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IELTS Writing for PhD applicants: 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
PhD applicants
Problem
Overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
Scoring criterion
Coherence and Cohesion
Task affected
Task 1 and Task 2
IELTS test
Academic
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 PhD applicants

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 PhD applicants: research writing is cautious and hedged, which can make a Task 2 position look uncommitted.

Long, complex paragraphs lose the single central idea.

A strength to build on: Practice with structured argument and evidence is already strong.

Fix it in four steps

  1. Circle every linker in your last essay and delete those that do not mark a real change of direction.
  2. Join related ideas with subordinating clauses (although, because, which) instead of starting a new sentence with a connector.
  3. Use 'this' plus a noun ('this trend', 'this policy') to refer back, which links ideas without a connector.
  4. 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 PhD applicants 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. Long, complex paragraphs lose the single central idea.

How long does it take PhD applicants to fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?

Most learners need about one week. Research schedules are flexible but easily crowded out, so fix a weekly timed session.

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 PhD applicants?

Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear. Research schedules are flexible but easily crowded out, so fix a weekly timed session.

How can PhD applicants 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 PhD applicants know about their IELTS Writing target?

Doctoral programmes and funders set minimum IELTS scores, often with a Writing minimum. Check the departmental and funder rules separately.

Should PhD applicants 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. Practice with structured argument and evidence is already strong.

Can an AI checker help PhD applicants 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.

Run a free first check

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.

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