IELTS Writing for Self-study learners: 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
- Self-study learners
- 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 self-study learners
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 self-study learners: practice depends on motivation and no one marks the essay, so weaknesses stay hidden.
Paragraph logic is not checked by anyone else.
A strength to build on: Self-study gives full control of schedule and topics.
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
What is the fastest way for self-study learners 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. Paragraph logic is not checked by anyone else.
How long does it take self-study learners to fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
Most learners need about one week. A weekly cycle of write, get feedback, rewrite and log errors keeps progress visible.
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 self-study learners?
Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear. A weekly cycle of write, get feedback, rewrite and log errors keeps progress visible.
How can self-study learners 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 self-study learners know about their IELTS Writing target?
Learners without a teacher need an outside check on their writing, since errors are hard to see in your own essay.
Should self-study learners 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. Self-study gives full control of schedule and topics.
Can an AI checker help self-study learners 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 self-study learners: overview
- Self-study learners: making the same mistakes after getting feedback
- Self-study learners: having no time or method to proofread
- Self-study learners: ideas that are listed but not developed
- Self-study learners: unnatural word combinations
- Self-study learners: Writing scores that go up and down between attempts
- Self-study learners: weak paragraphing and essay structure
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