Myth vs fact explainer
Myth 1: “On the one hand, on the other hand” is enough.
Fact: Variety matters. Rotate balance markers and add lenses, viewpoints like cost or equity, to focus comparisons.
Collocations to use
- weigh the costs against the benefits
- take an equity lens
- consider the trade offs
Mini template
From a cost lens, road widening offers short term benefits but creates long term trade offs in maintenance.
Myth 2: Strong verbs alone carry the argument.
Fact: Noun based pairs sound more academic and concise.
Collocations to use
- make a case for, present a rationale for
- offer a counterargument, raise an objection
- provide evidence, cite a precedent
Example 1, upgrade
Weak: People argue more roads are good.
Better: Supporters make a case for wider roads and cite evidence from cities that eased peak queues.
Myth 3: Hedging is weak.
Fact: Controlled hedging keeps claims accurate and examiner friendly.
Collocations to use
- to some extent, in many cases, on balance
- under certain conditions, within strict limits
- there is limited evidence that
Measured tip
Use one hedge per body paragraph and no more than two per essay.
Myth 4: Solution talk belongs only in opinion essays.
Fact: Discussion tasks reward conditional solutions that bridge views.
Collocations to use
- pilot a scheme, phase in a policy
- address concerns, mitigate risks
- set a threshold, set a target
Mini template
To address concerns about cost, the city could pilot bus lanes on one corridor and set a target for evaluation.
Myth 5: Rephrasing the question equals balance.
Fact: Balance needs a clear comparison line and a reasoned preference.
Collocations to use
- by comparison, in contrast, on the whole
- the stronger argument rests on, carries more weight
- this view is contingent on
Example 2, compare then prefer
Both options reduce congestion. By comparison, protected bike lanes carry more weight in dense centres where short trips dominate.
Myth 6: Fancy words sound advanced.
Fact: Band safe pairs beat obscure terms.
Safe families
- Problem: pose a risk, create pressure, cause delays
- Effect: result in, lead to, translate into
- Fix: allocate resources, enforce standards, expand access
Rule of thumb
Aim for one safe pair per sentence, not two.
Myth 7: The conclusion can repeat the introduction.
Fact: Close with a synthesising line that names a condition.
Collocations to use
- works best when, is preferable if
- depends on context, under these conditions
Closer template
On balance, bike lanes are preferable if corridors are short and schools lie on the route.
Mini case: Dhaka candidate lifts cohesion
Ruba wrote: On the one hand roads help, on the other hand bikes help. The essay repeated general verbs. She built a 20 item bank: weigh the costs, address concerns, phase in a policy, provide evidence, pose a risk, expand access. In the next draft she wrote: Supporters provide evidence that widening results in faster bus flows, but critics raise an objection about long term upkeep. A phased policy could address concerns by piloting one corridor. Her class rubric moved from 6 to 7 on coherence.
High value collocation table
| Function | Collocations | Sample line |
|---|---|---|
| Present view A | make a case for, present a rationale for | Advocates make a case for free city transport to cut short car trips. |
| Present view B | raise an objection, challenge the claim | Critics raise an objection about funding gaps. |
| Compare | by comparison, weighed against | By comparison, targeted subsidies are cheaper. |
| Balance | on balance, to some extent | On balance, the policy helps to some extent in dense areas. |
| Condition | works best when, is feasible if | The plan is feasible if buses run every ten minutes. |
| Close | carries more weight, is preferable if | The second view carries more weight where budgets are tight. |
Measurable routine
- Build a bank of 24 collocations, six per function above.
- Quota: one collocation per sentence, max eight per essay.
- Edit pass: delete double linkers, keep one contrast per sentence.
- Time drill: write two comparison lines in 90 seconds using by comparison and carries more weight.
Mistakes to avoid
- Double linking, therefore, as a result. Keep one.
- Mixed metaphors, tackle congestion while healing the economy.
- Countability slips, research is uncountable, evidence is uncountable.
- Over general hedging, avoid very, quite, really. Use precise hedges, in many cases.
Edge cases
- Topic shift within a paragraph, fix with a comparison line or a mini conclusion.
- Data claims without numbers, use cautious phrasing, there is limited evidence that.
- Register mismatch, avoid chatty phrases like on the flip side.
Mini glossary
- Collocation: natural word pair, for example weigh the costs.
- Lens: viewpoint for analysis, for example cost or equity.
- Hedge: softener, for example to some extent, used to stay accurate.
- Synthesis: combining both views into a conditional preference.
Actionable closing
Create a 24 item bank using the table. Draft two body paragraphs: one presents view A with make a case for, the other presents view B with raise an objection, then add a comparison line with by comparison and close with on balance plus a condition. Before you submit, run the edit pass and cap your collocations at one per sentence.