Why This Matters
Some students think that dropping in a quote or a well-known idiom will impress the examiner. It won’t. In fact, it can drag your score down.
Let’s keep it simple: IELTS essays are academic tasks. That means formal tone, logical development, and natural phrasing. Not quotes from Shakespeare or sayings your teacher drilled into you.
Why You Should Avoid Quotes and Idioms
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They sound unnatural in essays
Phrases like “Rome wasn’t built in a day” or “Every cloud has a silver lining” might work in a speech, but in writing, they often sound forced or rehearsed. -
They don’t add value
These learned statements rarely explain or extend your ideas. They’re just noise. If it doesn’t help develop your point, don’t include it. -
They’re often used incorrectly
Slight errors in meaning or grammar around idioms can hurt your score. It’s better to use language you control fully. -
They waste space
You’ve got 250–300 words. Use every one to make your argument stronger, not to show off your memory of proverbs.
Are Any Idiomatic Expressions Acceptable?
Yes, and you’ll score well if you use them — but only those that are natural in formal, academic writing.
For example:
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“This casts light on…”
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“The key to solving this issue…”
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“This raises the question of…”
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“It is widely believed that…”
These aren’t quotes or sayings — they’re just precise, useful phrases that help guide the reader through your argument. Use them freely if they sound natural to you.
What You Should Do Instead
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Use your own words to make a clear, precise point.
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Extend your ideas properly using QPEE and PEE.
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Include a relevant, realistic example — not a quote from a philosopher.
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Focus on clarity and control, not flair and decoration.
Final Advice
If a sentence looks like it belongs on a poster, don’t put it in your essay.
Academic writing should be clear, focused, and structured — not poetic.
Save the quotes for your Instagram.