i'd rather you write your essay

I Would Rather: Grammar and Usage Explained for the Modern Writer

March 12, 2023

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By Derek Cupp

In the realm of English grammar, we often stumble upon phrases that leave us scratching our heads. One such puzzler is the phrase “I would rather…” It’s commonplace in casual conversations and written dialogue, yet its exact grammatical standing may be a mystery to many.

Diving into the nuts and bolts of this phrase, I’ll unravel its usage rules and highlight instances where it shines. If you’ve ever questioned how to properly use “I would rather,” stick with me as we explore this interesting aspect of English grammar together.

Understanding “I would rather” isn’t just about getting your point across clearly—it’s also about enriching your language skills and mastering nuances that make English so wonderfully complex. After reading this article, you’ll be more confident in using this versatile phrase in various contexts.

Understanding ‘I Would Rather’: A Deep Dive

Diving headfirst into the realm of English grammar, it’s fascinating to discover how phrases like “I would rather” work. This phrase is a commonplace in our daily conversations, yet many of us might not fully grasp its grammatical intricacies. So let’s explore this linguistic phenomenon together.

At its core, “I would rather” expresses preference. It’s a polite way of saying that one option is more appealing than another. The structure is simple: we start with the subject (usually ‘I’), followed by ‘would rather’, and then the base form of a verb. For example:

I would rather read than watch TV.

She would rather cook at home than eat out.

And there you have it – two perfect examples showing how to use ‘would rather’ correctly.

However, when expressing preference between two actions done by different subjects, we need to follow ‘rather’ with a clause starting with ‘than’. Remember to use past tense for present or future actions and past perfect for past actions in this clause:

He’d rather you stayed at home today.

They’d prefer she had cleaned up before leaving.

Now let’s look at some real-life examples using an HTML table:

Notice that while these sentences involve different preferences and contexts, they all stick to the same grammatical pattern.

So there you go! Now you’re well on your way to mastering the usage of “I would rather”. And don’t forget – practice makes perfect! Keep experimenting with different sentences until you feel confident using this phrase in your everyday speech and writing.

Common Mistakes and Misuse of ‘I Would Rather’

Let’s dive into the common mistakes and misuse surrounding the phrase “I would rather”. I’ll be honest, even native English speakers sometimes trip up on this one. It’s important to remember that ‘would rather’ is used to express preference in English. However, it’s often misused in various ways.

One common mistake is using ‘than’ after ‘would rather’. This error occurs because people often confuse ‘would rather’ with comparative structures that use ‘than’. But here’s the thing: while we say “I prefer apples than oranges”, when using ‘would rather’, we don’t need the word ‘than’. We simply say “I would rather have an apple”.

A second typical mistake is using the infinitive form of a verb after ‘would rather’. You might hear someone say, “I would rather to stay home tonight.” Sounds off, doesn’t it? That’s because with ‘would rather’, you should use a base verb without ‘to’. The correct version of that sentence is: “I would rather stay home tonight.”

Here are some correct examples:

“I’d (contraction for I would) rather walk than drive today.”

“She’d (contraction for she would) rather play tennis than watch TV.”

And here are some incorrect examples:

“I’d (contraction for I would) rather to walk than drive today.”

“She’d (contraction for she would) rather play tennis than watching TV.”

Lastly, there’s a misconception about tense following ‘would rather’. Some people think they need to match tenses throughout their sentence. For instance, they might say: “He told me he’d rather went alone.” But actually, regardless of the main clause’s tense, verbs following ‘would rather’ should always be in present or past simple forms. So it should be: “He told me he’d rather go alone.”

Keep these points in mind next time you’re expressing your preferences!

Wrapping Up: Using ‘I Would Rather’ Effectively

So, we’ve explored the nitty-gritty of “I would rather”, a phrase that’s both intriguing and ubiquitous. Let’s wrap it up with some key points to remember.

Firstly, using “I would rather” effectively comes down to context. It’s perfect for expressing preference or desire over one thing in comparison to another. For instance, saying “I’d rather go hiking than stay at home” is a clear indication of your preferred choice.

Secondly, don’t forget about its flexibility. You’re not restricted to just physical activities or concrete situations. It can also express emotional states or hypothetical scenarios like: “I’d rather be happy than rich.”

Thirdly, when you’re dealing with verbs following our phrase in question, keep them in their base form. So it’s “I’d rather read than watch TV” and not “I’d rather reading than watching TV.”

Lastly, be aware of the potential confusion between “I would rather” and “I had better”. While they might seem similar on the surface – both are giving advice or expressing preferences – there’s a significant difference in tone and severity. Simply put, ‘had better’ implies a stronger recommendation – almost an obligation or warning – while ‘would rather’ expresses more casual personal preference.

Now let me give you some practical examples:

I’d rather listen to jazz than rock music.

She said she’d rather walk alone at night than stay with him.

We’d probably prefer coffee over tea right now!

In summing up (and without getting too schoolteacher-ish), I hope this guide has shed some light on how to use ‘I would rather’ effectively. Remember that language is all about communication – so don’t get too hung up on rules if they stop you from saying what you want!

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6 Tips for Using Would You Rather Writing Prompts

A lot of my teacher friends often tell me that teaching writing is one of the things they struggle with most. I totally get this; it can be really difficult to teach kids how to be creative and improve their content. I find that kids also struggle significantly with the editing process – so often they just want to be done! But we can definitely make writing interesting and fun.

Over the years, I’ve taught several different classes and grades. My favourite has always been teaching English Language Arts, and one of the best ways I’ve found to get kids excited about writing is to use Would You Rather prompts. I like to have my students write every single day because it gives them tons of practice, exposes them to multiple writing styles, and helps them get more comfortable making mistakes and just writing!

Model writing with your students

This is especially important when you’re first starting out with Would You Rather writing, if you teach the younger grades, or if you have weaker students. They need a significant amount of modelling and practice to feel comfortable with the process and be able to attend to the task without an immense amount of adult support.

I have students completing writing of some kind every single day, and Would You Rather prompts are often one of the styles we use. It’s really beneficial to walk through each step with them, from brainstorming to the final piece of writing. You can do this in lots of different ways; as a whole class, in partners, in small groups, and so on.

Depending on the age and levels of kids I’m teaching, we’ll talk at various lengths about different reasons that we would pick one choice over the other, then I’ll give them their paper to begin writing. You know your kids best – if you have wee little grade 2 students, they’re going to need a lot more support around modelling than a grade 9 student. Spend lots of time on this, it’s a learned skill and it’s worth it in the end!

Start off slowly

This is really important. So often we want to rush through tasks because there’s just so much curriculum to get through. Just as I mentioned above, writing is a skill that should be practiced and which inevitably needs time.

It’s vital to teach our students about different types of writing. We can’t just assume that because they’ve learned how to write stories, or research reports, articles, or so on, that they’re going to be great at defensive writing.

Talk with them a lot about this style of writing and show examples. Let them practice how to write every little piece, down to how to write sentences that work. One of the first things I notice when kids first start writing P paragraphs is that they have a hard time connecting every sentence to their main point. Much of the time, it’s because this hasn’t been taught in enough detail – so drill it in! It’s a skill that will take them well into high school and, if they decide, university.

Let them have fun

This should be a fun activity! Writing is already difficult for many kids, so if your students don’t enjoy writing, they certainly won’t want to practice and get better at it.

The fun part about Would You Rather prompts is that they can be really silly and kids get to be creative with their responses. Let them do this! Unless they become not-school-appropriate, you should let them come up with crazy responses! As long as they defend the point, why not?

I absolutely love hearing kids’ different ideas about these – they’re just so unique and creative. Even with the same prompt, kids in different classes will have completely different ideas, and there’s no wrong answer! Ensure you include lots of discussion time as a class, a group, or in partners because that’s part of the wriitng process, and it keeps it really fun for the students.

Write every day

Writing the exact same style every day may become tedious, but I am a firm believer that writing of some kind needs to be done in order for kids to become comfortable with it. I always have my kids write every single day. We rotate between things like journal writing, responses to news articles, story writing, would you rather (of course), and many more.

Depending on the unit we’re on, I’ll up the type of writing we do at the start of class to reflect it. For example, if we’re doing a film studies or multi-media unit, I’ll have the kids write me film reviews two or three times a week and maybe do less journal writing.

Depending on the grade level and how you set up your class, this will obviously look different for everyone. Whether you have bell ringers, centres, exit slips, daily reflection, or so on – set up daily writing in a way that works for you!

Use this as practice for essay writing

Having your students begin to make a stance or a choice (their thesis) and then defend or explain their choice is a fantastic way to get them to start thinking about how to write essays.

I always, always, always start practicing essay writing with would you rather. When the kids are ready to write a bit more and move on to the standard five paragraph essay, I tell them to think about all the Would You Rathers they’ve already completed. We talk about all the similarities and the fact that, basically, they’re just writing a few more sentences. By this point, I have the confidence that they can do this, they just need to build that confidence in themselves as well!

Get kids talking

I work in a school that’s almost 50% English Language Learners. These guys simply aren’t going to be able to produce the same level of writing as my native English speakers. What I love about Would You Rather prompts is that they’re also great discussion starters.

If I’m working only with ELL students, I’ll just print out some prompt cards and ask the group in a conversation. Then, I’ll have them write a short paragraph, using sentence frames, to defend their answer. This is a great way to get kids talking, listening, and writing in one activity.

If I have a full class which contains a mix of English speakers and English learners, I’ll make sure we use a good amount of our time discussing the prompt. I often will break them into small groups to discuss so that I can ensure the ELL students are participating. Then, I’ll either give the English learners a lower-lever prompt sheet, some sentence frames, or I’ll ask for a shorter response – it always depends on the individual kiddos!

What do you think about these ideas? Are there soe you just know would be gret in your own class? How about any you’d add or get rid of? Let me know in the comments!

Are you interested in using some Would You Rather prompts in your own classroom? I have two different products for kids in different grades, spanning grade 2-9. Working in a K-9 school, I use these all the time with various classes and the kids always enjoy! Click the images below to check these out on my Teacher Pay Teachers store.

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50 Awesome “Would You Rather” Writing Prompts

Everyone runs into dilemmas from time to time. Sometimes, the situation is complicated enough that you can’t determine the correct answer immediately. Other times, there might not be a single optimal solution because everything depends on subjective considerations.

Whatever the case, Indeed and other sources offer a wide range of problem-solving models you can use to work your way through these scenarios. Moreover, you can get some good practice by checking out “would you rather” writing prompts.

Get started with these 50 “would you rather” writing prompts:

1. Would You Rather Take an Art Class or a Science Class?

This is an easy writing prompt you can answer based on your preferences.

2. Would You Rather Eat Hamburgers or Hot Dogs?

Similarly, hamburgers vs. hot dogs is another issue that differs from person to person.

3. Would You Rather Eat Fruits or Vegetables?

Here, you are presented with a false dilemma, which is good because you don’t want to develop tunnel vision when tackling a problem. Fruits and vegetables are grounded in different fields. 

4. Would You Rather Have a Dog or a Cat?

Dogs and cats are the most popular pets by a wide margin. As a result, people often have passionate opinions on the matter.

5. Would You Rather Be Intelligent or Wise?

Quartz states that intelligence isn’t the same as wisdom. Both are good things. However, having one doesn’t necessarily mean someone is guaranteed to have the other. It is interesting to see how people choose between the two, particularly since they have to define them beforehand.

6. Would You Rather Be Beautiful But Sickly or Ugly But Healthy?

Deciding between these two options can give you insight into your priorities. Of course, you can make a convincing argument that being healthy means being beautiful. Unfortunately, that would miss the point because that fails to answer the writing prompt.

7. Would You Rather Write Well But Be Unable to Speak or Speak Well But Be Unable to Write?

Dilemmas are often about choosing between two packages of mixed consequences. Each option in this writing prompt offers a much-coveted skill in exchange for something that would seriously hinder people in day-to-day life. Ironically, being unable to speak speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Reuters and other news agencies provide frequent reminders of how damaging illiteracy is in modern times.

8. Would You Rather Have Super-Vision or Super-Hearing?

Choosing between superpowers can make for fun thought exercises.

9. Would You Rather Have the Ability to Fly or Breathe Underwater?

Superpower-related writing prompts can help people realize their preferences about a wide range of matters.

10. Would You Rather Have the Ability to Become a Giant or Microscopic?

Fantastical writing prompts are chances for people to practice analyzing the situation without being able to fall back on someone else’s thoughts.

11. Would You Rather Travel Into the Past or the Future?

It seems safe to say most people would jump at the chance to time travel. The great question is whether they would travel to the past or the future.

12. Would You Rather Visit Space or the Bottom of the Sea?

Space is sometimes called the final frontier. That is misleading because the overwhelming majority of the deep sea remains unexplored. Both are obvious options for those hungering for adventure.

13. Would You Rather Be an Astronaut or a Deep Sea Explorer?

Even if you prefer visiting one place over another, that doesn’t necessarily mean you would prefer working there.

14. Would You Rather Live Someplace Hot or Cold?

Climate has a ubiquitous impact. Due to that, it is worth asking yourself what kind of climate you would rather live in.

15. Would You Rather Live Someplace Hot and Humid or Cold and Dry?

Adding further details can clarify writing prompts, thus enabling you to produce a more focused analysis.

16. Would You Rather Live in the Jungle or the Tundra?

You won’t always have the relevant information presented upfront in real life. Here, the writing prompt requires you to find out what jungles and tundras are like before you decide between them.

17. Would You Rather Be Raised By Animals or Chased By Animals?

Research can reveal that one option is worse than the other. Being chased by animals is unpleasant at best. Meanwhile, Britannica and other sources make it clear being raised by animals comes with lifelong problems.

18. Would You Rather Live On Earth or Mars?

Mars has become a focus of space exploration. It is natural to wonder whether you would live on Earth or Mars.

19. Would You Rather Live Peacefully On Earth or Dangerously On Mars?

Changing the way information is presented can change how people respond. Realistically, the colonization of Mars would be extremely dangerous. That is particularly true because the colonists would be cut off from convenient sources of support. Presenting this upfront tends to change how people interpret the writing prompt.

20. Would You Rather Live Underground in an Earthquake-Prone Area or High Up in a Skyscraper in a Windy Area?

This is another writing prompt that helps you figure out your preferences.

21. Would You Rather Encounter a Ghost or a Rabid Animal?

Life sometimes forces you to decide based on incomplete information. We know what to expect from rabid animals. The same is not the case for ghosts.

22. Would You Rather Live As a Noble During the Medieval Era or an Average Citizen of Modern Times?

Comparisons play an enormous role in how we perceive our status. Medieval nobles lacked a wide range of things that most people take for granted in modern times. However, they would have been much better off than the overwhelming majority of the population, who would have been subsistence farmers.

23. Would You Rather Be a Monarch or a President?

This writing prompt is another example of a false dilemma. Both terms cover a wide range of figures, so much so that it is difficult to compare them without making potentially erroneous assumptions. Indeed, monarchies can be elected, while presidencies can be inherited.

24. Would You Rather Rule Well For a Year or Rule Poorly For 20 Years?

Ethical dilemmas are always interesting to think through. This one asks whether people would prioritize their power over the well-being of a large number of people.

25. Would You Rather Invent Something Meaningful But Makes You No Money or Something Meaningless But Makes You a Lot of Money?

Everyone likes value. The critical thing is that not everyone values the same things.

26. Would You Rather Be Liked By Humans or Non-Human Animals?

Either of these two options would be a huge boon. Your priorities determine which one you would prefer.

27. Would You Rather Understand Every Human or Every Non-Human Animal?

This is another writing prompt meant to be fun while giving you some insight into your likes and dislikes.

28. Would You Rather Look Like Yourself or Look Like Someone Else?

Writing can be surprisingly beneficial for purposes of self-reflection.

29. Would You Rather Hear Everyone’s Thoughts or Have Everyone Hear Your Thoughts?

Practicing how to choose between unpleasant options can be practical.

30. Would You Rather Have One Person Find You Funny or One Thousand People Pretend to Find You Funny?

Several individuals might pretend someone is funny to avoid hurting their feelings. The same is unlikely to be the case for a thousand people doing the same. How you interpret this writing prompt could reveal much about your thinking.

31. Would You Rather Be Right But Ostracized or Wrong But Welcomed?

The NIH reminds us of the power of peer pressure. As a result, it is worth wondering how well we would stand up to it.

32. Would You Rather Speak Up and Risk Being Wrong or Stay Silent?

Fear of humiliation is another powerful social force. That makes it another thing to consider when we wonder how well we would fare under pressure.

33. Would You Rather Speak Up If You Think Your Best Friend Is Cheating On Their Partner or Stay Silent?

Personal relationships have an enormous impact on how we behave toward other people. Recognizing that helps us bring those tendencies under control rather than continue letting them run wild.

34. Would You Rather Speak Up If You Think Your Best Friend’s Partner Is Cheating On Them or Stay Silent?

For instance, some people behave differently when it is their best friend being wronged by someone rather than their best friend wronging someone.

35. Would You Rather Report an Abusive Pet Owner If You See a Pet Being Mistreated or Stay Out of It?

You might find it interesting to ask yourself whether you would intervene if you saw a case of animal abuse.

36. Would You Rather Confront an Abusive Pet Owner If You See a Pet Being Mistreated or Stay Silent?

If so, you should also ask yourself whether you would intervene when there are higher stakes.

37. Would You Rather Turn Your Best Friend In When They Commit a Minor Crime or Do Nothing?

One of the state’s most incredible successes was getting most people to buy into the legal system rather than stand by their friends and family members in every case. Still, it is worth asking whether people would turn their best friend when they know their best friend has committed a crime.

38. Would You Rather Turn Your Best Friend In When They Commit a Major Crime or Do Nothing?

A natural follow-up to the previous writing prompt is whether people would change their minds under certain circumstances.

39. Would You Rather Take All the Credit or Divide It Properly?

NPR reports fairness is so fundamental that even animals understand it. Still, it can be tempting for people to disregard it in preference for pursuing personal advantage.

40. Would You Rather Take All the Credit or Divide It Properly When There Is No Chance of You Being Caught?

The possibility of being caught is a real deterrence. This is much the same as the previous writing prompt, except you aren’t at risk of getting caught if you choose to take all the credit.

41. Would You Rather Ensure Your Survival At the Expense of Others or Risk Yourself to Help Everyone Make It in a Survival Situation?

This writing prompt touches upon everything from statistics to survival strategies. You can choose either option. Furthermore, feel free to argue that helping people is the optimal survival strategy.

42. Would You Rather Live a Short, Pleasurable Life or a Long, Painful Life?

Everyone wants to live a good life. The difficulty is that there is no consensus on what constitutes a good life.

43. Would You Rather Do Something Extraordinary No One Will Ever Know About or Something Ordinary Everyone Will Know About?

People prize public recognition. It seems safe to say its absence would have a noticeable effect on their decision-making.

44. Would You Rather Tell a Victimless Lie or Hurt Your Loved Ones?

There are longstanding arguments about whether victimless lies are wrong or not. Here, the relevant part is whether you would make one of these statements if refusing to do so hurts your loved ones.

45. Would You Rather Experience a Perfect Life In a Dream World or an Imperfect Life in the Real World?

The value of the real world is a longstanding philosophical debate that shows up in the strangest places. For example, it was a somewhat important question in The Matrix movies.

46. Would You Rather Be Rich But Wicked or Poor But Righteous?

Checking the news reveals no shortage of people who pursue wealth at the cost of their morals. This is a question worth asking, particularly if you are required to abide by a code of ethics.

47. Would You Rather Continue Eating Your Favorite Food or Make Your Loved Ones a Bit More Miserable?

Humans are sometimes altruistic. That means we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for others under certain circumstances. This writing prompt might shed some light on your thoughts on the matter.

48. Would You Rather Speak Up When You Hear an Uncomfortable Joke or Stay Silent?

Many people stay silent when they hear others make jokes that make them uncomfortable, thus making this a worthwhile question.

49. Would You Rather Speak Up When You Hear an Uncomfortable Joke From Your Loved One or Stay Silent?

The situation changes when you are close to the person making the joke. You might be more likely to speak up because you want them to be better than that. Alternatively, you might be less likely to speak up because you care more about preserving your relationship.

50. Would You Rather Stay Friends with Someone Unpopular or Drop Them to Prevent Yourself From Becoming Unpopular?

This is the kind of scenario one expects to see in high school. Unfortunately, it can show up in other contexts, potentially leaving you flat-footed if you weren’t expecting to run into it.

You can also read:

• 50 Awesome Sci-Fi Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Argumentative Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Persuasive Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Memoir Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Dialogue Writing Prompts
• 20 Awesome Ice Breaker Questions for Kids

Janine is passionate about parenting. As a mother of 5 she knows a thing or two about how to raise children. She has a love for food, travel, and making sure her children stay on the right path.

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Would rather , would sooner

Would rather

We use would rather or ’d rather to talk about preferring one thing to another. Would rather has two different constructions. (The subjects are underlined in the examples.)

In negative sentences with a different subject, the negative comes on the clause that follows, not on would rather :

She ’d rather you didn’t phone after 10 o’clock.

Not: She wouldn’t rather you phoned after 10 o’clock .

Same subject

When the subject is the same person in both clauses, we use would rather ( not ) followed by the base form of the verb:

We ’d rather go on Monday.

Not: We’d rather to go … or We’d rather going …

More than half the people questioned would rather have a shorter summer break and more holidays at other times.

I ’d rather not fly . I hate planes.

When we want to refer to the past we use would rather + have + -ed form (perfect infinitive without to ):

She would rather have spent the money on a holiday. (The money wasn’t spent on a holiday.)

I ’d rather have seen it at the cinema than on DVD. (I saw the film on DVD.)

Different subjects

When the subjects of the two clauses are different, we often use the past simple to talk about the present or future, and the past perfect to talk about the past:

I would rather they did something about it instead of just talking about it. (past simple to talk about the present or future)

Would you rather I wasn’t honest with you? (past simple to talk about the present or future)

Not: Would you rather I’m not honest with you? or … I won’t be honest with you?

I ’d rather you hadn’t rung me at work. (past perfect to talk about the past)

Much rather

We can use much with would rather to make the preference stronger. In speaking, we stress much :

I ’d much rather make a phone call than send an email.

She ’d much rather they didn’t know about what had happened.

Short responses: I’d rather not

We often use I’d rather not as a short response to say no to a suggestion or request:

A: Do you want to go for a coffee? B: I’d rather not , if you don’t mind .

Would sooner , would just as soon

We use the phrases would sooner and would just as soon when we say that we prefer one thing to another thing. They mean approximately the same as would rather :

I don’t really want to go back to France again this year. I ’d sooner go to Spain.

Thanks for the invitation, but, if you don’t mind, we ’d just as soon stay at home and watch it all on TV.

Would sooner is more common than would just as soon . However, would rather is more common than both of these phrases.

Would rather , would sooner : typical errors

We don’t use would rather or would sooner with an - ing form or a to -infinitive:

I don’t need a lift, thanks. I ’d rather walk.

Not: I’d rather to walk . or I’d rather walking .

When we use not referring to a different subject, we attach not to the second clause, not to would rather or would sooner :

I’d rather they did n’t tell anyone

Not: I’d rather not they told anyone .

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a toy made from cloth and filled with a soft material so that it is pleasant to hold, often in the form of an animal

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Would rather : How and When to Use in English

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Would rather

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Would Rather

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Both  would rather and would prefer  are used to express preferences in English. Here are some examples of short conversations that use would rather  and would prefer  to either state or ask for a preference.

John : Let's go out tonight. Mary: That's a good idea. John : How about going to a film? There's a new film out with Tom Hanks. Mary : I'd rather go out for dinner. I'm hungry! John : Okay. Which restaurant would you prefer? Mary : I'd prefer to eat at Johnny's. They serve great steaks.

Sue : I'm not sure which topic to choose for my essay. Debby : Well, what are your choices? Sue : I can write about the economy or about a book. Debby : Which would you rather write about? Sue : I'd prefer to write about a book. Debby : How about Moby Dick? Sue : No, I'd rather write about Timothy's Gift.

Would Rather - Structure

Use  would rather  plus the simple form of the verb. It's common to use would rather in the shortened I'd rather form in positive statements. Use  Would rather to refer to the present moment or a future moment in time. Here are the structures:

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + verb

Peter'd rather spend time on the beach. I would rather learn a new language than study math.

Would + subject + rather + verb 

Would you rather stay at home? Would they rather do homework tomorrow morning?

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + not + verb 

She'd rather not go to class today. I'd rather not answer that question.

Would Rather Than

Would rather is often used with than  when making a choice between two specific actions:

Would you rather eat dinner out than cook dinner tonight? She would rather play tennis than go horseback riding.

Would Rather Or

Would rather  can also be used to ask for a choice between two with the conjunction  or :

Would you rather eat here or go out? Would you rather study or watch TV?

Would Rather Someone Do

Would rather is also used to express what one person prefers another person would do. The structure is similar to the unreal conditional because it expresses an imaginary wish . However, the form is also used to ask a polite question.

S + would rather + Person + past verb 

Tom would rather Mary bought an SUV. Would you rather she stayed here with us?

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + object + past tense

I would rather my son worked in finance. Susan would rather Peter took a plane.

Would + subject + rather + object + past tense

Would you rather her sister flew home tomorrow? Would you rather he came with us to the meeting?

Would Prefer

It's also possible to use  would prefer  instead of  would rather  to speak about present preferences. In this case, follow prefer by the infinitive form of the verb :

Subject + would prefer ('d prefer) + infinitive (to do)

Jennifer would prefer to stay at home tonight. The teacher'd prefer to have the test next week.

Would + subject + prefer + infinitive (to do)

Would you prefer to go out for dinner tonight? Would they prefer to stay in New York for the week?

Expressing Preferences with Prefer

Use the simple present with  prefer  to express general preferences between people, places or objects. Use the preposition  to  to state your preference:

Subject + prefer + object + to + object

She prefers coffee to tea.  I prefer summer vacations to winter vacations. 

Do + subject + prefer +  object + to + object

Do you prefer wine to beer? Does she prefer New York to Chicago?

When stating preferences for activities, use  prefer  followed by either the gerund or the infinitive form of the verb: 

Subject + prefer + to do / doing + object

My friend prefers to finish his chores early in the morning.  Jack prefers doing his homework at home to doing it in the library.

Do + subject + prefer + to do / doing + object

When do you prefer staying at home to going out at night? Does she prefer to eat in restaurants?

Preferences Quiz I

Fill in the gap with the correct form of the verb (do, to do, doing, did):

• Jennifer'd rather _____ (stay) home for dinner tonight.
• I think I'd prefer _______ (play) chess today.
• Would you rather I _____ (leave) you alone?
• I'd rather the students _____ (study) for their test.
• Peter prefers _____ (relax) at home on the weekend.

Preferences Quiz II

Fill in the gap with  to, than, or :

• Do you prefer coffee _____ tea?
• I think I'd prefer _____ drive to California. 
• Would you rather go to the club _____ go to the beach? (asking for a choice)
• He'd rather work all day _____ go to the beach! (make a specific choice)
• My friend prefers Japanese food _____ American food.

Quiz Answers

• relaxing / to relax
• Adding Emphasis in English: Special Forms
• Guide to Expressions of Quantity
• Using Reported Speech: ESL Lesson Plan
• Adverb Placement in English
• Expressing Quantity for Large Amounts
• Negative Structures
• How to Use Have and Have Got
• The Right Way to Use 'Already' and 'Yet' in English
• Express Quantity in English for Beginning Speakers
• How to Use Just in English
• While, As, As/So Long As: Describing Action
• Learn How to Use the Present Continuous Tense
• Idioms and Expressions With the Word Make
• Idioms and Expressions With 'Do'
• Expressions of Quantity Quiz
• Using Vague Expressions - Being Imprecise

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How to use WOULD RATHER in English

By Admin 3 Comments

How to use WOULD RATHER in English 

In this lesson you will learn how to use WOULD RATHER in English. Would rather is used to show preference for one thing over another, for example:

I would rather eat fish tonight .

In this sentence ‘would rather’ means ‘would prefer’. You could also say I would prefer to eat fish tonight .

The structure uses the verb in the infinitive without ‘to’ . Look at these examples:

• I would rather cook than wash the dishes.
• He’d rather visit London than Paris.
• We’d rather not go to the cinema tonight.
• We’d rather   stay at home tonight.
• I’d rather go to the cinema on Tuesday.

You can also see how we abbreviate the subject and ‘would’.

‘ Would rather ‘ can also be used with a past tense but the meaning is present. For example: I would rather he played football this year . The difference is that we have two subjects so we use a past tense. After the second subject we use a past tense.

But as you can see, we are not talking about the past even though we are using a past tense. This is called the Unreal Past .

Look at these examples:

• I’d rather you went to pick up Tom from school.
• He’d rather you didn’t come over for dinner tonight.
• Would you rather I wasn’t so boring?

Remember that ‘would rather’ and ‘prefer’ can be used interchangeably:

• I’d rather text someone than talk by phone
• I prefer texting to speaking on the phone.

So, which tense would you rather use?

This lesson and many more of my lessons can be found at curious.com . Check them out.

Reader Interactions

March 19, 2020 at 11:04 am

hello Why ” would yo rather I wasn’t so boring? Preterit modal WASN’T devient WEREN’T Thanks for your future explanation

February 12, 2021 at 4:41 pm

Hi, I think we always use “was” for the subject of “I “ and in some special cases like conditional sentences or wish sentences we can use “were”

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• Knowledge Base
• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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Table of contents

The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

• Thesis statement
• Discussion of event/period
• Consequences
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement
• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
• Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
• Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
• High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
• Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
• Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
• Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
• Implications of the new technology for book production
• Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
• Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
• Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
• Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
• Summarize the history described
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

• Synthesis of arguments
• Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
• Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
• Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
• Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
• Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
• Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
• Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
• Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
• Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
• Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
• Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
• Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

• Point 1 (compare)
• Point 2 (compare)
• Point 3 (compare)
• Point 4 (compare)
• Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
• Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
• Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
• Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
• Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
• Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
• Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
• Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

• Introduce the problem
• Provide background
• Describe your approach to solving it
• Define the problem precisely
• Describe why it’s important
• Indicate previous approaches to the problem
• Present your new approach, and why it’s better
• Apply the new method or theory to the problem
• Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
• Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
• Describe the implications
• Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
• Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
• Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
• Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
• Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
• Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
• Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
• Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
• This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
• This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
• It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
• Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows.  It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what  comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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Essay Writing Tips: 10 Steps to Writing a Great Essay (And Have Fun Doing It!)

by Joe Bunting | 118 comments

Do you dread essay writing? Are you looking for some essay tips that will help you write an amazing essay—and have fun doing it?

Lots of students, young and old, dread essay writing. It's a daunting assignment, one that takes research, time, and concentration.

It's also an assignment that you can break up into simple steps that make writing an essay manageable and, yes, even enjoyable.

These ten essay tips completely changed my writing process—and I hope that they can do the same for you.

Essay Writing Can Be Fun

Honestly, throughout most of high school and college, I was a mediocre essay writer.

Every once in a while, I would write a really good essay, but mostly I skated by with B's and A-minuses.

I know personally how boring writing an essay can be, and also, how hard it can be to write a good one.

However, toward the end of my time as a student, I made a breakthrough. I figured out how to not only write a great essay, I learned how to have fun while doing it . 

And since then, I've become a professional writer and have written more than a dozen books. I'm not saying that these essay writing tips are going to magically turn you into a writer, but at least they can help you enjoy the process more.

I'm excited to share these ten essay writing tips with you today! But first, we need to talk about why writing an essay is so hard.

Why Writing an Essay Is So Hard

When it comes to essay writing, a lot of students find a reason to put it off. And when they tackle it, they find it difficult to string sentences together that sound like a decent stance on the assigned subject.

Here are a few reasons why essay writing is hard:

• You'd rather be scrolling through Facebook
• You're trying to write something your teacher or professor will like
• You're trying to get an A instead of writing something that's actually good
• You want to do the least amount of work possible

The biggest reason writing an essay is so hard is because we mostly focus on those external  rewards like getting a passing grade, winning our teacher's approval, or just avoiding accusations of plagiarism.

The problem is that when you focus on external approval it not only makes writing much less fun, it also makes it significantly harder.

Because when you focus on external approval, you shut down your subconscious, and the subconscious is the source of your creativity.

The subconscious is the source of your creativity.

What this means practically is that when you're trying to write that perfect, A-plus-worthy sentence, you're turning off most of your best resources and writing skills.

So stop. Stop trying to write a good essay (or even a “good-enough” essay). Instead, write an interesting  essay, write an essay you think is fascinating. And when you're finished, go back and edit it until it's “good” according to your teacher's standards.

Yes, you need to follow the guidelines in your assignment. If your teacher tells you to write a five-paragraph essay, then write a five-paragraph essay! If your teacher asks for a specific type of essay, like an analysis, argument, or research essay, then make sure you write that type of essay!

However, within those guidelines, find room to express something that is uniquely you .

I can't guarantee you'll get a higher grade (although, you almost certainly will), but I can absolutely promise you'll have a lot more fun writing.

The Step-by-Step Process to Writing a Great Essay: Your 10 Essay Writing Tips

Ready to get writing? You can read my ten best tips for having fun while writing an essay that earns you the top grade, or check out this presentation designed by our friends at Canva Presentations .

1. Remember your essay is just a story.

Every story is about conflict and change, and the truth is that essays are about conflict and change, too! The difference is that in an essay, the conflict is between different ideas , and the change is in the way we should perceive those ideas.

That means that the best essays are about surprise: “You probably think it's one way, but in reality, you should think of it this other way.” See tip #3 for more on this.

How do you know what story you're telling? The prompt should tell you.

Any list of essay prompts includes various topics and tasks associated with them. Within those topics are characters (historical, fictional, or topical) faced with difficult choices. Your job is to work with those choices, usually by analyzing them, arguing about them, researching them, or describing them in detail.

2. Before you start writing, ask yourself, “How can I have the most fun writing this?”

It's normal to feel unmotivated when writing an academic essay. I'm a writer, and honestly, I feel unmotivated to write all the time. But I have a super-ninja, judo-mind trick I like to use to help motivate myself.

Here's the secret trick: One of the interesting things about your subconscious is that it will answer any question you ask yourself. So whenever you feel unmotivated to write your essay, ask yourself the following question:

“How much fun can I have writing this?”

Your subconscious will immediately start thinking of strategies to make the writing process more fun.

The best time to have your fun is the first draft. Since you're just brainstorming within the topic, and exploring the possible ways of approaching it, the first draft is the perfect place to get creative and even a little scandalous. Here are some wild suggestions to make your next essay a load of fun:

• Research the most surprising or outrageous fact about the topic and use it as your hook.
• Use a thesaurus to research the topic's key words. Get crazy with your vocabulary as you write, working in each key word synonym as much as possible.
• Play devil's advocate and take the opposing or immoral side of the issue. See where the discussion takes you as you write.

3. As you research, ask yourself, “What surprises me about this subject?”

The temptation, when you're writing an essay, is to write what you think your teacher or professor wants to read.

Don't do this .

Instead, ask yourself, “What do I find interesting about this subject? What surprises me?”

If you can't think of anything that surprises you, anything you find interesting, then you're not searching well enough, because history, science, and literature are all brimming   over with surprises. When you look at how great ideas actually happen, the story is always, “We used  to think the world was this way. We found out we were completely wrong, and that the world is actually quite different from what we thought.”

These pieces of surprising information often make for the best topic sentences as well. Use them to outline your essay and build your body paragraphs off of each unique fact or idea. These will function as excellent hooks for your reader as you transition from one topic to the next.

(By the way, what sources should you use for research? Check out tip #10 below.)

4. Overwhelmed? Write five original sentences.

The standard three-point essay is really made up of just five original sentences surrounded by supporting paragraphs that back up those five sentences. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just write five sentences covering your most basic main points.

Here's what they might look like for this article:

• Introductory Paragraph:  While most students consider writing an essay a boring task, with the right mindset, it can actually be an enjoyable experience.
• Body #1: Most students think writing an essay is tedious because they focus on external rewards.
• Body #2: Students should instead focus on internal fulfillment when writing an essay.
• Body #3: Not only will focusing on internal fulfillment allow students to have more fun, it will also result in better essays.
• Conclusion: Writing an essay doesn't have to be simply a way to earn a good grade. Instead, it can be a means of finding fulfillment.

After you write your five sentences, it's easy to fill in the paragraphs for each one.

Now, you give it a shot!

5. Be “source heavy.”

In college, I discovered a trick that helped me go from a B-average student to an A-student, but before I explain how it works, let me warn you. This technique is powerful , but it might not work for all teachers or professors. Use with caution.

As I was writing a paper for a literature class, I realized that the articles and books I was reading said what I was trying to say much better than I ever could. So what did I do? I quoted them liberally throughout my paper. When I wasn't quoting, I re-phrased what they said in my own words, giving proper credit, of course. I found that not only did this formula create a well-written essay, it took about half the time to write.

It's good to keep in mind that using anyone else's words, even when morphed into your own phrasing, requires citation. While the definition of plagiarism is shifting with the rise of online collaboration and cooperative learning environments, always  err on the side of excessive citation to be safe.

When I used this technique, my professors sometimes mentioned that my papers were very “source” heavy. However, at the same time, they always gave me A's.

To keep yourself safe, I recommend using a 60/40 approach with your body paragraphs: Make sure 60% of the words are your own analysis and argumentation, while 40% can be quoted (or text you paraphrase) from your sources.

Like the five sentence trick, this technique makes the writing process simpler. Instead of putting the main focus on writing well, it instead forces you to research  well, which some students find easier.

6. Write the body first, the introduction second, and the conclusion last.

Introductions are often the hardest part to write because you're trying to summarize your entire essay before you've even written it yet. Instead, try writing your introduction last, giving yourself the body of the paper to figure out the main point of your essay.

This is especially important with an essay topic you are not personally interested in. I definitely recommend this in classes you either don't excel in or care much for. Take plenty of time to draft and revise your body paragraphs before  attempting to craft a meaningful introductory paragraph.

Otherwise your opening may sound awkward, wooden, and bland.

7. Most essays answer the question, “What?” Good essays answer the “Why?” The best essays answer the “How?”

If you get stuck trying to make your argument, or you're struggling to reach the required word count, try focusing on the question, “How?”

For example:

• How did J.D. Salinger convey the theme of inauthenticity in  The Catcher In the Rye ?
• How did Napoleon restore stability in France after the French Revolution?
• How does the research prove girls really do rule and boys really do drool?

If you focus on how, you'll always have enough to write about.

8. Don't be afraid to jump around.

Essay writing can be a dance. You don't have to stay in one place and write from beginning to end.

For the same reasons listed in point #6, give yourself the freedom to write as if you're circling around your topic rather than making a single, straightforward argument. Then, when you edit and proofread, you can make sure everything lines up correctly.

In fact, now is the perfect time to mention that proofreading your essay isn't just about spelling and commas.

It's about making sure your analysis or argument flows smoothly from one idea to another. (Okay, technically this comprises editing, but most students writing a high school or college essay don't take the time to complete every step of the writing process. Let's be honest.)

So as you clean up your mechanics and sentence structure, make sure your ideas flow smoothly, logically, and naturally from one to the next as you finish proofreading.

9. Here are some words and phrases you don't want to use.

• You  (You'll notice I use a lot of you's, which is great for a blog post. However, in an academic essay, it's better to omit the second-person.)
• To Be verbs (is, are, was, were, am)

Don't have time to edit? Here's a lightning-quick editing technique .

A note about “I”: Some teachers say you shouldn't use “I” statements in your writing, but the truth is that professional, academic papers often use phrases like “I believe” and “in my opinion,” especially in their introductions.

10. It's okay to use Wikipedia, if…

Wikipedia is one of the top five websites in the world for a reason: it can be a great tool for research. However, most teachers and professors don't consider Wikipedia a valid source for use in essays.

Don't totally discount it, though! Here are two ways you can use Wikipedia in your essay writing:

• Background research. If you don't know enough about your topic, Wikipedia can be a great resource to quickly learn everything you need to know to get started.
• Find sources . Check the reference section of Wikipedia's articles on your topic. While you may not be able to cite Wikipedia itself, you can often find those original sources and cite them . You can locate the links to primary and secondary sources at the bottom of any Wikipedia page under the headings “Further Reading” and “References.”

You Can Enjoy Essay Writing

The thing I regret most about high school and college is that I treated it like something I had  to do rather than something I wanted  to do.

The truth is, education is an opportunity many people in the world don't have access to.

It's a gift, not just something that makes your life more difficult. I don't want you to make the mistake of just “getting by” through school, waiting desperately for summer breaks and, eventually, graduation.

How would your life be better if you actively enjoyed writing an essay? What would school look like if you wanted to suck it dry of all the gifts it has to give you?

All I'm saying is, don't miss out!

Looking for More Essay Writing Tips?

Looking for more essay tips to strengthen your essay writing? Try some of these resources:

• 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay
• Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

How about you? Do you have any tips for writing an essay?  Let us know in the  comments .

Need more grammar help?  My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid . Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 20 percent off: WritePractice20

Coupon Code:WritePractice20 »

Ready to try out these ten essay tips to make your essay assignment fun? Spend fifteen minutes using tip #4 and write five original sentences that could be turned into an essay.

When you're finished, share your five sentences in the comments section. And don't forget to give feedback to your fellow writers!

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Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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Band 7+: Some people argue that companies and private individuals, rather than governments, should pay to clean up the pollution that they produced. To what extent do you agree or Disagree

It is believed that all companies, factories and each individual, instead of the government, have to take responsibility for cleaning up the pollution they produce. Then, I totally agree with this perspective.

First and foremost, each entity, whether a corporation or an individual, should bear the consequences of its actions. This principle encourages responsible behavior and discourages harmful practices. Furthermore, holding companies accountable for their pollution can incentivize them to adopt cleaner technologies and more sustainable practices, leading to a cleaner environment. Afterwards, assigning the cost of pollution clean up to those who produce it ensures a fair distribution of environmental burdens. It prevents society from bearing the cost of corporate profits. When those who pollute are forced to clean up their mess, we can protect our natural resources and improve public health.

While the principle of individual accountability is sound, a balanced approach is often necessary. A combination of government regulation and corporate responsibility can be effective. Government should establish standards for pollution levels and promote cleaner practices. Besides, they ought to utilize measures seriously such as environmental taxes or financial incentives to encourage sustainable behaviors.Thus, the development and use of renewable energy sources can be applied more commonly. Ultimately, overseeing compliance with regulations and strictly penalizing violations is crucial and necessary.

In summary, the balance between government regulation and individual/corporate responsibility is a complex issue. While it’s important to hold individuals and corporations accountable for their actions, excessive government regulation can stifle innovation and economic growth.

Check Your Own Essay On This Topic?

Generate a band-9 sample with your idea, overall band score, task response, coherence & cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range & accuracy, essays on the same topic:, some people argue that companies and private individuals, rather than governments, should pay to clean up the pollution that they produced. to what extent do you agree or disagree.

It is often discussed who should pay for the pollution—companies, private individuals, or governments. I believe that companies and private individuals should pay for the pollution they cause, and I agree with this idea. In this essay, I will explain why. 1. On one side, companies are responsible for a lot of pollution because of […]

People have different views about whether the pollution should be paid to clean by the local people or the government should care about it. I completely agree with the idea that every person in the community should clean up the pollution. On one hand, if companies and people pay to clean the environment with their […]

People have different view about rather the pollution should be pay to clean by the local people or the government should care about it. I completely agree with the idea of every person on the community should be clean up the pollution. On one hand, if companies and people pay to clean the environment with […]

Other Topics:

Nowadays, more and more people are looking for ways to cure their medical conditions on the internet. what are the reasons for this what are the effects of such actions.

Under the circumstance of the pervasive internet in recent time, search engines have become a useful tool for seeking information. Thus, it has become increasingly prevalent for people to look for medical remedies online. Analyzed in this essay will be how the Internet’s convenience and the financial burden pertinent to such demeanors. One of the […]

Write about the following topic: Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary schools to universities, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

In light of the evolving dynamics of education and its impact on society, I firmly disagree with the assertion that excessive emphasis is placed on the acquisition of factual knowledge at the expense of practical skills across all educational levels, from primary institutions to universities. While it is true that a significant amount of time […]

The government should support local artists financially. Do you agree?

Nowadays, there is a discussion about whether the government ought to help financially national painters or not. After weighing up both sides of the view, I strongly concur that the authority should fund in local art. Firstly, the art is a sufficient part of cultural history. Accordingly, if the government had funded country’s artists, there […]

When you travel to a new area, you should follow the new customs and traditions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some individuals are of the claim that immigrants should comply with the local customs and traditions of the country they move to. From my perspective, I partly agree with this suggestion based on some major reasons that are elucidated in this essay. On the one hand, there are some persuasive rationales that support the claim […]

Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

It is debatable that nowadays most individual no longer understand the significance of traditional carnival and only celebrate for fun. Although, the ideas are differentiated and reasonable, i would contend that traditional festivals holds a significant importance. This essay will agree to the greater extent, followed by a few reservations and end with a constructive […]

Educating young people is naturally important. However, some think government ought to invest more education for adults in need. Do you agree or disagree?

With the transformation of social norms and cultural values, it has become increasingly common for government bodies to invest in adult education, particularly in developed countries. However, education for children is of great importance. While investing in adult education poses serious challenges associated with mental health, I believe that spending money on young people does […]

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, ohio state's undergraduate letters of recommendation.

Hi folks! I'm a junior aiming for Ohio State and I'm a bit worried about the letters of recommendation part. Can anyone help me figure out how many they require and who they should be from? And do they give any tips or guidelines?

For the Ohio State University, letters of recommendation are not a part of the general application process. The university states on its admissions website that it only takes into account the application, high school transcripts, and ACT/SAT scores for the base application. Any additional materials such as letters of recommendation, resumes, or essays are not considered.

However, keep in mind that some major-specific programs or honors programs at Ohio State may require additional documents or letters of recommendation. Thus, I'd advise you to check the specific requirements for these programs or the specific college within the Ohio State University you're applying to to ensure you're accurately fulfilling their application requirements.

Also remember, even though the general admissions office may not require or consider letters of recommendation, having your teachers, counselors, or other adults who know you well write these letters can be a good exercise. They can provide valuable insights or points of view that could be useful for you when writing your college essays or applying to honors programs or scholarships, where such letters might be required.

Therefore, you should consider asking a couple of individuals who know you well academically or in a leadership capacity, such as teachers, coaches, or supervisors, who can speak at length about your qualities, achievements, and growth. As a general rule, it's always better to choose people who can provide detailed anecdotes about you, rather than someone with a prestigious title who doesn't know you as well.

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