The "deadly" mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing - even when using a dictionary

Paraphrasing is a very familiar technique for IELTS learners and is widely used in the Writing test. However, not everyone finds it easy to grasp the skill of paraphrasing accurately. Therefore, in the article below, PREP shares with you the common mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing and the rules for finding vocabulary in the correct context. Refer to the article below for more information!

I. The importance of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing

Paraphrasing is vital in IELTS Writing for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates a candidate's language proficiency by showcasing their ability to express ideas using diverse vocabulary and sentence structures. Secondly, paraphrasing helps avoid plagiarism by ensuring that candidates present information in their own words. Thirdly, it enhances clarity and cohesion in the writing by simplifying complex ideas and seamlessly integrating them into the text. Moreover, effective paraphrasing allows candidates to meet task requirements accurately, adapting their writing style to various question types. Additionally, it contributes to a higher lexical resource score by showcasing a wide vocabulary range. In essence, mastering paraphrasing skills is crucial for success in IELTS Writing, as it ensures effective communication, adherence to task guidelines, and showcases linguistic competence.

II. Specific examples of mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing

Firstly, let's take the word "negative" as an example. "Negative" can be understood as "bad or harmful," "expressing the answer ‘no’," or "not showing any evidence of a particular substance or medical condition" (in medicine). For now, let's focus on the meaning of "bad or harmful" because it's a vocabulary that can be used in various contexts. For example:

• Smoking exerts a negative impact on health.
• He always has a negative view of life.
• Many people hold a negative attitude towards tourists.

The problem arises when people start looking for ways to paraphrase the word "negative." According to the Thesaurus.com dictionary, the first synonymous word for "negative" is "adverse." "Adverse" is a very good word with the same meaning: "bad or harmful." Now let's put it all together!

• Smoking exerts an adverse impact on health (Cool! This is a good expression that will definitely help you improve your vocabulary). However,
• He always has an adverse view on life. (Oh no. Something seems wrong with the original meaning, this is an IELTS Writing paraphrasing error).
• Many people hold an adverse attitude towards tourists (Oh no! There's something off from the original meaning, this is an IELTS Writing paraphrasing error)

So what's the problem? Perhaps if you're attentive, you've already spotted the IELTS Writing paraphrasing errors, right?

• In the first sentence, "negative impact" refers to an unfavorable effect, akin to the meaning of "adverse."
• In the second sentence, "negative view on life" is more closely associated with being pessimistic. Therefore, the correct paraphrase is "pessimistic."
• In the third sentence, "negative attitude" denotes a lack of favor or a tendency to criticize. A suitable paraphrase could be "critical."

You should paraphrase the mentioned sentences as follows to avoid mistakes:

• Smoking exerts an adverse impact on health.
• He always has a pessimistic view of life.
• Many people hold a critical attitude towards tourists.

III. How to find the right vocabulary to the context

Here are some rules to help candidates find the right vocabulary for the context and avoid mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing.

1. Rule 1

After finding a word with a similar meaning that you think is correct, look up the definition of that word in the dictionary to see what it means. For example, if you look up "adverse" and find that it means "unfavorable," then you certainly wouldn't say "unfavorable view" or "unfavorable attitude towards tourists." Of course, these sentences are not entirely wrong, but they have a different meaning from the original. 

2. Rule 2

Try thinking in your mother tongue and if you feel that something is off, it means you should consult the dictionary more carefully to avoid making mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing. 

3. Rule 3

Choose a good thesaurus that provides not only synonyms but also categorizes those synonyms into different meanings. For example: Oxford Thesaurus. However, even when using such a thesaurus, remember to apply Rules 1 and 2 to avoid making mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing. 

Refer to the article:

• The ways of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing to achieve a band score of 6.5+

PREP advises that you need to use the right words in the right context to avoid making mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing. Words with similar meanings may be appropriate in one context but completely different in another context. If you understand this, you have taken a big step forward in achieving an IELTS Band 7+. A high score is certainly not easy, and you have to truly put in the effort to learn: every vocabulary word, every word with a similar meaning, and every situation where those words are similar. To succeed with a high score and avoid making mistakes in paraphrasing for IELTS Writing, you need to learn the right way. Then you will reach a high level and definitely achieve the desired score.