Emphasising importance in IELTS writing tasks can help you articulate your responses into well-structured, comprehensible essays. This is why you must be well-versed in the common phrases for emphasising importance. Students must have a strong grasp of commonly used phrases to construct strong arguments and responses while attempting such essays. In this blog, we have shared a comprehensive list of phrases that you can use to come up with coherent and solid responses in IELTS writing essays. That being said, read the complete article to learn more about phrases for IELTS contrasting and comparing questions in IELTS Writing Task 2.
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Most Common Phrases for Emphasising Importance in IELTS Writing
Cohesive devices such as emphasising points can help you emphasise or highlight certain bits of information or even siren your audience towards a certain bit that you deem important and must be focused on by readers.
Such devices come in handy while writing comprehensive essays and articles in IELTS Writing Task 2, wherein students are required to write well-articulated, coherent, and comprehensible essays. Using these elements, you will be able to construe or articulate your answers that are not only comprehensible but also well structured. Here are the most commonly used phrases for emphasising importance in IELTS writing.
1. It is crucial to / It is imperative to / It is vitally important to
Phrases such as it is crucial to, it is imperative to, and it is vitally important to are useful for emphasising key actions or ideas that are central to your argument. They highlight what must be done to achieve a solution or support a claim.
Example
- It is crucial to invest in early childhood education to ensure long-term social development.
- It is imperative to implement stricter environmental regulations to combat pollution.
- It is vitally important to provide adequate mental health support for students.
2. It plays a pivotal role / It is of paramount importance / It is central to
Phrases such as it plays a pivotal role, it is of paramount importance, and it is central to are used to highlight the significance of a factor, policy, or idea within your essay. They show the examiner that these points are critical to your argument.
Example
- Education plays a pivotal role in reducing economic inequality.
- It is of paramount importance to address climate change immediately.
- Public transportation is central to reducing urban traffic congestion.
3. It warrants attention / It is necessary to highlight / It should be underscored
Phrases such as it warrants attention, it is necessary to highlight, and it should be underscored are particularly useful for introducing evidence, examples, or critical aspects of your discussion. They make your essay more analytical and persuasive.
Example
- The impact of social media on youth mental health warrants attention.
- It is necessary to highlight the benefits of renewable energy for sustainable development.
- It should be underscored that urban planning affects public health significantly.
4. It is fundamental to / It is indispensable for / It is a matter of priority
Phrases such as it is fundamental to, it is indispensable for, and it is a matter of priority are used to stress essential conditions, steps, or factors needed for achieving a solution or supporting an argument.
Example
- It is fundamental to teach critical thinking skills in schools.
- Access to clean water is indispensable for public health.
- It is a matter of priority to reduce carbon emissions in industrial sectors.
5. It demands immediate attention / It is pressing that / It requires urgent focus
Phrases such as it demands immediate attention, it is pressing that, and it requires urgent focus are used to highlight issues or problems that need fast action. They emphasise urgency and importance in your essay.
Example
- Climate change demands immediate attention from governments worldwide.
- It is pressing that authorities improve urban public transport systems.
- The rising rates of youth unemployment require urgent focus.
6. It is worth emphasising that / It is important to stress that / Considerable importance should be attached to
Phrases such as it is worth emphasising that, it is important to stress that, and considerable importance should be attached to help highlight key points or evidence, showing that they are critical to your argument.
Example
- It is worth emphasising that early literacy programs improve long-term educational outcomes.
- It is important to stress that renewable energy reduces dependency on fossil fuels.
- Considerable importance should be attached to mental health support in schools.
7. It is indispensable to / It serves as a foundation for / It acts as a basis for
Phrases such as it is indispensable to, it serves as a foundation for, and it acts as a basis for are useful for explaining why certain factors, skills, or policies are necessary for success.
Example
- It is indispensable to invest in teacher training for educational improvement.
- Good governance serves as a foundation for economic growth.
- Effective healthcare policies act as a basis for national well-being.
8. It carries considerable weight / It has substantial importance / It holds major significance
Phrases such as it carries considerable weight, it has substantial importance, and it holds major significance are used to show the strong influence or relevance of a point in your essay.
Example
- Public opinion carries considerable weight in shaping government policies.
- Access to technology has substantial importance in modern education.
- Cultural heritage holds major significance for national identity.
9. It is of critical importance / It cannot be overstated that
Phrases such as it is of critical importance and it cannot be overstated that are used to emphasise the extreme significance of a point. They highlight ideas that are central to your argument and cannot be ignored.
Example
- It is of critical importance to address educational inequality in urban areas.
- It cannot be overstated that climate action is essential for future generations.
10. It is of utmost importance / It holds particular relevance
Phrases such as it is of utmost importance and it holds particular relevance are used to indicate that a point is extremely significant or directly connected to the main argument. They help prioritise key ideas in your essay.
Example
- It is of utmost importance to reduce carbon emissions to combat global warming.
- The rise of digital learning holds particular relevance for modern education systems.
Explore
Phrases for Emphasising Importance in IELTS Writing Task 2
Given below is a comprehensive list of the top-most common or frequently used phrases which you can use for emphasising importance in your IELTS writing task 2. Refer to them to create well-structured, coherent and comprehensible essay answers.
| List of Phrases for IELTS Writing Task 2 | Meaning of Phrases |
| It is crucial that | Extremely important or necessary |
| It is imperative to | Absolutely necessary or urgent |
| It is essential to | Fundamental; necessary for success or completion |
| It is vitally important to | Of very high importance; critical |
| It is vital that | Absolutely necessary; central to purpose |
| It is critically important that | Requires attention due to extreme significance |
| It is paramount to | Of the highest priority or importance |
| It is of supreme importance to | Topmost importance; cannot be overlooked |
| Of utmost importance | Highest priority; extremely significant |
| Of the highest importance | Top priority; very significant |
| It cannot be overstated that | Importance cannot be exaggerated |
| It is extremely important to emphasise that | Needs strong emphasis due to high significance |
| It is of critical importance | Absolutely essential or urgent |
| It is extremely important | Vital; not to be ignored |
| One cannot overemphasise | Importance cannot be stressed enough |
| One cannot stress too much | Extremely significant; must be highlighted |
| It is fundamental to | Basic necessity or core element |
| It is a basic necessity to | Essential requirement or condition |
| It is indispensable to | Absolutely necessary; cannot be replaced |
| It is absolutely necessary to | Must be done or considered |
| It is pivotal to | Central to success or function |
| It is centrally important to | Core importance; critical role |
| It plays a crucial role | Has a highly significant function |
| It has an extremely important function | Performs a critical or essential role |
| It is of prime importance | Top priority; highly significant |
| It is of first-rate importance | Very high significance; key element |
| It is pressing that | Urgent or requiring immediate attention |
| It is urgent that | Needs immediate focus or action |
| It is of great significance | Very important; carries weight |
| It holds major importance | Of considerable importance; impactful |
| It is worth noting that | Important to acknowledge or consider |
| It is important to point out that | Needs attention or emphasis |
| Particular emphasis should be placed on | Requires focus or special consideration |
| Special importance should be given to | Highlighted as highly significant |
| Special attention should be paid to | Requires careful focus or notice |
| Extra focus should be given to | Needs additional attention |
| It merits serious consideration | Worth careful thought or evaluation |
| It deserves careful thought | Important to think about carefully |
| It is central to | Core element or focus |
| It is at the core of | Fundamental to purpose or success |
| It is at the heart of | Central or most important aspect |
| It is at the center of | Main focus or key element |
| It is key to | Crucial to achieving outcome |
| It is essential to | Necessary for success or understanding |
| It is a matter of priority | Must be addressed first; highly important |
| It is something that must be dealt with first | Requires urgent or primary attention |
| It warrants attention | Requires focus or careful consideration |
| It requires focus | Needs concentrated effort or thought |
| It demands immediate attention | Urgent; must be addressed now |
| It requires urgent focus | Needs immediate prioritization |
| It is a prerequisite for | Necessary condition before proceeding |
| It is a necessary requirement for | Essential step or condition |
| It is a cornerstone of | Fundamental building block or element |
| It is a fundamental element of | Basic essential component |
| It is integral to | Crucial part of the whole |
| It is an essential part of | Necessary component or section |
| It serves as a foundation for | Supports or underpins further development |
| It acts as a basis for | Forms the essential support or principle |
| It is worth emphasizing that | Important point that must be highlighted |
| It is important to stress that | Needs strong attention or focus |
| Considerable importance should be attached to | Requires emphasis due to significance |
| Great importance should be given to | Highly significant; must be prioritized |
| It is necessary to highlight | Important to draw attention to |
| It is important to emphasize | Needs clear focus or recognition |
| It is incumbent upon us to | Our responsibility or duty |
| It is our duty/responsibility to | Moral or practical obligation |
| It is compelling to note | Worth highlighting due to importance |
| It is forcefully important to observe | Strongly requires attention |
| The significance of this cannot be ignored | Must be acknowledged due to importance |
| The importance of this cannot be overlooked | Cannot ignore; highly relevant |
| This assumes great importance | Becomes highly significant |
| This takes on great importance | Gains priority or relevance |
| This holds particular relevance | Especially important in context |
| This is especially important | Critical for consideration |
| This carries considerable weight | Has significant impact or influence |
| This has substantial importance | Highly meaningful or necessary |
| This is of paramount concern | Top priority; very serious |
| This is of supreme importance | Cannot be ignored; top significance |
| There is a pressing need for | Immediate attention required |
| There is an urgent requirement for | Needs to be addressed quickly |
| It is universally recognised that | Must be understood due to significance |
| It is essential to understand that | Necessary for comprehension or decision |
| It is absolutely necessary | Cannot be omitted or avoided |
| It is completely required | Fully necessary; mandatory |
| Without doubt | Certainly; beyond question |
| Certainly, without question | Undeniably; with full certainty |
| Undeniably | Cannot be denied; clearly true |
| Cannot be denied | Obvious and indisputable |
| Unquestionably | Absolutely certain; no doubt |
| Beyond any doubt | Clearly true; cannot be contested |
| Undoubtedly | Without any doubt; indisputable |
| Without a doubt | Fully certain; undeniably true |
| It goes without saying that | Obviously true; implicit understanding |
| It is obvious that | Clear and apparent |
| Needless to say | Clearly understood; taken for granted |
| Obviously | Self-evident; apparent |
| It is widely acknowledged that | Generally accepted as true |
| It is critical to recognise that | Commonly known or agreed |
| It is commonly accepted that | Broad consensus or understanding |
| It is generally agreed that | Widely acknowledged |
| It is recognised by everyone that | Accepted by everyone |
| Must agree or recognise importance | Common knowledge or consensus |
| It is self-evident that | Clearly true without explanation |
| It is obviously true that | Evident fact; indisputable |
| Above all | Most importantly; priority over others |
| Most importantly | Primary focus or consideration |
| First and foremost | Priority above all else |
| Before anything else | Comes first in importance |
| Primarily | Mainly; for the most part |
| Mainly, most importantly | Core focus or central aspect |
| More important than anything else | Highest priority; topmost significance |
| More significantly | Of greater importance |
| More importantly | Carries higher significance |
| Notably | Worth noticing; significant |
| Particularly worth noting | Deserves special attention |
| Particularly | Especially; of notable significance |
| Especially | More than usual; important |
| Particularly, above all | Most crucial among factors |
| In particular | Specifically relevant or important |
| Specifically | Focused on a key point |
| Significantly | Of substantial importance |
| In an important manner | Done with critical focus |
| Remarkably | Worth noting due to significance |
| Noticeably, impressively | Evident importance or impact |
| Crucially | Of essential importance |
| In a crucial manner | Critical way or function |
| Fundamentally | Essentially; at the core |
| In a basic, essential way | Simple, necessary foundation |
| Essentially | At the heart; central meaning |
| Basically, fundamentally | Core essential idea |
| Principally | Mainly; most importantly |
| Mainly, chiefly | Predominant focus or importance |
| Chiefly | Primarily; central focus |
| Mainly, principally | Principal or primary focus |
| Predominantly | Mostly; of main importance |
| Mainly, for the most part | Mostly; generally important |
| It bears mentioning that | Worth noting or highlighting |
| It is worth mentioning that | Important to point out |
| It must be emphasized that | Requires strong attention |
| It needs to be stressed that | Important to highlight |
| It should be stressed that | Requires emphasis |
| Cannot minimise significance | Must be highlighted or noted |
| It should be highlighted that | Worth special attention |
| It should be brought to attention that | Needs focus or notice |
| It should be underscored that | Important to make clear |
| It should be emphasised that | Cannot be ignored; essential |
| It needs to be acknowledged that | Requires recognition |
| It must be acknowledged that | Cannot overlook; important |
| It needs to be accepted that | It must be recognised that |
| One must bear in mind that | Important to remember |
| One should remember that | Needs to be kept in mind |
| It is important to bear in mind | Must be considered carefully |
| It is important to remember | Requires recollection or attention |
| It is important to consider that | Needs thoughtful attention |
| It is important to think about the fact that | Requires reflection |
| We must take into account | Requires consideration |
| We need to consider | Must evaluate or acknowledge |
| We must not overlook | Cannot ignore; important |
| We must not ignore | Requires attention |
| We cannot afford to ignore | Essential to address |
| We must not fail to pay attention to | Critical to notice |
| We cannot underestimate | Must not diminish importance |
| We must not think it is less important than it is | Must be prioritised |
| It would be remiss not to mention | Necessary to highlight |
| It would be a failure of duty not to mention | Obligation to note |
| It is worth pointing out | Important to highlight |
| It is valuable to mention | Should be acknowledged |
| Attention must be drawn to | Requires focus or notice |
| Focus must be placed on | Needs concentration |
| Emphasis must be placed on | Should be highlighted |
| Importance must be given to | Must be prioritized |
| Priority should be given to | Must be addressed first |
| First attention should be given to | Needs immediate focus |
| Precedence should be given to | Must come before other things |
| This takes precedence over | More important than other matters |
| This is more important than | Overrides other considerations |
| This supersedes | Replaces or takes priority over |
| This is more important than and replaces | Overrides prior elements |
| This outweighs | Carries greater significance |
| This is second to none | Highest level of importance |
| This is more important than anything else | Absolute priority |
| Nothing is more important than | Supreme importance |
| It is generally recognised that | Top priority |
How to Use Phrases for Emphasising Importance in IELTS Writing?
Here are the best tips for using phrases in IELTS writing tasks to emphasise importance. Have a look.
- Avoid repeating terms like “crucial point,” “key takeaway,” and “most importantly.” They sound formulaic and don’t add much value.
- Instead of just saying something is important, demonstrate its significance through your writing.
- Use strong verbs, vivid descriptions, and logical connections to show why your point matters.
- Use emphasis phrases strategically to highlight specific ideas, examples, or details within your sentence or paragraph. Don’t use them generically for the entire section.
- Explore a range of alternatives to overused phrases. Consider verbs like “underscore,” “highlight,” “illuminate,” or “amplify,” followed by specific details.
- Tailor your emphasis language to the expectations of the IELTS examiner. Use slightly formal language, but avoid sounding unnatural.
- Practice using emphasis phrases in different contexts to develop your vocabulary and writing style.
- The best way to emphasise importance is to write clearly, concisely, and engagingly, drawing the reader’s attention to key points naturally.
Using a variety of formal and high-impact phrases in IELTS Writing Task 2 can significantly improve the clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness of your essay. Expressions such as it is crucial that, above all, and it is worth emphasizing that help highlight key arguments, provide emphasis, and show critical thinking. Incorporating these phrases naturally into your writing demonstrates a strong command of academic English and enhances the overall impression on examiners, ultimately contributing to a higher band score.
FAQs
Ans: Some of the most common phrases used for emphasising importance in IELTS are above all, especially, particularly, indeed and in fact.
Ans: For those undertaking the writing section of the IELTS exam, having a solid grasp of vocabulary and idioms is paramount. Ensure your words reach the examiner with perfect clarity, preventing confusion or disengagement. Remember, clarity and pace are fundamental elements of successful writing in the IELTS writing tasks. Mastering these aspects will not only ensure understanding but also demonstrate your fluency and confidence.
Ans: The IELTS Writing Task requires individuals to complete the task within 60 minutes.
Ans. Formal phrases help structure your essay, emphasize key points, and make your arguments more persuasive. They also demonstrate a strong command of academic English, which is important for achieving a higher band score.
Ans. You can, but it should feel natural. Overloading a sentence with phrases can make it confusing. Use one strong phrase per key idea for clarity and impact.
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