Avoiding phrasal verbs in formal writing

IELTS Writing, Part 2: Avoid using phrasal verbs

English language learners are often encouraged to learn long lists of phrasal verbs. While
phrasal verbs are generally very common and useful for learners to know, they are usually
not appropriate for formal writing such as the IELTS Writing exam. Instead, it is better to
use a one-word synonym where possible, for example ‘determine’, ‘establish’ or ‘ascertain’
instead of ‘find out’.

These one-word synonyms often come from Latin, so if your first language is Latin-based,
try to think of cognates. Where there are several synonyms, remember that they may
have slightly different meanings or be used in slightly different contexts. Sometimes it is
also possible to add or alter meaning using suffixes.
Note
1. It is perfectly acceptable to use phrasal verbs in the IELTS Speaking exam.
2. Structures like ‘go up’ and ‘go down’, commonly used for IELTS Writing Part 1, are
acceptable because they are not phrasal verbs.

Task 1
Can you think of more formal synonyms for the phrasal verbs in bold?

1. Some children mess around at school instead of studying.

Synonym: ………………………………

2. She applied for the job but messed up in the interview.

Synonym: ………………………………

3. He takes after his father, being dark and handsome with a prominent jaw.

Synonym: ………………………………

4. Many politicians appear to make up their policies once they have been elected.

Synonym: ………………………………

5. The club is made up of keen amateur players.

Synonym: ………………………………

6. To raise the price of their property, many people do it up first.

Synonym: ………………………………

7. Tabloid journalists tend to go after prominent people who they dislike.

Synonym: ………………………………

8. Many people in urban areas have to put up with high crime.

Synonym: ………………………………

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 Avoiding phrasal verbs in formal writing

If you need some help, try using a thesaurus and a dictionary, or the word list below. Note
that there are more synonyms than spaces. Note also that you will need to use the correct
form of the verb (bare infinitive, past simple, etc.).

Word list

attack compose comprise consist endure

invent misbehave persecute redecorate renovate
resemble suffer tolerate underperform

Task 2

The paragraph below is part of a student's answer to this IELTS Writing Part 2 question:

‘Young people should be pressured by their teachers and parents to study as hard as
possible at school and university.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Read the text and highlight/underline all the phrasal verbs. Then rewrite it to make it more
formal by changing the phrasal verbs into more neutral or formal synonyms.

Many young people go out at night instead of studying. Some hang out in the local park
and mess around with their friends, putting off doing their homework. Others get drunk or
shoot up drugs, messing up their ability to concentrate the next day. If these young people
do not study at school, it can cause more social problems in the future. However, if their
parents or their teachers tell them off, it will not get through to them. The best way is to
convince young people of the merits of education.

Task 3

Discuss the following question:

What other kinds of informal or idiomatic language are inappropriate for an IELTS Writing
Part 2 essay?

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Task 4

Write your own answer to the question in task 2.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant personal experience.
Write at least 250 words.

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 Avoiding phrasal verbs in formal writing

Suggested answers

Task 1

1. mess around: misbehave

2. messed up: underperformed

3. take after: resembles

4. make up: invent

5. made up: composed

To use use comprise, you would need to remove of: The club comprises keen
amateur players.
To use consist, you would need to remove is: The club consists of keen amateur
players.

6. do up: redecorate/renovate

The object pronoun obviously comes after the verb: renovate it / redecorate it.

7. go after: attack/persecute

8. put up with: suffer/tolerate/endure

Task 2

Many young people go out / socialise at night instead of studying. Some relax/socialise
in the local park and misbehave / behave stupidly with their friends, avoiding doing their
homework. Others get drunk or take drugs, damaging / harming / adversely affecting
their ability to concentrate the next day. If these young people do not study at school, it
can cause more social problems in the future. However, if their parents or their teachers
scold/reproach/reprimand them, it will not mean anything to them. The best way is to
convince young people of the merits of education.

Note: There is no exact synonym for the last phrasal verb, get through.

Task 3

1. Swear words or other slang, e.g. get pissed.

2. Short forms, e.g. don’t; won’t.
3. Abbreviations and textspeak, e.g. nite (for night); ppl (for people).
4. And or But at the start of a sentence.

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