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Vocabulary for Government Topic

Below is a list of vocabulary relating to the topic of “Government”. This word list will help refresh your memory and also expand your range to learn new words. Although the topic of politics doesn’t appear in IELTS, questions relating to general government policies do appear frequently in both IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking.

On this page, you will find:

• Synonyms and Types of Government
• Useful Government Vocabulary
• IELTS Speaking Questions & Model Answers
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Questions

1. Word Forms:

• government (n)
• to govern (vb)
• governmental (adj)

Common Errors 

There are two common errors when using the word “government”.

• “n” – don’t forget the spelling – goverNment.
• For example:
• Wrong = Many people think government should improve the infrastructure in rural areas.
• Correct = Many people think the government should improve the infrastructure in rural areas.

2. Synonyms & Types of Government

Below is a useful word list for synonyms. However, please note that is fine to repeat the word “government” in your essay even for high band score candidates.

• the political system
• the administration
• the central government
• the local government
• the authorities
• the people in authority
• the leadership
• those in power

Note, as with all synonyms, they cannot all be used in the same context in the same way. They do differ.

Types of Government and Governing

Below are words relating to types of government and the way countries are run.

• republic = a country with no monarch and has an elected leader, usually a president
• democracy = the government is elected by the people, each person has a single vote
• autonomy = a self-governing country or region
• dictatorship = a country ruled by one person who has not been elected and uses force to keep control
• totalitarian state = a country with only one political power and people are forced to do what the government tells them
• regime = an authoritarian government
• capitalist = a free-market country
• communist = a political and economic system with a classless society where business, factories, farms etc are publicly owned
• monarchy = a country has a king or queen – in traditional monarchies, the monarch has absolute power but in a a constitutional monarchy (such as the UK), there is a democratic government, and the monarch is largely symbolic and politically neutral
• anarchy = a situation where there is no government
• constitutional government = a government which is limited in its power by a constitution
• coalition government = with no direct winner after elections, a government can be formed in which two or more parties cooperate

3. Useful Government Vocabulary

Within a Government

• politicians = people who hold an office within politics
• branches of government- legislative, executive and judicial
• executive branch = this is the part of the government which carries out the law
• legislative branch = this part of the government makes the laws and raises money to run the government
• judicial branch = this part of the government decides laws and settles disputes
• state government = a local government within a particular region or area of a country
• enforcement agencies = bodies within a government which can enforce the law, for example, the police
• political party = a group of people with similar political aims that hopes to have a member elected to government
• diplomats = people who represent their country in communication with other countries

 Useful Government Vocabulary

• to pass a law / to enable a law / to bring in a new law = to have a law accepted
• to abide by a law = to follow a law without breaking it
• to elect = to choose
• to have political influence / political power = the extent of a group’s or person’s ability to change the way political decisions are made
• a citizen = a person living within a country
• election = the process of voting for someone to come into power or into a role
• laws = rules for governing a country
• liberty = freedom
• maintain order = providing organisation and safety for the people of a country
• rights = freedoms which are protected and should be guaranteed
• taxes = money paid by citizens to run and maintain a country
• raise / lower taxes – to increase or decrease the money paid by citizens to the government
• budget = money that is allocated to spend in a particular area
• to increase the budget on X = to give more money to X
• note that the word “defence” can also be spelled as “defense” in American English
• policies = action proposed by an organisation
• charismatic = a characteristic that attracts and appeals to other people – many successful politicians are charismatic
• long term / short term goals
•  to be proactive = doing something rather than just waiting for something to happen

Citizen’s Actions

• campaign for something
• demonstrations
• to be involved in protests
• organise a petition
• speak at public meetings
• put up posters
• organise a public meeting
• write to politicians

4. Government Topic Questions for IELTS Speaking 

IELTS Speaking doesn’t have one single topic called “the Government”. But most topics in IELTS Speaking, do contain questions that relate to how official organisations, such as the government, can improve aspects of life. Below are some examples of questions with model answers. Most of these questions are more likely to appear in Speaking part 3 which deals with broader issues.

• Q) What is the role of a government?
• A) A government is responsible to decide how a country is run and for managing how it is run. It rules and governs a body of people to make sure that those people abide by laws.
• Q) Do you think the government should be responsible for public health?
• A) While the government should be proactive in opening more exercises facilities for the public and to raise awareness of public health, I think it is ultimately the role of the individual to improve their own health.
• Q) Do you think the government should pay to support the Arts?
• A) Yes, in a way. I think the government should definitely provide some support for the Arts as a way to promote our cultural heritage. For example, local people can learn about their own culture from watching the dramatic arts and also from paintings and sculptures. This is also a huge draw for visiting tourists who wish to experience local culture. However, I do think that artists also need to be responsible for ensuring their own income and not just rely on the government.
• Q) What do you think the government could do to protect natural beauty spots in your country?
• A) Well, I suppose one of the key things that those in power could do is to establish stricter laws to ensure people treat places of natural beauty with respect. For example, littering is a huge problem in my country and this needs to be taken more seriously. Another thing is for the government to spend more money on conservation as well as raising awareness among the local population of the importance of these places.

5. IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Questions Samples

• Many people think people should pay for their education, while others think the government should fund all education. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• Some people believe the government should be responsible for the homeless and that society is not responsible. Do you agree?
• Do you think artists should have the right to express any opinion through their work or do you think the government should censor their work?
• Do you think the government should focus on supporting science or the Arts?
• Do you think the government should be solely responsible for public safety or do you think individuals should also be held responsible for their own safety?
• Some people believe that the government should spend more money on protecting wildlife. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that the government is wasting essential funds on space research and that these funds would be better allocated to health care. To what extend do you agree?

Tip: Don’t suggest in your essay that the government could introduce a particular law if there is already one in place. If you know a law is already in place, then you can suggest that the law serves harsher punishments and give examples of that. Try to keep your essay real. Think your ideas through and be sincere in your essay for a high score.

 Recommended

• More Government Essay Questions
• 100 IELTS Essay Questions
• ALL IELTS SPEAKING LESSONS & TIPS
• ALL IELTS WRITING TASK 2 LESSONS & TIPS
• ALL IELTS VOCABULARY LESSONS

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wonderful thanks a lot

I’m glad it was useful 🙂

Hello my wonderful teacher, I really liked the way you organized the site. It is a very useful site. But I wonder why there is no copy feature from the site so that we can translate new and important words? Is it possible to activate the copy feature?

I’m glad you are enjoying my site. Unfortunately, the copy function isn’t available because I had problems with people copying my work and setting up fake profiles using my work. It’s a shame, but that’s the world we live in. Hopefully, you can still find benefit by making manual notes.

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You’re very welcome. Wishing you a prosperous 2024!! 🙂

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Thanks for your message. I’m glad your kids find my videos easy to follow. My best wishes to them all 🙂

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Thank you for your kind message. Wishing all of you in beautiful Sri Lanka a wonderful New Year for 2024!! 🙂

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Thanks and a lovely festive season to you too 🙂

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 60 most important ap gov vocab terms, defined.

Advanced Placement (AP)

One of the most challenging aspects of the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam is the wide array of vocabulary terms that you need to understand in order to do well on the exam. Many of these terms and concepts dig deep into the U.S. Constitution, laws and policy, and the history of U.S. politics...and there are a lot of terms to know.

This guide will help you get acquainted with 60 important AP Gov vocab terms you need to know. by dividing the terms up into key content areas that are assessed on the exam and providing straightforward definitions for each term. In addition, we'll provide three crucial strategies for studying AP gov vocab terms in order to prepare effectively for the AP U.S. Gov exam.

Knowing how the AP Government test works can help you decide how you should use our vocabulary lists as part of your study plan.

The AP Government Exam

"AP Gov" is the abbreviation typically used to refer to the AP United States Government and Politics exam , which assesses exam takers' knowledge of the political system and culture of the United States . The AP exam focuses particularly on aspects of the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, and other defining documents.

The AP Gov exam consists of two sections, one multiple choice section and one free response section. The multiple choice section consists of 55 questions, a portion of which are individual questions, and a portion of which are set-based questions. The multiple choice section lasts for 1 hour and 20 minutes and is worth 50% of the overall exam score.

The free response section (FRQ) of the AP Gov exam consists of four writing-based questions. These FRQs include a concept application, a quantitative analysis, a SCOTUS comparison, and an argument essay. This section of the exam lasts for 1 hour and 40 minutes and is 50% of the overall exam score.

On both sections of the exam, you'll encounter a lot of specialized terms and concepts pertaining to the government and political system of the U.S. Having a solid understanding of this AP Gov vocab is extremely important if you want to score well on the AP exam . AP Gov terms that you need to know fall into five topic categories: Foundations of American democracy, interactions among branches of government, civil liberties and civil rights, American political ideologies and beliefs, and political participation.

Since you'll need to be able to answer questions about these concepts and show your knowledge of them, we've compiled a list of 60 common AP Gov vocab terms to help you study for the AP exam. We've divided our list of best 60 AP Gov vocab terms up by topic, then sorted the terms alphabetically. Check out the complete list below!

AP Gov Vocab Topic 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Below you'll find the most important vocabulary terms you'll need to know about the foundation of American democracy.

While we sometimes refer to traffic as "gridlocked," the government can end up in the same situation when it fails to pass bills.

AP Gov Vocab Topic 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

These vocabulary terms help explain how the different branches of the U.S. Government interact and work together.

One way to learn the definition of "civil rights" is to learn about foundational civil rights leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr.

AP Gov Vocab Topic 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

In this section, you'll find important vocabulary terms that will help you understand American civil liberties and civil rights.

Democrats and Republicans are the two biggest political parties in the United States...which is one reason why "political party" is one of the most important AP Gov vocab terms you should know!

AP Gov Vocab Topic 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Build your understanding about American political ideologies and beliefs by learning these vocab terms!

Mass media — like social media, newspapers, television news, and online news platforms — have a huge impact on Americans' political participation.

AP US Gov Vocab Topic 5: Political Participation

And finally, here are the most important political participation vocabulary terms you should know before taking the AP US Gov test.

3 Tips for Studying AP Gov Terms to Optimize Your Exam Score

If you're feeling a little intimidated by this long list of AP Gov vocab words, don't worry—we've got you covered!

Read on for our three tips for studying AP Gov terms that will help you prep for success on the AP exam .

Tip 1: Create Flashcards

Whether they're hard copies or digital, flashcards are a go-to study method for AP Gov vocab for a reason: they facilitate active recall and are conducive to quick, repetitive practice. When you have 60+ vocabulary words to learn, the repetitive process of studying flashcards can help you with memorization.

Memorizing as many definitions as possible will help you maximize your time on the exam and make accurate use of the various AP Gov terms in your free response answers . If you want to create your own flashcards, the most effective method for boosting active recall is to write a question on one side of the card and an answer on the other side. Then experiment with different ways of employing flashcards to help you memorize the AP Gov vocab words.

Tip 2: Put It in a Sentence

Many of us have been doing this since elementary school, but it's worth mentioning as an AP Gov vocab study tactic: take each vocabulary term and use it in a sentence. Studying formal definitions of each vocab term is important, but another component of that is placing the terms in context so you know how to use them correctly on the exam.

Practicing using each AP Gov term in a sentence is especially important when it comes to the free response section of the exam . In each of the four written portions of that section, it's very likely you'll have to use terms from our vocab list in your responses. Most of the time, you won't be writing out formal definitions of those terms. Instead, you'll be using the terms in their correct context in order to perform an analysis or make an argument.

When you practice using AP Gov vocab in a sentence, you're preparing yourself to write effective essays on the AP exam.

Tip 3: Look for Real-World Examples

The definitions of many of the AP Gov vocab terms in our lists above might feel a bit abstract. There's quite a bit of legal jargon, and the wording of the Constitution itself can be a little confusing. One thing that can help abstract concepts become more concrete is to seek out real-life examples of those concepts in action.

One neat thing about much of the AP Gov vocab is that it refers to concepts that are important to U.S. government and politics because those concepts have a real impact on U.S. society and its citizens. It isn't too difficult to find examples of these concepts in action, like in the example we gave in the definition of the 14th Amendment , which was invoked in famous cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade.

Jotting down a phrase or two that conveys a real-world example of each AP Gov term will give you something concrete to recall when you're sitting for the exam and you can't remember what a specific term means.

What's Next?

One of the best ways to prepare for the AP US Government exam is by using a review sheet. We've put together the best AP US Government review to help you out ! And if you're looking for excellent exam study notes , we've got you covered there, too.

There's more to the AP US Gov exam than just knowing vocabulary terms. You'll also have to tackle a series of Free Response Questions, or FRQs . Learn more about AP Us Gov FRQs--and how to answer them!--in this article.

One good way to study for any AP exam is through practice tests. But they're not always easy to find! Here's our step-by-step guide to finding AP practice tests you can use to prepare for your AP US Gov exam.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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IELTS Vocabulary – Government/Politics

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• IELTS Vocab

Questions about government and politics are very common on all sections of the IELTS and you will often be asked what you think governments should do about certain situations, or what are the impacts of government actions. This page contains words and phrases that will help make your IELTS answers sound more professional and concise. There are some activities for you to IELTS practice with some real questions.

Table of Contents

• Government/Politics Vocabulary
• Government/Politics Activity
• Government/Politics Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations
• Government/Politics Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations Activity

1. General Government/Politics Vocabulary

• Adhere to – To act as required according to a rule, promise, or belief
• Austerity – The condition of living without comfort or unnecessary purchases
• Budget – The amount of money available for a specific purpose
• To campaign – To work in an organised way towards a political goal such as an election
• Corruption – Dishonest conduct or use of power. Often involves bribery
• Fiscal deficit – The disparity between how much the government spends and how much it earns
• Democracy – A political system where the population can vote for elected representatives
• Evasive – Avoiding commitment to an answer by responding indirectly
• Funding – The money available for a specific purpose
• Impeach – To charge the holder of office with misconduct
• Left-wing – The liberal and socialist arm of politics
• Legislation – A set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament
• Lobbying/Lobbyists – To seek to influence politicians, public officials, or issues / The people that seek to influence
• Mandate – The authority to carry out a course of action. For example, a candidate voted into office is given a mandate by the voters
• Party – A formally constituted collection of politicians that contest elections
• Populism/Populist – A political approach that is aimed at pleasing ordinary working people, and helping them in a struggle against the elite
• Reform – To make changes to something such as institutions, systems, and policies
• Right-wing – The arm of politics that supports conservatism, capitalism, and traditional ideas
• Think-tank – A group of experts providing analysis or opinion on economic or political issues
• Trustworthy – Can be relied on as truthful and dependable
• Transparent – Done in a non-secretive and clear way

2. General Government/Politics Vocabulary Activity

3. government/politics idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations.

• A stopgap – A temporary way of dealing with a problem
• Allocate resources to – Distribute resources to a particular area/project. Resources usually refer to money or people.
• Central government – The political authority that governs an entire country
• Come into force – When policies begin to be implemented as laws
• Commit political suicide – When a politician loses support from the public because of extremely unpopular policies or ideas
• Come down on – Criticise or punish severely
• Crack down – Take severe measures against something such as knife crime, burglary etc…
• Elect a government – When the public vote for a government to hold authority and govern
• Go back on – To break a promise or change a decision
• Government body – Any branch, office, or organisation that forms part of the government
• Hard-liner – Politicians who support strict, and rigid ideas
• Local government – The political authority that has control over a city/region
• Perform a U-turn – A change of plan or political policy from what was previously stated
• Pursue/Follow a policy – To show support for a particular policy
• Run for office – To be a candidate in an election
• Shape policy – To be involved in the development and design of political policies
• Stand down – To resign from a post or withdraw from a political campaign
• Stand for – To support or accept particular values or principles
• To impose spending cuts – To reduce the amount the government spends on public services like police/hospitals/roads etc…
• To raise taxation on – To increase tax on a specific item, for example, fuel, tobacco, alcohol etc…
• Topple/Bring down a government – To remove a political party from power
• Windfall tax – A extra tax that is designed to tax excessive amounts of profit

4. Government/Politics Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations Activity

For more practice, Visit IELTS vocabulary for money .

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Glossary of political terms

activist (noun): someone who actively tries to achieve social or political change, most often by joining an activist group – Even before she joined Greenpeace, Liz was an environmental activist.

advocate (verb): to publicly support something like a policy or plan – Does your party advocate stronger regulation of social media?

ally (noun): countries that have agreed to help each other, especially in a war, are allies – In 2011 the USA persuaded allies like the UK, France and Canada to join them in attacking Libya.

alliance (noun): a formal agreement between two or more countries or political parties to work together in certain ways – NATO is a military alliance that around 30 European and North American countries have joined.

anarchism (noun): the belief that local co-operatives freely established and run by the people they serve work better than centralized governments run by powerful elites and politicians – Kurdish anarchism was developed by Abdullah Öcalan, and he was inspired by Murray Bookchin.

(the) Anglosphere (noun): the UK and countries the UK colonized such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – English is the main language used throughout the Anglosphere.

austerity (noun): a policy of cutting government spending to reduce public debt, with cuts to welfare, health and education often being significant – Is austerity a better way of reducing public debt than raising taxes?

authoritarian (adjective): of governments that demand absolute obedience and will use violence, unjust laws, surveillance, etc to destroy opposition – Authoritarian governments will do anything to stay in power.

autocracy (noun): a country or government that is controlled by a single person – Which of the countries on the Korean peninsula is an autocracy?

autonomous (adjective): able to govern oneself without outside control – Three of our country's regions are autonomous, but the rest are controlled by the central government.

backbencher (noun): a Member of Parliament who isn't a government minister or an opposition leader – The education minister lost his portfolio and became a backbencher again. (also "backbench MP")

bailout (noun): money given to a company, country or an organisation that's in financial trouble – Should governments give bailouts to failing private companies?

ballot (noun): a vote to find out what people think about something – Before going on strike, we held a secret ballot to make sure our members supported it.

battleground state (noun): a state that doesn't always elect the same party's candidate – We spent most of our election campaign in three battleground states. (also "swing state")

bureaucracy (noun): a hierarchy of officials who administer an organisation or a government department – I hate dealing with government bureaucracies.

benefits (noun): welfare payments such as sickness benefits and unemployment benefits – I was out of work, but at least I could get unemployment benefits.

biased (adjective): unfairly favouring or judging someone or something because of personal preference or prejudice – Political parties were biased against women and wouldn't let them run for office.

bill (noun): a document outlining a proposed new law that will be voted on by elected representatives – Do you think the new environmental protection bill will be passed? (also "legislation", "legislative proposal")

bipartisan (adjective): involving two political parties or both sides of a political division – Defence budget increases usually get bipartisan support.

budget (noun): a government's stated projection on income and spending, most often over the coming year – Couldn't the government balance the budget by spending less on weapons and other military stuff?

cabinet (noun): a group of government members who have important jobs like running ministries – The prime minister will announce the new cabinet next week.

candidate (noun): someone who's competing for votes in an election – How many candidates are running in next month's election?

capitalism (noun): an economic system based on privately-owned businesses that have to make a profit to survive – If capitalism isn't regulated, the need to make a profit can lead to mistreatment of workers, consumers and the environment.

caucus (noun): a group of politicians with similar aims or interests – A bipartisan congressional caucus aims to boost trade with China.

citizen (noun): a person with the legal right to live in and be part of a country – If you're a UK citizen you can get a British passport.

civil rights (noun): rights to equal treatment and equal opportunities regardless of one's race, gender, sexual preference, religion, etc – Have you heard Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream civil rights speech?

(the) civil service (noun): government departments and the people who work for them – My father began his career in the civil service before shifting to journalism. (also "the Civil Service")

civil war (noun): a war between different groups or regions in the same country – In the American Civil War, southern states fought for the right to buy and sell people and use them as slaves.

coalition (noun): a government made up of two or more political parties who agree to work together – Will your party join the governing coalition or the opposition?

colonization (noun): the act of invading and settling on lands that don't belong to you – For us indigenous Australians, colonization was the worst thing that ever happened to us. (also "to colonize" (verb) and "colonial" (adjective))

communism (noun): a political system in which a central government makes economic plans and fairly distributes wealth created by workers who produce goods and services – Communism can work in small communities, but it can become authoritarian when used to govern an entire country.

Congress (US noun): the body elected to govern the US at the federal level, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate – Congress has approved a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage.

conservative (adjective): believing in traditional ideas and values rather than progressive ideas and social change – Aren't right-wing parties more conservative than left-wing parties?

constitution (noun): a document that states the principles and rules that a country's system of government is based on – Human rights are protected in our country's constitution.

constituent (noun): a person who lives and votes in a particular constituency – Before the election, our candidate got to know many of her constituents.

consumerism (noun): the belief that buying material things makes people happy - Is Western-style consumerism the way of the future?

corporate (adjective): relating to big companies and corporations – The corporate sector uses advertising to sell its products to consumers.

corporation (noun): a large company – Corporations have to sell more and more products in order to make bigger and bigger profits.

corrupt (adjective): related to corruption – Since the 2021 coup, corrupt army generals have stolen billions of dollars.

corruption (noun): the dishonest or illegal use of power or authority, usually for money or gifts – How much money does our country lose to corruption every year?

coup d’état or coup (noun): the illegal and often violent overthrow of government, usually by military officers – The coup was carried out by a bunch of greedy, power-hungry generals.

deficit (noun): the amount by which money earned or received is less than the amount spent or owed in a particular period of time – If a government spends 3 trillion dollars and its income is only 2 trillion, its budget deficit is 1 trillion dollars.

demagogue (noun): a political leader who arouses emotions like fear, greed, anger and prejudice to get people's support – The world's most dangerous leaders are fascist demagogues like Hitler and Mussolini.

democracy (noun): a political system in which people choose their own governments by voting in free and fair elections – Some countries are true democracies, but those with rigged elections are fake democracies. (also "democratic" (adjective))

(the) Democratic Party (US noun): one of the two main political parties in the US – The Democratic Party is more likely to adopt progressive policies than the Republican Party. (also "the Democrats")

democratic socialism (noun): a left-wing political philosophy that combines democracy with a highly-regulated market economy, state-run essential services and a state-financed welfare system – Unlike communism, democratic socialism can't produce a one-party state.

depression (noun): the period in a capitalist economic cycle when many banks and companies fail, production falls, unemployment increases and many workers fall into poverty – Even little kids went to bed hungry during the depression. (see also "recession")

dictatorship (noun): an authoritarian government that uses force to hold onto power – At first he was a democratically-elected demagogue, but then he banned elections and established a dictatorship. (Note: a "dictator" (noun) is the person who controls a dictatorship)

diplomacy (noun): the managing of relations between countries – Why aren't we using diplomacy instead of threats of war to resolve our disagreements? (Note: a "diplomat" (noun) is someone who works in the field of diplomacy)

disinformation (noun): deliberately false information that's used to deceive or wrongly persuade people – The USA used disinformation to persuade other countries to join its illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq. (Note: "misinformation" has a similar meaning)

domestic terrorist (noun): someone who violently attacks people or places in their own country for political reasons – SWAT teams in heavy armour used military weapons to arrest a group of domestic terrorists. (also "homegrown terrorist")

draconian (adjective): extremely strict and severe (esp of a law or punishment) – Draconian drug laws meant kids spent years in jail for possessing a little marijuana, and their lives were ruined.

election (noun): a democratic process in which people vote for politicians to represent them in a government – Who are you voting for in the election?

election campaign (collocation): a series of events and advertisements in the run-up to an election that try to persuade people to vote for a particular politician or party – How much will the party spend on the election campaign?

electoral college (US noun): a small group of unelected people in each US state who elect the president and vice-president even though a nation-wide vote has just taken place – In 2016 the electoral college gave Donald Trump the presidency even though he'd lost the popular vote.

empire (noun): all the countries, colonies, overseas lands, etc that a powerful country controls after invading or occupying them – Many countries including Canada, Australia, South Africa, Kenya and Jamaica were claimed by the British empire after being invaded.

endorse (verb): to openly express support for someone or something – The electoral board can't endorse any of the candidates before an election.

equal rights (collocation): the idea that people of all kinds should have the same access to things like education, medical care, police protection, justice, etc – Prisoners, drug users and disabled people still don't have equal rights. (also "civil rights")

(the) establishment (noun): the most powerful and privileged group in a country, most of whom support conservative parties and policies – In British politics, the Tories are seen as the party of the establishment. (also "the Establishment")

exploit (verb): to treat someone or something badly in order to get some benefit for yourself – Workers are still being exploited in these factories. (also "exploitation" (noun))

(the) far left (noun): people of the left who believe radical or extreme forms of social, economic and political change are needed – Some on the far left still believe in taking the revolution to the streets. (also "the hard left")

(the) far right (noun): people of the right with extremely conservative views, some of whom have racist and fascist beliefs of the sort found in Nazi Germany – These days the far right is mostly just a bunch of boys who dress up like fascists in order to shock their parents. (also "the hard right")

fascism (noun): an extreme right-wing dictatorial political system based on racial purity and the violent hatred of racial and other minorities – Fascism is a vile political system that we must stamp out forever.

feminism (noun): a movement for social change that aims to rid society of beliefs and traditions that stop women from having the same rights, powers and opportunities as men – In many countries, feminism is still seen as a threat to traditional male dominance.

federal (adjective): of a central government in a federation, as opposed to governments of individual states – The US federal government is made of up the legislative branch which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate, the executive branch which includes the President and Vice President, and the judicial branch which includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

federation (noun): a country made up of several states that have united under a central or federal government – Many of the world's biggest countries are federations, including Russia and the USA.

fiscal (adjective): related to public finances, including the collection of taxes and the spending of government money – The federal government's fiscal policy caused a number of economic problems.

foreign relations (collocation): a country's dealings with other countries, including establishing friendly relationships, negotiating trade deals, arranging scientific and cultural exchanges, etc – Our diplomats are improving foreign relations right across Asia. (also "foreign affairs" and "international relations")

foreign aid (noun): assistance or help given by one country to another, including economic aid, development projects, disaster relief, etc – How much money does your country spend on foreign aid every year?

foreign policy (noun): how a country plans to further its national interests when dealing with other countries and regions – Our foreign policy mustn't damage our relations with our neighbours.

fundraising (noun): trying to get people to give money to a charity or an organization – Lots of people give money to the Greens at their fundraising dinners.

geopolitics (noun): the study of how a country or region fits into the global network of political and economic alliances and rivalries – The main struggle in geopolitics now is between the West and countries the West doesn't trust, like China and Russia.

government (noun): those who govern a country, state or region and make decisions about laws, taxes, budgets, welfare funding, etc – Why does the government spend so much on foreign aid?

head of state (noun): a country's official leader, such as a republic's president or a monarchy's king or queen – The UK's head of state is the king, with the prime minister being the head of government.

(the) House of Representatives (noun): the name of the lower house in certain parliaments like the US Congress and the Parliament of Australia – Is the House of Representatives as powerful as the Senate?

human rights (noun): the rights we all have to be treated fairly and without cruelty or injustice – The arrest and jailing of peaceful protesters is a clear violation of their human rights. (See also "civil rights" and "women's rights")

ideology (noun): a system of beliefs, goals and ethics that form the basis of an economy, a society, a political party, etc – Anti-capitalist ideologies claim that capitalism exploits workers, creates inequality, and puts profits above human and environmental health. (also "ideological" (adjective))

inclusive (adjective): wanting to include people of all kinds, especially those previously excluded from mainstream society – Ireland is much more inclusive these days. (also "inclusivity" (noun))

incumbent (noun): someone holding an official position at a certain time – Most incumbents are elected for a second term.

independent (noun): an elected representative who isn't a member of a political party – More independents were elected this time than ever before.

indigenous governance (collocation): forms of social organization, law and diplomacy that indigenous peoples practiced, many of which were lost after colonization – Luckily some forms of indigenous governance are still passed on by the elders.

inflation (noun): rising prices – The government's doing whatever it can to reduce inflation. (also "inflationary' (adjective))

issue (noun): an important topic that people are discussing, debating or having disputes about – Climate change is an issue that all parties have to have a policy on.

insurrection (noun): a violent attempt to take power from a government – The people who planned the insurrection were arrested and sentenced to death. (also "uprising")

(the) judiciary (noun): the judges and court officials that run trials and issue punishments in a particular country – If the judiciary were independent, would they be jailing peaceful protesters? (also "judicial" (adjective))

junta (noun): a military government that has taken power by force – The junta killed thousands of protesters after staging their coup.

justice (noun): the fair treatment of people of all kinds – Children seem to have a natural sense of justice.

labour (noun): work, especially manual work – Who decides how much our labour is worth? (Note: used in many collocations like "labour law", "labour costs", "forced labour", "child labour", etc.)

(the) Labour Party (noun): the more left-wing of the UK's two main political parties – The Labour Party has always claimed to be the party of the workers. (Note: The equivalent party in Australia is the differently-spelled "Labor Party")

landslide (noun): an election victory in which the winning party wins by a very big margin – Our party has won in a landslide!

law and order (phrase): a situation in which laws and the police are obeyed by nearly everyone – Political parties often promise to improve law and order when campaigning.

leader (noun): a person with enough power, status or charisma to become the head of a country, an organisation, a gang, etc. – Was the leader of your country democratically elected, and did they take power by force?

(the) Leader of the Opposition (noun): the leader of the parties that didn't have enough seats in parliament to form the government – The Leader of the Opposition accused the Prime Minister of being corrupt. (also "minority leader")

left-wing (adjective): believing that power and wealth should be shared fairly and that services like health care and education should be free – Most countries in South America have left-wing governments at the moment. (also "of the left", "leftist", "progressive" and "liberal")

legislation (noun): a law or a set of laws – New legislation on the clearing of forests was passed in parliament today. (also "to legislate" (verb) and "legislative" (adjective))

legislative agenda (noun): new laws that a party or politician promises to introduce – The government's tertiary education bill was part of its legislative agenda.

liberal (US adjective): supporting the fair sharing of power and wealth and strong protection of human rights, civil liberties and freedom of speech – My grandfather has become more liberal the older he gets. (also "progressive")

liberal democracy (noun): a democratic, market-based political system in which human rights, civil liberties and basic freedoms are constitutionally-protected – India, Brazil, Japan and South Africa are among the many countries now seeing themselves as liberal democracies. (Note: don't confuse with the idea of "social democracy" in which capitalism gradually shifts towards socialism)

libertarian (adjective): believing that personal freedom should only be subject to minimal government control – My uncle says he's libertarian, but he does exactly what he's expected to do.

lobby (verb): to try to get a politician or government to do something for you, such as change a regulation that harms your business – If we elect someone, shouldn't they put our interests ahead of the companies that lobby them? (also "lobbyist" (noun))

lower class (noun): the social class that poor people with low status belong to – Lower-class people are looked down on by just about everyone. (also "the lower classes" and "working class")

lower house (noun): another name for the House of Representatives (US) or the House of Commons (UK) – How many parties won seats in the lower house in last year's election? (Note: the opposite of "upper house")

mainstream (adjective): considered normal due to widespread acceptance in society – Why don't mainstream media like CNN and the BBC fact-check government claims?

market economy (noun): an economy in which the forces of supply and demand determine prices and wages – We have a market economy, but the government adjusts prices and wages as necessary. (also "free market economy")

meritocracy (noun): a system in which a person's talents and achievements determine their position, income and status instead of their social class, race or gender – It's fairer than it was fifty years ago, but it still isn't a true meritocracy.

middle class (noun): the social class between the lower classes and the upper classes – I'm glad I was born into the middle class.

midterms (short for "midterm elections") (US noun): the election of a certain number of seats around halfway through the term of office of a president or government – The Democrats could lose their Senate majority in the next midterms.

military dictatorship (noun): an authoritarian government run by military officers who took power by force – How many people has the military dictatorship tortured and killed in order to stay in power? (also "military regime")

moderate (adjective): not considered extreme or unreasonable – We might get elected if we advocate moderate tax increases.

monarchy (noun): a country in which the head of state is a king or queen – France used to be a monarchy, but the French Revolution put an end to that.

nation (noun): an individual country made up of people from one or more ethnic groups who live together under one government – Many African nations are trading with Asia these days. (also "nation state")

National People's Congress (noun): the national legislature and supreme state authority of the People's Republic of China – Most of the nearly 3,000 delegates to the National People's Congress are elected by local people's congresses.

national security (noun): a nation's efforts to protect its territory and people – There are better ways to protect national security than spending a fortune on weapons.

nationalize (verb): to transfer a privately-owned company or industry to state ownership and government control – The government has had to nationalize essential utilities like water and power again.

neoconservative (adjective): related to the militaristic conservatism adopted by the US Republican Party from the 1980s to the 2000s that led to several failed wars – Why hasn't neoconservative US president George W Bush been put on trial for starting illegal wars? (Note: often abbreviated to "neocon")

neo-Nazi (noun): a member or supporter of any group that promotes white supremacy, violent attacks on minorities or mass murder of the sort Nazi Germany committed – My brother says he joined the neo-Nazis because he was lonely and they made him feel good about himself.

nominee (noun): someone who is nominated for a political position, a job or an award of some sort – For the first time ever the Republican Party's nominee for president is Asian.

oligarchy (noun): a small group of powerful people who control a country, an organization or an industry – She must've been put in power by the oligarchy that really runs the country. (Note: an "oligarch" (noun) is a member of an oligarchy)

(the) opposition (noun): politicians who sit in parliament but aren't part of the party or coalition in power – The leader of the opposition has blamed the prime minister for wrecking the country's economy.

oppression (noun): the cruel and unfair treatment of people – The refugees are fleeing political oppression in their own country. (also "oppressive" (adjective) as in "He fled his country's oppressive rulers.")

overthrow (verb): to force a leader or a government to give up power – The government was overthrown by an invading army.

parliament (noun): all the people elected to make or change a country's laws – The Green Party won six seats in parliament this time.

patriarchy (also The Patriarchy) (noun): a society or political system ruled by men – Feminists speak about how oppressive the patriarchy has always been.

patriotism (noun): love of one's country and the willingness to fight and die for it – Right-wing demagogues know how to turn feelings of patriotism into hatred of foreigners.

patriot (noun): someone with an extreme love of their own country, often combined with an extreme distrust or fear of foreign countries and people – Were those who attacked the US Capitol in 2021 loyal patriots or the brainwashed puppets of a power-hungry demagogue?

platform (noun): the policies of a political party or an independent candidate, esp as expressed during an election campaign – If a party's platform includes raising taxes, it's unlikely to win an election.

plutocracy (noun): a country or government controlled by the wealthy, either directly or indirectly – After gaining independence from our colonial masters, we became a plutocracy rather than a proper democracy.

policy (noun): a plan that a political party or a government department promises to put into action – The Republican Party says it's developing a new education policy.

political correctness (noun): the effort to challenge language and acts that express dislike or prejudice towards people of certain races, genders, ethnicities, sexual preferences, etc. – Some conservatives see political correctness as a threat to their right to be prejudiced.

political science (noun): the study of politics and systems of government – My political science course covers comparative politics, international relations and political theory.

politician (noun): a person who is elected to represent voters in a democracy – Most people around here don't trust politicians.

politics (noun): the ways power is gained, held, used and lost in a particular society – We got into politics to make the world a better place, not to make money.

politicize (verb): to use an event or an issue to change public opinion on a political party or politician – The gun lobby says anyone who expresses shock at mass shootings is politicizing them to help anti-gun politicians.

poll (noun): a survey in which many people are asked for their opinion on something – According to the latest poll, over 60% of voters intend to vote for the opposition party.

polling booth (noun): a place in which people can cast their vote in an election – Privacy is ensured in a polling booth, so nobody will know who you've voted for.

populism (noun): a political movement that targets the votes of ordinary working people by using emotive language and pretending to share their pain and frustration – A billionaire got elected by using the tricks of populism to convince millions of workers that he was one of them.

populist (adjective): related to politicians who claim to share the frustrations and anger of ordinary workers in order to get their votes – Populist politicians can turn a crowd of normal people into an angry mob. (also "populist" (noun) means someone who uses populist techniques to win votes)

prejudice (noun): a deep-seated bias against, and dislike of, a particular group of people, most often based on their race, ethnicity or sexual preference – Where did this prejudice against people with dark skin come from in the first place?

president (noun): the political leader and head of state of a republic – The French president is meeting the British prime minister next month.

prime minister (noun): the person who leads a parliamentary government – The prime minister lost the support of her own party, so they replaced her with another one.

private enterprise (noun): an economic system in which privately-owned companies create and market products and services in order to make a profit – Private enterprise works best if regulations prevent companies from exploiting their workers, damaging the environment and minimizing their taxes. (also "free enterprise")

privatize (verb): to sell a government-owned company and allow it to become a profit-seeking privately-owned company – After the government privatized our state-owned power plants, electricity prices went way up.

progressive (adjective): promoting changes in society that make life better and fairer for everyone – The Greens always have the most progressive policies. (see "liberal")

propaganda (noun): biased information that's meant to make a country, government or political system seem better or worse than it really is – Authoritarian governments use state media to spread their propaganda.

public opinion (noun): the opinions and views of the majority of people in a particular society – If your policies don't take public opinion into account, you won't win the election.

racism (noun): the belief that people of some races are better than those of other races – Can we really understand the pain that racism causes if we haven't experienced it ourselves? (also "racial prejudice")

ratify (verb): to make an agreement official by signing a document or voting to confirm it – The trade deal wasn't ratified until each country's leader had signed it.

reactionary (adjective): highly conservative and automatically reacting against progressive change in society – My uncle bored everyone to death with all his reactionary nonsense.

rebel (verb): to oppose or reject something you're expected to support – Some MPs are rebelling against their party's tax cuts. (also "rebel" (noun), as in "James was a young rebel who often got into trouble.")

real wages (noun): the true value of wages in terms of what you can buy with the money you've earned – If inflation rises but your wages don't, your real wages fall even if you're getting as much as before.

recession (noun): a period when a country's economy does badly, with falling productivity and rising unemployment – I lost my job during the recession and couldn't even pay my rent. (also see "depression")

referendum (noun): a national poll in which everyone can vote on an important issue such as a constitutional change – Have you thought about which way you'll vote in the referendum?

reform (noun): a change that improves an existing situation, such as a legal reform, educational reform, economic reform, etc. – Left-wing people want taxation reform that increases the tax that big companies pay.

representative (noun): a person who's chosen or elected by one or more people to make choices or act for them – The candidate that most of us voted for is our new representative. (see also "House of Representatives")

republic (noun): a country with an elected head of state, usually a president – The referendum shows that most of us want to live in a republic instead of a monarchy.

Republican Party (noun): the more conservative or right-wing of the two main political parties in the US – The Republican Party usually gets more votes in rural areas than the Democratic Party. (also "the GOP")

revolution (noun): a successful uprising by many people that overthrows a political or economic system and replaces it with their preferred system – The communist revolution in Cuba overthrew the right-wing government established after the coup in 1952.

rig (verb): to make something like an election, a sporting event or an exam unfair by giving one side or one person an unfair advantage – After losing, the former president falsely claimed the election was rigged.

(the) right (noun): conservative political parties or people who oppose progressive reforms – Which group wants taxes for the rich increased, the left or the right?

right-wing (adjective): of conservative people and organizations that oppose regulating business, giving welfare to the poor, reforming institutions, etc. – Which news organizations are the most right-wing?

run for office (phrase): to join a list of electoral candidates and campaign for votes – I ran for office because I wanted to make things better.

safety net (noun): help that a government gives to people in difficulty, including housing for the poor, medical care for the sick and financial help for the unemployed – Luckily our country has a good safety net for those who need it.

seat (noun): a position in something like a house of parliament, a company board, a jury, etc. – How many seats did your party win in the last election? (Note: in politics, there are seats in parliament, in Congress, in the House of Representatives, in The Senate, etc.)

senate (noun): the upper house of the two-house parliament in countries like the US, France, the Philippines, Brazil and Argentina – Legislation has to be passed by the senate before it becomes law.

senator (noun): a member of a senate – Julia has been a senator since 2020.

social justice (noun): the idea that everyone should have the same rights and opportunities regardless of their class, race, religion, gender or sexuality – Social justice legislation has begun to reduce inequality for some groups. (Note: a "social justice warrior" is someone who fights for social justice)

social welfare (noun): support that a government provides to people in need – Countries that spend lots of money on social welfare are sometimes called welfare states.

socialism (noun): a political and economic system that ensures that a country’s wealth is shared fairly and that essential services are provided by the government instead of profit-seeking companies – Is socialism fairer than capitalism?

state (noun): 1. a country and its government's administration 2. one region of a country with its own state legislature, laws and elected representatives – One of the world's most powerful states 1 is the United States 2 of America.

(the) State Duma (noun): the lower house of the two-house Federal Assembly of Russia – All the elected members of the State Duma serve for a period of five years.

statesman (noun): an experienced political leader who is respected for his understanding and wisdom – We desperately need more great statesmen like Nelson Mandela. (Note: the female equivalent is "stateswoman")

strike (noun): a time during which workers stop working to force employers to improve their pay or working conditions – Railway workers are going on strike next week if they don't get a pay rise.

surplus (noun): a situation in which a government spends less than the amount it receives as revenue during a certain period – This year's surplus will help reduce the deficit that's built up over the years.

terrorism (noun): the use of extreme violence such as shooting and bombing to achieve political goals – Terrorism of the sort that the US experienced on September 11 is very unusual. (Note: a "terrorist" is someone who's involved in terrorism)

trade union (noun): an organization of workers that tries to improve members' pay and working conditions – Right-wing governments often pass laws that limit the power of trade unions. (also "union")

(the) Treasury (noun): a government department that takes care of public money and oversees taxation, treasury accounts and national budgets – One of the Treasury's jobs is to produce and issue the nation's banknotes and coins.

tyranny (noun): a brutal government that uses violence and fear to control its own people – The people couldn't stand living under a tyranny any longer. (Note: a "tyrant" is the person who controls a tyrannical state)

unemployed (adjective): out of work, or not having a job – My brother has been unemployed for months.

unionize (verb): to organize a group of workers doing the same type of work into a trade union – The government made it illegal for workers to unionize.

(the) United States Capitol (noun): the building in Washington, D.C. in which the US Congress meets – I could hardly believe it when the United States Capitol was attacked by the president's own supporters. (also "The Capitol" or "the Capitol Building")

upper class (noun): the social class with the highest status and the most money and power – He speaks like someone from the upper class, but he's really from the working class. (Note: the opposite of "lower class" or "working class")

upper house (noun): the smaller house of a two-house parliament, often called the Senate, that reviews legislation passed by the lower house – Did you know the UK has an unelected upper house called the House of Lords?

veto (verb): to use official power or authority to stop something from happening – In some countries the head of state can veto legislation.

vote (verb): to show which person you want to win an election, most often by marking a piece of paper or using a voting machine – Have you decided who you're going to vote for in the election yet? (also "vote" (noun) as in "How many votes did the Liberal Party win by?")

wedge issue (US noun): a divisive issue that a political party uses to draw supporters from another party – The Republican Party has made gun control a wedge issue to attract traditional Democrat voters.

welfare state (noun): a state that takes care of the welfare of its citizens by providing free health care, free education and benefits to the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed and others needing support – People in welfare states like Sweden and Norway don't have much to worry about, do they?

Western (adjective): of European countries and places that Europeans took from indigenous people, such as the USA, Canada and Australia – Even though they're in Asia, settler Australians say they live in a Western country. (also "The West")

(the) White House (noun): a building in Washington D.C. in which US presidents live and work while in office – The West Wing of the White House is where the US president's "Oval Office" is located.

white privilege (noun): the privileges that white people in some countries have simply because of their skin colour – Racism will continue until the reality of white privilege is acknowledged.

white supremacy (noun): the racist belief that white people are superior to black people and should have power over them – White kids are being targeted by websites promoting white supremacy. (also "white supremacist" (noun) as in "Have you ever met a white supremacist?")

women's rights (noun): rights for women that are equal to those of men, including equal pay – Our panel on women's rights will discuss equal educational and employment opportunities for women.

(the) working class (noun): people from the lowest and least powerful social class, most of whom have low-paying jobs and don't own property – In Britain, most punk bands were from the working class. (also "lower class" and "the proletariat")

xenophobia (noun): a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries, including immigrants – He says he's patriotic, but it's more like xenophobia. (also "xenophobic" (adjective) as in "White supremacists are xenophobic.")

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 English Vocabulary for learners 

POLITICAL VOCABULARY

Vocabulary relating to politics and political discussions, for learners..

The list of words below is designed to help learners understand the language used in politics.

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List of 20+ Government Vocabulary For IELTS

• Updated on  
• Jun 30, 2023

The Government Vocabulary for IELTS consists of words and phrases related to the word ‘Government’. The International English Language Testing System, popularly known as the IELTS test, consist of four sections, which test a candidate’s proficiency in the English language.

The IELTS Vocabulary measures the candidate’s knowledge of words and phrases asked on the test. IELTS Vocabulary is part of the Writing section , which has a weightage of 25% of the entire test. In this article, we are going to provide you with the frequently asked government vocabulary for the IELTS test.

Also Read – 50+ Academic Words For IELTS

Best Government Vocabulary for IELTS

Also Read – Best IELTS Vocabulary

Government Idioms and Phrases

It’s not sufficient to just understand the words and their meanings. Candidates must also have a proper understanding of the idioms and phrases related to the given words. Idioms and phrases related to the word ‘Government’ are often included in the IELTS Speaking and Writing section. Candidates need to learn and ensure that they can phrase a sentence related to the phrases asked in the exam. Check the table below to understand some of the most popular phrases related to ‘Government’ and their use in sentences.

Also Read – Powerful IELTS Advanced Vocabulary Words

The IELTS Writing section consists of two tasks – Writing Task 1 and Task 2. The IELTS Writing Task 1 includes the visual representation of figures, and Task 2 consists of essay writing.

IELTS is the abbreviation for the International English Language Testing System. IELTS is one of the language proficiency tests, which measures a candidate’s English language skills in four categories – Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

Every time you appear for the IELTS test, you are required to pay the application fee. The IELTS application fee is INR 15,500, which is non-refundable.

The IELTS test is conducted by the British Council, Cambridge Assessment English and IDP: IELTS Australia, jointly to examine the English language efficiency in four sections – reading, writing, speaking and listening. The IELTS Vocabulary is part of the Writing and Speaking section.

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Shiva Tyagi

Shiva is a professional content writer with an experience of 2 years. Most of his content is focused on helping students with their education and future plans. In his spare time, Shiva enjoys reading biographies and real-life stories.

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#190: Advanced English Vocabulary for Elections and Politics

Oct 14, 2020 | Advanced Vocabulary , English Conversation

I know that talking about politics and elections can be a little prickly. The way that a cactus is prickly with those long needles that prick our skin.

You may even have a love/hate relationship with politics, but the truth of it is politics and elections have an enormous impact on our lives. It’s important for us to understand what’s happening around us and be able to participate in conversations as well.

If you live in the United States, then you definitely know we’re in election season. And that means it’s the number one hot topic that everyone is discussing.

Whether you are following the US election or an election where you live, in this lesson today, I want to focus on 20 advanced level vocabulary words so that you understand exactly what you’re reading or hearing in the news. And you can participate in conversations with confidence in English.

Today, you’ll learn the meaning of words like

• battleground state
• swing state
• dog whistle

Plus, how they relate to politics.

While most of the words on this list today relate to elections that are happening anywhere in the world, there are a few that specifically relate to the US election process.

For that reason, at the beginning of this lesson, I’ve included an overview of how the election process works in the United States.

I hope you’ll find this helpful to you and feel more comfortable discussing this topic with friends, family, and coworkers.

Advanced English Vocabulary on Elections and Politics — Full Transcript

But if you’re not interested in that, if you don’t need an overview of how the election process works in the United States, that’s no problem. You can skip ahead and go directly to the first of our 20 vocabulary words related to elections and politics and English.

All right. As I mentioned, some of the vocabulary in today’s lesson relates specifically to the US election process. And I want to make sure that you have a clear picture of how it works so that you understand all the terms in today’s Confident English lesson. Plus, it will help you understand why you might hear about the importance of States like Florida, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.

Once we have our final candidates for the US presidential election, here are the steps that we follow:

First, election day is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year in 2020, that means November 3rd is our election day.

People in every state, across the country vote for their choice of a president and vice president. And this is where it gets a little tricky.

Those votes from across the country do not go directly to a president or vice-presidential candidate.

Instead when people in a particular state vote like in Florida, they are actually voting for a group of people called electors. The electors make up what we call the electoral college. Now that isn’t a college where people go to study and that makes it a little bit confusing. The electoral college is a body or a group of electors, and they form every four years to elect our president and vice president.

So when everyone in a state like Florida votes, at the end of that process, all of the votes are counted. And in the end, the Florida electors will vote for the president and vice president who received the majority of votes from people inside that state.

Now, before I continue, let’s pause here for a moment because every state has a different number of electors. Ultimately, the number of electors that a state has is based on its population.

So in Florida, there are 29 electors. What that means is after all the votes in Florida are counted, those 29 electors will vote for the president and vice president who received the majority in that election.

The same is true in California. Once every eligible voter in California has voted and those votes are counted, the electors in California will vote for the president and vice president who won the majority.

In California, there are 55 electors. So that means the winning candidate in California gets 55 votes from California.

The same is true in Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and every state in the nation. There are just two states that do not follow that exact process. Nebraska and Maine have their own rules for how they use their electoral votes.

But in the end, the president and vice president with the most electoral votes is the winner in the US presidential election.

And that’s why every state is so important in the US election process. And it’s why you hear some states talked about more often (we’ll come back to that in just a moment when we begin reviewing our list of 20 advanced-level vocabulary words on politics and elections).

So with that, let’s go ahead and dive in. The first word on our list today is the word poll. And this one is tricky because it has two different meanings.

The first meaning of poll is the actual process of voting. This is when you physically go to your voting location and vote for your candidates. You’ll often hear the collocation going to the polls. For example, on November 3rd, a majority of voters will be going to the polls.

The second meaning of the word poll is a survey or record of people’s opinions or who they plan to vote for. You might hear statistics like 52% of Americans support candidate A while 46% of Americans support candidate B.

The second word on our list today is the ballot.

A ballot is the process of voting in writing and in secret, it’s also the actual piece of paper on which someone marks their vote. So if you vote in person, if you go to the polls, you will receive a ballot, a piece of paper. And that is what you mark your vote on.

The third term on our list today is voter fraud.

This is a broad general term that relates to any illegal activity in the election and voting process.

For example, if someone pretends to be someone else when voting or if someone pays another person to vote for a specific candidate, that’s voter fraud. If an individual or a group tries to suppress or intimidate voters, which we’ll talk more about in a moment, that is also voter fraud.

If voter fraud is present in an election, the individual or group who is guilty of voter fraud may be accused of stealing an election.

Now for term number four, let’s go back to that word suppression. Voter suppression.

This is one form or a type of voter fraud of illegal activity. To suppress means to prevent someone from taking action or to forcibly put an end to something.

So voter suppression is an illegal effort to prevent certain individuals or groups from voting in the United States.

For example, there have historically been efforts to suppress black voters.

A similar term is voter intimidation.

And again, this is a form of voter fraud or illegal activity. To intimidate means to threaten or frighten someone.

By law, voter intimidation is any effort to intimidate, threaten, or frighten voters and interfere with the election process. Some examples of voter intimidation include blocking people from going to the polls, which means you physically make it impossible for them to go vote. It also includes threatening anyone who is voting or yelling at people while they’re in line waiting to go vote.

Term number six has definitely become an important one in elections in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This term is mail-in voting or vote by mail.

This is the process in which states will mail ballots to eligible voters in that state voters can then complete that ballot at home and send it back in the mail.

A similar term is absentee voting.

This is a form of voting by mail. The process of absentee voting in the United States actually began in the 1860s during the civil war when soldiers voted from the battlefield.

As I mentioned, vote by mail and absentee voting are very similar, but there’s one important distinction. States that participate in vote by mail, and not all states do, will automatically send ballots in the mail to every eligible voter in that state. And individuals have the option of completing their mail-in ballot, or they can physically go to the polls on election day.

Absentee voting requires that someone request an absentee ballot. They must have some reason or excuse to ask for a ballot by mail.

Before we go on to term number eight, I’m going to pause here because I’m curious if you have mail-in voting or absentee voting in elections where you live.

If you do, tell me about it. Take this opportunity to use some of the language that you’re learning in this lesson today and share your comments, your experiences in the comments, just below the video.

And now let’s go on to term number eight, swing voters.

If you think about a swing that a child plays on in a park, it goes back and forth. A swing voter is someone who does not always vote for just one party — they go back and forth.

Swing voters are very hard to predict. It’s hard to know who they will vote for in any given election. And as a result, they become very important to the ultimate winner in the election process.

Now, continuing with that idea of a swing going back and forth, we come to some of the terms where understanding the US election process is very important.

The ninth word on our list is a swing state.

Remember we talked about every state has electors and those electors vote for the candidate who won the majority vote in their state? So Florida’s 29 electors will vote for the winner of their state. California’s 55 electors will vote for the winner in their state.

Just like individuals, some states historically vote for the same party.

For example, in California, historically the majority vote goes for the democratic candidate. And as a result, those electoral votes go for that democratic candidate.

However, there are some states who just like swing voters change from one election to another. Sometimes the majority vote goes for the Republican candidate. Sometimes it goes for the Democratic candidate. And just like with swing voters, those states are very difficult to predict and again, become essential to the outcome of the election.

That’s why, if you’re keeping up with the US election, you’ll hear about some states and how important they are to the election process.

A common synonym or alternative to swing state is a battleground state.

These are the states for which the presidential candidates are battling or fighting to gain the majority of voters.

If you’re reading news about the US election, you might hear about Pennsylvania being a battleground state, or Wisconsin being a battleground state.

All right, now that we understand those US-based terms about politics and election, let’s move on in our list.

Term number 11 is partisan politics.

Generally speaking, a partisan is anyone who passionately and unquestionably supports a particular person or political group in the United States.

When someone uses that term partisan politics, they’re typically talking about someone who supports just one political party and refuses to support any person or policy from the other side.

For example, if one party introduces a new policy or a new law, they don’t support it because it doesn’t come from their party.

The opposite of this is bipartisan suppor t. If you hear about a new policy and you hear that it has bipartisan support, it means it has supporters from both the Republican and the Democratic party in the United States.

Term number 12 is definitely a fun one to know, but it has a very negative meaning. The term is mudslinging.

Imagine going outside after a long, hard rain and the earth is completely muddy. And then you pick up a handful of mud and throw it at someone else. Mudslinging.

Of course, when we do that literally someone is just covered in disgusting mud.

When we use that term figuratively, what it means is to use insults or accusations with the goal of damaging your opponent’s reputation. I think we all know no matter where we live in the world, that mudslinging happens often in politics, unfortunately.

Another interesting word that we hear when it comes to how people talk about a political candidate or particular policies is spin.

You might hear the terms, media spin, or political spin.

To spin physically means to go in circles very fast.

But when we use this figuratively with media or politics, spin is the way that someone deliberately or carefully uses words in a way to control a message.

It is a form of manipulation and a way of influencing how people understand what’s happening again.

In 2020, many of us have experienced political spin on the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain politicians or political parties may be deliberately using words in a way to influence or manipulate how the public understands what’s happening.

Similar to spin are the terms, disinformation and misinformation.

These two words are very similar, but there is a distinction or difference between them. And that difference is the intent or the purpose behind the information.

Misinformation is any false information that is shared, and it may be shared by accident. For example, if you are sharing data in a meeting with your clients, some of that data may be incorrect, but you don’t know that it’s incorrect. And as a result, you’re sharing information that isn’t accurate, but you’re not doing it on purpose.

Disinformation is when information that is false is shared on purpose again, to manipulate information for political purposes or for propaganda.

When I talked about that word spin, I mentioned that many of us in 2020 have read or heard media spin or political spin on the COVID-19 pandemic. And the same is true with misinformation and disinformation. At times maybe we’ve received information that isn’t accurate, but we didn’t have all the information. It was not intentional.

Some of us have also received disinformation; information that was wrong on purpose for some sort of political intent.

All right, I know that this list today is a long list, but again, I really want you to know exactly what you’re reading and hearing about in the news. And I also want you to be able to participate in conversations where you live on elections and politics. So we have just a few more to go for today.

The next one, number 15 is the peaceful transfer of power.

This collocation and term is one of the foundations of democracy. It is the concept of one political party or leader peacefully transferring power to a newly elected leader or party.

In the United States since 1797, every president has peacefully transferred power to the next.

Number 16 on our list is a lame duck.

This one’s a strange one. Sometimes when you’re reading or listening to the news about a president, you might hear lame-duck president or lame-duck term.

In politics, a lame duck is someone who is weakened or who has lost power or someone who will lose power soon because someone else was elected.

In the United States, our presidential elections always happen in November, but the peaceful transference of power doesn’t happen until January. So there is a period of time where a president may be referred to as a lame-duck president.

At the time that I’m recording this video, we haven’t had our election yet. So you may not hear that word a lot right now, but it could happen after we find out the results of the November 2020 election.

All right, the next one on our list is a landslide victory.

A landslide is the fast or rapid movement of rocks and earth falling. For example, if something unexpectedly causes rocks or mud to fall down a mountain.

A landslide victory in politics is when a political candidate or party wins by an overwhelming majority of voters. There’s no question who won.

The opposite of that is a slim majority . And that’s when the number of votes between the candidates is very close.

Number 18 on our list is a dog whistle.

This one is an odd one to associate with politics. Literally, a dog whistle is a whistle that only dogs can hear. Dogs can hear or detect sounds at much higher frequencies than humans can.

However, in its figurative meaning, and when we use it in politics, a dog whistle is some kind of coded message or a phrase that only some groups of people will know and understand.

An example of how to use this in a sentence would be: “There’s concern that the candidate’s message was a dog whistle to some partisan groups.”

Again, the idea that there was a message given to some groups of people that not everyone understood.

We have just two more words on our list for vocabulary on elections and politics. So let’s finish up and then I’ve got a challenge for you.

The next one is gaslighting.

Gaslighting is a form of manipulative communication that causes other people to question reality or to question what is true. The purpose of gaslighting is to maintain or to gain more power.

Gaslighting is something that is often done slowly over time so that people are not aware that it’s happening. They’re not aware that they’re beginning to question what is real or what is true.

An example of gaslighting would be when someone denies that they said something, even though you have concrete proof that they did, for example, maybe it’s in a recording. That constant denial may result in someone questioning the truth or questioning the recorded proof that they have.

Gaslighting is certainly something that is used in propaganda and something to be very careful about.

And with that, the last and final term on our list doesn’t directly relate to all politics or elections, but it’s a word that one of my students asked me about because it’s something she’s reading a lot in the news about the US elections. And that term is death toll.

A death toll is the number of deaths resulting from a specific cause, for example, a natural disaster or a battle.

After an earthquake or a hurricane, you may hear news stations talk about the death toll as a result of that natural disaster. And over time, that number may increase.

For many of us around the world, in 2020, the COVID-19 death toll has been an important part of our conversations and political discussions as well.

And with that, you have a full list of 20 advanced level vocabulary words related to elections and politics in English.

I know this was a long list and there’s a lot of difficult vocabulary here.

As always, I recommend that you start with just two or three new words, get a hundred percent familiar with them, practice using them before you try to learn the full list.

If you want to get all my recommendations for how to learn and remember new vocabulary, I recommend that you watch my lesson on that topic .

After you’ve done that, I want you to practice what you’ve learned today. There may be two or three words that you learned today that you want to try using.

You can share with me in the comments below this video, you can talk about what you’ve learned in relation to the US elections.

You can talk about how elections work, where you live, and again, try using some of the vocabulary from this list. With that, thank you so much for joining me.

I hope that this was helpful to you and I look forward to seeing you next time for your Confident English lesson.

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Hi Annemarie. I hope we’ll be witnessing the peaceful transfer of power tomorrow. And hopefully the 4 year-long of gaslighting and disinformation pandemic will be forever gone with the outgoing administration. I’m so glad I’ve found you! I started to feel that there is a hope for me to improve my English speaking skill after I watched your videos. Thank you for your effor and your kind intention.

Bravooooo!! Annemarie . I voted eight years ago in the U.S., but I did not know all of the vocabulary. In my county on election day, voting polls are open 7am to 7pm. Now voting by mail the ballot must be received no later than November the 3 third. Thank you so much

Thanks for the useful words you taugh us about elections. I live in Brazil and we have an election coming next month for mayors. Unfortunately there are lots of political and media spins so the voters are confused.

Thank you Annemarie for all new words that I’ve learned today. Most of them were new for me. How nice will it be if President Trump peacefully transfer the power to Joe Biden, instead of mud-slinging each other. No one knows yet, who is going to be a lame duck or a land sliding victory.

I’m hoping that all ballots be filled honestly and the vote goes to whom, who deserves to be the future president.

Hi Annemarie. I´d never heard such an amazing explanation about elections in USA. Not even from broadcasters and specialists. Thank you. As well I think we must appreciate the tecnich displayed to teach and explain every single detail regarding context for applied words and expressions, which gives us a nice set of new cultural components and more understanding of this “moody” language.

I’m so pleased to hear this was helpful, Antonio. Thank you.

This video was timely and certainly very interesting! The vocabulary you shared is useful and informative about the voting system in U.S. I have a better image and understanding of how ‘politics’ are America. I’m not aware of Voting in mail or absentee mail. Thanks a lot for the super reflective video!

I’m glad this was so interesting for you, Kassie! Elections in America can be quite confusing, so I hope this helps. How do elections work in your home country?

Thank you Annemarie for all your teaching videos, they are very useful for me. Really, I didn’t hear all these vocabulary related to politics.It’s a little confused the way in US elect the president, here in Colombia, we go to the dolls and use ballots to choose the candidates who aspire to be mayors, governors or presidents . Until now, we haven’t voted by mail-in voting.

You’re so welcome, Sandra. I’m glad this was helpful. Great work with using ‘going to the [p]olls’ and mail-in-voting in your comments.

this is very timely though we aren’t allowed to speak politics in my line of work it is extremely helpful ,now i had a full understanding of how election looks like in the us.

I’m glad it was timely and helpful. For many of us, it may not be an appropriate topic of conversation at work but it’s certainly something we hear about in the news and sometimes in conversation with friends or family. I hope this gave you more vocabulary to use.

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Government Spending Essays – IELTS Writing

Posted by David S. Wills | Feb 21, 2022 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

In IELTS writing task 2, it is quite common to be asked about how governments should spend their money. In fact, I see this so frequently that it is almost a unique topic!

Today, I want to show you a few essays about government spending, looking at some sample answers and language points so that you can better understand how to approach this sort of essay.

Government Spending Essays for Task 2

First of all, let’s look at three IELTS task 2 questions that deal with government spending:

The prevention of health problems and illness is more important than treatment and medicine. Government funding should reflect this. To what extent do you agree?

The world today is a safer place than it was a hundred years ago, and governments should stop spending large amounts of money on their armed forces. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The restoration of old buildings in major cities around the world causes enormous government expenditure. This money should be used for new housing and road development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The first question is about how governments should spend money on healthcare , the second is about whether or not they should spend money for military purposes , and the third is about maintaining old building s. As you can see, then, the issue of government funding could be applied to a range of areas.

Also, note the different words and phrases used to introduce the idea of government spending. In the first, it is “government funding,” in the second, “spending” is a verb,” and in the third, it says “government expenditure.”

Vocabulary about Government Spending

When it comes to the topic of government spending, you obviously need to be able to discuss money and specifically large amounts of money. You need to know words and phrases related to government expenditure. Here are some useful ones:

All of these words and phrases will be used in my sample answers below.

You can also see some money idioms here:

When it comes to money verbs, don’t forget that we need to collocate them with certain prepositions. Typically, we say “spend money on”, “invest money in,” or “allocate money for”. There are other common collocations as well. Here are a few examples:

• He spent his birthday money on a new pair of shoes.
• She spent most of her budget on building a social media following.
• We’re going to invest in Apple.
• They invested too much money in that doomed project.
• We saved money on our gas bill by switching providers.

Finally, be careful with the word “budget.” This is one word that I see misused very frequently in IELTS essays. Here is a visual lesson about it, which I posted on Facebook .

You can learn more money vocabulary and also look at some IELTS speaking questions about money in this lesson .

Sample Answers

Ok, now let’s look at my answers to the above questions. These contain the vocabulary I taught you. Take note of how those words and phrases are used.

Essay #1: Government Spending on Healthcare

The prevention of health problems and illness is more important than treatment and medicine. Government funding should reflect this.

To what extent do you agree?

In many countries, government spending on healthcare is a major economic burden. Problems like obesity and heart disease are crippling healthcare systems, and some people suggest that rather than raise taxes to pay for treatments, more money should be invested in preventing these illnesses in the first place. This essay will argue that prevention is better than treatment.

The most obvious benefit of putting prevention before treatment is the reduction in human suffering that would inevitably result. Some of the biggest health problems in modern societies are utterly preventable, and therefore it is reasonable to suggest that money spent this way would cause less anguish. Government campaigns to reduce smoking would reduce cancer rates and this would increase people’s quality of life, and of course end the suffering of people who lose loved ones.

From a purely financial standpoint, it is beneficial to focus on preventing sickness rather than curing it. The cost of treating sick people with expensive medical procedures, equipment, and medicines is vastly higher than the cost of educating people not to smoke, eat unhealthily, or otherwise lead unhealthy lifestyles. Government campaigns have led to huge decreases in smoking in many Western countries, and it is likely that similar campaigns would yield similar results elsewhere. An additional benefit would be the lowering of taxes due to reduced expenditure on healthcare.

In conclusion, preventing a disease makes more sense than waiting to treat it. The benefits to average people and also to governments are significantly higher than simply investing in treatments.

Essay #2: Government Spending on Military

The world today is a safer place than it was a hundred years ago, and governments should stop spending large amounts of money on their armed forces.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

In many developed countries, people discuss the ethics of government spending on military forces, with many people pointing out that it is wasteful. This essay will suggest that they are probably right, but that it is a more complicated situation than they think.

To begin with, it is clear that some countries spend vast sums of money on their militaries when there are many other problems that could be tackled using that money. Between the USA and China, for example, more than $1 trillion is spent per year on equipping their various armed forces and this money could potentially have been invested into protecting the environment, ending homelessness and hunger, or improving education systems. Given that these two nations are highly unlikely to be attacked by any other, it seems absurd that they invest so much money in this way.

However, all of that overlooks the fact that geopolitics is complicated and human nature has some dark elements. Although people live in an unprecedented era of peace, it is nonetheless true that this peace is not guaranteed and that it is predicated to some extent upon the fear of reprisals. The US may seem incredibly wasteful with its military spending, but if it did not maintain such a huge military, other aggressive nations would surely attack their neighbours. They are dissuaded of this by the threat of American intervention. Whilst this is highly problematic as no single country should function as a “world police,” it has certainly helped deter and even end major conflicts over the past half century.

In conclusion, it is not easy to say whether countries should stop spending so much money on their militaries. Indeed, whilst it appears this is a reasonable suggestion, the truth is more complicated.

Essay #3: Government Spending on Old Buildings

The restoration of old buildings in major cities around the world causes enormous government expenditure. This money should be used for new housing and road development.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Government spending is a highly controversial issue because people naturally have different priorities and beliefs. Some of them think that the money spent on the restoration of old buildings is wasteful, but this essay will argue against that notion, suggesting instead that these are essential pieces of a nation’s heritage.

To begin with, it is understandable that people might feel this way because there are numerous ways that a national budget might be spent, and old buildings are probably not high on most people’s lists. However, not everything that is important is obvious and often people do not realise the value of something until it is gone. Around Asia, for example, many countries underwent the same sort of industrial development in just two or three decades that Europe went through over a period of several centuries. As a result, these countries lost most of their ancient buildings, and these cannot be recovered. Many governments fund the construction of replicas, but these obviously lack the authenticity of truly ancient buildings.

Letting these buildings fall into ruin shows a staggering lack of civic pride. Cities and countries must unite to fund the maintenance of important shared spaces, including these historic sites. Without these places, cities begin to look unremarkable and it is hard to tell one place from another. Whilst it is important to devote spending to new projects, governments must not overlook the heritage aspect that defined their city or country over a long period of time, and which continues to mark it in the modern era.

In conclusion, old buildings may seem like a waste of money because they can be expensive to maintain, but they are important in various ways, and so governments should set aside funding to ensure their upkeep. 

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS topic vocabulary – politics – with Ted Talk presentation

Home  »  IELTS vocabulary  »  IELTS topic vocabulary - politics - with Ted Talk presentation

IELTS topic vocabulary: politics

The former Greek prime-minister offers an interesting insight as to why democracy is going down a blind alley.

Nowadays some argue that democracy is under its biggest threat since inception, some argue that due to global capital markets the electorate has lost control of their government. What do you think? Give reasons and examples to support your position.

Topic specific vocabulary terms:

Collocations : electoral mandate, tax avoidance, borrowing costs, structural problems, economic system, too big to fail,

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• Task 1 Academic
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• Task 2 (essay)

Government & society writing task 2 questions for IELTS

Here you can find common IELTS essay questions for "Government & Society" topic.

The government should ban smoking in all public places, even though this would restrict some other people's freedoms.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer.

Some people advocate death penalty for those who committed violent crimes. Others say that capital punishment is unacceptable in contemporary society.

Describe advantages and disadvantages of death penalty and give your opinion.

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of teen deaths. To prevent such road accidents, the government should ban people under 24 to drive motorcycles.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Violent TV-shows and aggressive video games should be banned on governmental level.

Some people claim that it is immoral to exploit animals, and that the government should prohibit using animals for scientific research. In the meantime, others argue that exploiting animals is crucial for allowing scientists to learn more about human biology and health.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Immigration has a major impact on the society.

What are the main reasons of immigration?

To what consequences can it lead?

The government should control the Internet to reduce cyber-crime and ensure safety of users.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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IELTS Writing Task 2 – Topic: GOVERNMENT

ielts writing topics 2019

1.  Families who do not send their children to government-financed schools should not be required to pay taxes that support universal education. (AGREE)

Sample Answer

Families who do not send their children to government-financed school should not be  required to pay taxes that support universal education.

When families send their children to non-public (that is, parochial and private) schools,  they must pay tuition and other school expenses. Spending additional money to pay  taxes creates an even greater financial hardship for these families. They must make  sacrifices, trying to have enough money to pay for school in addition to other bills. For  example, my friend Amalia is a single mother with an eight-year-old son, Andrew.  Because they survive solely on her income, money is tight. Amalia works at least 10  hours of overtime each week to cover Andrew’s school expenses. This gives Amalia  and Andrew less time to spend together, and she is always so tired that she is impatient  with him when they do have family time. Clearly, this extra expense is an unfair burden  for hard-working parents like Amalia.

While some people may consider parochial or private school to be a luxury, for many  families it is essential because their community’s public schools fail to meet their  children’s needs. Unfortunately, due to shrinking budgets, many schools lack well qualified, experienced educators. Children may be taught by someone who is not a  certified teacher or who knows little about the subject matter. Some problems are even  more serious. For example, the public high school in my old neighborhood had serious safety problems, due to students bringing guns, drugs, and alcohol to school. After a gang-related shooting occurred at the high school, my parents felt that they had no choice but to enroll me in a parochial school  that was known for being very safe.

Unfortunately, even when families prefer public schools, sometimes they can’t send  their children to one. These families are burdened not only for paying expenses at  another school, but also by being forced to pay taxes to support a public school that  they do not use.

 (323 words)

2.  Families who do not send their children to government-financed schools should not be required to pay taxes that support universal education. (DISAGREE)

Families who do not send their children to public school should be required to pay taxes  that support public education.

Every child in my country is required to attend school and every child is welcome to  enroll at his/her local public school. Some families choose to send their children to other  schools, and it is their prerogative to do so. However, the public schools are used by the  majority of our children and must remain open for everyone. For example, my uncle  sent his two children to a private academy for primary school. Then he lost a huge  amount of money through some poor investments and he could no longer afford the  private school’s tuition. The children easily transferred to their local public school and  liked it even more than their academy. The public schools supported their family when  they had no money to educate their children.

Because the public schools educate so many citizens, everyone in my country-whether  a parent or not-should pay taxes to support our educational system. We all benefit from  the education that students receive in public school. Our future doctors, fire fighters, and  teachers people whom we rely on everyday-are educated in local public schools. When  a person is in trouble, it’s reassuring to know that those who will help you-such as fire  fighters-know what they’re doing because they received good training in school and  later. Providing an excellent education in the public school system is vital to the strength  of our community and our country.

Our government must offer the best education available, but it can only do so with the  financial assistance of all its citizens. Therefore, everyone-including families who do not  send their children to public school-should support public education by paying taxes.

 (291 words)

3.  Some people say the government should not put money into building theatres and sports stadiums; they should spend more money on medical care and education. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

What would the world be like without Shakespeare or the Olympics? While medical care  and education are perhaps the highest causes to which money can be contributed, the  arts and athletics are in some ways just as valuable. So, to ask the government to not  extend support to these two areas could be just as detrimental to the welfare of society  as the lack of sufficient health care and education.

The Romans believed in “mens sana in corpore sano”. In short, that there is indeed a  correlation between a healthy body and healthy mind. When we are healthy, we feel  better and so are more likely to be productive academically. Plus, the practice of sports  can also teach us the very same discipline we need for our studies. Why even a brisk  walk or watching an exciting athletic match can refresh the mind for greater work.  Moreover, sports can serve to create healthier bodies, which in turn would serve as a form of “preventive medicine” thereby cutting down on medical costs. In the same vein,  the arts are known to induce a sense of well-being in performers and audience alike,  reducing mental problems and their associated physical manifestations and again,  medical costs. As such, building theatres and stadiums, which spur interest in the arts  and sports respectively, actually would be practically identical to spending money on  medical care and education!

Now I realize the question specifically addresses the building of theatres and sports  stadiums by government. Some people would contend athletics and the arts can still be  enjoyed and practiced without such constructions. I would hazard that these buildings  stand as the altars to the sports and arts worlds, inspiring would-be athletes and  performers. Without such venues where would sports spectators and music aficionados  be able to enjoy these events? Now some other people would also say business could  support their construction, but we know the avarice of business could very likely  jeopardize the lofty spirit of athletics and the arts just as well. Therefore, allowing  government to retain some say in the matter on behalf of the people would, I believe, be  in the best interest of the people.

In short, as long as the government does no go overboard in its expenditures for these  buildings and uses such venues for the benefit of all, then, as mentioned above, people  will benefit in terms of both medical care and education as well. This is not to say the  government should neglect medical care and education, but rather to think of this not as  an either-or choice but as a win-win situation for all.

 (434 words)

4.  The costs of medical health care are increasing all the time. Governments are finding it difficult to balance the health care budget. Should citizens be totally responsible for their own health costs and take out private health insurance, or is it better to have a comprehensive health care system which provides free health services for all? Discuss.

A much debated issue these days is whether citizens should take out private health  insurance or not. The cost of providing free medical care for both the wealthy and the  poor is far too great for any government, and most people agree that if you can pay for  insurance, you should. In this essay, I will argue that all who can afford it should be  insured, but free medical care must be made available for those too poor to do so.

The most important reason for encouraging people to take out private health insurance  is the cost to the government of health care. Free health cover for people who are able  to pay for it is a waste of public money. Of course, people will only pay health insurance  premiums if they know that they are getting good value for their money. If they get sick,  they should pay very little or nothing at all. In addition, the privately insured are entitled to special benefits such as having the choice of their own doctors, and being able to  avoid long waiting lists for hospital beds.

On the other hand, those who really cannot afford to pay private insurance premiums,  which are often very high, are still entitled as citizens to the best medical care available  – they cannot be expected to pay their own medical bills. However, if they are working,  they should still pay a percentage of their wage (say 1 to 2%) as a tax which pays  towards the cost of providing “free” medical services.

In conclusion, most people should privately insure their health, but it is unreasonable to  suppose that all citizens can afford it. Therefore, a safety net in the form of a basic free  health care system must exist for the very poor and the unemployed.

 (300 words)

5.  All education, primary, secondary and further education, should be free to all people and paid for by the government. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Different countries have different education systems. I don‛t know all the education  systems in the world but all the ones I do know about have free school education at  primary and secondary level. I certainly agree with the statement that this should be the  case. I believe university education is different.

No matter what standard of income someone has or what society someone comes from,  everyone should have the opportunity to have a good standard of education. This is not  always what happens but it is what should happen. Private schools can be available for  those who want and can afford it but the free schools should always be there. This is  certainly one of the best attributes of western democracy and all countries it seems  strive to attain situation although some have problems due to the economic and political  situations in their countries. Governments should make sure that all their citizens have  access to a good standard of free education at primary and secondary level.

Further education is different. In an ideal world this should be free but governments  have a lot of demands on their money. I think that students should have to pay, maybe  not all, but at least a contribution towards their tuition fees. They will be able to earn it  back once they have graduated. The UK has this system whereas in the US students  have to pay all their high tuition fees which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars  over a full course. I am not sure if I agree with this but it certainly would make sure that  students make the best of efforts to pass or all their money would be wasted.

Therefore I conclude that primary and secondary education should be freely available  for all if possible but that further education should not necessarily be wholly free.

 (309 words)

6.  Most writers of fiction do not earn enough money to live from their writing. Do you think the government should give them financial assistance to help encourage good literature?

There are some conditions under which a novelist could reasonably expect some  government support. In general terms, if the writer has already proved that he or she can write well, and if the stories produced are stimulating and interesting, then I consider that some financial help might be given.

Language quality is difficult to define, but if the writing shows, for example, good  grammar, a wide vocabulary, and elegance and imagination, then I can see a valid  reason for assisting an author to spend some time free from money problems. Such a  writing needs to be encouraged. the entertainment value of a book would be also a  factor in deciding whether to provide assistance to an author. Further consideration  would include social and educational values expressed in the author’s work.

However, if the ideas were socially irresponsible, or if the stories contain unnecessary  violence or pornography for its own sake, then I would not want to see the author  sponsored to write stories which do not benefit society. Other exceptions are the many  writers of good books who do not require financial help. Books which proved to be  extremely popular, such as the Harry Potter stories, clearly need no subsidy at all  because the authors have become rich through their writing.

Views on what good quality writing means will vary widely, and so if any author is to be  given money for writing, then the decision would have to be made by a committee or  panel of judge. An individual opinion would certainly cause disagreement among the  reading public.

 (259 words)

7.  The costs of medical health care are increasing all the time. Governments are finding it difficult to balance the health care budget. Should citizens be totally responsible for their own health costs and take out private health insurance, or is it better to have a comprehensive health care system which provides free health services for all? Discuss.

A much debated issue these days is whether citizens should take out private health  insurance or not. The cost of providing free medical care for both the wealthy and the  poor is far too great for any government, and most people agree that if you can pay for insurance, you should. In this essay, I will argue that all who can afford it should be  insured, but free medical care must be made available for those too poor to do so.

The most important reason for encouraging people to take out private health insurance  is the cost to the government of health care. Free health cover for people who are able  to pay for it is a waste of public money. Of course, people will only pay health insurance  premiums if they know that they are getting good value for their money. If they get sick,  they should pay very little or nothing at all. In addition, the privately insured are entitled  to special benefits such as having the choice of their own doctors, and being able to  avoid long waiting lists for hospital beds.

8.  Should governments spend money on art, when they have so many other important issues and concerns?

Sample Answer 1

Many people’s lives are richer because of art – music, paintings, calligraphy, pictures,  sculpture, poems and dance. However , some people feel that governments should be  spending money on housing, medical care, or defence, instead of on art. This essay  will discuss whether governments should or should not spend money on the arts.

There are several reasons why governments should not finance artists. First of all ,  artists should have to follow the same rules as the rest of the market. If there is a  demand for their music or sculpture, then they will be rich. Secondly , politicians  generally do not have good taste. They will waste public money on popular art or on  their own preferences. But the main reason why governments should minimize  spending on the art world is that there are more important areas like housing, roads,  hospitals, and factories which need the money first.

However, it would be wrong to say that governments should not spend any money at  all on art. Everybody needs some beauty in their life, but not everyone can afford a  Picasso or a piece of music. Governments should provide money for museums or  concert halls for everyone. Another point is that art allows people to express  themselves and this is good for society, culture and thought. Thirdly , artists can be  good for the economy by producing music, films, and attracting tourists.

All in all , governments should prioritize their spending carefully, but they should also  allocate some of their budget for art. It is part of their duty to society and to future  generations.

 (260 words)

Sample Answer 2

Throughout the ages, man has tried to create beauty through painting, music, sculpture  and other artistic expression. It seems to be a basic need of humans to surround  themselves with art. However some people feel that government money spent on art is  wasted, particularly when there are so many other demands on it. This essay will  examine the conflict between those who say art is important and those who feel it is a waste of money.

It can be wrong for governments to spend large sums of money on art. Too often,  governments spend unwisely. They spend money on art not because a picture is good  or a museum is needed, but for political reasons. Cities end up with huge statues or  empty expensive buildings that are used only by a few people or the elite. Another point  is that the artworks are often chosen to represent social or political rather than artistic ideas. The city gets yet another statue of the leader or an ugly monument to national  aspirations. A third point is that governments often respond to fashions, and tastes in art  can change very rapidly. Without careful advice an expensive collection of worthless  paintings or tasteless productions can be the result.

However, it would be wrong to say that governments should not spend any money at all  on art. Painters, musicians, and composers cannot survive without financial support.  Rich people or large companies do finance art, but then it is often inaccessible to  ordinary people. Governments have a duty to make this art available to everyone.  However, the most important reason why governments should support the arts is  because an appreciation of art is one of the things that makes life worthwhile. Humans  do not need just shelter and food. Creative people have always tried to look at things in  a new way and to make the world a better place through painting, music, poetry,  calligraphy, sculpture, dance, and numerous other forms of expression. While art may  not make us immortal, it does make the world a richer place for future generations.

In conclusion, although people do need to be provided with the necessities of life, such  as housing and medical care, governments also have a duty to provide their citizens  with something more. They should make sure that they pass on beauty, ideas and  expression to the next generation and make art available to all instead of being the  possession of only the few. I firmly believe that spending money on art is a vital part of a  government’s responsibility, and I am confident that my country will be able to contribute  its share to the richness of the world’s art and creativity.

 (447 words)

9.  In the fight against crime, police forces and governments are increasingly using security cameras in public places. Some people are opposed to this, saying that it invades our privacy. What do you think?

Security cameras have become ubiquitous in many countries. Whereas before they  appeared only in banks and at high-security areas, they are now entering public places  such as malls, streets, stadiums and transport. Many people feel this affects their  privacy. This essay will examine whether the advantages of these cameras outweigh  their negative impact.

Surveillance cameras have several benefits. An obvious benefit is that the police can  catch criminals in the act, thus reducing crime. This will make the streets safer for  ordinary people. A more important point is that criminals, particularly young offenders or  petty criminals will be deterred. They will not be tempted to carry out crimes, and thus  society will be a lot safer. Cameras are also cost-effective and unobtrusive. Authorities  do not need to spend large amounts of money on police.

However, security cameras are far from being a perfect solution. The biggest objection  concerns privacy. Many people feel that they should be free to travel or move around a  shop, mall, street or country without being photographed or recorded. They feel that  being watched constantly is like being in a jail, and that ordinary people are losing their  freedom because of these devices. Another point is that although the police say that only criminals have something to fear from the cameras, many people do not trust  governments with too much information. Corrupt authorities could use information in the  wrong way or twist it to victimize some groups. Thirdly, cameras and computers can  make mistakes.

In conclusion, although there are definite advantages to using surveillance devices such  as cameras, we need to balance the need for security with respect for the individual’s  privacy and freedom. If we do not trust the members of society, a situation like George  Orwell’s “1984” could be the result.

 (297 words)

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Useful Collocations Topic: Government

Updated On Jul 20, 2021

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It is widely acknowledged that collocations play a vital part in second language learning, particularly at the intermediate and advanced levels. In the IELTS test, using collocations demonstrates the improvement of learners’ oral communication, writing skills.

This post will cover 20 collocations which enable IELTS learners to improve their writing in IELTS Writing Task 2.

 1.  A minority government: that does not have enough politicians to control parliament

• His party had gained only enough seats to form a minority government .

2. Central government: this is the national government of a country.

• Funding will continue to be available from central government for further education for adults.

3. Government spending: the money is spent by the government

• Government spending on health care totals about $60 billion a year.

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4. Government minister: a politician who is in charge of a government department.

• A government minister said that there would be an inquiry.

5. Domestic politics: within a country

• The war had a major impact on the country’s domestic politics .

6. A government body (also a government agency): an organization run by the government.

• Patents are granted by U.K Patent Office, a government body .

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7. Elect a government: vote to choose a government

• A new government was elected last October.

8. Bring down a government: Force it to lose power.

• It was a major scandal that nearly brought down the government .

9. Regulatory authority: a regulatory authority has the official power to control activity and make sure that it is done satisfactorily.

• New drugs have been approved by the regulatory authority .

10. Pass legislation: officially approve it so that it becomes a law

• The legislation was passed banning the use of child labour.

11. Enact legislation: make it into a law

• Much legislation has been enacted to control pollution.

12. Propose legislation: suggest a new law

• The government proposed legislation on data protection.

13. Political corruption: dishonest or illegal behaviour in politicians.

• It is a country with a long history of political corruption .

14. Make policy: decide what it will be

• A committee of representatives makes policy .

15. Shape policy: develop it or have an influence on it

• These terrorist acts will not be allowed to shape our foreign policy .

16. Pursue/ follow a policy : continue with a policy over a period.

• The organization is pursuing a policy of cost-cutting.

17. Reverse a policy : Stop a policy and change it

• The new government set about reversing previous policies .

18. Take measures : do something in order to deal with a problem

• The situation is now so severe that the government must take measures to police the Internet.

19. Long-term plan/strategy/solution: continuing for a long period.

• The government needs to consider the long-term solution of a poorly trained workforce.

20. A political strategy : a planned series of actions for politics.

• Baldwin’s political strategy was almost totally successful.

I hope you found this post informative. If you have any question, please let me know in the comment below or on the Facebook page.

And do not forget to come back to see the next part of this post. Hope all of you have a great day!

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Government And Society IELTS Essay: Writing Task 2 Samples

• Updated On December 12, 2023
• Published In IELTS Preparation 💻

The IELTS Writing Task 2 can have a large variety of questions, so it can never be predicted which question you will get in the IELTS exam. However, there still are some common IELTS essay topics that many students have reported as repeated in the IELTS exam. Thus, the general theme or the essay topics can be determined. In this blog, we discuss Government And Society IELTS Essay.

Table of Contents

As an IELTS exam aspirant, it is important you go through as many common topics for Writing Task 2 as possible. One such common IELTS test theme is ‘government and society’. This theme can form a multitude of questions for the second writing task. Therefore, students should go through some sample answers for Government And Society IELTS Essays.

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Types of Questions

There are several types of questions that can be framed from the theme of ‘government and society’ for Writing Task 2 in IELTS. Let’s take a look at the two primary kinds of possible questions that you may be presented within the exam:

Opinion-based

These questions will describe two sides of an argument to you. You will be required to either discuss both and then give your opinion, or pick one side and give your opinion on why that is logical and more sound than the other side of the argument.

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Descriptive

This type of question usually asks the aspirant to either enlist some advantages and disadvantages or mention some effects and possible solutions to a particular social problem. These questions can also ask you to share your opinion with the examiner in writing the essay.

Whatever the type of question you get in the exam, to get a good band score, there are some general tips that you should apply:

• Using excellent vocabulary and grammar is important to get a high band score in writing (as well as in speaking).
• Providing relevant examples is the secret to scoring well.
• Taking help from a mentor whenever you get stuck throughout your preparation can be very helpful to ensure you get a good band score. For this purpose, you can explore online platforms like LeapScholar that offer outstanding mentorship and preparation courses for IELTS .

Sample Answers for Government And Society IELTS Essay

Sample answer 1.

Q: Some people believe that only the government can bring about significant changes in society, while others think that even an individual can have a lot of influence on society. What is your opinion on the above statement? You should take about 40 minutes for this answer and write a minimum of 250 words.

Ans: It is often advocated that the leadership of a country holds the supreme power in its hands to be able to change society for the better and get rid of all its cons. However, this view is flawed in my opinion as I believe that without the cooperation of every individual, there is only so much the government can do for society’s betterment. The government can make strong policies and can mobilise resources for their execution, but the policy only yields the desired results when it is acted upon by all members of society. If the policy has been set in place, but no one acts in accordance with it, then it will never be able to achieve its stated primary objective. For instance, of late, many countries have come up with policies aligned with the goal of achieving lower carbon emissions by 2025. However, the individuals living in those countries assume a reckless attitude and hardly abide by the policy for curbing climate change. Hence, without individuals’ cooperation, the government cannot achieve any positive results. Moreover, the government’s efforts are often focused on driving results on a macro scale (nationwide). In contrast, an individual’s efforts will show results on a micro-level and can immediately lead to the betterment of society. The ruling party cannot become aware of all the problems their society faces in many regions. However, the people of the region will be well aware of the problems existing in their region. Thus, the individual holds more power to bring about immediate change in their locality with the help of the resources mobilised by the government on a large scale. For instance, if there is a flood in an Indian state, and the government comes up with an immediate disaster relief response, these efforts will bear more fruit when the individuals of the region cooperate in the rescue operations rather than leaving it all up to the politicians and their forces. In conclusion, I believe that individuals can bring about a more immediate impact on society when they work in tandem with the government.

Sample Answer 2

Q: The government should come up with policies to control the internet for reducing cybercrime and ensuring the safety of users. Do you agree or disagree?

Ans: The frequency of cybercrimes has rapidly surged in recent times and has become a cause of concern globally. With the aim of curbing the rate of cybercrime, some experts argue governments should regulate and control the various internet activities that users of a specific country engage in. I agree with this statement only partially because I believe the ambit of these policies should not be in violation of the fundamental rights of citizens. With the ever-increasing number of internet users, the incidence of cybercrimes is also on an upward trajectory. This can be controlled with government policies that protect users’ data. By protecting users’ private data online, the government can get ahead of online predators looking to commit crimes (especially financial and bureaucratic ones) by making use of that data. For instance, by installing a strong technological architecture in place, the government can protect its country’s users’ data. This will have a significant impact on curbing the rate of cybercrimes committed by stealing personal data. Moreover, by mandating the nation’s organisations increase transparency, the leadership can ensure that online crimes are controlled and eliminated. By asking organisations to clearly state the kind of data they will be extracted from their online users and to educate users about netiquette (‘net etiquette’), the government can significantly reduce the nation’s cybercrime rate. For instance, Instagram informs its users about the kind of content that will be viewed as offensive or inappropriate and can lead to legal action. This has resulted in bringing down the incidents of hate speech online and reduced the incidence of fraud through phishing schemes on the platform.

In summary, governments should definitely put in place policies with the aim of reducing cybercrime. However, these steps should not undermine their citizens’ rights. A primary way forward to tackle this issue would entail raising awareness and establishing a strong online infrastructure. To gain a good band score, Government And Society IELTS Essay should be tackled with a clear thought process and excellent writing skills. Don’t forget to read more sample answers and keep practising!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do i prepare for writing an essay for ielts task 2.

Ans: You should start your preparation by first strengthening your vocabulary and grammar. Thereon, you should start by  reading  through some of the high band scoring model answers online, and then try to write answers for some common questions yourself.

2. What mistakes should I avoid in the IELTS writing task?

Ans: Certain pitfalls to avoid during writing the IELTS essay for task 2 are: a. Not taking time in the beginning to map out your main ideas for every paragraph b. Not proofreading your essay as it can lead to spelling and grammatical errors c. Not providing relevant examples

3. How can I get a band score of 8 in the IELTS writing exam?

Ans: The key tips of writing a high band scoring essay for IELTS task 2 are- Wide showcase of vocabulary, great sentence structuring, giving good examples and ensuring coherence between paragraphs.

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Manisha Angre

Experienced IELTS prep trainer and education management industry veteran. Specializes in public speaking, international education, market research, mentoring, and management.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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