IELTS Writing for Chinese speakers: How to Fix Overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
Use linkers where the logic needs them, not at the start of every sentence. Show relationships with sentence structure and reference words first, and keep explicit linkers for real contrasts, additions and results.
At a glance
- For
- Chinese speakers
- Problem
- Overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- Scoring criterion
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Task affected
- Task 1 and Task 2
- IELTS test
- Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
- Typical effort
- about one week
- First step
- Circle every linker in your last essay and delete those that do not mark a real change of direction.
Why this happens to Chinese speakers
Candidates learn lists of connectors and insert one in every sentence. The examiner reads this as mechanical, and the Coherence and Cohesion descriptors penalise over-use of cohesive devices.
Why this affects Chinese speakers: Chinese has no articles and no verb tense endings, and sentences are often joined by commas, so these patterns carry into English writing.
Heavy use of memorised linkers is common.
A strength to build on: Strong exam discipline and wide study vocabulary help with practice routines.
Fix it in four steps
- Circle every linker in your last essay and delete those that do not mark a real change of direction.
- Join related ideas with subordinating clauses (although, because, which) instead of starting a new sentence with a connector.
- Use 'this' plus a noun ('this trend', 'this policy') to refer back, which links ideas without a connector.
- Limit yourself to one new linker per paragraph.
Before and after
Before
Moreover, cars are expensive. Furthermore, parking is limited. In addition, fuel costs are high.
After
Cars are expensive to own because of high fuel costs, and limited parking makes them harder to use in cities.
Ten-minute drill: Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear.
Questions and answers
How can Chinese speakers fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
Use linkers where the logic needs them, not at the start of every sentence. Show relationships with sentence structure and reference words first, and keep explicit linkers for real contrasts, additions and results. Heavy use of memorised linkers is common.
How long does it take Chinese speakers to fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
Most learners need about one week. Consistent short daily practice with feedback works better than long, infrequent sessions.
Are linking words bad for the score?
No. Accurate, varied linkers help. The problem is mechanical over-use, where every sentence begins with one.
Which linkers are safest to keep?
Simple ones used for a clear purpose: 'however' for contrast, 'for example' to introduce an example, 'as a result' for consequence.
What does a good practice drill look like for Chinese speakers?
Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear. Consistent short daily practice with feedback works better than long, infrequent sessions.
How can Chinese speakers tell they have fixed overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
No more than one sentence in four starts with a linking word, and the paragraph still reads logically.
What should Chinese speakers know about their IELTS Writing target?
Chinese-speaking candidates often have strong reading and vocabulary knowledge and need targeted work on English-specific grammar and organisation.
Should Chinese speakers practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?
It shows up in both tasks. Fix it in Task 2 first, because Task 2 carries about twice the weight of Task 1, then check Task 1 with the same checklist. Strong exam discipline and wide study vocabulary help with practice routines.
Can an AI checker help Chinese speakers with overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.
Check your own essay
See where overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover' appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.
Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.
Related guides
- IELTS Writing for Chinese speakers: overview
- Chinese speakers: mistakes with a, an and the
- Chinese speakers: switching tenses without a reason
- Chinese speakers: run-on sentences and comma splices
- Chinese speakers: unnatural word combinations
- Chinese speakers: memorised paragraphs that do not match the question
- Chinese speakers: weak paragraphing and essay structure
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