whereas
Used to compare two things and show a contrast between them.
writing-task-1writing-task-2
IELTS use
Compare data in Task 1 (e.g., line graphs, bar charts) or compare ideas in Task 2.
Examples
- The number of male students increased, whereas female numbers remained stable.
- Some argue for free university education, whereas others believe students should pay.
Collocations
- whereas + clause
- Whereas the first graph shows a rise, the second indicates a decline.
Paraphrases
- while: More common; can be used at beginning or middle of sentence.
- in contrast: More formal and can start a new sentence.
Common mistakes
- Whereas some people think it's good, on the other hand, others disagree. to Whereas some people think it's good, others disagree.. Avoid using 'whereas' and 'on the other hand' in the same sentence; they serve the same function.
- Urban areas are dense, whereas rural areas are sparse. to Urban areas are densely populated, whereas rural areas are sparsely populated.. Maintain parallel structure for a clear contrast.