uk best essays

We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing you agree with our  cookie policy .

LET OUR TRUSTED WRITING SERVICE DO YOUR ESSAY FOR YOU!

Price per page : £0.00

Total price: £ 0 .00 £ 0 .00

Writers online

Originality guarantee

Customer support

You will get the grade you deserve without having to worry about unrealistic deadlines and without having to stress yourself out to the point where you feel like giving up.  See reviews

Lab Report, Chemistry, 5 pages, 48 hours, HNC / HND

Frankly speaking I hate chemistry. Just can't stand it. And when the professor asked us to write a lab report I felt hopeless. Luckily, I've got you! The writer performed me a perfect assignment. I...

Book Review, Philosophy, 5 pages, 24 hours, Undergraduate

I love the book review your writers have performed for me. It's well-structured and all the questions have been answered. I'm sure it will bring me a good grade.

Term Paper, Literature, 24 pages, 5 days, HNC / HND

I don't even want to think what would happen to me if I haven't ordered term paper from you. Your writer saved me from failing. The paper was delivered on time and was flawless. Thank you for an ex...

Essay, Politics, 6 pages, 48 hours, GCSE / A Level

Thanks to your writer I have got a good grade without extra efforts. Your writers are very experienced as I can see. And the support managers are really cool. Thank you for the paper!

Essay, Art, 7 pages, 6 hours, HNC / HND

Great essay! I'm not really good at writing essays. I'd rather make some piece of art than write about it. Thank you for helping me to go through it :) Really appreciate it!

Case Study, Sociology, 12 pages, 4 days, HNC / HND

You guys have saved me again! Without your help I would definitely fail! Thanks a lot! I have already ordered 4 papers from you and will not stop :) You are the best!

Coursework, 4 pages, 8 hours, HNC / HND

I have had an urgent order, but the writer still didn't fail to meet the deadline! I'm happy I've ordered from you. The coursework brought me "A" and I didn't make any extra efforts for it. Brilliant!

Essay, Psychology, 12 pages, 48 hours, HNC / HND

Thank you for the essay! My professor is so strict that it's almost impossible to satisfy him. However your writers did it! I've received "A" for the essay, being the only one student with such a g...

Essay, Law, 6 pages, 48 hours, HNC / HND

It's so cool that I've found your service! Got a wonderful essay from you. Now I'm thinking about ordering other writing assignments from you. So far the best service I've ever used.

Research Paper, Science, 11 pages, 7 days, Undergraduate

Have ordered a research paper from this service. The writer made me a really nice paper and it didn't need any revisions. I'm happy with the result. Definitely will order other papers from them.

You are a student and you have no time. Indeed, time is a limited and valuable resource and there are so many things you won’t find a better occasion to do. We walked in those shoes, too, and that’s why UK Writings was launched. We are those hours lacking so badly in your schedule. 

We name ourselves UK Writings because we know the insides of the UK educational system and can best cater to its requirements. We also keep in mind that every instructor has their own expectations of what a well-written project is so we do everything possible to meet all the instructions. We will appreciate your involvement in the research and writing process as we strongly believe in the power of cooperation. Alternatively, we have a large pool of resources to use in case you can’t provide materials for the given topic.

You can contact us any day and hour since our amazing team is available 24/7. Scroll to get to know us better!

• Limitless Amendments
• Bibliography
• Plagiarism Report

• Number of pages 4
• Urgency 3 days
• Academic level Master's
• Subject area IT
• Number of references 4
• Number of pages 5
• Urgency 7 days
• Subject area Management
• Style Harvard
• Number of references 12

The Best Essay Writing Service in The UK

We created a dynamic and flexible system that allows students from all over the UK and beyond to find an expert to do their tiresome writing assignments. The writers in our team are certified professionals, each holding a degree in one or more of the subjects listed in the order form. We cooperate with former students of the UK universities to better understand the needs of our clients and the demands of the educational system. So whenever you turn to us with whatever writing-related emergency, there is always someone to help you.

We are proud to have students from London, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, Dublin, Bristol, Coventry and Brighton among our friends and loyal customers.

With us, you get effective and timely help and win the twin-advantage of being excellent in both academic and personal life.

The Types of Papers and Subjects We Cover

Here is the list of top popular subjects we get orders for. Find yours or contact us if you seek an online essay help with something not listed here. Remember, thoughts and imagination are the only real limits to one’s possibilities:

• English Language
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Medicine and Nursing
• Business Studies
• Engineering

We can help with any paper type. Here is the list of most requested ones. If you don’t see the one you need, please contact us.

• Dissertations
• Thesis proposals and writing
• Admissions essays
• Argumentative essays
• Cause and effect essays
• Literary critiques
• Personal essays
• Descriptive essays
• Lab reports
• Mathematical and scientific calculations, data analysis and theoretical essays
• Case studies

Personalisation is another word for what we do. All papers are written from scratch, there are no templates and we regularly update our library to ensure a unique text every time.

Meet Our Writers

Time to meet the people behind the UK Writings logo! Our writers are the engine running our system and also the ones that you, dear clients, talk to most frequently here. So we treat the process of writer assigning with the utmost care.

Everyone within our UK essay writing team is an expert in their chosen field and they have the corresponding credentials to prove it. We give priority to writers originating from the UK. All the candidates pass our English test that puts a special emphasis on grammar and spelling as well as a text’s integrity and readability. The freshmen who successfully completed the test and verifications start their internal probation upon completion of which they get to work with the clients.

As of today we have delivered dozens of thousands of excellent papers to students from the UK and beyond. Well, you must have already checked the customers’ reviews, have you not?

Continuous Support – We Are Here When You Need Us!

While your writer might not be able to answer you instantly, our fantastic support team is online 24/7 all year round. One of the agents will hear you out and offer an effective solution or suggest actionable advice. They are the first place to go if you have trouble placing an order or want to know your order status. Need to discuss your existing order? Looking for something that is not listed on the website and/or in the order form? Interested in the working process? Don’t hesitate to get in touch using phone or live chat.

Academic paper writing

Dissertation services

Proofreading

Copywriting

UKwritings guarantee the privacy of all the customers and never share their personal information with third parties. For more details read our Privacy Policy.

• Best Dissertation Writing Services 2024
• BritishEssayWriters.co.uk Review
• EssayWriter.co.uk Review
• Instant Assignment Help Review
• Oxbridge Essays Review
• Assignment Ace Review
• BuyEssay.co.uk Review
• LawTeacher Review
• BrillAssignment Review
• Projectsdeal Review
• Gotoassignmenthelp.com Review
• MHR Writer Review
• OxEssays Review
• Assignment Master Review
• 15writers Review
• Essay Speedy Review
• UkWritings Review
• State Of Writing Review

Best essay writing services UK 2024

Find the best essay writing service in uk.

Are you pondering how to compose your essay while seated in front of a computer? Writing a college essay or paper is a necessary component of the university experience. Still, it is not sufficient to submit pages containing hundreds of words in order for the professors to approve the paper. An essay must have a logical structure and a coherent narrative that adequately addresses the topic and confidently expresses the author’s knowledge, thought, or opinion on a particular subject. Therefore, achieving the ideal essay can be a difficult and stressful task for English college students, particularly if it is one of their professors’ favourite assignments and they are frequently required to write one or more essays per week on unimaginable topics.

Searching for reliable and trustworthy academic writing service in the UK? You are in the right place. By reading our essay writing service reviews, you can get industry insights, cases, and the best essay writing service ratings that are aimed to make your lives easier.

It’s not easy to find legitimate and reputable essay writing services. It took us a lot of time before we could honestly say that, yeah, this or that platform is the best essay writing service in the UK

Are you looking for a truly professional and reliable essay writing service in the UK to reduce the stress of writing a lot of essays? Great! We’re here to help you find qualified essay writers in the UK who can deliver superb essay writing reviews of our secret buyers!

Here at Uk Best Essays, we’re committed to assisting students to make the right choice of an online essay writing service. We do that by reviewing some of the most popular UK essay writing services and giving them rating according to a number of quality indicators, including:

• quality of essay writing
• speed of delivery
• customer service availability

The main purpose of Uk Best Essays is to help you choose the best essay writing service uk and avoid scams. Unfortunately, there are lots of scam websites out there that deliver plagiarized essays while charging students unbelievable prices.

We think that reviews of the best UK essay writing services are a good way to differentiate between legitimate companies and scams, so we did our best at writing detailed reviews that you need to make a well-informed decision.

How does UkBestEssays Produce Essay Writing Service Reviews?

The process that we use here at UkBestEssays is pretty sophisticated and delivers great results:

Step 1: Research

At this point, we search for essay writing services in UK using specific keywords and add them to our list. This process is ongoing because more and more companies enter the industry, and many of them present themselves as “best essay writing services in uk.”

It’s a little bit weird to us that someone would call their company “the best” after being in the industry for less than one month, so we find out whether essay writing services are as great as they claim to be.

Step 2: Analysis

A selected essay writing service uk is analyzed by using a number of specific factors before the contact. They include:

• Design of the website. A poorly designed website that takes about 10 seconds to load is a strong predictor that the company doesn’t care for customer experience as much as it should. Errors like missing pages, broken links, and complex navigation are also taken into account.
• Payment. At this point, we check whether the service has a secure payment system to guarantee that the customers’ funds are protected. Also, we compare the prices to the average in the industry to identify their price category and make better recommendations to students.
• Customer Service. Does this UK essay writing service have a readily available customer service? What communication channels are available (email, live chat, etc.)? Does their customer service work 24/7?
• Reviews. If the website of an essay writing service has a section with reviews, we read them and analyze for authenticity. In many cases, a lack of such a section suggests that a company may be a scam.
• Discounts. We check if the service has some discounts or other perks for regular or first-time clients.
• Writers. Many legitimate UK essay writing services allow to see the list of their best writers, which we especially like since it provides additional hints about the scope of their business or, in some cases, qualifications of writers.

Step 3: Contact

Now that we have enough information about an essay service, we proceed to the next step: contact. At UkBestEssays.co.uk, we have persons acting as secret shoppers, and they do most of the work at this point. Here’s what they do:

• A secret shopper contacts an essay writing service looking for quality British essay writers. He or she has a certain academic task to write, such as an essay, research paper, a presentation, or another paper
• The secret shopper places an order and provides the service with all materials and information they need to write an excellent paper
• The secret shopper asks if they can select a specific writer to complete their UK essay
• The shopper receives the paper and deletes their account on their website in case the creation was a mandatory requirement.

Step 4: Evaluation

At this step, we analyze the results. We think that the best reviews are those that provide maximum value, so we try to include as much relevant information as possible. For example, we try to answer the following questions to help you make the best choice:

• Was the price of the order higher than the industry average?
• Was the customer service readily available? Was it professional? Was it available for questions?
• How was the communication with the writer? Was he/she available for additional instructions or questions?
• Does the service provide any discounts for loyal or first-time customers?
• How was the quality of the academic writing received? Formatting style?
• Was the essay delivered on time?
• Were there any unexpected issues that emerged during the project?
• How was the overall customer experience?
• Would we recommend this UK essay writing service to others?

Step 5: Sharing the Essay Review with You!

Now that we have completed a full review of a selected essay writing service, we post the review at WEBSITE so you can find out about our experience.

What are the Signs of a Legit Essay Writing Service?

So far, our experience has told us that even well-designed websites that may seem to be legit can turn out to be a scam. That’s why our number one rule about creating quality UK essay writing service reviews is to gather as much information as possible.

Often, we encounter that the following sings are strong predictors of a legit essay writing service:

• A secure payment system
• Positive reviews from previous customers
• Fast-loading, well-designed website
• A well-maintained blog
• 24/7 customer service.

Are All Essay Writing Services the Same?

No. While many of them share a lot of features, the most important difference that’s relevant to you as a customer is the way in which they assign writers to complete orders. According to our reviewers, there are two main ways: an assignment system (the traditional one) and a bidding system.

Here’s a comparison of these two systems.

If you like what you’re reading, why not check essay writing service reviews at UkBestEssays right now?

Essay Writing Service

Why choose our essay service?

Whether you’re short on time, short on research or just short on patience, our academic specialists are here to help. They will help you to create an outstanding essay that’s bound to impress your tutors. Better still, you can communicate with your writer directly, which means you’ll be able to contribute to the development of the essay - that's if you want to, of course! Our writers are just as happy to work collaboratively as they are to take the reins - just let us know your preference. What’s more, our friendly customer support team are here 24/7 to make sure everything runs smoothly. That's not all, though - check out the full benefits of our essay writing service below:

• Access to expertise You’ll be matched with a writer who has studied your subject at bachelor’s degree level or higher. Most of our writers are PhD-holders so, rest assured, your essay is in good hands!
• Perfect English All of our writers hold UK degrees and write with native proficiency
• Choose the standard and level Select your standard (1st, 2:1, 2:2), from undergraduate through to PhD level
• Track progress Track the progress via your customer panel and access 24/7 customer support
• Set the deadline and word count You are in control of your order – just tell us what you need!
• Free revisions We pride ourselves on getting things right the first time. But, rest assured, we offer up to 3 free revisions if tweaks are required.

How It works

Essay services available, standard essays.

Essays are one of the most common forms of assessment, so there’s no escaping them! Fortunately, we can match you with a suitably qualified essay writer who’ll know exactly how to create the perfect essay for your discipline.

Reflective Essays

Most students will need to write a reflective essay of some sort during their studies. Reflective essays are quite different from standard essays so these projects can be daunting. Thankfully, we have a pool of writers who are experts in formulating the correct style and tone for a reflective essay.

Critical Analysis Essays

Learning how to write critically can be a challenge, but it’s necessary if you want to achieve the best grades! All of our writers have a deep understanding of their subject area, so they can show you how to eloquently critique theories and concepts in your essays.

Essay Skeleton/Outline

Carefully planned essays tend to be awarded the highest grades! Unfortunately, though, the essay planning process can be time-consuming. If you want to speed things up, why not ask one of our specialist writers to put together an essay skeleton/outline which you can use to write your essay?

Essay Development Plan

When ordering our essay writing service, you have the option of adding an essay development plan to your order. This is a 650-word plan that provides a detailed overview of how your essay will be structured. It’s a great learning tool!

Application Essay

Applying for a master’s degree? Or perhaps a new job? You’ll need a first-class application essay - or personal statement - to help you stand out from the crowd! Thankfully, we’ve handpicked a selection of writers whose style of writing is confident, engaging, and perfectly suited to writing application essays.

We pride ourselves on quality but don’t just take our word for it. Here are some samples that have been written by our current pool of writers. We take confidentiality seriously so, rest assured, these samples were not taken from real client orders.

Strategic Evaluation of Tesco Plc

Level: Master's Pass (50-59%)

Discipline: Business

Strategic Analysis of British Airways

Level: Undergraduate 2:1 (60-69%)

Report on Daimler's Consumer Vehicle Division

Level: Undergraduate 1st (70-74%)

The Significance of Culture and Ethnic Minority Status as Determinants of Health and Implications for Health Promotion...

Level: Master's Merit (60-69%)

Discipline: Health Care

Style: Harvard

A legal assessment of the ability of human rights law to hold non-state actors accountable for cultural terrorism.

Level: Master's Distinction (70%+)

Discipline: Law

Style: OSCOLA

Australia’s military contribution to UN peacekeeping missions are too small to be meaningful

Level: Undergraduate 2:2 (50-59%)

Discipline: Political science

Students at all levels use our service on a regular basis to help them achieve their academic goals! Want to learn more about their experiences? Check out our most recent customer reviews below.

Why Ivory Research?

Uk-graduated writers.

Unlike many other companies, we only work with UK graduates who have a native level of written English. This means we can guarantee perfect English every time!

Subject experts

Here at Ivory Research, we handpick the most suitably qualified writer for each order. This means you’ll only ever be matched with a writer who has a deep understanding of your topic.

Meet us in our London office

Need some help placing your order? Or perhaps you have a question about our service? We’d be more than happy to meet you in our London office. What’s more, we’re here 24/7 to answer your call, email or live chat.

Industry leaders

Thorough quality checks.

Our Quality Assurance team check every single order to ensure it’s up to scratch. Also, in the unlikely event of a complaint, they’ll investigate and resolve the issue quickly.

Bonuses and rewards

We want to help as many students as possible, so we’ll reward you for referring a friend to our essay writing service. In fact, there are plenty of ways you can earn bonuses and rewards with Ivory Research!

Why use essay writing services?

Whether you’re a first-year undergrad or a master’s student, essay writing can be tough. There are many steps involved and thus plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong! Thankfully, using an essay writing service can help you to develop the skills you need to improve your essays.

Why are essays so hard to write? Well, firstly, there’s the need to understand exactly what the essay question is asking you to do. One of the primary reasons students fail is because they do not answer the question directly. Fortunately, our writers are on hand to offer their expert advice on how to approach your essay question.

Once you have understood the question, there’s the task of collecting enough research to support your essay. Drawing on high-quality, up-to-date research can significantly boost your grade, so investing time in research is vital if you want to achieve first-class grades. Our custom essay writing service can help you gather the necessary research for your essay if you need some extra support!

The next stage of the process is planning your essay. Some students skip past the planning stage because they see this as a waste of time – but don’t fall into this trap! Your tutor will be able to see whether your essay has been planned beforehand or not. A well-planned essay reveals its argument gradually and convincingly – each paragraph builds on the last. A poorly planned essay, on the other hand, is difficult to follow. Fortunately, Ivory Research can help you create a plan or outline for any type of essay.

Another common difficulty faced by students is the need to write critically. Most essays require critical analysis, so it’s an important academic skill to have. Granted, it is a difficult skill to master, but our essay writing service can help you to develop your critical writing skills.

There’s just one final hurdle before submitting your final essay – presentation! Most lecturers will deduct marks for poor presentation and shoddy references, so make sure you have followed your university’s presentation criteria. It might seem pedantic, but a poorly presented essay is unlikely to achieve a first-class grade – no matter how good the content is! Our model essays can provide a clear example of how best to present your essays to earn the best grades.

How to use our service in the right way

Ivory Research custom-written essays are designed to be used as a research and learning tool. If used correctly, our essay writing service can help you to become a better researcher, writer, and all-round student! Here are some tips for getting the most out of our essay service:

British Essay Services Reviews

Best Essay Writing Services UK

We are a team of expert reviewers with the goal of providing authoritative, comprehensive reviews of UK essay writing services, so students can make informed decisions.

Top Rated Services

• Our reviews

Essay Writing Service for UK Students

Skilled and experienced writers for variety of subjects

Students all over UK adore our essay services

Place orders and ask questions at any time

Customers testimonials

Expository essay of mine is well combined with the pre-made book review. Many thanks for your fast support and quick assistance with the writing.

(Lyon, France)

Got articles for my website here. The order came on time along with the plagiarism report, the texts are neat and ready to use. I'd be happy to have one of their writers in my team one day ;)

(Carmarthen, UK)

Guys, you are unbelievable! Helped me with the literature review and raised my self-esteem. Now I really feel like I'm familiar with and intelligent about the topic. Wish me luck!

(Ajman, UAE)

Thanks Oxessays for helping me sell myself in the best possible way! You've done a magnificent job of tying all the pieces of my school application together and creating a holistic image of who I am and what I've done in a very bold and captivating manner. Marvelous!

(Ashington, UK)

I needed a research summary to be rewritten according to the stylistic rules used in this college. Everything was done as I asked, I enjoyed the discount and will order again. Didn't communicate with the writer.

(Hami, China)

They are cheap, punctual and do put an effort in an attempt to meet their client's requirements. This is my second order and the writer showed a clear understanding of what the article to critique was about and successfully analyzed it. The only thing I don't like is that I can't really check writers' profiles, there are no pictures or any personal info.

(Hail, Saudi Arabia)

Argumentative essay with a 5 days deadline and of 19 pages with double spacing. That was the order I placed and had worries about. But the worries had vanished straight at the moment when I got my paper delivered. No single grammar mistake. I love the job.

(Berlin, Germany)

I don't speak/write English as good as I want. With that as an issue I often face bad grades with English tasks. OxEssays has been saving me last few months. I even started getting A-s for my writing assignments, just like with this splendid coursework.

(Munich, Germany)

Based on my CV they completed a one-page cover letter with a brief explanation of my skills and professional abilities. I liked it, as it was fully truthful and without any imperfections.

(Wuhan, China)

Had a calculation problem with the IT task from college. Glad to find OxEssays to be super helpful for my task. Truly appreciate the effort and the help.

(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Thankfully to your crew I got accepted by the UK college. It was the dream of mine, which I hold up strong to for years of my childhood. You did combine the image and the reality of my topic. And you did it fast. I enjoy the work you did for me.

(Sharjah, UAE)

An interesting outcome at the end. The personal statement turned to be the impressive work. My professor in college got highly surprised and recommended me to join the writing club (which actually brought me an additional A to the list of grades).

(Guildford, UK)

Quality UK Essay Services at Your Demand

Why choose ox essays' writing services, quality papers only.

We ensure that every piece of writing is original and completed according to the requirements

Affordable essay services

Our pricing strategy is reasonable and student-friendly to fit every budget on essay writing

Private data protection

We obey strict privacy policies to secure every byte of information between you and us

About Our Essay Service

Guarantees for students.

If you need us to complete your ' write my essay for me ' request, we are happy to help. Here are our guarantees:

• Every writing assignment is given to a fully qualified writer who has experience in that discipline.
• All projects are researched by our staff and each deliverable is written from scratch just for you.
• We have a writer on virtually every subject.
• We guarantee that we will meet your deadline every time.
• We are discreet and respect your privacy and confidentiality.
• You can feel safe making a payment at OXEssays.
• We provide free revisions if you are not happy with your finished assignment.

Top UK Essay Writers

Our goal is to provide the best essay writing services in the UK. This begins and ends with employing the best writers we can. Because of this, we thoroughly check out every writer who sends us their CV. We insist that every writer applying to work with our essay writing service is able to meet the following requirements:

• Provide writing samples for our review.
• Submit transcripts and other evidence proving that they have achieved a university level education.
• Go through our training program.
• Write an original piece that requires extensive research on a topic of our choice. This must be completed in a very short period of time.

We do this because we want only the best for students in the UK. Further, when we receive your order, we will diligently work to match it with a professional essay writer who is fully qualified to write on that subject matter. Because of this, you can feel confident each time you place an order with us.

Essay Writing Service With 24/7 Support Team

Everybody claims to be available 24 hours per day. Unfortunately, that often means that an answering service or chatbot is taking phone calls or interacting with customers online. That is not how we do things here. No matter when you contact us, a real person will be there for you. This means that any question that you have or any problem that you are facing can be resolved. We won’t put you off until Monday. Better yet, our live chat software lets you communicate with one of our representatives in real time.

Your Customer Account Portal

We provide each customer with a password-protected account on OxEssays.com. This is the account that you will use to place orders, check on the status of writing assignments, send messages to your writers, and even review assignments once they are finished.

Don’t worry, we ensure that all of the information you give our online UK essay service when setting up your account is completely safe and confidential. It is simply our way of making sure it is easy for you to communicate with us in confidence.

Variety of UK Essay Writing Services

We are very proud to offer you a wide variety of academic and other writing services. Whether it is essay writing, coursework writer , lab reports specialists, or something else we have skilled, academic writers who can get the job done. We also help advanced students with custom dissertation service or PhD thesis service . If you have already done the work yourself, we can make it even better by proofreading it. Don’t forget to rely on us for help with your CV as well. Let us help you with any type of assignment you need to write.

Ordering Process

We have worked very hard to make it easy for you to buy an essay  using our services. Just click on the link leading to an order form, and fill out a bit of information. Be sure to give us as much information as possible. It really helps us to understand your needs and to route your order correctly. Once you place your order, we will let you know that it is in good hands. Then we will find the perfect writer. In most cases, we will have your writing assignment finished and returned to you in no time.

Why UK Students Use Our Writing Service?

Writing isn’t everyone’s strength. Why spend days and weeks stressing about how to write the best essay when you can get essay writing help online? As a student, you are probably working hard to juggle all of your commitments. There are lectures to go to, notes to take, exams to take, part-time jobs to do, socialising to enjoy, family to see, and health to take care of. The list is nearly endless and the pressure can be too much. Especially with the added stress of meeting deadlines for essays and dissertations. Our UK essay writing services can take some of the strain away, helping you juggle your time better without burning out.

Essay writing service that values your privacy

Let us help you with your essays, statistics problems, or any other advanced coursework.

• +44 (0) 207 391 9032

Recent Posts

• What Is an Adjective: Types, Uses, and Examples

How to Write a Reflective Essay

• Abstract vs. Introduction: What’s the Difference?
• How Do AI detectors Work? Breaking Down the Algorithm
• What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types, and Examples
• Why Is Your CV Getting Rejected and How to Avoid It
• Where to Find Images for Presentations
• What Is an Internship? Everything You Should Know
• How Long Should a Thesis Statement Be?
• How to Write a Character Analysis Essay
• Academic News
• Custom Essays
• Dissertation Writing
• Essay Marking
• Essay Writing
• Essay Writing Companies
• Model Essays
• Model Exam Answers
• Oxbridge Essays Updates
• PhD Writing
• Significant Academics
• Student News
• Study Skills
• University Applications
• University Essays
• University Life
• Writing Tips

Great essay writing in 8 steps

(Last updated: 12 May 2021)

Since 2006, Oxbridge Essays has been the UK’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

Can great essay writing really be condensed down into just 8 steps? Well, whilst it's true that there is a lot that goes into academic writing of any kind, these top takeaways are a great place to start if you want to improve your essay writing.

To some, essay writing comes naturally. But for many, knowing how to answer an essay question in a way that will score high marks is something that must be learnt, and practised regularly. You can take comfort in knowing too that, once you learn how to write a great essay, you can apply the same techniques and formulas to almost any piece of academic writing, whether it's a standard essay, a reflective essay, a dissertation or thesis, a course assignment, coursework or something else.

So without further ado, let's dive in and learn the eight steps to writing an essay.

1. Understand the question

This may, at the face of it, sound like somewhat banal advice – but fact of the matter is that failing to properly understand the question set is one of, if not the most common reason behind a disappointing grade when it comes to essay writing. Are you being asked to critically evaluate something ? Compare and contrast? Analyse a particular circumstance? Evaluate the usefulness of a particular concept?

These are some of the common phrases found in essay questions, and each indicates a different set of expectations. If you are asked to critically evaluate a particular theoretical approach, for instance, you have to gain an understanding not only of said theory, but also other common approaches. They must all be weighed against each other, highlighting the relative strengths and weaknesses of each theory and, importantly, you must come to a well-justified and confident conclusion. Is the theory good? What are its flaws? How can it be improved?

If you are asked to evaluate the usefulness of something, however, you don’t necessarily need to go into as much critical depth. Yes, you should still acknowledge alternative approaches, and yes, you should still note some strengths and weaknesses – but the bulk of the work must emphasise the concepts practical usefulness. Perhaps the best approach is to find one, or a few, case studies where the theory has been used – what was the outcome of this? Does the application of the theory reveal any particular shortcomings, or strengths?

“Compare and contrast” essays , meanwhile, are essentially a hybrid of the above – you need to take a critical approach and evaluate the literature, but your focus has to remain solidly on the theories that you have been asked to compare and contrast. It is important to show that you understand both (or all) core theories in great depth, both on a theoretical and applied level.

In essence, the wording of the essay question will tell you how the essay should be written. It will indicate where the focus of your essay should lie as you research and write.

2. Plan and schedule

Understanding the question is the first step, but it is equally important that you make efficient use of the available time. Students often underestimate the amount of work required to write a good essay, which results in two things: (1) late nights at the library, and (2) a disappointing grade. If you want to achieve a good mark, you should start planning your essay the moment you receive the essay question. The following table may be a useful aid:

By setting deadlines for yourself and committing to stick to them, you are ensuring that you won’t be left with too much work right before your hand-in date. It is also important that you leave time, ideally a couple of days, between finishing your first draft and proofreading.

3. Read widely

Writing may be the core task, but reading is equally important. Before you start writing your essay, you should conduct a broad search for relevant literature . Learning how to sift through a large amount of data is an important academic skill. You should start by searching through databases – Google Scholar is a great tool for this – using key words related to your research topic. Once you find an article that sounds promising, read through the abstract to ensure that it’s relevant.

If you are still not a hundred percent sure, it is usually a good idea to skip to the conclusion – this usually contains a detailed summary of the study, which will help determine whether you should read the article as a whole. You don’t want to waste time reading through and endless number of articles simply to find that they aren’t actually relevant. Once you have identified a few solid articles, you should (a) go through their bibliographies and take note of who they are citing, as these articles will likely be of value for your own research; and (b) check on Google Scholar to see who has cited them. To do this, simply input the name of the article in the search bar and hit enter. In the results, click “cited by” – this will return a list of all of the articles that have cited the publication you searched for.

It’s important that you don’t rely too heavily on one or a couple of texts, as this indicates to the marker that you haven’t engaged with the wider literature. You should be particularly careful in using course books (i.e. “introduction to management” and the like), as these are essentially summaries of other people’s work.

4. Be critical

Perfect theories and academic approaches are rare – the clear majority of theories, arguments, and studies have flaws. Being descriptive is fine if you are looking to scrape a pass, but for a higher grade you need to show that you are able to leverage critical reasoning in your dealing with academic materials. What are the limitations of the theories you are drawing on? How have these been dealt with in the literature? How do they impact the quality of arguments presented, and to what extent do they limit our understanding of what you are studying? What alternate explanations might offer additional depth?

Critical thinking is what will make your essay stand out. It shows the marker that you are not simply repeating the arguments that have been fed to you throughout your studies, but actually engaging with theories in an academic manner. A good way to practice this is to pay careful attention when reading literature reviews in published articles – you will see that authors don’t simply summarise previous studies, but offer a critique leading to a gap for their own research.

5. Structure, flow and focus

How you present your argument is nearly as important as the argument itself, which is why it is imperative that your essay follows a logical structure. A classic piece of advice is to "tell them what you are going to tell them, then tell them, and tell them what you told them". This, in essence, summarises the core introduction, main body, and conclusion structure of your essay.

Having a clear and logical structure will help ensure that your essay stays focused, and doesn’t stray from the question being answered. Each section, paragraph, and sentence should add value to the argument you are presenting. As you are writing, it’s good to take a step back and ask yourself: what value does this sentence/section add? How does it link to my overarching argument? If you find that you can’t answer those questions, there is a high risk that you have strayed from your core argument, and you may want to reconsider the path you are taking.

You should also make sure that all the different parts of your essay fit together as a cohesive and logical whole, and that the transition from one argument to the next is fluid. Students often treat essays as lists of arguments, presenting one after the other with little consideration for how they fit together, which inevitably leads to a lower grade. Make sure to tell your reader why you are transitioning from one argument to the next, why they are in this particular order, and how each argument helps shed light on a particular aspect of what you are discussing.

6. Quoting, paraphrasing and plagiarism

Academic writing requires a careful balance between novel argument, and drawing on arguments presented by others. Writing a completely 'novel' essay, without drawing on a single source, indicates that you haven’t made yourself familiar with what has already been published. Conversely, citing someone for every point made suggests that you haven’t produced a novel argument.

As such, it is important that you provide evidence (a credible citation) when you are making a statement of fact, or drawing on arguments, frameworks, and theories presented by other academics. These, in turn, should support the overarching novel argument that you yourself are making.

When drawing on other authors it is important to understand the distinction between quoting and paraphrasing. The general rule of thumb is that you should paraphrase wherever possible, and quote only when necessary or if it clarifies the point you are making. That said, paraphrasing can be difficult without losing the inherit value of the argument presented.

In case you are unsure about the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, we’ve included an example below:

Quote: "Cultural capital can be acquired, to a varying extent, depending on the period, the society, and the social class, in the absence of any deliberate inculcation, and therefore quite unconsciously" (Bourdieu, 1986: 18).

Paraphrase: Unlike economic capital, the amassing of which requires some conscious effort, cultural capital can be built simply by existing and consuming (Bourdieu, 1986).

Both the quoted and the paraphrased versions carry essentially the same meaning, with the exception that paraphrasing shows slightly wider knowledge of Bourdieu (through mentioning another form of capital), and presents an argument that, while true to the writings of Bourdieu, better fits the overall argument.

Properly citing the sources upon which you draw also ensures that you will not be accused of plagiarism, which is a serious offence in academia. In fact, repeated and grievous plagiarism can lead to the suspension of your studies at the majority of academic institutions!

7. Find a 'study buddy'

Having a similarly ambitious 'study buddy' is often undervalued by students, but the synergy achieved by working together can help both of you achieve considerably higher grades. It is important to note that you shouldn’t write your essays together, nor necessarily agree on the approach to be taken beforehand, as this leads to the risk of submitting two papers that are too similar – again linking back to the issue of plagiarism.

Instead, you should exchange essays with each other once you are both done with the first draft. It is immensely difficult to proofread your own work – one goes blind to minor grammatical issues in a text after reading it repeatedly for days on end. It is similarly easy to overlook gaps in flow and logic of argument. Having a friend read through the work will address both of these issues, assuming that they, too, are high achieving.

8. Write academically

Another common issue – particularly amongst first and second-year undergraduates – is that they tend to use rather non-academic language:

In this essay I will look at how people who buy art use cultural capital. My theory is that having more cultural capital will change their taste in art, as they are able to understand the pieces differently to other people.

Examples such as the above are unfortunately rather common, and should give you a good idea of what to avoid. The sentiment behind the text is good, but it reads more like a second-rate blog post than an academic essay. Academic writing should be more formal , concise, unbiased and include good use of rhetoric. As for the above example, an academic might instead write:

This essay explores the role of cultural capital in the consumption of art, and the impact of cultural capital on consumers’ perception of artistic expressions.

You will note that this second example is far more concise yet none of the meaning is lost. It also uses present (rather than future) tense, and avoids informal terms. Clear, concise, and precise language is a hallmark of academic writing.

Essay exams: how to answer ‘To what extent…’

How to write a master’s essay.

• custom essays
• essay topics
• essay writing

Writing Services

• Essay Plans
• Critical Reviews
• Literature Reviews
• Presentations
• Dissertation Title Creation
• Dissertation Proposals
• Dissertation Chapters
• PhD Proposals
• Journal Publication
• CV Writing Service
• Business Proofreading Services

Editing Services

• Proofreading Service
• Editing Service
• Academic Editing Service

Additional Services

• Marking Services
• Consultation Calls
• Personal Statements
• Tutoring Services

Our Company

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Become a Writer

Terms & Policies

• Fair Use Policy
• Policy for Students in England
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Writing Service Examples
• Editing Service Examples
• Marking Service Examples
• Tutoring Service Examples
• [email protected]
• Contact Form

Payment Methods

Cryptocurrency payments.

Save £500 when you enrol by 30th September! T&C’s apply

• How to Write Dazzlingly Brilliant Essays: Sharp Advice for Ambitious Students

Rachel McCombie, a graduate of St John’s College, Oxford, shares actionable tips on taking your essays from “Good” to “Outstanding.”

For ambitious students, essays are a chance to showcase academic flair, demonstrate original thinking and impress with advanced written English skills.

The best students relish the challenge of writing essays because they’re a chance to exercise academic research skills and construct interesting arguments. Essays allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and intelligence in a creative and relatively unrestricted way – provided you keep within the word count! But when lots of other people are answering the same essay question as you, how do you make yours stand out from the crowd? In this article, we’re going to show you the secret of writing a truly brilliant essay.

What are essays actually for?

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to write an outstanding essay, we need to go right back to basics and think about what essays are actually designed to test. Only by understanding the purpose of an essay can you really begin to understand what it is that tutors are looking for when they read your work. No matter what the academic level of the student is, essays are designed to test many things: – Knowledge – fundamentally, essays test and help consolidate what you’ve read and learned, making them an important part of the learning process, particularly for humanities subjects. –  Comprehension – they test your ability to make sense of and clearly explain complex concepts and issues. – They test your ability to understand the question and produce a considered response to it. – They evaluate your ability to absorb and condense information from a variety of sources , which will probably mean covering a lot of material in a short space of time; this necessitates appraisal of which bits of material are relevant and which are not. – They test your ability to write a balanced and coherent argument that considers a number of points of view. – They showcase your level of written English skills. – They even put your time management to the test – essays are a part of your workload that must be planned, prioritised and delivered to a high standard, to deadline.

Characteristics of the perfect essay

Now that we know why we’re asked to write essays, what are the characteristics that define the essays that impress? The tutors marking your essays may have their own preferences and things they look for in outstanding essays, but let’s take a look at a few of the irrefutable traits of the best.

Original thinking

The hallmark of the truly brilliant essay is original thinking. That doesn’t have to mean coming up with an entirely new theory; most of, if not all, the topics you’ll be studying at GCSE , A-level or even undergraduate level have been thought about in so much depth and by so many people that virtually every possible angle will have been thought of already. But what it does mean is that the essay stands out from those of other students in that it goes beyond the obvious and takes an original approach – perhaps approaching the topic from a different angle, coming up with a different hypothesis from what you’ve been discussing in class, or introducing new evidence and intelligent insights from material not included on the reading list.

Solid, in-depth knowledge and understanding

It goes without saying that the brilliant essay should demonstrate a strong knowledge of the facts, and not just knowledge but sound comprehension of the concepts or issues being discussed and why they matter. The perfect essay demonstrates an ability to deploy relevant facts and use them to form the basis of an argument or hypothesis. It covers a wide range of material and considers every point of view, confidently making use of and quoting from a variety of sources.

Clear structure with intelligent debate

The perfect essay provides a coherent discussion of both sides of the story, developing a balanced argument throughout, and with a conclusion that weighs up the evidence you’ve covered and perhaps provides your own intelligent opinion on how the topic should be interpreted based on the evidence covered.

No superfluous information

Everything written in the perfect essay serves a purpose – to inform and persuade. There’s no rambling or going off at tangents – it sticks to the point and doesn’t waste the reader’s time. This goes back to our earlier point about sorting the relevant facts from the irrelevant material; including material that isn’t relevant shows that you’ve not quite grasped the real heart of the matter.

Exceptional English

The words in the perfect essay flow effortlessly, and the reader feels in safe hands. Sentences need never be read more than once to be understood, and each follows logically on from the next, with no random jumping about from topic to topic from one paragraph to the next. Spelling and grammar are flawless, with no careless typos. So how do you go about writing this mythical Perfect Essay? Read on to find out!

Put in extra background work

Committed students always read beyond what the reading list tells them to read. Guaranteed to impress, wide reading gives you deeper knowledge than your peers and gives you the extra knowledge and insights you need to make your essay stand out. If you’re studying English, for example, don’t just read the set text! Here are some ideas to widen your reading and give you a good range of impressive quotes to include in your essay: – Other works by the same author – how do they compare with your set text? – Works by contemporary authors – does your set text fit into a wider movement, or is it very different from what was being written at the time? – Works by the author’s predecessors – what works inspired the author of your set text? How do you see them shining through in the text you’re studying, and how have they been developed? – Literary criticism – gauge the range of opinions about your set text by reading what the literary critics have to say. Whose opinion do you most agree with, and why? – Background history – so that you can appreciate and refer to the context in which the author was writing (we’ll come back to this last point a little later). It sounds like a lot of extra work, but you don’t necessarily have to read everything in full. It’s fine to dip into these other resources providing you don’t inadvertently take points out of context.

Know what you want to say before you start writing

You’re probably sick of hearing this particular piece of advice, but it’s important to start out with a clear idea in your mind of what you want to say in your essay and how you will structure your arguments. The easiest way to do this is to write an essay plan. This needn’t be a big deal, or time-consuming; all you need to do is to open a new document on your computer, type out the ideas you want to cover and drag and drop them into a logical order. From there, you simply start typing your essay directly into the plan itself. Your essay should include an introduction, a series of paragraphs that develop an argument rather than just jumping from topic to topic, and a conclusion that weighs up the evidence.

Answer the question you’ve been set, not the question you want to answer

A common problem with students’ responses to essays is that rather than answering the question they’ve been set , they try to mould the question to what they’d prefer to write about, because that’s what they feel most comfortable with. Be very careful not to do this! You could end up writing a brilliant essay, but if didn’t actually answer the question then it’s not going to be well received by the person marking it.

Give a balanced argument…

Good essays give both sides of an argument, presenting information impartially and considering multiple points of view. One-sided arguments won’t impress, as you need to show that you’ve thought about the evidence comprehensively.

…but your opinion and interpretation matter too

Show that you’ve made your own mind up based on your weighing up of the evidence. This shows that you’re not just hiding behind what other people say about the topic, but that you’ve had the independence of mind to form your own intelligent opinion about it.

Quote liberally

Use quotations from academic works and sources to back up points you want to make. Doing so strengthens your argument by providing evidence for your statements, as well as demonstrating that you’ve read widely around your subject. However, don’t go too far and write an essay that’s essentially just a list of what other people say about the subject. Quoting too much suggests that you don’t have the confidence or knowledge to explain things in your own words, so have to hide behind those of other people. Make your own mind up about what you’re writing about – as already mentioned, it’s fine to state your own opinion if you’ve considered the arguments and presented the evidence.

Context matters

As we’ve already touched on, if you can demonstrate knowledge of the context of the subject you’re writing about, this will show that you’ve considered possible historical influences that may have shaped a work or issue. This shows that you haven’t simply taken the essay question at face value and demonstrates your ability to think beyond the obvious. An ability to look at the wider picture marks you out as an exceptional student, as many people can’t see the wood for the trees and have a very narrow focus when it comes to writing essays. If you’re an English student, for instance, an author’s work should be considered not in isolation but in the context of the historical events and thinking that helped define the period in which the author was writing. You can’t write about Blake’s poetry without some knowledge and discussion of background events such as the Industrial Revolution, and the development of the Romantic movement as a whole.

Include images and diagrams

You know what they say – a picture speaks a thousand words. What matters in an essay is effective and persuasive communication, and if a picture or diagram will help support a point you’re making, include it. As well as helping to communicate, visuals also make your essay more enjoyable to read for the person marking it – and if they enjoy reading it, the chances are you’ll get better marks! Don’t forget to ensure that you include credits for any images and diagrams you include.

Use full academic citations and a bibliography

Show you mean business by including a full set of academic citations, with a bibliography at the end, even if you haven’t been told to. The great thing about this is that it not only makes you look organised and scholarly, but it also gives you the opportunity to show off just how many extra texts you’ve studied to produce your masterpiece of an essay! Make use of the footnote feature in your word processor and include citations at the bottom of each page, with a main bibliography at the end of the essay. There are different accepted forms for citing an academic reference, but the main thing to remember is to pick one format and be consistent. Typically the citation will include the title and author of the work, the date of publication and the page number(s) of the point or quotation you’re referring to. Here’s an example: 1. Curta, F. (2007) – “Some remarks on ethnicity in medieval archaeology” in Early Medieval Europe 15 (2), pp. 159-185

Before you ask, no, a spell check isn’t good enough! How many times have you typed “form” instead of “from”? That’s just one of a huge number of errors that spell check would simply miss. Your English should be impeccable if you want to be taken seriously, and that means clear and intelligent sentence structures, no misplaced apostrophes, no typos and no grammar crimes. Include your name at the top of each page of your essay, and number the pages. Also, make sure you use a font that’s easy to read, such as Times New Roman or Arial. The person marking your essay won’t appreciate having to struggle through reading a fancy Gothic font, even if it does happen to match the Gothic literature you’re studying!

Meet the deadline

You don’t need us to tell you that, but for the sake of being comprehensive, we’re including it anyway. You could write the best essay ever, but if you deliver it late, it won’t be looked upon favourably! Don’t leave writing your essay until the last minute – start writing with plenty of time to spare, and ideally leave time to sleep on it before you submit it. Allowing time for it to sink in may result in you having a sudden brilliant revelation that you want to include. So there we have it – everything you need to know in order to write an essay to impress. If you want to get ahead, you might also want to think about attending an English summer school .

Image credits: banner

• Best Essay Writing Services UK 2023
• Our Review Process

Top 3 The Best Assignment Writing Services

UK.BestEssays.com Review (Updated)

*Update 2022: Since the last time we’ve reviewed the company, not much is changed. They still enjoy great popularity with customers and have the same excellent discounts. The only thing different is the design of the website, as well as the numbers listed on the homepage (completed UK papers, permanent writers, and the number of customers). These have grown significantly since the last time we opened the page.

FAQ about UK.BestEssays.com

• Is UK BestEssays legit?

This can’t be said for many companies, but it is definitely accurate for UK BestEssays. This company is one of the oldest, most established, and top-rated companies by students in the UK.

• Does UK BestEssays have a discount code?

To get the newcomers discount at UK.BestEssays.com, you don’t need to enter a discount code. You just need to create a profile and mark the part that says ‘I’m a new customer’. This will give you a whopping number of 20% off your first order.

• What are the prices at UK BestEssays?

The prices at UK BestEssays are attractive compared to other similarly rated services. They range between £15.35 and £44.25 per page for an essay depending on the academic level and deadline. Without the discounts, these prices are really high for a student. But, with the discounts, they are much more attractive.

Detailed Review

We found the work from this essay writing company to be of very high quality. They are an old established company that has been around for quite a while and have honed their skills and business to a fine point. They have a large team of writers that they use to create and write their essays from scratch. This means that every essay they produce is unique and original.

We found that they are able to write numerous types of essays for a variety of different subjects. We were also pleased to learn that their customer service department runs around the clock, which meant we were able to contact them whenever we wished.

They did a fantastic job on the essay projects we sent in, and we had trouble faulting their work. They operate as per a standard far higher than the ones they advertise, which is one of the reasons we suggest you try their standard (lowest) quality band first. Not only may this save you money, but you may also be surprised by just how good it is. If you are looking for higher grades, then feel free to try one of the higher standard papers.

UK.Bestessays.com website has a fresh design that was completely updated since our last revision. That means that they work on and improve their services.

They have a range of different services to suit all of their student clients. Some of their most popular essays and assignments are the most generic types such as. In this UK Best Essays review, we will disclose to you the range of writing services they provide:

• Research Paper
• Dissertation
• Research Proposal
• Book Reports & Book Review
• Research Summary
• Admission Services: Scholarship Essays, Personal Statements, Editing
• Speech & Presentation Writing
• Article Critique
• Math, Physics, Economics & Statistics problems
• Capstone projects
• Short Story writing
• Critical Thinking papers
• SWOT Papers
• Financial Analysis papers

These are not the only services they perform, but they do represent the most frequently ordered. They are able to do any variation of any essay type, so for example, they are able to complete your argumentative essay in History and your persuasive paper in Religious Education. In addition, they offer editing and proofreading services. This means that you do not have to hire separately an editor to correct and format your papers. Here, you have everything you need under the same roof.

Most top-quality UK.BestEssays.com reviews talk about the great quality provided by this company. Therefore, we decided to place an order for 2 essays: one in History and one critical thinking essay. Both papers were of the highest quality, properly formatted and edited. The writers also included all the references and many extra authentic sources throughout the paper. Both essays we received contained separate title pages and a separate bibliography page. The writers also asked us if we need any changes or additions to our papers, free of charge. This is their free unlimited revisions guarantee, but we did not need any revision.

Their homepage is really well designed but you may have trouble finding the link to their prices page. It is actually tucked away at the top bottom of the page in the menu section. But you can find the link also in the footer menu. 

The prices are different depending on a number of factors. If you choose a 10 days deadline, your price may range from £15.35 to £24.35 per page. If you want your work within 3 hours, then your prices per page may range from £35.25 to £44.25 per page.

Get yourself a 20% discount with the discount code First20. Place the order of $600+, and your paper will be written by one of their top ten writers for free. You can get a silver membership and get 5% off if you buy 15+ pages. If you place an order that comes to more than 15 pages, you get your 5% discount. You can earn that discount with a single order or with multiple orders together.

You can get a gold membership and order 51-100 pages for a 10% discount. You can get a platinum membership if you order 100+ pages, for which you also get a 15% discount.

In this updated UKBestEssays review, we are happy to announce that the company also offers plenty of seasonal discounts. Make sure to check the site often, because they run many such special deals on occasions such as Easter, Christmas, Halloween, Summer vacation or Independence Day. During special holidays, the company welcomes students with discounts such as 10% or even 20% of the total cost of the order. These discount offers usually last only for one or two days, so keep an eye on their website to catch these deals so that you can save a lot of money on your important papers.

Helpful Extras

They have plenty of extras, such as a 3-hour delivery option, direct contact with your writer and discounts galore. You can have a UK writer do your work, and they provide rare but academically credible resources. You are guaranteed privacy and there are a bunch of freebies you can enjoy. There are also VIP services too. The students we spoke to about the company were most impressed, and their online services are very well-liked within the student community. This is definitely a company to consider using if you are struggling with your college and university work.

Their guarantees are also quite powerful. For example, they offer free title and reference pages with each paper you order. You do not have to pay anything for professional formatting, and they also offer you free unlimited revisions on your papers. Then, they guarantee that your personal and banking details are kept confidential at all times. The website is encrypted, so you do not have to worry about third parties having access to any of your details. They have 24/7 customer service available, and a guarantee to deliver all the papers by the requested deadline.

We definitely recommend this service!

I would rather rate UK BestEssays as 100 out of 10. Their writing is stunning and of the highest quality. I love the style they warped in my essays.

I’ve had a wonderful experience using this website. They offer the highest quality work promptly. They stand out from other websites because of their additional useful features. To anyone looking for academic assignments, I highly recommend this website.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Search Results

The best essay collections to read now

From advice on friendship and understanding modern life to getting a grasp on coronavirus, these books offer insight on life. 

What better way to get into the work of a writer than through a collection of their essays? 

These seven collections, from novelists and critics alike, address a myriad of subjects from friendship to how colleges are dealing with sexual assaults on campus to race and racism. 

Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino (2019)

As a staff writer at The New Yorker , Jia Tolentino has explored everything from a rise in youth vaping to the ongoing cultural reckoning about sexual assault. Her first book Trick Mirror takes some of those pieces for The New Yorker as well as new work to form what is one of the sharpest collections of cultural criticism today.

Using herself and her own coming of age as a lens for many of the essays, Tolentino turns her pen and her eye to everything from her generation’s obsession with extravagant weddings to how college campuses deal with sexual assault.

If you’re looking for an insight into millennial life, then Trick Mirror should be on your to-read list.

In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens by Alice Walker (1983)

Sometimes essays collected from a sprawling period of a successful writer’s life can feel like a hasty addition to a bibliography; a smash-and-grab of notebook flotsam. Not so In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens , from which one can truly understand the sheer range of the Pulitzer Prize winner’s range of study and activism. From Walker’s first published piece of non-fiction (for which she won a prize, and spent her winnings on cut peonies) to more elegiac pieces about her heritage, Walker’s thoughts on feminism (which she terms “womanism”) and the Civil Rights Movement remain grippingly pertinent 50 years on.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (2000)

That David Sedaris’s ascent to literary stardom happened later in his life – his breakthrough collection of humour essays was released when he was 44 – suited the author’s writing style perfectly. Me Talk Pretty One Day is both a painfully funny account of his childhood and an enduring snapshot of mid-forties malaise. First story ‘Go Carolina’, about his attempt to transcend a childhood lisp, is told from a perfect distance and with all the worldliness necessary to milk every drop of tragic, cringeworthy humour from his childhood. It never falters from there: by the book’s second half, in which Sedaris is living in France, he’s firmly established his niche, writing about the ways that even snobs experience utter humiliation ­– and Me Talk Pretty One Day is all the more human for it. 

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy

Essay and dissertation writing skills

Planning your essay

Writing your introduction

Structuring your essay

• Writing essays in science subjects
• Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
• Writing extended essays and dissertations
• Planning your dissertation writing time

Structuring your dissertation

• Top tips for writing longer pieces of work

Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations

University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions. 

You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:

Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.

However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:

Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’

Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:

The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.

• Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
• References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline. 

Essay writing in science subjects

If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:

A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.

Short videos to support your essay writing skills

There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:

• Approaching different types of essay questions  
• Structuring your essay  
• Writing an introduction  
• Making use of evidence in your essay writing  
• Writing your conclusion

Extended essays and dissertations

Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.

Planning your time effectively

Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.

Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.

The structure of  extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:

• The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
• Explanation of the focus of your work.
• Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
• List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.

The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.

The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources. 

Tips on writing longer pieces of work

Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.

For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work . 

Systems & Services

Access Student Self Service

• Student Self Service
• Self Service guide
• Registration guide
• Libraries search
• OXCORT - see TMS
• GSS - see Student Self Service
• The Careers Service
• Oxford University Sport
• Online store
• Gardens, Libraries and Museums
• Researchers Skills Toolkit
• LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
• Access Guide
• Lecture Lists
• Exam Papers (OXAM)
• Oxford Talks

Latest student news

CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

Try our extensive database of FAQs or submit your own question...

Ask a question

Home > Blog > 7 Best Ways to Shorten an Essay

7 Best Ways To Shorten an Essay

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the best ways you can shorten your essay:

1. Use Artificial intelligence

When we talk about academic writing, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a game changer, especially when it comes to reducing the length of your essays.

Tools like Smodin can help make your content more concise while enhancing overall quality. AI can help you shorten your essay through the following methods:

• Automated rewriting : AI rewriting tools can reformulate existing content to make it more straightforward while maintaining the original meaning.
• Sentence simplification : Algorithms can analyze your sentences and suggest simpler alternatives, helping eliminate redundant information and reduce word count.
• Research assistance : Certain platforms have AI-powered research tools that allow you to quickly gather the most relevant information. This ensures that every word in your essay contributes to your argument without unnecessary fillers.
• Plagiarism check : Ensuring your essay is plagiarism-free is crucial. For example, Smodin’s plagiarism detection tools help you identify and replace copied content with original, concise expressions.
• Instant feedback : Receive real-time suggestions on how to streamline your text, focusing on the essentials to effectively communicate your message.
• Reference generation : Automatically generate and insert citations in the correct format, which helps save you time while maintaining the academic integrity of your essay and keeping it short.

2. Identify Unnecessary Words and Remove Them

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to shorten your essay is by identifying and eliminating unnecessary words.

This approach helps decrease word count and sharpens your arguments, making your writing more compelling. You can identify and remove extra words by doing the following:

• Spot wordy phrases : Often, phrases can be condensed without losing meaning. For example, the phrase “due to the fact that” can be replaced with “because.” Be on the lookout for wordy phrases that increase word count needlessly.
• Remove unnecessary prepositional phrases : Prepositional phrases can be redundant or add unnecessary detail. Evaluate whether these phrases add value or just extra words. Cutting them can make sentences more direct.
• Avoid redundancies : Redundant pairs like “absolutely essential” or “future plans” can be reduced to one word without losing informational value.
• Trim excess adjectives and adverbs : Adjectives and adverbs can make writing better but can also lead to over-description. Use them sparingly, especially when they don’t contribute additional meaning to the nouns and verbs they modify.
• Fewer words; more impact : Aim for brevity by using fewer words to express the same idea. This will help to reduce the word count while making your writing more impactful and clear.

3. Tighten Sentence Structure

Tightening your sentence structure is crucial for making your essay more concise and readable. Use active voice to make your writing clearer and more dynamic. This is especially important in academic writing, where you have to get to the point quickly.

In academic essays, shifting from passive voice to active voice can shorten and strengthen your sentences. For example, instead of writing, “The experiment was conducted by the students,” you can say, “The students conducted the experiment.” This reduces the number of words and places the action directly with the subject, making your sentences more direct.

Combining two separate sentences into one can streamline your ideas and reduce redundancies. Look for opportunities where sentences can be merged without losing their significance. For example, “He wrote the book. It became a bestseller.” can be rephrased as “He wrote the book, which became a bestseller.”

Also, avoid unnecessary qualifiers and modifiers that don’t add substantial information. Sentences often become bogged down with these extras, making them cluttered and long.

4. Conduct Thorough Research

When writing essays, extensive research can make the final output a lot shorter. Effective research helps you gather precise information that’s relevant to your topic. This means you’ll write more directly and avoid needless elaboration. Here’s how you can conduct research effectively:

• Define the scope of your research : Determine what information is essential to the argument. This initial step will help you focus your research efforts and prevent irrelevant data.
• Identify key sources : Begin with scholarly databases and academic journals that offer peer-reviewed articles. These sources provide credible, authoritative information that can be crucial for academic writing.
• Use precise keywords : When searching for information, use specific keywords related to your essay topic. Precision here will help find the most relevant articles and studies, reducing time spent on unnecessary reading.
• Evaluate sources : Assess the relevance and reliability of each source. Check the publication date to ensure the information is current and relevant to your topic.
• Take notes efficiently : As you research, jot down important points, quotes, and references. Organize these notes according to the sections in your essay to make writing faster.
• Synthesize information : Combine information from multiple sources to build a strong argument. This will allow you to write comprehensively and with fewer words, as each sentence carries more weight.

5. Improve Your Paragraph Structure

Streamlining paragraphs can make your essay shorter and more digestible for the reader. With a well-structured paragraph, you can focus on a single idea supported by concise statements.

Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states the main idea. This sentence sets the direction and tone, letting the reader know what to expect. It also helps ensure that every following sentence relates directly to the main idea.

Condense supporting information by merging ideas that logically coexist within a single sentence or phrase. After that, evaluate each sentence for its contribution to the paragraph’s main idea. Remove any information that is repeated or goes into too much detail.

Focus on providing evidence and explanations that directly support the main point. You should also end each paragraph with a sentence that reinforces the main idea and potentially links to the next paragraph. This creates smooth transitions and keeps the essay focused and cohesive.

6. Refine the Introduction and Conclusion

These sections frame your essay and influence how your arguments are perceived. Here are some ways to keep them concise yet effective.

The introduction should be engaging and concise, clearly stating the purpose and scope of your essay. Begin with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, followed by background information that sets the context. Incorporate your thesis statement early on, ideally at the end of the intro.

The conclusion needs to reinforce the thesis. Summarize key points in the essay and show how they support the thesis. Provide a final thought that leaves the reader with something to ponder.

Also, remember to keep it tight – the conclusion isn’t a place for introducing new ideas. It should wrap up the ones you presented and prompt the reader to pose their own questions.

7. Edit and Proofread

Keep your essay concise and error-free by allocating ample time for editing and proofreading. These processes scrutinize your work at different levels, from the overall structure to word choices and punctuation. Here’s how you can go about it:

Start by reading through your entire paper to get a feel for its flow and coherence. Check if all paragraphs support your thesis statement and if section transitions are smooth. This will help you spot areas where the argument might be weak, or wording could be clearer.

Focus next on paragraph structure. Ensure each paragraph sticks to one main idea and that all sentences directly support the idea. Remove any repetitive or irrelevant sentences that don’t add value.

Then, look for clarity and style. Replace complex words with simpler alternatives to maintain readability. Keep your tone consistent throughout the paper. Adjust the sentence length and structure to enhance the flow and make it more engaging.

Proofreading

Proofreading comes after editing. The focus here is catching typing errors, grammatical mistakes, and inconsistent formatting. It’s always best to proofread with fresh eyes, so consider taking a break before this step.

Use tools like spell checkers, but don’t rely solely on them. Read your essay aloud or have someone else review it. Hearing the words can help you catch errors you may have missed.

Lastly, check for punctuation errors and ensure all citations and references are formatted according to the required academic style. This and all of the above are areas in which AI can help get the job done with speed and precision.

Why You Might Need to Shorten Your Essay

Ever heard the expression “less is more”? When it comes to academic writing, it normally is. Keeping your essays concise offers several benefits:

• Enhances clarity : A shorter essay forces you to focus on the main points and critical arguments, reducing the risk of going off-topic. This clarity makes your writing more impactful and easier for the reader to follow.
• Meets word limits : Many academic assignments have a maximum word count. Learning to express your thoughts concisely helps you stay within these limits without sacrificing essential content.
• Saves time : For both the writer and the reader, shorter essays take less time to write, revise, and read. This efficiency is especially valuable in academic settings where time is usually limited.
• Increases engagement : Readers are more likely to stay engaged with a document that gets to the point quickly. Lengthy texts can deter readers, especially if the content has unnecessary words or redundant points.
• Improves writing skills : Shortening essays helps refine your writing skills. You become better at identifying and eliminating fluff, focusing instead on what really adds value to your paper.

Overall, adopting a more succinct writing style helps you meet academic requirements and polish your communication skills.

Why Use Smodin To Shorten an Essay

Using AI-powered platforms like Smodin to shorten your essay is both the simplest and the least time-consuming method available. Here’s why you should probably make Smodin your go-to essay shortener:

• Efficiency : Smodin eases the editing process, using advanced algorithms to quickly identify areas where content can be condensed without losing meaning.
• Accuracy : With its powerful AI, Smodin ensures that the essence of your essays stays intact while getting rid of unnecessary words, making your writing more precise.
• Ease of use : Smodin is user-friendly, making it accessible even to those who aren’t the most tech-savvy. Its easy-to-grasp interface allows for seamless navigation and operation.

Smodin’s offerings

• Rewriter : Available in over 50 languages, this tool helps rewrite text to be more concise.
• Article Writer : Assists in drafting articles that are crisp and to the point.
• Plagiarism and Auto Citation : Ensures your essay is original and correctly cited, which is crucial in academic writing.
• Language Detection : Identifies the language of the text, ensuring the right adjustments are made for clarity.

All these tools and more are what make Smodin an excellent choice for academics looking to reduce the length of their essays.

Final Thoughts

Word counts can be a real headache, especially when you need to say a lot with a little. Thankfully, by identifying unnecessary words, tightening your sentences, and using tools like Smodin, you can make your essay concise without losing its meaning. Remember, a shorter essay doesn’t just meet word limits; and it’s clear, more compelling, and more likely to keep your reader engaged.

Keep it short, keep it sweet, and make every word count! Get started for free right now with Smodin.

• Best of 2024
• How to Spot a Trustworthy Website
• Dating Apps
• Shopping Discount Fashion
• Discount Clothing
• Discount Designer Clothing
• Affordable Wedding Dresses
• Affordable Activewear for Women
• Plus-Size Swimwear
• COVID-19 Resources
• Write a Review
• Request a Review
• Backed by the National Science Foundation
• For Business
• Essay Writing

Unsolicited

Solicited - verified purchase.

Essays.uk has a rating of 4.4 stars from 161 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Essays.uk most frequently mention assignment help, high quality, and customer service. Essays.uk ranks 67th among Essay Writing sites.

• Shipping 60

“Writing services.”

This was my first time using Essays writing services, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I found them to be very fast on delivery and the Pricing was good. I will be using Essays again and again for review of literature writing services.

“Terrible service”

Would scare 0 if I could. Annoyed is an understatement, these people stated that they're communicative and provide "quality writers" but it's all a lie. I'm struggling with my uni report & I've put my trust into this company thinking they'll help me but nope, instead I've been receiving poor communication from there & my work is the total opposite to the instructions I gave them. These people don't care about you, all they care about is the money, this is my education on the line here! And you're causing me great stress! Bintou

Reviews (161)

From the business

Essays.uk is one of the most reliable essay and dissertation writing service. Our high quality services have ensured that our clients keep coming back to us for more. Since incorporating, Essays.uk has helped thousands of students across the world to achieve the highest possible academic grade.

• Visit Website
• Essay Writing , Academic Editing
• Glasgow, United Kingdom
• Edit business info

Business History

2015 - A small website www.essays.Uk was established with the aim to help students to get help with their academic projects. Essays.Uk group started to build a team of expert academic writers from a range of academic experts. 2015 - We developed several academic writing samples in house to demonstrate the quality of the work our clients can expect from us. 2016 - Essays.Uk was acquired by Research Prospect Ltd, a UK registered academic support service. Research Prospect is one of the largest essay and dissertation writing service in the world. 2017 - Essays.Uk launched its first ordering system build in house by a team of IT developers. The order form enabled our customers to check our prices and place an order online. 2018 - We introduced several new services includes personal statement writing, video editing, poster designing, reflective essay writing, and more. 2019 - A big milestone – Essays.Uk served its 2000th customer – thank you, everyone, for their trust in our team and services. 2020 - Convenience – Now accepting payments from PayPal. This was particularly useful for our clients who didn’t have a card to pay with.

Company Representative