IELTS Grammar: linking with 'this'

All students learn to link ideas using words like "however", "furthermore" etc. Most students don't realise that the word "this" is also a linking word. Look at the following examples:

• Nowadays, people can use the Internet to work from home. In this way, people who do not have access to transport can find employment.
• Most products are built to last only a short time, and this creates a "throw-away" culture.
• A global economy means free trade between countries. This can strengthen political relationships.

The word "this" refers to the sentence or idea that came before. "This" helps you to link ideas and avoid repetition. Native speakers and good writers use "this" a lot, and the IELTS examiner will be impressed if you can use it.

Comments

[Gaurav]

Hi, Simon, can word 'which' be used in a similar way as well?

[Raman Brar]

Hello Sir,
Can I use THIS as a linking device for 4-5 times in an essay?

[THIS]

Thank you for THIS great post. I learned a lot from reading THIS.

[John]

Raman Brar/Gaurav

The IELTS Task 2 assessment criteria for Band 7 include: "uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use".

The question then arises: how often is too often, and how seldom is too seldom?

Firstly, let us assume we are discussing a three-hundred-word Task 2 Essay. As a benchmark, one would expect to see the word "the" used about eighteen times (300 words @6% frequency). See the graph below: https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=this+is%2Calthough%2Cit+is%2C%26%2344%3B+which+is%2Cif%2Cthe&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cthis%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Calthough%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cit%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2C%2C%20which%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cif%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cthe%3B%2Cc0

[John]

"And" has a frequency of around 2.5%, so we would expect to see that word come up about seven or eight times in a three-hundred word essay. Other linking words would normally crop up as follows:

but: not more than once
when: once in every other essay
if: once in every three essays

One only of the following (or a similar item) in each essay:

because,
while
since
though
although
this is
, which is
whereas

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=this+is%2Calthough%2Cit+is%2C%26%2344%3B+which+is%2Cif%2Cwhile%2Cwhereas%2Cwhen%2Cbecause%2Csince%2Cbut%2Cthough&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cthis%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Calthough%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cit%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2C%2C%20which%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cif%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwhile%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwhereas%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwhen%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cbecause%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Csince%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cbut%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cthough%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2Cthis%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Calthough%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cit%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2C%2C%20which%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cif%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwhile%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwhereas%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwhen%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cbecause%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Csince%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cbut%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cthough%3B%2Cc0

[John]

I am not suggesting that you should slavishly follow these frequencies, nor ration yourself: just use whatever is needed in the context. In fact, I would not go into the exam with the idea that I must use certain words or phrases: it is more important to answer the question.

The other coherence and cohesion criteria are just as important: for Band 7 they read:
-logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout
-presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

[John]

Other IELTS writing criteria state:
-arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression
-presents a clear central topic within
each paragraph.
These are just as (if not more) important. I would not go into the exam with the idea that I must use certain words or phrases. Just answer the question.