list.

Example: “To close, this essay has highlighted both the pros and cons of relational dialectics theory and argued that it is not the best communication theory for the 21 st Century.”

33. To Conclude…

Overview: Like ‘to close’ and ‘in summary’, the phrase ‘to conclude’ is very similar to ‘in conclusion’. It can therefore be used as a sufficient replacement for that term. However, as with the above terms, it’s just okay and you could probably find a better phrase to use.

Example: “To conclude, this essay has highlighted that there are multiple models of communication but there is no one perfect theory to explain each situation.”

34. To make a long story short…

My Rating: 1/10

Overview: This is not a good phrase to use in an academic essay. It is a colloquialism. It also implies that you have been rambling in your writing and you could have said everything more efficiently. I would personally not use this phrase.

Example: “To make a long story short, I don’t have very good command of academic language.”

35. To Sum up…

Overview: This phrase is the same as ‘In summary’. It shows that you have made all of your points and now you’re about to bring them all together in a ‘summary’. Just remember in your conclusion that you need to do more than summarize but also talk about the implications of your findings. So you’ll need to go beyond just a summary.

Example: “In summary, there is ample evidence that linear models of communication like Lasswell’s model are not as good at explaining 21 st Century communication as circular models like the Osgood-Schramm model .”

36. Ultimately…

Overview: While this phrase does say that you are coming to a final point – also known as a conclusion – it’s also a very strong statement that might not be best to use in all situations. I usually accept this phrase from my undergraduates, but for my postgraduates I’d probably suggest simply removing it.

Example: “Ultimately, new media has been bad for the world because it has led to the spread of mistruths around the internet.”

37. Undoubtedly…

Overview: If you are using it in a debate or argumentative essay, it can be helpful. However, in a regular academic essay, I would avoid it. We call this a ‘booster’, which is a term that emphasizes certainty. Unfortunately, certainty is a difficult thing to claim, so you’re better off ‘hedging’ with phrases like ‘It appears’ or ‘The best evidence suggests’.

Example: “Undoubtedly, I know everything about this topic and am one hundred percent certain even though I’m just an undergraduate student.”

38. Weighing up the facts, this essay finds…

Overview: This statement highlights that you are looking at all of the facts both for and against your points of view. It shows you’re not just blindly following one argument but being careful about seeing things from many perspectives.

Example: “Weighing up the facts, this essay finds that reading books is important for developing critical thinking skills in childhood.”

39. With that said…

Overview: This is another phrase that I would avoid. This is a colloquialism that’s best used in speech rather than writing. It is another term that feels sophomoric and is best to avoid. Instead, use a more formal term such as: ‘Weighing up the above points, this essay finds…’

Example: “With that said, this essay disagrees with the statement that you need to go to college to get a good job.”

Do you Need to Say Anything?

Something I often tell my students is: “Can you just remove that phrase?”

Consider this sentence:

• “In conclusion, the majority of scientists concur that climate change exists.”

Would it be possible to simply say:

• “ In conclusion, The majority of scientists concur that climate change exists.”

So, I’d recommend also just considering removing that phrase altogether! Sometimes the best writing is the shortest, simplest writing that gets to the point without any redundant language at all.

How to Write an Effective Conclusion

Before I go, I’d like to bring your attention to my video on ‘how to write an effective conclusion’. I think it would really help you out given that you’re looking for help on how to write a conclusion. It’s under 5 minutes long and has helped literally thousands of students write better conclusions for their essays:

You can also check out these conclusion examples for some copy-and-paste conclusions for your own essay.

In Conclusion…

Well, I had to begin this conclusion with ‘In conclusion…’ I liked the irony in it, and I couldn’t pass up that chance.

Overall, don’t forget that concluding an essay is a way to powerfully summarize what you’ve had to say and leave the reader with a strong impression that you’ve become an authority on the topic you’re researching. 

So, whether you write it as a conclusion, summary, or any other synonym for conclusion, those other ways to say in conclusion are less important than making sure that the message in your conclusion is incredibly strong.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, utilizing fancy words in essays: do they make a difference.

I always hear about the importance of having a good vocab in college essays. Do you all think throwing in some fancy words would make my essays stand out, or is it seen as trying too hard? Any tips on how to balance it without sounding pretentious?

Vocabulary is indeed an important aspect of writing, but it should be used purposefully rather than as a means to impress. Admissions officers can usually tell when a student is using complex words unnecessarily, which can indeed come across as trying too hard or inauthentic. Instead, focus on clarity and how effectively you are conveying your story or ideas.

The best essays are those that are well-written and reflective of your genuine voice. If a more sophisticated word fits naturally and enhances the meaning of your sentence, then it's appropriate to use it. However, never sacrifice clarity for complexity.

Here's a tip: after you've written your essay, read it out loud. This helps to catch any awkward phrases or words that don't sound like you. Remember, the goal of the essay is to communicate your thoughts and experiences clearly and authentically, not to showcase your thesaurus skills. So keep the language natural and your writing will stand out for its sincerity and clarity rather than its verbosity.

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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April 12, 2016

Colloquial Writing in College Admissions Essays

The best college admissions essays are written in a colloquial style . Maybe a student dares to start a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but.’ Maybe a student dares to write a fragment. Maybe a student writes a one-word sentence for extra emphasis. We’re all about that kind of writing — as regular readers of our college admissions blog know very well since we too write in a colloquial style. In fact, we are all about defying the very rules that so many high school English teachers ingrain in their students. Those rules…they’re boring and they make for uninteresting writing.

Too Many Students Heed the Advice of Their English Teachers

If we had to read another college admissions essay that began with the words “I” or “I’m,” we’d eat beets. And we don’t like beets. Not one bit. Yuck. So often, the very students who begin their essays with “I” follow up that sentence with a string of sentences that also start with “I.” That drives us nuts. Mix it up a bit and try to avoid starting sentences with “I” or “I’m.” What are you, Popeye the Sailor Man? “ I’m Popeye the Sailor Man;   I’m Popeye the Sailor Man;   I’m strong to the finich;  Cause I eats me spinach;   I’m Popeye the Sailor Man .” Oh Popeye…

It’s also a pet peeve of ours to see so many “howevers” and “neverthelesses” in college admissions essays. Writing such words isn’t the mark of great writing. And never use a big word when a small word will do. “But” is a smaller word for “however.” “Yet” is a smaller word for “nevertheless.” Who are you trying to impress with your big, fancy words? Stick to the little words. You shouldn’t have to use big words in order to write effectively. In fact, the very best writers don’t use big words. Have a listen to a speech by President Obama or President Reagan. These were two great orators with phenomenal speechwriters — no matter your party affiliation. They understood that a simple word always beats a big word. When you use a big word, it comes across like you’re trying to impress people. I’m smart. I know big words. Admit me. But that kind of approach in the highly selective college admissions process is not an effective one. It renders a student unlikable. Our task at Ivy Coach is to inspire admissions officers to root for our students, to render them entirely likable. It’s why our students use little words.

So as you work on your many college admissions essays (and there are many!), we urge you to colloquial it up! You’ll be glad you did!

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The 50 Best Vocab Words for the ACT Essay

When taking the ACT essay section, students have 45 minutes to write a well-reasoned argumentative essay about a given prompt. The new ACT Essay prompts tend to be about “debate” topics — two sides of an issue are presented, with no obviously “right” side. Oftentimes, these subjects carry implications for broader issues such as freedom or morality. Test-takers are expected to convey some stance on the issue and support their argument with relevant facts and analysis.

In addition to some of the more obvious categories, like grammar and structure, students’ essays are also evaluated on their mastery of the English language. One way to demonstrate such mastery is through the correct usage of advanced vocabulary words. Below are 50 above-average vocabulary words sorted by the contexts in which they could most easily be worked into an ACT essay.

(Key: N = Noun, V= Verb, Adj. = Adjective)

Context 1: Factual Support For ACT Essay

These words can easily be used when stating facts and describing examples to support one’s argument. On ACT essays, common examples are trends or patterns of human behavior, current or past events, and large-scale laws or regulations.

1. Antecedent – a precursor, or preceding event for something – N

2. Bastion – an institution/place/person that strongly maintains particular principles, attitudes, or activities – N

3. Bellwether – something that indicates a trend – N

4. Burgeon – to begin to grow or increase rapidly – V

5. Catalyst – an agent that provokes or triggers change – N

6. Defunct – no longer in existence or functioning – Adj.

7. Entrenched – characterized by something that is firmly established and difficult to change – Adj.

8. Foster – to encourage the development of something – V

9. Galvanize – to shock or excite someone into taking action – V

10. Impetus – something that makes a process or activity happen or happen faster – N

11. Inadvertent – accidental or unintentional – Adj.

12. Incessant – never ending; continuing without pause – Adj.

13. Inflame – to provoke or intensify strong feelings in someone – V

14. Instill – to gradually but firmly establish an idea or attitude into a person’s mind – V

15. Lucrative – having a large reward, monetary or otherwise – Adj.

16. Myriad – countless or extremely large in number – Adj.

17. Precipitate – to cause something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly – V

18. Proponent – a person who advocates for something – N

19. Resurgence – an increase or revival after a period of limited activity – N

20. Revitalize – to give something new life and vitality – V

21. Ubiquitous – characterized by being everywhere; widespread – Adj.

22. Watershed – an event or period that marks a turning point – N

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Context 2: Analysis

These words can often be used when describing common patterns between examples or casting some form of opinion or judgement.

23. Anomaly  – deviation from the norm – N

24. Automaton – a mindless follower; someone who acts in a mechanical fashion – N

25. Belie – to fail to give a true impression of something – V

26. Cupidity – excessive greed – Adj.

27. Debacle – a powerful failure; a fiasco – N

28. Demagogue – a political leader or person who looks for support by appealing to prejudices instead of using rational arguments – N

29. Deter – to discourage someone from doing something by making them doubt or fear the consequences – V

30. Discredit – to harm the reputation or respect for someone – V

31. Draconian – characterized by strict laws, rules and punishments – Adj.

32. Duplicitous – deliberately deceitful in speech/behavior – Adj.

33. Egregious – conspicuously bad; extremely evil; monstrous and outrageous – Adj.

34. Exacerbate – to make a situation worse – V

35. Ignominious – deserving or causing public disgrace or shame – Adj.

36. Insidious – proceeding in a subtle way but with harmful effects – Adj.

37. Myopic – short-sighted; not considering the long run – Adj.

38. Pernicious – dangerous and harmful – Adj.

39. Renegade – a person who betrays an organization, country, or set of principles – N

40. Stigmatize – to describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or disapproval – V

41. Superfluous – unnecessary – Adj.

42. Venal – corrupt; susceptible to bribery – Adj.

43. Virulent – extremely severe or harmful in its effects – Adj.

44. Zealot – a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals – N

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C ontext 3: Thesis and Argument

These words are appropriate for taking a stance on controversial topics, placing greater weight on one or the other end of the spectrum, usually touching on abstract concepts, and/or related to human nature or societal issues.

45. Autonomy – independence or self governance; the right to make decisions for oneself – N

46. Conundrum – a difficult problem with no easy solution – N

47. Dichotomy – a division or contrast between two things that are presented as opposites or entirely different – N

48. Disparity – a great difference between things – N

49. Divisive – causing disagreement or hostility between people – Adj.

50. Egalitarian – favoring social equality and equal rights – Adj.

Although it’s true that vocabulary is one of the lesser criteria by which students’ ACT essays are graded, the small boost it may give to a student’s score could be the difference between a good score and a great score. For those who are already confident in their ability to create and support a well-reasoned argument but still want to go the extra mile, having a few general-purpose, impressive-sounding vocabulary words up one’s sleeve is a great way to tack on even more points.

How Does Your ACT Score Impact Your College Chances?

Selective colleges use a metric called the Academic Index (AI) to represent the strength of applicants’ grades and test scores. If your AI is too low, a school may not even review the rest of your application. 

We’ve made it easy to understand the impact of your ACT score by creating a free Admissions Chances Calculator . This calculator will let you know how your score stacks up against other applicants’, and give you tips on improving the rest of your profile, including grades and extracurriculars.

You can also search for schools based on preferences like location, major, cost, and more. Give it a try to get a jumpstart on your college strategy. 

To learn more about the ACT test, check out these CollegeVine posts:

What Is a Good ACT Score?

When Should I Take the SAT or ACT?

13 Tips for ACT Test Day

Which Section of the SAT and ACT Is Most Important?

Your GPA and SAT don’t tell the full admissions story

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographics, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

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101 College Vocabulary Words You Should Know

There aren’t any workbooks of college vocabulary words, and that’s a shame.

Remember those vocabulary workbooks you had to go through in grade school? If your school was like mine, we had a new chapter each week with 20 different vocabulary words.

We would first have to memorize the words. Then pick their meaning in multiple choice questions. And then to make sure we really understood them, we would have to write sentences and use the word correctly.

It would be kind of ridiculous to do a vocab workbook in a college course. Although I think college students who don’t utilize the benefits of reading  end up with weak vocabulary skills .

And then when it’s time to write a paper, give a class presentation, or communicate  good interview answers , they lack the right words that would help them give the best impression.

Instead, they’re stuck saying “like”, “very,” “you know what I mean,” and “awesome” in every other sentence.

And many even resort to writing essays online for money at  https://writememyessay.com/ buy-argumentative-essay/  because they don’t know how to express their thoughts on paper.

To address this need, I went overboard and compiled a list of 101 college vocabulary words to improve your speech and writing.

This list started at 50 words, then I got ambitious and went for 75 because I had more to say. Then I went ham to reach 101 words. And this list is in alphabetical order.

You’ll see that I didn’t try to find the biggest words, but I aimed to find the most practical words that you might not know or would give you a helpful refresher.

If you’re really up for a challenge, aim to use one of these words in conversation or your writing each day.

(If you’re a foreign student or someone completely new to the English language, you should also buy a dictionary to keep by your side.)

Alright, don’t hold your breath when reading because, as I mentioned, this is a long list.

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101 College Vocabulary Words

1. adulation — excessive flattery or praise

Used in a sentence: Self-adulation is one of the worst traits of good leaders because it leads them to corruption.

2. adulterate — make something worse by adding to it

Used in a sentence: To get his kids bigger, the parent adulterated their chocolate smoothie by mixing in protein the kids didn’t know about until tasting.

3. aesthetic — relating to beauty

Used in a sentence: Anyone who sees the celebrity’s mansion that overlooks the ocean will have an aesthetic appreciation for the home.

4. amicable — friendly and agreeable spirit

Used in a sentence: When you’re looking for sympathy, find an amicable friend who will help you relax.

5. amok — behave in an out of control fashion

Used in a sentence: After Jenny saw a shark in the ocean 25 feet away, she swam amok to the beach.

6. analogous — comparable or similar

Used in a sentence: Samantha’s new boyfriend looks analogous to her previous ex-boyfriends.

7. antithesis — the exact opposite of someone, something, or some idea

Used in a sentence: The two presidential candidates are the antithesis to each other when it comes to their beliefs on foreign policy: one prefers isolationism and the other prefers interventionism.

8. apathetic — having no emotion, feeling, or concern

Used in a sentence: The defense lawyer’s appeal for mercy on his client’s 5-year prison sentence didn’t sway the apathetic judge.

9. assuage — to provide relief and make less intense

Used in a sentence: After the E. coli outbreak in its restaurants, Chipotle assuaged its customers with an offer for a free burrito.

10. asylum — protection granted by a country for a political refugee who has left their native country, or a place of safety

Used in a sentence: Many political refugees seek asylum when they believe they will be killed in their native country if they’re forced to return.

11. audacious — willing to take bold risks

Used in a sentence: Alexander the Great is known as an audacious leader who conquered an indescribable amount of land during his reign as king.

12. banal — lacking originality so it’s boring

Used in a sentence: If you want the same movie over and over again, even if it’s your favorite it will turn banal.

13. binary — something that consists of two parts

Used in a sentence: The binary compound, which contains two rare chemicals, needs to be investigated further before a comment is made.

14. buttress — something that gives support to another structure

Used in a sentence: If buildings aren’t designed with a proper buttress, they’re likely to break the fire code because they could collapse with enough stress.

15. carpe diem — the idea of living in the moment and not worrying about the future (translates to “seize the day”)

Used in a sentence: I didn’t want to go out, but my housemate said, “It’s senior year and we won’t get to do this after we graduate, carpe diem.”

16. cartographer — one who creates maps

Used in a sentence: Where they previously had to sketch terrains and locations by hand, cartographers have utilized computer software to create stunning maps.

17. caveat — a warning about a particular statement that should be remembered

Used in a sentence: Stores will offer amazing discount deals to their customers, only to include a major caveat when they check out that makes the offer less of a home run.

18. circumspect — carefully thinking about all the possible consequences and effects before doing something

Used in a sentence: To keep his reputation in good shape with his colleagues, Dr. Huiyt acted circumspect with his finding before publishing it in Scientific American.

19. clairvoyant — seeing events in the future

Used in a sentence: If I was clairvoyant about future sporting events, you better believe I would go to Vegas and make millions off of sports bets.

20. colloquial — using informal language in conversation

Used in a sentence: Instead of speaking eloquently like his father and grandfather before him, the new king used colloquial style to address the middle class audience.

21. condone — to accept and allow

Used in a sentence: What is condoned in a fraternity house, wouldn’t be condoned in a church.

22. conformist — a person who accepts established behavior

Used in a sentence: You’ll find all rebels on the road less travelled and the conformists in the crowd.

23. crude — in a natural or raw state

Used in a sentence: People without a filter for their words often get in trouble for their crude jokes and expressions.

24. daunting — task that appears difficult to complete, intimidating

Used in a sentence: Living abroad in China for an extended period when you don’t know any Mandarin is a daunting task.

25. decorum — behavior that is well-mannered

Used in a sentence: It’s easy to be a sore loser, but it’s hard to show decorum after losing a championship game.

26. diatribe — abusive and bitter attack through speech or writing

Used in a sentence: Many employees would make a diatribe against their boss if there was no risk of getting fired because of it.

27. dichotomy — a difference between two opposite things

Used in a sentence: There’s a big dichotomy of nature or nurture being more influential in human development.

28. diction — the clearness and effectiveness of enunciation when speaking, or choice of words

Used in a sentence: I didn’t enjoy the play’s opening scene because the actor’s diction and accent made it impossible to hear.

29. didactic — designed to teach people something

Used in a sentence: Teachers who implement didactic and engaging lessons are the ones who help students get the most out of class each day.

30. digress — to go off on a tangent, leave the main subject

Used in a sentence: Although she’s funny, Mrs. Hess would digress too often during class that she always fell behind what she wanted to cover in class.

31. discern — to perceive or recognize something

Used in a sentence: People who are lying tend to look the other person in the eyes for longer because they need to discern if the other person believes them or not.

32. disingenuous — not honest or sincere

Used in a sentence: You can handle a disingenuous salesman, but you don’t want anything to do with a disingenuous doctor.

33. disparate — different from each other, unlike

Used in a sentence: In the 17th century, groups had disparate ideas about the earth being flat or round.

34. e.g. — for example

Used in a sentence: You’d be amazed if you knew all the revenue produced by the top NCAA football programs, e.g. Alabama, Ohio State, and Notre Dame.

35. eclectic — elements from a diverse range of sources

Used in a sentence: Professor Riesling backed up his opinion with an eclectic collection of evidence dating back from 1934 to the present.

36. emulate — match something or something, imitate

Used in a sentence: Little boys like to emulate their father’s words and actions, which is why it’s crucial that the father is a good role model.

37. erudite — having or showing great knowledge

Used in a sentence: If you go to a Rhodes Scholars meeting, you’re going to find a bunch of erudite students in different subjects.

38. eschew — deliberately avoid using something

Used in a sentence: Many alcoholics know that they would be happier if they would eschew from drinking, but they don’t have the self-will to do that.

39. ethereal — extremely light and delicate that seems heavenly

Used in a sentence: The singer’s ethereal voice carried the note so beautifully that I couldn’t believe it.

40. exacerbate — to turn an already bad situation worse

Used in a sentence: He already felt shameful after losing his job, and his girlfriend breaking up with him an hour later only exacerbated his mood.

41. existential — relating to human existence or the experience of existing

Used in a sentence: A traumatic experience of losing a loved one or going to jail can create an existential crisis of where one questions why they’re on earth.

42. extrapolate — to predict or estimate something based on known information

Used in a sentence: Based on the unique wounds of each victim, the detective extrapolated that the murders in March and September are connected.

43. formidable — something that inspires fear or respect

Used in a sentence: The 1985 Chicago Bears had the most formidable defense in NFL history.

44. hackneyed — overused to the point it lacks significance

Used in a sentence: The same hackneyed commercials you see each time you watch a specific television show can get very annoying.

45. halcyon — calm and peaceful

Used in a sentence: When you go paddle boarding as a beginner, it’s much easier to learn on lake water with halcyon waves than the ocean’s wild waves.

46. haughty — arrogant and unfriendly

Used in a sentence: Haughty people make it hard on themselves to find friends, that’s why you’ll see down-to-earth people who always attract a group of friends everywhere they go.

47. i.e. — that is

Used in a sentence: Sometimes the best offense is a good defense and they don’t have it, i.e., a defense that creates turnovers for easy scores.

48. iconoclast — someone who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

Used in a sentence: Elon Musk is an iconoclast who believes humans are going to live on Mars one day.

49. indenture — a formal contract or document

Used in a sentence: The government of Papua New Guinea agreed to pay for the student to study overseas if he signed an indenture document to come back to work for the government for two years.

50. indolent — wanting to avoid activity or work

Used in a sentence: Indolent people are hard for me to understand, because hard work always pays off to some degree.

51. juxtaposition — the fact of placing two things side by side, usually in contrast

Used in a sentence: When guys continue to skip leg day and only exercise arms, it’s hilarious to view the juxtaposition of their upper body with their lower body.

52. laconic — using very few words, brief

Used in a sentence: I cancelled the service because of my consultant’s laconic instructions that didn’t give me the clarity I needed.

53. leery — cautious based on suspicions

Used in a sentence: Any online business that promises to make you rich quick should make you leery.

54. loquacious — a very talkative person

Used in a sentence: It’s odd when there are two twins, and one is shy and the other is loquacious.

55. matriculate — become a student at a college or university

Used in a sentence: When you have a solid high school GPA and high ACT or SAT score, schools will offer you big scholarships to matriculate at their university.

56. maverick — an independent-minded person

Used in a sentence: If you’re going to be a maverick and do something different, you better be right or the kickback will be hard to swallow.

57. melancholy — a feeling of sadness, depression , or unhappiness

Used in a sentence: Checking Facebook to see pictures of her ex-boyfriend go on vacation with his new girlfriend gave her melancholy thoughts.

58. monetary — relating to money or currency

Used in a sentence: The monetary and psychological benefits of getting reimbursed for gas can go a long way for company morale.

59. myriad — an extremely large, uncountable number of things

Used in a sentence: The couple set up camp in the desert, laid down, and then stared at the myriad of stars across the sky.

60. nefarious — extremely wicked and evil

Used in a sentence: You would have to be nefarious to join the mob and commit crimes on innocent people.

61. obfuscate — make something unclear and obscure

Used in a sentence: The mob is notorious for having people obfuscate the truth with their backdoor deals and money laundering.

62. onerous — involving great effort and difficulty

Used in a sentence: Parents with a new-born baby face the onerous task of taking care of a helpless human life while they get almost zero sleep during the process.

63. orator — one who excels at speaking in public

Used in a sentence: President Obama stood out among other presidential candidates because he’s a master orator.

64. paragon — a model of excellence or perfection

Used in a sentence: Mother Theresa is the paragon of virtue and kindness.

65. partisan — strongly in favor of a person or cause

Used in a sentence: People who take a statement out of context for their partisan view are the worst to talk to.

66. patrician — someone related to a noble or wealthy family

Used in a sentence: Attending boarding school and then Harvard is a patrician upbringing with advantages that other kids dream of.

67. pedagogy — the method and practice of teaching in education

Used in a sentence: Each state requires new teachers to pass pedagogy exams in order to get certified.

68. pedantic — obsessing over little details and rules

Used in a sentence: The best newspaper editors have a pedantic approach to their work, because if they didn’t they’d be out of a job.

69. pejorative — negative language that is used to belittle or criticize

Used in a sentence: The political attack ads use heavy doses of pejorative language to sway voters minds.

70. piety — respect and devotion to a religion or higher power

Used in a sentence: His piety is unquestioned after gave up his corporate job so he could spread Christianity across the world.

71. pragmatic — concentrating on practical results and facts instead of opinion

Used in a sentence: A pragmatic president would seek the counsel of his cabinet before making key decisions.

72. preamble — an opening statement that prepares what’s to come

Used in a sentence: An effective preamble will raise the audience’s anticipation and excitement for the talk.

73. pristine — still pure and in its original condition

Used in a sentence: To make sure the “Mona Lisa” stays as pristine as possible, the famous art is protected inside a sealed enclosure, with thick glass, and a temperature controlled climate.

74. prognosticate — to forecast the future

Used in a sentence: Palm readers claim to prognosticate your major life events based on the lines in your palm.

75. prohibition — an act of forbidding something

Used in a sentence: During the 1920s and early 1930s, the US government placed a prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages.

76. prone — likely to do something

Used in a sentence: Criminals who get out of jail without a change of heart are prone to commit another crime and go back to jail.

77. prudent — having wisdom with the future in mind

Used in a sentence: Warren Buffett is the most prudent investor of all time in most people’s opinion.

78. quibble — a minor objection or criticism

Used in a sentence: Rich people don’t quibble over tipping and service charges like the middle-class and poor do.

79. quintessential — a perfect, model example of a specific quality

Used in a sentence: The quintessential meathead goes to the gym twice a day to stack muscle onto his already huge arms, bouldered shoulders, and athletic legs.

80. relegate — dismiss to a lower rank or less important position

Used in a sentence: European soccer team Hull City were relegated from the Premier League in 2015.

81. renege — to not fulfill a commitment

Used in a sentence: Boxers who renege on their deal to show up and fight can get sued by the event promoters.

82. rescind — to take back, repeal

Used in a sentence: The informant lied to the FBI so the government had to rescind his immunity.

83. sage — a very wise person

Used in a sentence: Ambitious business people could speed up their career achievement by finding a sage in their field to mentor them.

84. salient — most important or prominent

Used in a sentence: When you’re choosing what job to take, it’s helpful to know your salient priority: salary, location, culture, opportunity, etc.

85. simpleton — a foolish or gullible person

Used in a sentence: No one in their right mind would call Aristotle a simpleton.

86. shoddy — poorly made or done

Used in a sentence: The phrase “you get what you pay for” highlights the idea that a cheap rate will often lead to shoddy work.

87. shrewd — having or displaying sharp judgement, being clever

Used in a sentence: You’d be a fool to trust your money with some gambler, but trust your money with a shrewd investor and you will make a fortune.

88. spurious — not real or genuine

Used in a sentence: Spurious headlines about celebrities dying are all over the internet as websites use this scam to get more page views.

89. stoic — someone who can persevere through pain or struggle without complaining

Used in a sentence: Normally a stoic, Malachi wept in emotion after hearing the bad news about his hometown.

90. sublime — something excellent, awe-inspiring, or impressive

Used in a sentence: Eating McDonald’s every day will not help you achieve the sublime figure you’re looking to have by this summer.

91. supercilious — behaving as one is superior to others

Used in a sentence: The March Madness bracket pool champion usually responds in a supercilious manner, not recognizing that a lot of luck carried them to victory.

92. superfluous — more than enough

Used in a sentence: When a suspect answers a question so many times it seems superfluous, they often get upset and frustrated in front of the police.

93. symbiotic — relationships between people that are mutually beneficial, or dependent, to each other

U sed in a sentence: While celebrities may act like they hate the public attention, celebrities and the media have a symbiotic relationship with one another.

94. syntax — rules that dictate how words are used to form phrases and sentences

Used in a sentence: The media director scolded the intern for publishing the press release that had incorrect syntax.

95. transcendent — beyond the ordinary experience

Used in a sentence: The main claims he had a transcendent encounter with an alien.

96. ubiquitous — seen nearly everywhere you go

Used in a sentence: Apple’s iPhones are ubiquitous across the world, which is why they bring in billions of dollars a year.

97. unilateral — action that is done by or affects only one side

Used in a sentence: When a husband or wife makes a unilateral decision, unhappiness and distrust results from the other side because of the lack of communication and compromise.

98. vernacular — the language spoken by people of a certain region or group

Used in a sentence: When appealing to the common people, it’s a wise move to use their vernacular instead of fancy language.

99. vilify — to communicate very harsh things about someone

Used in a sentence: Newspapers who unfairly vilify private citizens open themselves to be sued for slander.

100. vindicate — to clear from blame or suspicion

Used in a sentence: New DNA evidence vindicated the 40-year-old man who was previously serving time for a crime he didn’t commit.

101. zealot — someone who is uncompromising and fanatical about an ideal

Used in a sentence: Since Bob is a zealot for the New York Yankees, he’s bought season tickets for the past 17 years in a row.

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Brian Robben

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33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

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