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Useful introductory phrases: 
Simple changes you can make: 
The table shows changes in … 
The table gives information about … 
The bar chart compares … 
The graph illustrates … 
The chart shows data about … 
The pie charts compare … 
The diagram shows the process of … 
The figure shows how … is produced 
The line graph shows changes in … 
The line graph compares … 
 
Graph/line graph/chart/bar chart 
Diagram/figure
Shows/illustrates/compares
proportion = percentage
information = data
the number of/the figure for/the 
proportion of
people in the UK/ the British
from 1999 to 2009/between 1999 and 
2009/over a period of 10 years
in three countries = in the UK, France 
and Spain (i.e. name the countries) 
 
 
Example: 
The graph below shows the figures for imprisonment in five countries
between 1930 and 1980. 
 
We can change 3 elements of this sentence: 
1.
graph shows = bar chart compares
2.
figures for imprisonment = number of people in prison/prisoners
3.
between ... and ... = over a period of … years 
Sample paraphrased introduction: 
The bar chart compares the number of people in prison in five different countries over a 
period of 50 years, from 1930 to 1980. (24 words) 
in
th
ous
ands

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IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
25 
Useful Phrases 
You can use the words and the phrases below to start writing your introductory paragraph 
more quickly with more confidence.