Avinash Joshi's Musings

This is with respect to my previous post on TOEFL Writing section. Below are some of the phrases, proverbs or saying with which you can start your essay or even use them somewhere while writing

You can probably start with:

• To my mind …
• According to someone … (Never start with “According to me”)
• To begin with …
• By the advent of globalization …
• I would like to agree to the view that …
• Times have changed.
• First and foremost reason …
• History shows instances of …

Some phrases you can use while writing your essay:

Phrases of example:

• • For instance
  • In this context
  • To give a specific example
  • To illustrate
  • In addition to
  • As <some person> has stated
  • To substantiate my view
  • I would like to cite an example of

Assorted phrases:

• • In other words
  • To paraphrase
  • Agree absolutely
  • On the whole
  • Personally, I tend to think
  • In course of time
  • In general
  • Of late
  • Decades back
  • Generally speaking
  • Gone are the days

Phrases of contrast (very useful in task 1 of Writing)

• • Contrary to that
  • Cast doubt
  • On the other hand
  • Ironically enough
  • Inspite of

Supplimantary

• • Another example
  • Another reason
  • Last but not least
  • Moreover
  • To approach it from another angle
  • Hence
  • In simple words
  • To put in a nutshell
  • To summarize
  • In conclusion
  • To conclude
  • Finally
  • In brief
  • To summer

Idioms and Phrases

• • Gem of a man
  • White elephant (good for nothing)
  • Child’s play
  • Nip in the butt
  • Lusher pasture
  • Four corners of the world
  • On the spur of the moment
  • The other side of the coin
  • Part and parcel
  • Stood the test of time
  • In black and white
  • By hook or crook
  • Swim against the current
  • Break through
  • Think ahead of time
  • Bed of roses
  • Bread and Butter
  • By and large
  • Come what may
  • Leaps and bound
  • In’s and out’s
  • In the long run
  • Drastic effect
  • Fuel to flame
  • The salad days of the millennium
  • Gaining ground or Loosing ground
  • Hand to mouth
  • Gift of the gab
  • Brought about
  • Rhyme or reason
  • Between the devil and the deep sea