Vocabulary for viewpoint writing
Why vocabulary matters
Paper 2 Question 5 gives : a range of vocabulary and sentences, spelt and punctuated accurately. In viewpoint writing, precise words also make an argument sound confident and convincing (AO5).
These 24 words are useful in articles, letters and speeches. Learn them with the flashcards: each card gives the meaning and a sentence showing the word in use. Aim to use a handful well, not all of them.
Key terms
Judging an issue
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| detrimental | harmful |
| imperative | vitally important; it must happen |
| paramount | more important than anything else |
| inevitable | certain to happen |
| unprecedented | never happened before |
| compelling | convincing, hard to ignore |
| contentious | causing disagreement |
| indisputable | impossible to argue against |
| misguided | based on wrong ideas |
| hypocritical | saying one thing but doing another |
Verbs that argue
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| exacerbate | make a problem worse |
| alleviate | make a problem less severe |
| advocate | publicly support an idea |
| undermine | weaken, often gradually or secretly |
| scrutinise | examine closely and critically |
| jeopardise | put at risk |
Strong verbs make your point in fewer words: ‘Cutting the bus route will exacerbate isolation’ is sharper than ‘will make isolation even worse’.
People and society
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sustainable | able to continue without damaging the future |
| complacent | too satisfied to see a danger |
| vulnerable | easily hurt or harmed |
Linking an argument
Discourse markers show how your ideas connect:
| Word | Use it to |
|---|---|
| furthermore | add a stronger point |
| consequently | show a result |
| nevertheless | keep your view despite a point against it |
| admittedly | concede a point before rebutting it |
| ultimately | sum up what matters most |
Remember
‘Admittedly…, nevertheless…’ is a quick way to answer a counter-argument, which the top levels reward.