“Better late than never” is a well-known English proverb that can be quite useful in your IELTS exam. Understanding its meaning, usage, and related vocabulary will help you effectively incorporate it into your responses, enhancing your language variety and depth. Let’s delve into the details of this phrase and explore related expressions to broaden your vocabulary horizons.
What Does “Better Late than Never” Mean?
Explanation and Pronunciation
- Proverb: Better late than never /ˈbetər leɪt ðæn ˈnɛvər/
- Meaning: It is preferable to do something late than to never do it at all.
This proverb suggests that completing a task, however delayed, is more beneficial than not doing it at all.
Example Sentences
- She finally finished her report yesterday. It’s better late than never.
- John apologized for his earlier mistake after a week, but better late than never.
- The government completed the bridge after many years of delay. Better late than never.
Relevance in IELTS Exams
Usage in Essays and Speaking Tests
The phrase “better late than never” is commonly used to illustrate points about procrastination, delays, and eventual completion in both the Writing and Speaking sections of the IELTS exam. Using this phrase can add a touch of idiomatic language, which is valued in these tests.
Common Related Keywords (LSI)
- Procrastination
- Delays
- Completion
- Apology
- Punctuality
Sample IELTS Essay Task
Question: In many countries, students tend to delay their assignments and projects. Discuss the causes and suggest possible solutions.
Example:
One major cause of this procrastination is the lack of effective time management skills. Students often believe they have ample time to complete their tasks. However, when they eventually submit their assignments, better late than never, it affects the grading and their overall performance.
Better Late than Never
Sample Speaking Task
Topic: Describe a time when you completed something important after it was originally due.
Response:
“I remember a project I was assigned to complete at work. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t finish it on time. However, I made sure to submit it eventually because I believe better late than never. Despite the delay, my efforts were appreciated and I learned valuable lessons about managing my time better.”
Combining the Phrase with Other Vocabulary
Vocabulary Expansion
- Procrastination (n): The action of delaying or postponing something.
- Example: Students’ procrastination often leads to last-minute panic.
- Delay (n): A period of time by which something is late or postponed.
- Example: The delay in the project was unavoidable.
- Completion (n): The action or process of finishing something.
- Example: The timely completion of the project saved a lot of resources.
- Apology (n): A regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.
- Example: He offered an apology for the late submission and vowed to improve.
- Punctuality (n): The fact or quality of being on time.
- Example: Punctuality is crucial for maintaining a good professional reputation.
Collocations and Usage
- Procrastination: habitual procrastination, chronic procrastination
- Delay: unavoidable delay, significant delay
- Completion: timely completion, successful completion
- Apology: heartfelt apology, public apology
- Punctuality: strict punctuality, valued punctuality
Related Idioms and Phrases
“Time waits for no man”: Emphasizes the need to act promptly.
- Example: Realizing that time waits for no man, she hurried to complete her tasks.
“In the nick of time”: Just in time; at the last possible moment.
- Example: He finished the exam in the nick of time.
“Better safe than sorry”: It’s wiser to be cautious.
- Example: She carried an umbrella, better safe than sorry.
“A stitch in time saves nine”: Acting early can save a lot of trouble later.
- Example: Fixing the leak now is wise, a stitch in time saves nine.
“Making up for lost time”: Doing something quickly to compensate for the time wasted.
- Example: After the delay, he worked hard, making up for lost time.
Conclusion
To sum up, understanding and employing the phrase “better late than never” can significantly enhance your IELTS Writing and Speaking scores by introducing idiomatic language and depth into your responses. Practice incorporating this and related phrases into your essays and verbal answers to demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency.
For further reading and examples on related idioms, consider checking out these articles:
Remember, mastering phrases like these can set you apart in your IELTS preparation. Good luck!