The phrase “it announces that” might sound strange to your ears, and you’d be right to be cautious! While grammatically possible, it’s not a common or natural way to express announcements in English. In this article, we’ll explore why this phrase sounds off, delve into alternative ways to express announcements, and provide you with the tools to achieve a higher band score in your IELTS writing.
Let’s start by looking at a few examples of how this phrase might be used (and why they might sound awkward):
- Incorrect: It announces that the library will be closed on Sundays.
- Incorrect: The website it announces that there are no tickets left.
- Potentially Correct but Awkward: The booming voice from the loudspeaker, it announces that the show is about to begin.
You can see from these examples that while grammatically sound in some cases, the use of “it announces that” feels clunky and unnatural.
Why “It Announces That” Sounds Unnatural
The pronoun “it” is often used for impersonal subjects, referring to things without gender or weather conditions. However, announcements usually come from a specific source, making “it” too vague.
Announcements are usually made by:
- People: The principal, the news reporter, the company spokesperson
- Organizations: The school board, the government, the company
- Media: The radio, the television, the website
formal-announcement|Formal Announcement|An image of a formal announcement being made on a stage with a microphone and a banner in the background.
Expressing Announcements Effectively for IELTS
Let’s explore effective ways to convey announcements in your writing, using vocabulary that demonstrates your grasp of formal English:
Verbs for Announcements:
Instead of “announce,” consider these verbs:
- State: The report states that unemployment has fallen.
- Declare: The government declared a state of emergency.
- Reveal: The survey reveals a growing trend of online shopping.
- Indicate: The data indicates a strong correlation between education and income.
Formal Structures:
- It was announced that… : It was announced that the new policy would take effect immediately.
- [Source] announced that… : The company announced that it would be expanding its operations overseas.
- According to [source], … : According to the latest census data, the city’s population has grown by 10%.
Examples in IELTS Writing:
Task 1 (Describing a graph):
- Instead of: The graph it announces that there was a sharp decline in sales.
- Write: The graph illustrates a sharp decline in sales between 2010 and 2015.
Task 2 (Opinion Essay):
- Instead of: Some people believe it announces that technology is making us less social.
- Write: Critics argue that the increasing reliance on technology is leading to social isolation.
Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
1. Subject-Verb Agreement:
- Incorrect: The company have announced their new product line.
- Correct: The company has announced its new product line.
2. Use of Commas:
- Incorrect: The Prime Minister announced, that taxes would be lowered.
- Correct: The Prime Minister announced that taxes would be lowered.
3. Vague Language:
- Incorrect: It is announced that there are changes coming.
- Correct: The school board has announced that there will be changes to the curriculum next year.
Conclusion
By mastering these alternatives to “it announces that,” you can ensure your IELTS writing is clear, concise, and natural-sounding, ultimately boosting your band score. Remember to focus on using a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures to demonstrate your language proficiency. Good luck!
