How to Perfect Your Essay Writing Style
Essay writing can feel like the most grueling type of work. Depending on what you’re writing about, it could be pretty boring and a task that many people dread. However, it can get a lot easier when you know exactly what to do and with that said, there are many ways to improve your work! If you’re struggling to perfect your essays then hopefully these tips and tricks will make it a lot easier to achieve the perfect style you’re looking for!
Look at other essays
This is a great way to prepare! Researching what’s already out there can help you pick up on specific elements that you could add into your own essay. You can even purchase essays at Ivory Research that match to your individual requirements to use as a guide for creating your own. Obviously, these are only for inspiration but if you’re struggling this could help you out massively. Depending on your subject, the style to write can vary so getting a clear idea on the format other people use will help to reassure you you’re writing it in the correct way. It also might be a good idea to look at the writing you most admire! That way you can understand the writing style you aspire to achieve before starting your own. Hopefully, this tip will help you build a stronger piece of work.
Create a plan before you start
Write a plan. You’ve probably heard that one before, right? Considering how much it’s mentioned, not everybody takes the time to write one. An important aspect of a good essay is staying on track and not getting carried away with one point more than another, which happens all too often. If you write a plan you can effectively ensure each point has been spoken about and evidenced, instead of waffling your way through – teachers hate that! You’re much more likely to score those marks if everything you say actually has relevance. It might seem unnecessary but it could also be a difference between a good and bad essay. Don’t dismiss it too easily.
Switch up your words
You always need to keep your essay interesting! They can be boring to write and sometimes even read, which is why you’ve got to keep the word flow from staying the same. It might seem like a very small detail but switching up the words you use to start paragraphs will help to change the tone. Remember, this is the first word or phrase that will be introducing your next point so the reader will see if you keep repeating them. There are many words that will switch up your work a little. Here are a few of the most common ones to get you started:
- In addition
- Moreover
- Consequently
- Furthermore
- In spite of
- On the contrary
- On the other hand
Besides transition words, you should also try to use a variety of connective words as opposed to the typical ‘but’ and ‘because’. Try using ‘However’, ‘as a result’ and ‘yet’ as an alternative! There are lots more out there, so get researching!
Use referencing tools
Referencing isn’t a fun activity, that we know! But did you know there are many websites out there that will do all of the hard work for you? CTFM is a great example. You can choose the referencing style, paste the link of what you’re citing and then the website will fill in most of the information for you. Be careful though, it’s not always 100% accurate – so you will need to double check! However, if there is anything wrong it gives you the chance to add and change parts of it. It’s so much quicker than the traditional method of writing it out yourself, and it saves you the hassle! Easybib, Citation Machine and BibMe are some other options you could use too. Don’t waste time when you don’t need to!
Use grammar tools
Grammar and spelling are important elements in any essay! Marks are easily lost to typical English grammar mistakes so you need to learn to perfect them. Luckily, with the internet at your fingertips, it’s easy to learn. Check out this Quizlet test here on English grammar to see how many of them you get right! You can even take a look at YouTube videos and ask friends, family or third-party companies to edit and proofread your work too! This will help you to stop making the same mistakes in the future, leading you to create the perfect piece of writing. There’s no such thing as being too careful!
Consider your conclusion
We know you want to wrap up the essay and be done with it quickly. Can this be a problem? Yes! The biggest error people make in their conclusions is rewriting everything they’ve already written in the body of their essay. If you do this, it’s basically a wasted paragraph! It’s important to draw on an overall point to show you have formed a direct opinion. This should tie all of your points together and outline the main reason as to why you have drawn to this conclusion – think outside the box! Draw back to your initial introduction too to improve the flow and prove to the reader that you’ve kept your essay on the topic. Remember, this is your chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader, so it’s worth spending some extra time perfecting it.
Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you to perfect your essay style. Whether it’s for university, college or school – this should give you the guidance you need! Some might seem obvious, but don’t skip them, they really do make all the difference. If you have any more essay tips, share them below!
