Don't Overuse 'Think'
IELTS writing is a process of expressing and arguing viewpoints. Almost every paragraph may involve citing the question’s perspective and presenting your own opinion. In this process, it’s important to use a variety of words to express viewpoints and avoid overusing “think.”
Below, we’ve listed 10 alternatives to “think” that are commonly used in academic and journalistic writing, along with examples from reliable sources to demonstrate their practical application.
'Think' Alternatives: A Table View
| Synonym | Examples |
|---|---|
| Believe | 1. "Scientists believe that the universe is expanding." (BBC News) |
| 2. "Many believe the new law will improve social welfare." (The Guardian) | |
| 3. "Experts believe early education is crucial for development." (The New York Times) | |
| Argue | 1. "Some scholars argue that globalization has deepened inequality." (The Economist) |
| 2. "Critics argue that this policy is too harsh." (Reuters) | |
| 3. "Analysts argue that inflation will slow economic growth." (The Financial Times) | |
| Claim | 1. "The company claims that its new phone is more efficient." (The Wall Street Journal) |
| 2. "He claims to have seen the incident firsthand." (BBC News) | |
| 3. "The researchers claim that their study proves the theory." (Nature) | |
| Assume | 1. "We often assume that technological advances are always beneficial." (Forbes) |
| 2. "It is assumed that higher productivity will lead to growth." (The Economist) | |
| 3. "Economists assume inflation will stabilize soon." (Bloomberg) | |
| Assert | 1. "The president asserts that the country’s economy is strong." (The Guardian) |
| 2. "The author asserts that privacy laws must be strengthened." (Harvard Business Review) | |
| 3. "He asserted his innocence during the trial." (The Washington Post) | |
| Maintain | 1. "Some politicians maintain that tax cuts spur economic growth." (The New York Times) |
| 2. "The CEO maintains that the merger will be successful." (The Financial Times) | |
| 3. "She maintains that education reform is necessary." (The Guardian) | |
| Contend | 1. "Critics contend that the policy violates basic rights." (BBC News) |
| 2. "They contend that the new regulations will hurt small businesses." (Reuters) | |
| 3. "Scientists contend that this discovery could change everything." (The New York Times) | |
| Hold | 1. "Many hold the view that renewable energy is the future." (The Economist) |
| 2. "Researchers hold that early childhood education is key to success." (Harvard Business Review) | |
| 3. "He holds the belief that democracy will prevail." (The Financial Times) | |
| Suggest | 1. "Studies suggest that regular physical activity reduces stress." (The Guardian) |
| 2. "The data suggest a growing wealth gap." (The Economist) | |
| 3. "Experts suggest more funding is needed for climate research." (Forbes) | |
| Presume | 1. "Many presume the meeting will lead to concrete results." (BBC News) |
| 2. "She presumed the deal would go through without issues." (The New York Times) | |
| 3. "It’s presumed that housing prices will stabilize soon." (The Financial Times) |
