Mistake #10 - Misusing Adverbs of Degree
Words like very, really, extremely are okay in speaking - not writing.
❌ Example
“Pollution is a very serious problem that extremely affects people’s health.”
🎯 Why Examiners Penalise This
These adverbs add no academic precision.
✅ Band-8 Fix Method
Replace weak intensifiers with precise adjectives:
- very big → significant
- very important → crucial
- very harmful → detrimental
Continue to the next part of the series.
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📖 Series Navigation: IELTS Writing in Action — The Smart Way to Band 8+
- Part 1 — Top 10 Fatal IELTS Writing Mistakes
- Part 2 — Task Response: Avoid These Common Errors
- Part 3 — Top IELTS Grammar Pitfalls
- Part 4 — Vocabulary Misuse: Words That Hurt Your Score
- Part 5 — Coherence & Cohesion: Make Your Essay Flow
- Part 6 — IELTS Essay Types: How to Approach Each One Smartly
- Part 7 — Sentence Structure: Writing Naturally and Clearly
- Part 8 — Paraphrasing: Avoid Common Pitfalls
- Part 9 — Tone & Academic Style: Sound Band 8+ Formal and Clear
- Part 10 — Practice & Revision: Build a Smart IELTS Writing Routine
Use this navigation to jump between parts of the series and **master IELTS Writing step by step**.