Crime comes up a lot in IELTS writing, usually touching on hot topics like juvenile delinquency, crime prevention, and how effective punishment really is. While most people get the gist of crime, the vocabulary can sound pretty specialized, which makes it not easy for many candidates. This often leads to repeating just a couple of words, making the writing feel a bit dull for the examiner. Actually, when discussing crime, it’s beneficial to blend both academic vocabulary and more accessible everyday terms. Keep in mind: if you find it difficult to use specialized language effectively, start with everyday vocabulary to ensure the examiner clearly understands your point.
Below are some common crime-related collocations and their everyday alternatives that you can practice, often found in public media articles.
Commonly Used Crime-Related Collocations
01 / Commit Crime
| Academic Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Commit a crime | Break the law | Many individuals commit a crime out of desperation. (The New York Times) |
| People often break the law without understanding the consequences. (USA Today) | ||
| Engage in criminal activity | Get involved in crime | Youth may engage in criminal activity due to peer pressure. (CNN) |
| Some teens choose to get involved in crime as a way to fit in. (NPR) | ||
| Perpetrate a crime | Carry out a crime | The suspect is believed to have perpetrated a crime last night. (The Guardian) |
| He was caught trying to carry out a crime in broad daylight. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Commit an offense | Do something illegal | To commit an offense can lead to serious legal repercussions. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Sometimes, people do something illegal without realizing it. (USA Today) | ||
| Engage in unlawful behavior | Act illegally | Communities are working to reduce youth engaging in unlawful behavior. (The Guardian) |
| Kids may act illegally without thinking about the repercussions. (CNN) |
02 / Criminal Activity
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | Serious crimes | Efforts to reduce violent crime are a priority for law enforcement. (NPR) |
| Serious crimes often draw significant media attention. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Property crime | Theft-related crime | The city has implemented programs to combat property crime. (The New York Times) |
| Theft-related crime is a growing concern for businesses. (USA Today) | ||
| White-collar crime | Business crime | White-collar crime often involves complex schemes. (CNN) |
| Business crime can have a significant economic impact. (The Guardian) | ||
| Cybercrime | Internet crime | Cybercrime is on the rise as technology advances. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Internet crime affects many individuals and companies. (NPR) |
03 / Criminal Behavior
| Academic Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Recidivism | Reoffending or going back to crime | Reducing recidivism is a key goal of rehabilitation programs. (The Atlantic) |
| Programs aim to reduce reoffending rates among former inmates. (CNN) | ||
| Juvenile delinquency | Youth crime or teenage offenses | Addressing juvenile delinquency requires community engagement. (NPR) |
| Efforts to combat youth crime focus on education and outreach. (The Guardian) | ||
| Criminal intent | Intent to commit a crime | Proving criminal intent is crucial in many legal cases. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Proving someone's intent to commit a crime is often tricky. (The New York Times) | ||
| Crime motive | Reason for committing a crime | Understanding crime motives can help in prevention strategies. (The Guardian) |
| Understanding the reason for committing a crime can help in prevention. (NPR) | ||
| Deviant behavior | Unusual behavior or rule-breaking | Deviant behavior can often lead to criminal activity. (Psychology Today) |
| Unusual behavior can sometimes lead to trouble with the law. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Social disorganization | Community breakdown or neighborhood issues | Communities experiencing social disorganization tend to have higher crime rates. (American Journal of Sociology) |
| High crime rates are often linked to neighborhood issues. (USA Today) | ||
| At-risk youth | Troubled teens or vulnerable young people | Programs aimed at supporting at-risk youth are crucial for prevention. (The New York Times) |
| Programs designed for troubled teens aim to provide support. (Los Angeles Times) |
04 / Criminal Justice System
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Law enforcement | Police and security | Law enforcement agencies are crucial for public safety. (USA Today) |
| Police and security personnel work together to keep communities safe. (CNN) | ||
| Criminal prosecution | Legal action against criminals | Criminal prosecution is essential for upholding justice. (The Guardian) |
| Legal action against criminals can deter future offenses. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Court proceedings | Trials and hearings | Court proceedings can be lengthy and complicated. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Trials and hearings often take months to resolve. (The New York Times) | ||
| Sentencing | Punishment given by a judge | Sentencing varies widely based on the crime committed. (NPR) |
| The punishment given by a judge often reflects the severity of the offense. (USA Today) |
05 / Criminal Law
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal liability | Legal responsibility | Criminal liability can lead to serious consequences. (NPR) |
| Legal responsibility is important in determining guilt. (The Guardian) | ||
| Legal defense | Defense in court | A solid legal defense is crucial for a fair trial. (USA Today) |
| Having a good defense in court can change the outcome. (The New York Times) | ||
| Criminal charges | Charges against someone | Facing criminal charges can have lasting repercussions. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Charges against someone can vary widely in severity. (CNN) | ||
| Acquittal | Not guilty verdict | An acquittal can restore a defendant’s reputation. (The Atlantic) |
| A not guilty verdict can be life-changing. (NPR) |
06 / Criminal Offense
| Academic Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Theft | Stealing | Theft is one of the most common criminal offenses. (The Atlantic) |
| Stealing can lead to serious legal consequences. (USA Today) | ||
| Robbery | Holding up or stick-up | Robbery involves taking property from a person by force. (CNN) |
| Holding up a store can result in severe penalties. (NPR) | ||
| Burglary | Breaking and entering | Burglary is a crime against property. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Breaking and entering can lead to imprisonment. (The Guardian) | ||
| Assault | Physical attack | Assault charges can vary in severity based on the situation. (The New York Times) |
| A physical attack can have lasting effects. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Murder | Killing | Murder is a serious criminal offense with severe penalties. (USA Today) |
| Killing someone is always treated as a major crime. (The Guardian) | ||
| Fraud | Trickery or deception | Fraud cases can involve complex schemes and significant sums of money. (NPR)> |
| Trickery in financial matters can lead to legal trouble. (The Atlantic) |
07 / Crime Prevention
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Crime prevention measures | Ways to stop crime | Effective crime prevention measures are critical for community safety. (The New York Times) |
| Ways to stop crime often include community engagement. (NPR) | ||
| Community policing | Local police efforts | Community policing has proven effective in many neighborhoods. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Local police efforts help build trust within communities. (USA Today) | ||
| Surveillance systems | Security cameras | Surveillance systems can deter criminal activity. (CNN) |
| Security cameras are often used in stores to prevent theft. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Crime awareness campaigns | Public safety initiatives | Crime awareness campaigns educate citizens on safety measures. (The Guardian) |
| Public safety initiatives can help reduce crime. (NPR) |
08 / Crime Rate
| Academic Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| High crime rate | Lots of crime | Cities with a high crime rate often face social issues. (USA Today) |
| Some neighborhoods have lots of crime that make residents uneasy. (The Guardian) | ||
| Low crime rate | Little crime | A low crime rate can attract new residents and businesses. (The New York Times) |
| Neighborhoods with little crime tend to be more desirable. (CNN) | ||
| Rising crime rate | Increasing crime | The rising crime rate has sparked community action. (The Atlantic) |
| Concerns over increasing crime are common in urban areas. (NPR) | ||
| Falling crime rate | Decreasing crime | Cities are celebrating a falling crime rate this year. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Decreasing crime can be a sign of effective policing. (The Guardian) |
09 / Punishment and Deterrence
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Imprisonment | Going to jail or being locked up | Imprisonment is often viewed as a necessary deterrent. (The New York Times) |
| Many argue that going to jail doesn't solve the problem. (The New York Times) | ||
| Fines | Money penalties or ticket costs | Fines can serve as a deterrent for minor offenses. (CNN) |
| Traffic violations usually come with hefty money penalties. (CNN) | ||
| Capital punishment | Death penalty | Debates over capital punishment continue to polarize opinions. (The Guardian) |
| The debate over the death penalty continues to rage. (The Guardian) | ||
| Deterrent effect | Discouraging impact | The deterrent effect of strict laws is often debated. (USA Today) |
| Some believe that strict laws have a strong discouraging impact on crime. (USA Today) | ||
| Restorative justice | Making amends or rehabilitation | Restorative justice aims to repair the harm caused by crime. (The Atlantic) |
| Making amends for a crime can help victims heal. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Mandatory sentencing | Fixed sentences | Mandatory sentencing laws have been criticized for their rigidity. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Fixed sentences have come under fire for being too harsh. (Los Angeles Times) | ||
| Alternative sentencing | Different kinds of punishment | Alternative sentencing options are becoming more common. (NPR) |
| Judges often consider different kinds of punishment for non-violent offenses. (NPR) |
10 / Social Impact of Crime
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Social disorder | Community issues | Social disorder often accompanies high crime rates. (The Guardian) |
| Community issues can escalate when crime rates rise. (USA Today) | ||
| Public safety | Safety for everyone | Ensuring public safety is a government priority. (CNN) |
| Safety for everyone is a major concern in urban areas. (NPR) | ||
| Fear of crime | Worry about crime | Fear of crime can affect how communities interact. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Worry about crime can lead to isolation. (The Atlantic) | ||
| Crime impact on community | Effects of crime on neighborhoods | The crime impact on community is often studied by researchers. (The New York Times) |
| The effects of crime on neighborhoods can be devastating. (The Guardian) |
11 / Victims of Crime
| Collocation | Everyday Alternative | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Victim support | Help for victims | Victim support services are vital for recovery. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Help for victims can come in many forms, including counseling. (NPR) | ||
| Victim compensation | Payment for victims | Victim compensation programs assist those affected by crime. (The Guardian) |
| Payment for victims can help them rebuild their lives. (USA Today) | ||
| Witness protection | Safe program for witnesses | The witness protection program is crucial for keeping individuals safe. (CNN) |
| A safe program for witnesses can ensure their security. (The Atlantic) |
