Writing tool
Paraphrasing & synonym swaps
Examiners want the question rephrased in your own words. Copying the prompt costs Task Response marks. Use these four moves to paraphrase safely.
IELTSTOEFL
Four paraphrasing moves
- Synonym swap (some words, not all).
- Change word form (noun ↔ verb): "the importance of education" ↔ "how important education is".
- Change voice (active ↔ passive).
- Change sentence structure (combine 2 sentences into 1, or split 1 into 2).
Tired words → high-band swaps
| Tired | Better |
|---|---|
| important | crucial, vital, essential, significant, pivotal |
| good | beneficial, effective, advantageous, valuable |
| bad | detrimental, harmful, problematic, adverse |
| a lot of | a significant number of, a substantial proportion of, numerous |
| think | argue, maintain, contend, hold the view that |
| nowadays | in recent years, in the current era, today |
| people | individuals, citizens, the general public, society |
| children | minors, young people, the younger generation |
| job | occupation, profession, role, position |
| country | nation, state |
| problem | issue, challenge, drawback, obstacle |
| solve | address, tackle, resolve, mitigate |
Full sentence paraphrases
Some people think that university education is important.
Many individuals maintain that a degree from higher education plays a vital role.
The number of cars is increasing in big cities.
Major urban centres have seen a steady rise in vehicle ownership.
Rules to protect meaning
- Never swap a word you only half-understand — check it.
- Keep proper nouns, dates, and numbers exactly as the prompt gives them.
- Do not change the question type (a how question stays a how question).
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