spanish words to use in an essay

• Learning Method
• Spanish Culture
• Spanish Grammar
• Spanish Travel
• Spanish Vocabulary and Expressions
• Study Guide
• Spanish Language Accelerator Program
• Online Courses
• Books / Audiobooks

Spanish Essay Phrases: 40 Useful Phrases for an Impressive Writeup

7  Comments

May 30, 2019

Follow Us Now

Do you need to write a lot of essays in Spanish? If you do, don’t worry. It's about to get a little bit easier for you because here in this article, we’ve listed many useful Spanish essay phrases that you can readily use in your essays.

Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

Get the PDF ( + MP3!)

No time to read now? Then you might opt to get the list in PDF instead. If you sign up to the newsletter, you'll get the list of Spanish essay phrases in PDF format plus free audio files. 

Spanish Essay Phrases

Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

Try to use the essay phrases in Spanish that you learned in this lesson and write a few example sentences in the comments section!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

VERY VERY useful !! Gracias

Amazing! This will definitely help me in tomorrow’s spanish test 🙂

Sounds good

Thanks for the assistance, in learning Spanish.

Amazing article! Very helpful! Also, this website is great for Spanish Beginners.

It’s easy when you put it that way

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

51 Spanish Phrases for Essays to Impress with Words

• January 7, 2021

Joanna Lupa

Communicating in a foreign language is hard enough, even in everyday situations, when no sophisticated or academic vocabulary is needed. 

Being able to write an actual essay in Spanish requires you not only to have a solid grammar base but also be knowledgeable about specific phrases and words typically used in school and university writing. 

For those of you who study in one of the Spanish speaking countries or are toying with the idea of signing up for an exchange program, I have prepared a summary of useful Spanish phrases for essays. They are divided into the following categories:

• Connectors (sequence, contrast, cause and effect, additional information, and conclusion)
• Expressions to give your opinion, agree and disagree with a thesis
• fancy academic expressions

Spanish Connectors to Use in Essays

Written language tends to be more formal than the spoken one. Ideas get explained in complex sentences showing how they relate to each other. A fantastic tool to achieve that is connectors.

What are some useful Spanish connectors for essays? Let’s have a look at the ten examples below:

• 🇪🇸 primero – 🇬🇧 first
• 🇪🇸 segundo – 🇬🇧 second
• 🇪🇸 el siguiente argumento – 🇬🇧 the next argument
• 🇪🇸 finalmente – 🇬🇧 finally, last but not least 
• 🇪🇸 sin embargo – 🇬🇧 however, nevertheless, nonetheless
• 🇪🇸 por lo tanto – 🇬🇧 therefore, thus
• 🇪🇸 además – 🇬🇧 besides
• 🇪🇸 por un lado….por el otro lado – 🇬🇧 on the one hand….on the other hand
• 🇪🇸 a menos que – 🇬🇧 unless
• 🇪🇸 a pesar de (algo) – 🇬🇧 despite / in spite of (something)
• 🇪🇸 aunque / a pesar de que – 🇬🇧 although / even though
• 🇪🇸 debido a – 🇬🇧 due to
• 🇪🇸 puesto que / dado que – 🇬🇧 given that
• 🇪🇸 ya que –  🇬🇧 since
• 🇪🇸 mientras que – 🇬🇧 whereas
• 🇪🇸 en conclusión – 🇬🇧 in conclusion
• 🇪🇸 para concluir – 🇬🇧 to conclude

Do you think you would know how to use these connectors in an essay? Let’s suppose you are writing about ecology:

🇪🇸 Los paises han estado cambiando sus politicas. Sin embargo, aún queda mucho por hacer.  🇬🇧 Countries have been changing their policies. However, there is still a lot to do. 

🇪🇸 Una de las amenazas climáticas es el efecto invernadero. Además está la contaminación del agua que presenta un serio riesgo para la salud.  🇬🇧 One of the climate threats is the greenhouse effect. Besides, there is water pollution that presents a severe health hazard. 

🇪🇸 A pesar de los acuerdos internacionales, varios países no han mejorado sus normas ambientales.  🇬🇧 Despite international agreements, many countries haven’t yet improved their environmental standards. 

🇪🇸 Debido a la restricción en el uso de bolsas de plástico desechables, Chile ha podido reducir su huella de carbono.  🇬🇧 Due to the restrictions in the use of disposable plastic bags, Chile has been able to reduce its carbon print. 

Spanish Phrases to Express Your Opinion in Essays

Essay topics commonly require you to write what you think about something. Or whether you agree or disagree with an idea, a project, or someone’s views. 

The words below will allow you to express your opinion effortlessly and go beyond the typical “creo que ” – “ I think ”:

• 🇪🇸 (yo) opino que – 🇬🇧 in my opinion
• 🇪🇸 me parece que – 🇬🇧 it seems to me
• 🇪🇸 desde mi punto de vista – 🇬🇧 from my point of view
• 🇪🇸 (no) estoy convencido que  – 🇬🇧 I am (not) convinced that
• 🇪🇸 no me cabe la menor duda – 🇬🇧 I have no doubt 
• 🇪🇸 estoy seguro que – 🇬🇧 I’m sure
• 🇪🇸 dudo que – 🇬🇧 I doubt
• 🇪🇸 sospecho que – 🇬🇧 I suspect
• 🇪🇸 asumo que – 🇬🇧 I assume
• 🇪🇸 estoy (totalmente, parcialmente) de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I (totally, partially) agree
• 🇪🇸 no estoy de acuerdo en absoluto – 🇬🇧 I absolutely disagree
• 🇪🇸 opino diferente – 🇬🇧 I have a different opinion
• 🇪🇸 me niego a aceptar – 🇬🇧 I refuse to accept
• 🇪🇸 estoy en contra / a favor de – 🇬🇧 I am against / in favor of
• 🇪🇸 no podría estar más de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I couldn’t agree more
• 🇪🇸 encuentro absolutamente cierto / falso  – 🇬🇧 I find it absolutely correct / false

Phrases like these can really give shape to your essay and increase its formality level. This time, let’s verify it with views on education: 

🇪🇸 Opino que estudiando remotamente los jóvenes están perdiendo las habilidades sociales.  🇬🇧 In my opinion, remote schooling makes youngsters lose their social skills. 

🇪🇸 Dudo que esta decisión traiga verdaderos cambios para el sistema educacional en mi país.  🇬🇧 I doubt this change will bring any real changes to the educational system in my country. 

🇪🇸 Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con que todos deberían tener acceso a educación de calidad. 🇬🇧 I totally agree that everyone should have access to good quality education. 

🇪🇸 Estoy en contra de escuelas solo para niñas o solo para niños.  🇬🇧 I am against girls-only or boys-only schools. 

Pay attention to certain language differences between English and Spanish versions. The most common mistake that my students make is to say “ I am agree ” ❌ (direct translation from “ Estoy de acuerdo ”) instead of “ I agree ”✔️. 

Fancy Academic Verbs and Expressions for Essays in Spanish

Would you like to impress your professor with sophisticated academic vocabulary or get extra points on your DELE? Grab a pen and take notes:

• 🇪🇸 afirmar  – 🇬🇧 to state
• 🇪🇸 refutar – 🇬🇧 to refute, to reject
• 🇪🇸 argumentar – 🇬🇧 to argue that
• 🇪🇸 poner en duda  – 🇬🇧 to cast doubt
• 🇪🇸 poner en evidencia – 🇬🇧 to shed light 
• 🇪🇸 demostrar – 🇬🇧 to demonstrate
• 🇪🇸 concentrarse en – 🇬🇧 to focus on
• 🇪🇸 sostener – 🇬🇧 to sustain
• 🇪🇸 reflejar – 🇬🇧 to reflect
• 🇪🇸 considerando (que) – 🇬🇧 considering (that)
• 🇪🇸 siendo realista – 🇬🇧 realistically speaking
• 🇪🇸 de cierto modo – 🇬🇧 in a way
• 🇪🇸 en lo que se refiere a – 🇬🇧 with regards to
• 🇪🇸 en vista de – 🇬🇧 in view of
• 🇪🇸 de acuerdo a – 🇬🇧 according to
• 🇪🇸 no obstante – 🇬🇧 nevertheless

So many great words to work with! And some of them sound really similar to English, right? This is exactly why Spanish is such a good option when you want to learn a second language.

Let’s see how to make all these verbs and phrases work:

🇪🇸 Los resultados de los nuevos estudios ponen en duda la relación entre el consumo de huevos y altos niveles de colesterol.  🇬🇧 The recent study findings cast doubt on the relation between egg consumption and high cholesterol levels. 

🇪🇸 Los autores del estudio argumentan que los azucares y los carbohidratos juegan un rol importante en este asunto.  🇬🇧 The authors of the study argue that sugars and carbs play an important role in this topic. 

🇪🇸 En lo que se refiere al consumo de carne, este influye directamente los niveles de colesterol malo, sobre todo si es carne con mucha grasa. 🇬🇧 Regarding meat consumption, it directly influences the levels of “bad” cholesterol, especially in the case of greasy meat. 

Spanish Resources

Latin spanish vs spanish – what are the key differences, 15 spanish expressions of surprise you must know, body parts in spanish – master them head to toe, your spanish journey starts here, privacy overview.

Writing an Essay in Spanish: Tips for a Great Essay

When learning Spanish, many students put all their energy into practicing speaking. They chat with classmates, engage in conversations with native speakers, and tune into Spanish TV shows or podcasts. But amidst this flurry of spoken practice, writing often gets pushed aside like yesterday's homework.

Yet, without honing those writing chops, achieving true fluency in Spanish—or any language for that matter—can be tough. That's why, in this article, we're jumping into writing an essay in Spanish, showing why it's not just a dreaded task but a great chance to boost your language skills. ¡Vamos!

Quick Tips on Writing in Spanish

Now that you're ready to tackle Spanish essay writing, let's make sure you're armed with some handy tips from our Spanish essay writer :

• Mind Your Spelling : Pay close attention to how words are spelled. Good spelling can make your writing look professional and help you avoid embarrassing mistakes.
• Use Transition Words : Incorporate transition words like 'sin embargo' (however), 'por lo tanto' (therefore), and 'además' (moreover) to connect your ideas and make your essay flow smoothly.
• Stick to Simple Sentences : Keep your sentences straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid using overly complicated phrases that might confuse your reader.
• Practice Grammar Regularly : Brush up on grammar rules to avoid common mistakes. Pay attention to verb conjugations, noun-adjective agreement, and sentence structure.
• Expand Your Vocabulary : Learn new Spanish words and phrases regularly to enrich your writing. Try using a Spanish-English dictionary or language-learning app to discover new vocabulary.
• Read Spanish Texts : Read books, articles, and essays written in this language to familiarize yourself with the language's structure and style. Pay attention to how sentences are constructed and how ideas are expressed.

With these quick tips in mind, let’s now check out a step-by-step guide to crafting an essay in Spanish.

Choose a Compelling Subject

When you start your essay, picking a compelling subject is your first step. Choose a topic that you care about. It will show in your writing, making it more engaging and lively.

Think about what excites you or what you want to know more about. Maybe there's a part of Spanish culture that fascinates you, like flamenco dancing or the traditional food of a specific region. Or perhaps you're intrigued by a historical figure or a current issue in Spanish-speaking countries.

Once you settle on a topic, dig into it. Look up articles, watch videos, and gather as much information as you can. This background work will not only beef up your knowledge but also give you plenty of material to draw from when you sit down to write your essay.

Generate Ideas

Brainstorming can really kick things into gear by helping you develop a deep and varied pool of thoughts related to your topic. Start by jotting down everything that comes to mind about your subject. Don't worry about organizing these ideas yet; the goal is to get all your thoughts out on paper. You might be surprised by what you come up with!

Use mind maps to help visualize the connections between different ideas. Draw a circle in the center of a page, write your main topic in it, and then branch out with related ideas, connecting them with lines to show how they relate to each other and to the central theme.

Asking questions can also spark more ideas. What? Who? Where? When? Why? How? These questions can lead you to consider different angles of your topic that you might not have thought about before.

Once you have a good list of ideas, look for patterns or themes that could form the backbone of your essay. Choose the ones that are most interesting to you, or that have plenty of information available, and you'll find your essay starts to take shape naturally from there.

Craft an Opening

The opening, or introduction, should not only introduce your topic but also pique the reader's curiosity. Here's how you can create an engaging introduction:

• Start with a hook : Begin with an intriguing statement, a surprising fact, or a provocative question related to your topic. For example, if you're writing about the influence of Spanish cinema, you might start with statistics about the international awards Spanish films have won.
• Provide some background : After grabbing the reader's attention, give a bit of background to place your topic in context. This doesn't have to be detailed but should provide enough information to understand the importance of the topic and why it's relevant.
• State your thesis : End your introduction with a clear thesis statement that will guide the rest of your essay, making sure it's specific and directly related to your topic.

Structure the Essay

A well-organized essay makes it easier for your readers to follow your arguments and understand the points you're making. As previously mentioned, your introduction should start with a hook to capture interest, provide some background information to set the scene and conclude with a strong thesis statement that outlines your main argument or perspective.

As for the body section, start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence should link back to your thesis statement and indicate how this paragraph will support your overall argument. Then, follow the topic sentence with evidence, examples, and explanations to flesh out your argument.

Lastly, begin your conclusion by briefly summarizing the key points you have discussed. Then, reinforce your thesis statement with a fresh rephrasing, showing how the body of your essay has supported it throughout.

Recap the Content

Now that you've laid out your arguments in the body of your essay, it's time to recap. Briefly go over the main points from each section of your essay. This reminds the reader of what you've discussed and how it all connects. Then, tie each point back to your thesis statement. Also, mention any particularly strong evidence or insightful observations again, reinforcing their importance.

Ensure Coherence and Relevance

Once you've recapped the content of your writing, it's essential to ensure coherence and relevance throughout. You can do this by reviewing the transitions between paragraphs and sections, ensuring they flow smoothly and logically from one idea to the next.

Also, look for any redundant or repetitive information. Remove anything that doesn't add value to your argument or that repeats points you've already made. It's also important to avoid going off on tangents or introducing unrelated information.

Lastly, before finalizing your essay, ask yourself if every part of it is relevant to your main argument. If not, consider revising or removing those sections to maintain focus.

Review for Clarity and Style

Once you've ensured coherence and relevance in your writing, it's time to review for clarity and style. Break down long or convoluted sentences into shorter, more straightforward ones. This helps prevent confusion and keeps your writing clear. You can also read your essay aloud to yourself or have someone else read it to you. This can help you identify awkward phrasing or unclear passages that may need revision.

Edit for Errors

Finally, it's time to edit your essay for errors. This step is crucial for ensuring that your writing is polished and professional. Using a spellchecker or asking a native speaker to proofread your essay for you is usually a good idea. Then, double-check your formatting, including margins, font size, and spacing. Make sure your essay follows any specific formatting guidelines provided by your instructor.

By thoroughly editing your essay for Spanish language errors, you ensure that your final product is polished and ready to impress your readers. Take your time with this step to catch any mistakes and make the necessary revisions for a flawless finish.

Frequently asked questions

She was flawless! first time using a website like this, I've ordered article review and i totally adored it! grammar punctuation, content - everything was on point

This writer is my go to, because whenever I need someone who I can trust my task to - I hire Joy. She wrote almost every paper for me for the last 2 years

Term paper done up to a highest standard, no revisions, perfect communication. 10s across the board!!!!!!!

I send him instructions and that's it. my paper was done 10 hours later, no stupid questions, he nailed it.

Sometimes I wonder if Michael is secretly a professor because he literally knows everything. HE DID SO WELL THAT MY PROF SHOWED MY PAPER AS AN EXAMPLE. unbelievable, many thanks

New Posts to Your Inbox!

Stay in touch

Basic Guidelines For Writing Essays in Spanish

Students tend to focus on speaking practice while learning Spanish, so they often neglect writing. However, most educators emphasize its importance for mastering the language. They say it’s impossible to become fluent in a particular language if one doesn’t train writing skills. 

Therefore, teachers give a lot of essay assignments to students. This type of homework is a great way to inspire them to think and communicate in Spanish effectively. It may be quite difficult to complete such a task. However, it’s one of the most effective ways to learn Spanish or any other language.

You may be tempted to go online and find the best essay writing service to have your essay written for you. This may be helpful when you’re pressed for time, but in the long run, you’re missing an opportunity to improve your own essay writing skills. That’s why we are going to provide you with some recommendations on how to ease the writing process.

Some tips on writing in Spanish 

• Be careful with word spelling. Remember that teachers pay special attention to spelling so it can either make or break your student image. Having good spelling makes a positive impression of your writing skills and boosts your grades. 
• Make your essay coherent with the help of connectors. Use them to explain the relationship between the ideas so your essay doesn’t look like just a list of thoughts and facts. 
• Pay attention to syntax or the word order. As you need to stick to the academic style, try to keep the traditional order such as “subject + verb + objects”. This will also help you express your opinion in a simpler way, so it’s more clear to the reader.
• Avoid word repetitions by using synonyms. Frequent repetitions make your text boring and heavy. If you use the same words again and again, your essay will look dull. Hence, try to find synonyms in Spanish thesaurus and replace the most commonly used expressions with them. 
• Before you create a final version of your essay, let someone read it and give feedback. It’s hard to be objective about your writing, so ask another person to tell you which ideas are less clear if your text contains any confusing phrases, and what are the positive aspects that can be reinforced. 
• Do not write the essay in your native language first to translate it into Spanish then. This approach is not viable for mastering a foreign language. The only thing that you are doing by translating the text literally is practicing the grammatical structures that you have learned. This doesn’t help you learn new idioms and collocations that don’t follow the general grammatical rules. 

Now that you know how to make your writing better, let’s consider a step-by-step guide to essay writing in Spanish. 

Pick an interesting topic 

If possible, choose a topic you are truly excited about. Unless the specific title was given to you by instructors, find a theme you want to research and write about. True interest is what will drive you towards creating an excellent piece. If you enjoy reading about the subject you are going to analyze in your essay, then you will definitely succeed in writing. Remember that decent work can be done only if you are passionate about it. 

Brainstorm the ideas 

When it comes to any project, brainstorming is an integral stage of the creation process. This is one of the most efficient ways to gain insights and generate new ideas. You can use this technique to think of the main supporting arguments, an approach for a catchy introduction, and paragraph organization. You can also try freewriting and/or make a brief outline to ease the writing process itself. 

Create an introduction 

Probably the main rule about creating an introduction that you have to stick to is adding a clear thesis statement there. It must be included in the first paragraph to give your essay a certain direction and help the readers focus their attention on the topic. Also, your introduction must be catchy and intriguing to evoke the desire to read the essay further and learn more. 

Organize an essay body 

It’s essential to make the body paragraphs organized logically. You need to make sure that each of them is closely related to the main topic and discusses one major point. Each body paragraph must consist of a topic sentence and supporting arguments with evidence. It’s very important to write sentences in a logical sequence so they follow each other orderly. Also, since paragraphs shouldn’t overlap in content, add smooth transitions from one to the other. 

Sum up the content 

The vital requirement to the conclusion is that it must logically relate to the original thesis statement. Generally, it’s not acceptable to introduce new ideas in the conclusion. Instead, you need to sum up the main points mentioned in the essay’s body. It’s also forbidden to add any off-topic ideas to the last paragraph of your paper.

Check content relevance and cohesion 

Once you complete the conclusion, read through the essay for relevance and cohesion. Make sure that the whole piece is on the topic and in the mode required. In particular, check if body paragraphs support the thesis statement and whether the conclusion relates to it. After that, read your paper once again to see whether the parts connect together well. Think if there are logical links between ideas and if you need more transitions. 

Read for clarity and style

Scan your essay to find out whether some sections may be unclear to the reader. Analyze the text to find out if it sounds academic and polished. Check if there are any vague pronouns, excessive wording, or awkward phrases. Don’t forget to make sure that all points are listed in similar grammatical forms.

The last stage of your writing process is final proofreading. Read your paper the last time looking at grammar, spelling, punctuation, verb tense, word forms, and pronoun agreement. Correct all the mistakes to make your work excellent. 

Remember that the most important thing about learning a foreign language is a regular practice. Therefore, you should use any opportunity provided by instructors to polish your skills. Hopefully, the recommendations given above will help you write an excellent essay and master the Spanish language!

Take your first step to finally feeling comfortable speaking Spanish

Let's connect you with a hand-picked native-speaking tutor today.

In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Spanish Writer Freelance

Spanish essay example and how to write it.

Today, I will share a  Spanish essay example   in the end of the article and talk about the steps and hacks to help you craft the perfect Spanish essay.

As an experienced writer, I understand how hard it can be to write in a language different from your mother tongue. But, know that learning  how to write a good Spanish essay  has more to do with following a structure than it has to do with understanding the language.

Of course, you need to have a basic understanding of spelling and grammatical practices; as well as a vast vocabulary to avoid sounding monotonous. 

However, learning  how to write a Spanish essay  is not impossible if you follow these simple steps:

• Draft an outline 
• Create a list of words and terms 
• Start writing the body of your essay
• Write the introduction 
• Formulate the conclusion 
• Proofread and edit 

As you can see, learning how to write a good Spanish essay requires a lot of planning and organization. And although it might be counter-intuitive at first, following the structure above will save you a lot of time. Plus, once you have the system down, you will be able to create exciting pieces without breaking a sweat!

Before we dive in, I always recommend you do a little research. So, look up  Spanish essay examples  online and analyze the way the writer structured the piece. Bonus points if you can find useful examples of essays within your topic of choice. The idea is not to copy what others are saying but to understand  how to write a Spanish essay  that is well crafted, appealing, and informative — all at the same time. 

Now that you have done your homework; it is time to start writing your essay by following the steps I mentioned earlier:

1. Draft an outline

An outline is vital when you are learning  how to write a Spanish essay , as it will allow you to organize your arguments and ideas. Plus, given that you are not writing in your first language, an outline will help you translate keywords or phrases from English to Spanish (if need be).

As you can see from the Spanish essay example, I have shared it after the text . You must keep it simple. Nonetheless, make sure you have enough information to elaborate on 6-7 paragraphs. Also, do not forget to include any quotes, statistics, or other information (from credible sources) that could support your arguments.

2. Create a list of words and terms 

I always recommend that before you start writing, you create a list of keywords or phrases that are vital to your essay. More often than not, these terms will appear as part of your outline, but, in other instances, these could be hard-to-translate terms. 

You do not need to write every word or term you will be using throughout the piece as you can always use a English-Spanish dictionary if you cannot recall a specific term.

The list is a way of double-checking. keywords to make sure you are using the correct term in Spanish and not using a literal translation. For instance, in the list of our Spanish essay example, the word “ must-have ” is not translated to “ debes tener ,” as that would be a literal translation. Instead, the phrases “ cualidades indispensables ” is used, which would be the appropriate term in Spanish.  

3. Start writing the body of your essay

The body of the essay is where you fully develop your argument. It might seem odd, but you should ignore your essay’s introduction and go straight to the body . 

If your goal is to master  how to write a good Spanish essay  make sure your body has a good flow in between paragraphs, so they do not end up being separate mini-essays. It is also essential that each body paragraph contains only one main argument or claim. However, this central idea can (and should) be supported by approximately 5 to 6 other sentences.

Spanish essays are usually wordier/more complicated than your average English essay as the language is richer. So, do not be afraid to write longer sentences to get the message across.  

Lastly, do not forget to add relevant examples, evidence to support your arguments, and quotes from experts or credible sources (i.e., academic books and journal articles).   You can see one example of a quote here.

Let’s be honest, most students do not do that, but shows the teacher you have put effort to research your topic.

 Go back to our Spanish essay example and dissect each paragraph. Pay attention to the transitions here and here , the way we incorporated quotes, and how each paragraph’s main idea is developed. In doing so, you will be gaining valuable insight as to how to structure your document. 

4. Write the introduction 

Once you have finished writing your entire essay’s body, write the introduction. Why? Simple. If the job of an introduction is to set the tone for what will follow. You will have a more precise and more detailed idea of what that is once you’ve written the entire piece. 

An introduction should state a problem or introduce a subject of discussion. It should also tell the reader  why  you are writing this essay and why he/she should feel compelled to read it. 

Let’s look at our Spanish essay example. Here, the introduction , although it is short, gives us enough information. It allows us to understand that we will know how to manage a remote team by choosing the right candidates and establishing an effective strategy after reading this essay. And that is precisely what you want an introduction to be doing!  

5. Formulate the conclusion 

When learning  how to write a Spanish essay , you have to be really careful with how you formulate the conclusion. In Spanish, your conclusion should always begin by restating your main argument. In other words, this is your chance to tie all of your main points together and give the reader a succinct takeaway. 

For instance, in our Spanish essay example, the conclusion is everything. Think about it, if you only read the title and this last paragraph, you almost do not need to read the body. All the main points are there, and as a reader, I got what I came looking for: strategies to manage a remote team effectively. 

6. Proofread and edit 

To finish our easy steps on  how to write a Spanish essay,  we must not leave our editing and proofreading! This step is critical to composing a great essay. Most readers will not even finish reading articles if they spot a spelling mistake, typo, or grammatical error. Thus, take the time to go over your essay.

Furthermore, when editing your essay, pay attention to:

• Readability 
• Consistency of the language
• Argument reasoning and rationale
• Transition between paragraphs
• Writing style
• Citations and referencing 

Lastly, given that Spanish is not your first language, I always recommend having someone else proofread your final draft before sending it out or printing it. A native Spanish speaker can easily spot mistakes that you might have missed, which could affect your article’s natural flow. 

Do you need help?

Contact me!

How to Make your Spanish Essay More Persuasive 

Now that you have finished writing a good Spanish essay, you might want to go the extra mile by making it more persuasive. 

A  Spanish persuasive essay  or any persuasive essays’ goal is to convince the reader to think like you or validate your perspective. But, some topics can be more subjective than others. Thus, to make sure your essay is effective, always rely on others. 

In other words, don’t let your argument stand-alone—research statistics, graphs, information, and data that can back up what you are saying. Citing or quoting experts in the field is also a great way to go about it as it allows your message to carry more weight. 

Nonetheless, make sure you are only using reliable sources. Below a list of ways to vet a reference to make sure your  Spanish persuasive essay  uses only the best sources:

Verify the information you already have against the data found in the source.

• Authority

Make sure a dependable author or institution writes the source.

Depending on your subject, your currency needs will vary. Thus, make sure to check when was the book or article written/published.

As a rule of thumb, I consider a reliable source:

• Materials published within the last five years

• Official websites (.gov., .edu,.org)

• Academic databases

• Articles published by well-known authors or experts in a specific topic

There you have it! Six easy steps that will help you write a good Spanish essay and a few tips and tricks to make it more persuasive.

Spanish essay example – See below

Cómo desarrollar una estrategia efectiva de teletrabajo.

[Start of the Introduction section]

El Covid-19 ha llevado a muchas empresas a migrar de un trabajo presencial al teletrabajo. Según Global Workplace Analytics [ and in the end you can add the reference to your Bibliografía ], unos 75 millones de trabajadores de los EEUU podrían teletrabajar al menos un parte de su jornada de trabajo. Sin embargo, para muchos sectores esto se ha convertido en un verdadero reto.

Aunque para muchos no sea obvio, los beneficios de trabajar con equipos remotos son incontables, siempre que construyas una política realmente efectiva y diseñes el proceso de reclutamiento acertado. Así es que si buscas desarrollar una estrategia efectiva de teletrabajo, debes asegurarte de que tus empleados o candidatos para trabajar a distancia, cuenten con las herramientas adecuadas.

[End of the Introdution]

[Start of the body section]

Cuando comiences a reclutar personas (nuevas o dentro de tu mismo equipo de trabajo), asegúrate de informarles de las cualidades indispensables que buscas en un candidato. No todo el mundo podrá unirse a la modalidad de teletrabajo por más que la situación lo requiera.

Por ejemplo , si una de las características más importantes para el desarrollo del proyecto es la conectividad, los candidatos adecuados deben poder estar a tu disponibles a través de sus computadoras o dispositivos móviles. Mónica Zent [ another reference in our Bibliografía section ], fundadora de Foxwordy la primera red social privada para abogados, recomienda que a todos los candidatos se les debería preguntar acerca de sus hábitos digitales. Pues, los candidatos ideales para el teletrabajo son aquellos que tienen disponibilidad y buena disposición para mantenerse conectados o conectarse en el momento en que sea necesario.

Del mismo modo , debes infórmales sobre de tus reglas para el teletrabajo y ayudarlos a mejorar sus métodos de gestión del tiempo. La idea es que te apoyes en un equipo eficiente, pero que además sea capaz de lograr un buen equilibrio entre la vida y el trabajo. Aunque la flexibilidad es una de las características inherentes del trabajo remoto, debes construir una política firme según las necesidades específicas de tu proyecto para poder dirigir un equipo eficiente y efectivo.

Las horas laborales oficiales, dependerán de los requerimientos de tu proyecto, por lo que es importante que los miembros de tu equipo sepan a qué horario atenerse. En caso de que los miembros de tu equipo tengan distintos husos horarios, define uno oficial con el que todos se sientan cómodos.

Determina los días que necesites una videoconferencia con todo el equipo dentro del huso horario oficial. Estas llamadas les permitirán recordar que trabajan con otras personas aunque por lo general hagan sus tareas aislados. Promueve el uso de la webcam para que todos estén concentrados en la conversación y estén realmente presentes. El verse las caras permite la comprensión del lenguaje corporal y una mejor comunicación.

[End of body section]

[Start of the conclusion section]

En conclusión, una estrategia efectiva de trabajo remoto dependerá de la forma en la que buscas y vetas los candidatos en tu empresa. No todo el mundo tiene la capacidad de trabajar desde casa de manera efectiva.

Además , recuerda hacer hincapié en la modalidad de trabajo y plantea una estructura clara donde se establezcan horarios, reuniones y seguimientos para lograr los mejores resultados.

Si logras incoporar todas estas prácticas dentro de tu modelo de negocio, tendrás un equipo remoto efectivo, compenetrado y eficiente. Tres factores de vital importancia para sobrepasar la crisis mundial que nos ha tocado vivir este 2020.

Bibliografía

• Global Workplace Analytics, 2020. How many people could work-from-home . Consultado a 04.10.2020 en [https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/how-many-people-could-work-from-home].
• Zent, Mónica, 2015. Monica Zent’s 5 Ways to Effectively Lead Remote Teams . Consutlado a 04.10.2020 en [https://medium.com/@MonicaZent/monica-zent-s-5-ways-to-effectively-lead-remote-teams-the-most-cutting-edge-companies-of-the-ab409c3db16a]
• Introducción
• “En los EE. UU., 4.7 millones de empleados trabajan desde casa al menos la mitad de la semana.”
• Qué estas buscando
• Conectividad
• Disponibilidad
• El candidato ideal
• Tip de Mónica Zent
• Flexibilidad
• Modalidad de trabajo
• Estrategia/planificación
• Video conferencias/Uso de la webcam
• Fechas de entrega

List of words

• Work remotely = Trabajo remoto/teletrabajo
• Flexibilty = Felixbilidad
• Availability = Disponibilidad
• 24/7 Connectivity = Conectividad las 24 horas
• Must-haves = Cualidades indispensables
• Video conference = Video conferencias
• Deadlines = Fechas de entrega
• Time zone = huso horario
• Webcam = webcam

Related Posts

One thought on “Spanish Essay Example and How to Write it”

It is very good

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

I am a freelance copywriter from Spain

Privacy overview.

Advanced Spanish Phrases for Studying and Working

Learning a language, whether in the classroom or on your own, is a rewarding and fun experience. It allows you to watch movies and understand lyrics in another language, and it can even help you make new friends. When you reach an advanced level, however, a world of opportunities opens.

If you’re dreaming of an academic or professional career in Spain or another Spanish-speaking country, you’re already aware that it can be the pathway to a brilliant future. More than 500 million people around the planet speak the language—just imagine the possibilities! 

Need a little help getting there? Here are some advanced Spanish phrases that can put you on track. Also, stick around for some bonus everyday Spanish idioms that will make you sound like a native. Enjoy!

Here’s to a brilliant career doing business in Spanish!

• Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
• Power Phrases for Your Cover Letter
• Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings
• Bonus: Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
• Final Thoughts

1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing

Academic writing is one of the most formal ways to express yourself. Once you’ve reached an advanced level in Spanish, you’ll be able to produce fluid and coherent texts for the academic sphere. Here are some advanced Spanish phrases for essays that will make your work look great:

Ace your essay in Spanish!

2. Power Phrases for Your Cover Letter

In Spain, a cover letter goes a long way when applying for a job. Now that so many people have a good education and are well-experienced, showing who you really are in a few paragraphs can turn the tables in your favor. However, try to maintain a formal structure and use sophisticated vocabulary with these advanced Spanish phrases:

A good cover letter can get you your dream interview.

3. Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings

The business world has its own expressions and slang. Learning how to properly communicate in the workplace can make all the difference when trying to succeed in business. With these advanced Spanish phrases, you’ll learn how to express yourself in a meeting and also how to address others in a professional manner.

Thank your coworkers for coming to your meeting!

4. Bonus: Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

Spanish idioms are very present in everyday conversations. Do you want to know what your teacher means when (s)he tells you to “put on the batteries”? Or maybe what the young people mean when they say “molar”?

Fear not! We’re here to help you master advanced Spanish phrases, idioms, and slang expressions.

Otro gallo cantaría… (“Things would be very different…”)

5. Final Thoughts

In this guide to advanced Spanish phrases, you learned a variety of expressions that will help you improve your speaking and writing for the academic and business worlds. You even picked up several Spanish idioms! 

Studying and working in a Spanish-speaking country is possible for an advanced student such as yourself. However, it’s best to keep on learning and to memorize even more advanced phrases in Spanish. You can continue your studies with the variety of advanced Spanish lessons available on SpanishPod101.com , each one designed with both progress and fun in mind! In fact, we have advanced pathways for different varieties of Spanish: 

• Level 5 Mexican Spanish
• Level 5 European Spanish
• Level 5 Peruvian Spanish

And don’t forget to check out the free vocabulary lists and other useful tools on SpanishPod101.com. They will make your path to mastery both fun and convenient. Create your free lifetime account to get started! 

¡Que te diviertas! (Have fun!)

Or sign up using Facebook

Got an account? Sign in here

How To Say ‘Thank you’ in Spanish

How to Say “Hello” in Spanish

How to Say I Love You in Spanish – Romantic Word List

Top 4 Ways That Peninsular Spanish And Mexican Spanish Are Different

Intermediate Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations

How to celebrate april fools’ day in spanish.

• Forum Spotlight
• Scheduled Maintenance
• Memoirs from Xalapa Mexico
• Advanced Spanish
• Spanish Alphabet
• Spanish Grammar
• Spanish Lessons
• Spanish Online
• Spanish Phrases
• Spanish Podcasts
• Spanish Words
• Media Coverage
• Feature Spotlight
• Spanish Holidays
• Spanish Translation
• Success Stories
• Teaching Spanish
• Team SpanishPod101
• Word of the Day
• Immigration, Visas

Copyright © 2024 Innovative Language Learning. All rights reserved. SpanishPod101.com Privacy Policy | Terms of Use . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Fundamental Spanish Phrases to Learn Right Away

As Spanish learners, we've all gone through the experience of staring blankly at someone after they've spoken to you in Spanish and you have no idea what they said. In the meantime, our brains are playing catch-up trying to process and understand each word that was just said to us. The reason that comprehension can be so difficult at first is because we parse out language as phrases instead of as words . That’s why a great way to learn languages is to learn phrases as a whole first and then learn the words that make them up. In this article, we’ve written down the most fundamental Spanish phrases to help you fake it 'til you make it. With some practice, you'll be having great conversations in Spanish in no time!

¿Cómo estás?

¿Cómo estás? means how are you? in English. You’ll most likely hear this asked as part of a greeting, such as right after hola or buenos días .

¿Cómo estás? is the second-person informal singular form we use to ask someone how they are. In formal contexts, this phrase would become ¿Cómo está? . If we want to ask how a group of people are, we would use ¿Cómo están? , which is the second person plural form of the phrase.

Buenos días

Buenos días in Spanish means good morning and is the most common way of greeting someone during the morning hours. In most Spanish-speaking countries, you might even just hear buenas , as a shortened, more colloquial form of this phrase.

Learn more about the shortened form buenas in this article !

Buenas tardes

Buenas tardes can mean either good afternoon or good evening , depending on the time of day that you use it. As with buenos días , this greeting is often heard simply as buenas in an informal context.

Buenas noches

Buenas noches means good night and is used more as a farewell than as a greeting. Feel free to use this phrase in the evening as a polite way to wish someone farewell!

Hasta pronto

Also a farewell, hasta pronto means see you soon and is often used in casual settings.

Hasta luego

Similar to hasta pronto , hasta luego means see you later and is also a common way to bid farewell. The slight difference is that hasta luego tends to be used in situations where you're not sure when you'll next see each other.

Use the phrase me llamo along with your name to introduce yourself. Me llamo literally translates to I call myself , but in English the more natural translation is my name is .

Gracias means thank you or thanks in English and is used across different formal contexts, in every Spanish-speaking country, and by almost anyone you meet. Feel free to use it whenever you get the chance!

The more often you say gracias , the more likely you are to hear de nada , which means you’re welcome in English. A popular variation of de nada that you might also hear is no hay de qué , which also means you’re welcome or don’t mention it .

Perdón is a polite way of saying excuse me or pardon me . You can use this phrase in situations where you didn’t hear someone and need to politely ask them to repeat themselves, after accidentally stepping on someone’s foot, or even if you want just want to politely grab someone’s attention to ask them something.

In addition to perdón , you can use the word disculpe as a polite way of saying excuse me or pardon me . Disculpe comes from the verb disculpar , which means to forgive or to excuse .

Por supuesto

Por supuesto means of course in English and is a common way to enthusiastically respond to someone’s request in the affirmative. To spice things up, you can also use the phrase claro que sí , which means the same thing.

Feliz cumpleaños

If all of a sudden, all of your Spanish-speaking friends start saying feliz cumpleaños to you, you better check the date; it’s probably your birthday! Feliz cumpleaños means happy birthday and is used to wish anyone a happy birthday regardless of status, gender, or region. If it is your birthday, you can claim the title of cumpleañero ( birthday boy ) or cumpleañera (birthday girl) for the day!

Did you know that the word cumpleaños , or birthday , is a Spanish portmanteau of the words cumplir , meaning to complete , and años , meaning years ?

¿Cuánto cuesta?

¿Cuánto cuesta? is a useful question that means how much is this? and can be used in any store or marketplace to inquire about how much something costs. Additionally, you can ask ¿Cuánto vale? or simply ¿Cuánto es? as variations of ¿Cuánto cuesta? .

Careful! When you’re asking how much more than one thing costs , you will have to use the plural form of this phrase, which is ¿Cuánto cuestan? , or how much do these cost? .

If someone asks you a question and you can’t think of the answer, this phrase will surely come in handy. No sé means I don’t know . Upon admitting you don’t know something, you can always ask your friend ¿sabes tú? or do you know? to see if they can help you out.

Te quiero means I love you in English, even though its literal translation is I want you . This is a phrase you can use to show your affection for a parent, friend, or significant other. You can also use the phrase te amo (this time, literally I love you ) in the same way, however be advised that te amo tends to carry a more romantic connotation in some regions.

If you want to express to your friend, family member, or spouse, how much you miss them while they’re away, you’ll want to remember te extraño , which means I miss you . Alternatively, it’s very common to hear the phrase te echo de menos , which is an idiomatic way of saying the same thing!

Buena suerte

Buena suerte means good luck and you can use it just like in English. Remember this phrase to wish someone good luck before they take an exam, before they go on stage, or before they head out on a very important date.

Buen trabajo

You’ll want to use the phrase, buen trabajo , meaning good job to congratulate someone on a job well done. You can also use the phrase bien hecho , which means well done , to communicate the same sentiment.

¡Bien hecho! Now you have a bunch of useful phrases to carry with you into your Spanish class or Spanish conversations while traveling to a Spanish-speaking country. With some practice, you'll start to master these essential phrases in no time.

Looking for more articles about learning Spanish? Check these articles out!

• How to Learn Spanish Online for Free
• Learn 1,000 Words in 15 Hours
• Learn Spanish for Free by Watching TV
• Reasons to Learn Spanish
• Learn Spanish from the Chipotle Menu
• Spanish Words to Use in an Essay

Making educational experiences better for everyone.

Immersive learning for 25 languages

Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources

Fast, easy, reliable language certification

Fun educational games for kids

Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning

Trusted tutors for 300+ subjects

35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans

Adaptive learning for English vocabulary

• Spanish course beginners A0
• Spanish course beginners A1
• Spanish course beginners A2
• Spanish course intermediate B1
• Spanish course intermediate B2
• Spanish course advanced C1
• Spanish course advanced C2
• Spanish pronunciation course
• Business Spanish I
• Business Spanish II
• Spanish at work
• Computer Spanish
• Presenting and negotiating
• Medical Spanish
• Podcasts on Spain I
• Podcasts on Spain II
• Podcasts on Spain III
• Podcast on Latin America
• Spanish Vocabulary I
• Spanish Vocabulary II
• Spanish recipes
• Spanish for Holidays & Trips I
• Spanish for Holidays & Trips II
• Vocabulary trainer
• Verb conjugator
• Online translator
• Voice recorder
• Learning statistics
• Questions and answers
• Virtual teacher
• Learn Spanish on your own
• Listening to Spanish
• Reading in Spanish
• Speaking Spanish

WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Writing is a universal system of communication, just like speech. However, they differ in terms of what they can do. Compared to speech, writing is able to overcome the barriers of time as its message is often permanent. It came into being around 3500 BC and became a powerful tool for social interaction, bringing change the world over. Learning to write in Spanish can help you transform your mind as it is also a useful tool for reflection. This means you must be able to both create information in the new language and know how to transmit it. The ultimate goal of a language learner is to master their second language in order to be able to communicate, and writing is a good way to achieve this goal! Therefore, writing in Spanish is one of the most important skills to acquire when learning the language. However, it is sometimes overlooked as most students focus on learning to speak or read. However, writing in Spanish is great fun and with a little daily practice can dramatically boost your learning progress.

Table of contents 1. Is it difficult to write in Spanish? 2. Why is it important to learn to write in Spanish? 3. What rules should I follow when writing in Spanish? 4. What techniques does Lengalia recommend for writing in Spanish? 5. What resources does Lengalia offer me for writing in Spanish? 6. What tips will help me write in Spanish?

1. Is it difficult to write in Spanish?

Actually, contrary to popular belief, most students find that learning to write in Spanish is not as complicated as they first thought. As in English, there are many varieties or registers of Spanish, from the very formal style used in official documents to the more informal language used online in blogs. Here are some examples: - Standard Spanish. This is the Spanish you will find in the media and in most printed material. Unless otherwise indicated, the words, examples and idiomatic expressions in the dictionaries belong to Standard Spanish. The register of Standard Spanish is appropriate for most situations, whether written or spoken. It is advisable at the outset for students to aim for simplicity and directness when writing in Spanish. - Formal and literary language. Like English, formal Spanish is a relatively restricted subset of the language, especially in specific areas such as law. - Informal language. Spanish is rich in informal terms and turns of phrase which are used in almost all areas of everyday life. Informal Spanish should not be used when writing essays, reports, memorandums, etc. When writing in Spanish, it is important to be aware of this and to choose the register appropriate to the context. As a general rule, the language used in essays, articles and reports tends to be more formal in Spanish than in English. The key thing is to make sure that you use language that conveys what you want to say as clearly and legibly as possible. When you are learning to write in Spanish, we recommend you use a dictionary if you are unsure about spelling, for example. When learning our mother tongue, we follow a simple process. First, we learn to listen , then speak , then to read and, finally, write . Therefore, if we want to learn a second language, we must follow a similar process. Writing in Spanish is the last skill to learn because it is arguably much more complicated than the others. However, it is no less important. In fact, the different skills all complement each other. If you enjoy writing, but have not yet mastered it, don't worry. Always remember that writing is a process that you have to learn to master, even in your mother tongue. It is like learning to ride a bicycle or drive a car. You don't learn by reading a manual or watching others do it. You learn by practising. You don't need to become a professional writer to be a good writer. However, if you want to learn Spanish well, you should not neglect the skill of writing in Spanish.

2. Why is it important to learn to write in Spanish?

Voltaire once said, ‘Writing is the painting of the voice’. In the context of second language acquisition, writing is defined here as putting words on paper. The more you read, the more your writing improves. However, it is also possible to have good reading comprehension without being able to write well. Although these skills are interrelated, you need to work on each area or skill separately. It is normal for learners of Spanish to give more importance to the acquisition of listening or reading skills over writing skills. However, writing in Spanish can be a major step forward in your learning. It allows you to actively consolidate the grammatical structures you have learned as well as helping you organise how to express your ideas in Spanish. When you write, you have time to reflect. And of course, it is now almost impossible to avoid writing. Think about how many times you have written something today - writing is inescapable! If your goal is to learn the language, you will have to learn to write in Spanish. Indeed, writing in Spanish can provide you with many advantages : - It improves fluency . Writing practice helps you think and speak in the language you are learning. As you practise, you will be able to form new thoughts in the language. Your ability to create complete sentences will help you in real conversation because you have already learned the grammar rules. - It is active learning . Speaking and writing are two closely related skills. Both force you to think for yourself and use the words you know to create the sentences you want to write in Spanish. - It forces you to research information . When writing in Spanish, you might have to look up words you don't know. This helps you to quickly learn the words that are most relevant in that context. - It helps you avoid mistakes . When you try to speak in a foreign language you are learning, you don't have much time to focus on the mistakes you make, otherwise the flow of the conversation will be interrupted. However, when you write and create sentences, you’ve got time to correct your mistakes. We also recommend you show the text you have tried to write in Spanish to your teacher or someone who knows the language. Ask them to check what you have written and show you the mistakes you have made. - It helps build vocabulary . Verb construction and new vocabulary are learned when you practise writing in a foreign language. Memorising verbs and nouns is fine, but using them smoothly in speech or writing is another matter. By writing new words in Spanish, your brain retains them, allowing you to access them later. Writing in Spanish also helps you understand how to integrate words into complete sentences.

3. What rules should I follow when writing in Spanish?

Voltaire once said, ‘Writing is the painting of the voice’. In the context of second language acquisition, writing is defined here as putting words on paper. The more you read, the more your writing improves. However, it is also possible to have good reading comprehension without being able to write well. Although these skills are interrelated, you need to work on each area or skill separately. It is normal for learners of Spanish to give more importance to the acquisition of listening or reading skills over writing skills. However, writing in Spanish can be a major step forward in your learning. It allows you to actively consolidate the grammatical structures you have learned as well as helping you organise how to express your ideas in Spanish. Every language has a particular set of writing rules. Although some rules seem to be almost universal, others vary from language to language. Therefore, in order to learn to write in Spanish correctly, you need to know the main rules: - Spanish spelling . Spanish spelling is easier than English as we normally write words as they are pronounced, i.e. each sound corresponds to a single letter and vice versa. However, there are some cases to pay attention to: • The letter ‘h’ is not pronounced. Also, this letter changes the sound of the letter ‘c’ when they are together, as in coche or noche. • There are some letter pairs that can be confusing, such as b/v, r/rr, g/j, ll/y, c/k/q and c/s/z. • Spanish uses accents. If a word is accented in Spanish, it cannot be ignored as they sometimes change the meaning of words (dé/de; té/te). - The use of capital letters in Spanish . Spanish and English, for example, share many capitalisation rules, but there are also some differences. For example, Spanish does not capitalise months, days of the week, languages, nationalities, religions, social and political movements or the pronoun yo (unless it is the first word of the sentence). Also, in Spanish, the first word after a colon is not capitalised. - Punctuation in Spanish . There are some rules of punctuation in Spanish that should not be overlooked: • Spanish has a question mark and an opening exclamation mark (¿, ¡). For example, ¿Dónde está el gato? ‘Where is the cat?’, ¡Qué buen día hace hoy! ‘What a lovely day it is!’ • Spanish uses a colon at the opening of letters (e.g. Querido José: ‘Dear José,’ or Hola, Pepe: ‘Hi Pepe,’) whereas English uses a comma (colons apply only in the case of formal letters). • The last two items in a list should be joined with a conjunction such as y ‘and’ or o ‘or’. • In Spanish, a space is used to separate groups of thousands (e.g. 100 000), and a comma is used as a decimal separator (e.g. 1,5). • Spanish usually leaves commas, full stops and other punctuation marks outside the inverted commas. In English, the placement of these punctuation marks varies depending on which regional variation of English is being used, for example, UK or US.   - Spanish sentence structure . Structure refers to the internal organisation of a language, i.e. the order in which we must place the parts of a sentence to make it grammatically correct. Both Spanish and English follow the general rule: Subject + Verb + Object but this is not always the case. - In Spanish, the subject can be omitted if it is a pronoun . This is possible because Spanish verbs have a different ending for each grammatical person. - Adjectives follow the noun . There are some exceptions that alter the meaning but, in general, adjectives always follow the noun. For example, una habitación luminosa ‘a bright room’. - Nouns, determiners and adjectives have to agree in Spanish . For example, la chica guapa ‘the beautiful girl’. 3.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF WRITTEN DISCOURSE In addition to knowing the main rules for writing in Spanish correctly, the written text must have the following characteristics: - Adequacy . This refers to whether or not a text is appropriate in its context. It determines the regional variety and the register to be used. It fulfils the established communicative purpose and respects the social and discursive conventions of the genre. - Coherence .  This refers to the semantic relationships between the parts that make up a text, so that it makes sense and can be understood by the reader. It organises the communicative structure in a certain way (introduction, sections, conclusions, etc.). In this way, it helps to construct the meaning of the text, as well as to organise it. - Cohesion . The different elements of the text are connected by means of different mechanisms: repetitions, semantic relations (antonymy and homonymy), links, discourse connectors, anaphoric and deictic pronouns, etc. 3.2 THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEXTS YOU CAN WRITE IN SPANISH The different types of texts you might write in Spanish are messages, informal or formal letters, professional emails, your CV or perhaps a job application. Writing in Spanish covers all kinds of situations, so we will briefly review the main characteristics of each text. 3.2.1 Writing letters in Spanish   Letters can be formal or informal. This will affect not only the body of the letter, but also the way you start and end it. There are some rules to keep in mind when writing a letter in Spanish: - Querido/a is only used in informal letters, while Estimado/a is the preferred form in formal letters. Both can be translated as ‘Dear’ in English. - Normally only the name of the person you are writing to is used if the letter is informal as in Querido Luis ‘Dear Luis’, but Señor, Señora plus the surname if the letter is formal as in Estimado Sr. Martín (equivalent in terms of formality to ‘Dear Sir’). If you do not know the name of the person you are addressing, you can opt for Estimados señores ‘Dear Sirs’. - When closing a letter, you can write Besos or Abrazos (equivalent to ‘Love from’ or ‘Lots of love’) in informal letters, but never in formal letters. Use Saludos ‘Best wishes’ in semi-formal letters and Cordialmente ‘Kind regards’ or Atentamente ‘Yours faithfully’ in formal letters. 3.2.2 Writing an email in Spanish Knowing how to write an email in Spanish is a skill you are going to need sooner or later because email communication, especially in a professional environment, is something we do on a daily basis nowadays. Most letter writing rules also apply here. Make sure that you use the right opening and closing in your email, and that the general tone and vocabulary used are appropriate to the situation. When writing an email, especially a formal one, you will normally need to include five sections: greeting, introduction, reason for the email, body and closing. 3.2.3 Writing an essay in Spanish Beginning to write an essay in Spanish is possibly one of the most difficult tasks for beginner learners. Going from single sentences to several paragraphs requires a lot of practice, but there are fixed expressions that can be used to make this process easier. Depending on the type of writing you do, you will need to cover one or more of the following points: - Opinion . This is very common in essays, especially those included in official Spanish exams. Make sure you use expressions which help you introduce your opinions: en mi opinión ‘in my opinion’, a mi juicio ‘in my opinion’, desde mi punto de vista ‘from my point of view’, me parece que ‘it seems to me that’, creo que ‘I think that’, etc. - Constructing an argument . In this type of writing you should back up your statements with arguments. Try to introduce words and expressions such as según ‘according to’, de acuerdo con ‘in accordance with’, en palabras de ‘in the words of’, etc. and write the source. - Conclusion . The conclusion usually summarises the main themes of the essay and answers the questions and hypotheses that have been raised in the introduction. When writing a conclusion, use expressions such as: en conclusión ‘in conclusion’, por esta razón ‘this is why’, en definitiva ‘in conclusion’, en resumen ‘in summary’, etc.When you write, you have time to reflect. And of course, it is now almost impossible to avoid writing. Think about how many times you have written something today - writing is inescapable! If your goal is to learn the language, you will have to learn to write in Spanish. Indeed, writing in Spanish can provide you with many advantages : - It improves fluency . Writing practice helps you think and speak in the language you are learning. As you practise, you will be able to form new thoughts in the language. Your ability to create complete sentences will help you in real conversation because you have already learned the grammar rules. - It is active learning . Speaking and writing are two closely related skills. Both force you to think for yourself and use the words you know to create the sentences you want to write in Spanish. - It forces you to research information . When writing in Spanish, you might have to look up words you don't know. This helps you to quickly learn the words that are most relevant in that context. - It helps you avoid mistakes . When you try to speak in a foreign language you are learning, you don't have much time to focus on the mistakes you make, otherwise the flow of the conversation will be interrupted. However, when you write and create sentences, you’ve got time to correct your mistakes. We also recommend you show the text you have tried to write in Spanish to your teacher or someone who knows the language. Ask them to check what you have written and show you the mistakes you have made. - It helps build vocabulary . Verb construction and new vocabulary are learned when you practise writing in a foreign language. Memorising verbs and nouns is fine, but using them smoothly in speech or writing is another matter. By writing new words in Spanish, your brain retains them, allowing you to access them later. Writing in Spanish also helps you understand how to integrate words into complete sentences.

4. What techniques does Lengalia recommend for writing in Spanish?

A number of techniques, at all ability levels, are needed to write well in Spanish. Lengalia recommends you approach the text as follows: - Mind mapping . Before you start writing in Spanish, organise your ideas and the topics you want to deal with in the text. Make an outline of what you want to communicate. This is the basic pattern of introduction, body and conclusion of writing that should be present in any text, not only in long essays. - Think in Spanish . As soon as you start preparing the text, think in Spanish all the time. This will help you avoid problems at later stages of your writing progress in Spanish. - Use short sentences . Short sentences help to express ideas clearly and directly. Long sentences can lead to mistakes and the text can become confusing for the reader. - Use connectors . This tip will help you when writing in Spanish. Connectors such as además ‘additionally’, mientras tanto ‘meanwhile’, sin embargo ‘however’, por eso ‘therefore’, por tanto ‘thus’ are words that help the conversation flow better. - Check punctuation . One of the most common mistakes made when writing in Spanish is forgetting to use the initial exclamation and question marks. This is quite common as these symbols don’t exist in English. Likewise, many novice writers ignore the use of commas... It is therefore essential to revise the text once it is finished. - Look for idiomatic expressions . These are structures, phrases and idioms used in Spanish that are specific to each type of text to be written. Looking up commonly used idioms that are specific to the text type makes the writing more appropriate. - Use equivalents . Using equivalents is a sign that you are already an advanced learner of the language. For example: sin embargo ‘however’ instead of no obstante , or lograr ‘to achieve’ instead of conseguir . It shows that you have a wide vocabulary and that you know how to express your ideas in many different ways in Spanish, thus enriching the text.

5. What resources does Lengalia offer me for writing in Spanish?

Lengalia's courses will help you to improve in all areas of the language, always taking your ability level into consideration. We have courses for beginners from a very basic level A1 to an advanced level C2. The complexity is based on the criteria defined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). All courses follow our method for learning Spanish based on learning paths which emphasise acquiring a solid foundation in the language to increase the student's confidence. In the different courses on Spanish grammar and pronunciation Spanish course you will be able to practise writing via the many and varied exercises. In the professional spanish courses , we offer exercises to learn how to write letters or emails in professional situations. We also offer exercises to learn how to use accents accurately when spelling. And with our spanish vocabulary trainer you can learn thousands of new words.  A rich vocabulary will make your text stand out. Think of grammar rules as the skeleton of your writing and the vocabulary as the meat.

6. What tips will help me to write in Spanish?

To conclude, we would like to present you with some useful tips for writing in Spanish and that will help you improve day by day. With practice and perseverance, in a few months you will notice a great improvement in your learning. - Read as much as you can . The best way to keep improving your writing in Spanish is to read in Spanish. When you read in Spanish, your brain absorbs words, phrases, structures, idioms and even conjugations. Get used to reading about different topics and types of texts. - Practice daily . Start incorporating writing into your daily Spanish practice. There are many types of texts to write in Spanish, you can easily incorporate them into your daily routine. - Find a writing partner . Find a language exchange partner with whom you can have oral and written conversations, as this is a good way to take your progress to the next level. Write them a message in Spanish via WhatsApp, email, etc. - Write a diary . This gives you the opportunity to both write and think in Spanish every day. Let the ideas flow in Spanish. That way, when you have to write a more important text, the words will come to you more easily. - Write about a topic of interest . As with the diary, it is easier to write about something that interests you. This will inject more enthusiasm into the whole exercise. - Write by hand . Research shows that writing by hand has enormous benefits for the brain and our learning process. - Ask someone else to review your work . Although it is good practice to write as much as you can, there is no point in making mistakes and not knowing about it. Therefore, just as important as writing in Spanish is having someone who can proofread and correct your work. Remember that the more you write, the more easily the words will begin to flow. As the saying goes, ‘Practice makes perfect’. To create sentences on your own properly you need to step outside your comfort zone. Doing so will take some effort, but keep in mind that using the language you are learning is the most important part of your language acquisition journey.

855-997-4652 Login Try a Free Class

50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing

You use transition words regularly in your everyday speech and writing, whether you recognize it or not! 

In every language, transition words are beautiful tools that help us to connect our ideas and give a natural flow to the rhythm of our speech—and they’re vital to learn to improve your Spanish fluency. 

Keep reading to learn all there is to know about transition words in Spanish, what types of transition words exist, and how to use them.  

What Are Transition Words?

Transition words are all those words and phrases that you use to connect ideas between sentences. These words allow you to “transition” from one sentence to other in a smooth way. They provide a sense of normalcy to the language, since without them, our ideas would instead be separated by harsh breaks and a robotic-kind of speech. 

Every language has its own share of transition words, and Spanish is not the exception. Learning these words and phrases will help you to sound more natural in your speaking or in your writing. 

Watch our video on 50 Transition Words in Spanish!

Make the transition to fluent in Spanish! Sign up for your free trial class with our certified, professional teachers. ➡️

Types of Transition Words in Spanish

In Spanish, you can use transition words for different purposes. Depending on your purpose you get a different type of transition word: 

• To emphasize
• To explain an idea
• To add an idea
• To show a result
• To contrast and compare
• To summarize

Let’s see each one of them in detail, to learn how you can easily introduce them in your Spanish speaking and improve your writing too.

Transition Words in Spanish

If your goal is to be fluent in Spanish, transition words are a crucial area of study. For that reason, it might be a good idea to keep the following list at hand, as you will always need a good transition word to make your speech sound more natural. 

For Time 

These words let you connect ideas regarding the moment in time when they occurred. 

primero, segundo – first, secondly

Used often in recipes, processes or algorithms, these words are a good way to keep the chronological order in mind.

Primero, unta la mayonesa en el pan. Segundo, agrega el jamón.  First, spread the mayonnaise onto the bread. Secondly, add ham. 

en primer lugar, en segundo lugar – In the first place, secondly

Similar to the previous one, but more common in formal speeches or everyday conversations. 

En primer lugar, eso no es cierto. En segundo lugar, yo ni siquiera estaba aquí.  In the first place, that’s not true. Secondly, I wasn’t even here. 

después (de) – after, afterward

Carlos hizo la tarea después del partido de fútbol.  Carlos did his homework after the football game. 

ya – already

Ya is useful to express that something has already happened. 

Terminé el trabajo y ya lo mandé por correo electrónico. I finished my work and I already sent it by email. 

todavía – still

To express that something is still happening at the moment, you use todavía . 

Cuando se despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba ahí. When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there. 

todavía no – not yet

However, to say that something has not happened yet, you have to use todavía no . 

¿Ya empezó el partido? Todavía no .  Has the game started already? Not yet. 

Other useful transition words for time:  

Mientras While

Por fin at last

Al final  At the end

Finalmente   Lastly

Al mismo tiempo  At the same time

Para continuar Next, further

Por último Lastly

En conclusión In conclusion

These transition words allow you to connect ideas regarding their position in space.

aquí, acá – here

Ven a casa, aquí te espero.  Come home, I’ll wait for you here. 

ahí, allí – there

Ya casi llegamos, ahí está mi casa. We’re almost there, that’s my house.

al lado de – next to

Mi casa está al lado del parque .  My house is next to the park.

afuera – outside

Estoy afuera de la escuela.  My house is next to the park.

Other Useful Transition Words for Place:  

Allá  Over there

Más allá Beyond, further

De Of, from

Desde From, since

To Add an Idea

Use the following transition words when you want to add a new idea to what you were just saying.

además – moreover, additionally

Estudiar español es muy interesante y, además, te abre muchas puertas.  Learning Spanish is very interesting and, additionally, it opens a lot of doors. 

aparte – besides, apart from

Eso no es cierto, aparte de que ni siquiera es lo que yo dije. That’s not true, besides that’s not even what I said.

asimismo – also, likewise

Asimismo is a perfect way to start a new paragraph building up on what you just said on the previous one. You can also use de igual manera or de la misma manera , to express the same idea.

Asimismo, las ideas de la Ilustración condujeron a la Revolución Industrial.  Likewise, the ideas of the Enlightenment sparked the Industrial Revolution. 

también – also, too

Me gusta el fútbol y también el básquetbol.  I like football and basketball too. 

más aún – moreover

No debiste mentirme, más aún cuando quieres que te ayude.  You shouldn’t have lied to me, moreover when you want my help.

Other Useful Transition Words to Add an Idea:

De todas formas (maneras, modos)  In any case, anyhow

De cualquier manera In any case, anyhow

Sobre todo Above all, especially

To Explain an Idea

Sometimes you don’t want to add a new idea, but explain better the one you were just talking about. These transition words will help you with that:

es decir – that is, I mean

La comida mexicana es muy interesante. Es decir, me encanta como mezcla diferentes sabores. Mexican food is very interesting. I mean, I love how it mixes different flavors.  

por ejemplo – for example, for instance

Me gusta mucho tu estilo, por ejemplo esos zapatos están increíbles.  I like your style a lot, for example those shoes are amazing!

en otras palabras – in other words

En otras palabras, hiciste un gran trabajo.   In other words, you did a great job. 

así – thus, thereby

Trabajé de mesero y así pude pagar mi universidad.  I worked as a waiter and thus I could pay my tuition fees. 

To Contrast and Compare

When you want to contrast or compare to different ideas, you can use one of these transition words in Spanish: 

aunque – although, even though

Me gusta mucho el básquetbol, aunque el fútbol es mi deporte favorito.   I like basketball a lot, although football is my favorite sport. 

pero – but

Sí quiero ir al cine, pero tengo mucha tarea .  I do want to go to the movies, but I have a lot of homework. 

sin embargo – however, nevertheless

Me gustaría aprender francés, sin embargo prefiero el español. I’d like to learn French, however I prefer Spanish. 

a pesar de – despite, in spite of

Ganamos el partido, a pesar de que éramos menos jugadores. We won the game, in spite of having less players. 

Other Useful Transition Words to Contrast and Compare:  

Al contrario On the contrary

Aun así Even so

Sino  But

En cambio On the other hand, instead

To Summarize

These transition words are useful to conclude your idea. 

En resumen – to sum up

En resumen, se trata de uno de tus mejores trabajos .  To sum up, this is one of your best works. 

Para terminar – lastly, finally

Para terminar, debo aceptar que fue una gran experiencia.   Finally, I have to accept that it was a great experience. 

En conclusión – in conclusion, in a nutshell

En conclusión, es la mejor decisión que he tomado.  In a nutshell, it’s the best decision that I’ve ever taken. 

Other Useful Transition Words to Summarize:

En síntesis In short

En otras palabras In other words

Al fin y al cabo All in all

Después de todo After all  

En Conclusión

Now that you know how useful transition words in Spanish can be, start using them in real life conversations and see how much your speaking in Spanish improves. Sign up today for a free trial class with one of our certified teachers from Guatemala, and impress them with the natural flow of your speech thanks to the smart use of transition words!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!

• 20 Most Common Subjunctive Triggers in Spanish
• Language Learning with Netflix: How to Use the Chrome Extension
• Turn Your Life Around: From Passive Bilingualism to Fluency!
• 23 Common Spanish Prepositions You Can Use Today
• 25 Common Subjunctive Phrases in Spanish Conversation
• What Is an Infinitive in Spanish?
• A Complete Guide to Imperfect Conjugation for Beginners
• How to Talk About the Temperature in Spanish: Fahrenheit, Celcius, and Descriptions
• Recent Posts
• The Best Homeschool Spanish Curriculum at HSA - June 13, 2024
• 20 Most Common Subjunctive Triggers in Spanish - May 23, 2024
• Language Learning with Netflix: How to Use the Chrome Extension - April 18, 2024

Related Posts

Spanish for dummies [greetings, questions, small talk, and more], 3 types of spanish pronouns to perfect your fluency, how to say ‘you’ in formal and informal spanish, the ultimate guide to filler words in spanish for more natural conversations, 2 comments on this post.

Hi there! I just want to offer you a huge thumbs up for your great info you’ve got here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.

Thank you! I’m glad you liked this blog post. I hope to see you back soon!

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

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

Essays in Spanish

In our site we have over 150 essays in Spanish (full and free) that you can check to inspire yourself for your homework or assignments and use them as example essays.

Our essays are simple and short, so they are really good for Spanish classes for students that speak English as a native language. They can be good for middle school, high school, college, or any language learning classes.

Each essay is written around a topic that it’s included in the title. You can check our homepage to find our latest essays published, or use our search form in the right sidebar (you should use keywords or topics in Spanish).

For an easy start, here we include some of the essays in Spanish but with the title (topic) translated to English so you can find a match for your interest.

List of essays in Spanish

• Example essay about  family in Spanish
• Example essay about  discrimination in Spanish
• Example essay about  violence in Spanish
• Example essay about  what is life in Spanish
• Example essay about  peace in Spanish
• Example essay about  global warming in Spanish
• Example essay about  myself and my life in Spanish
• Example essay about  Mexico in Spanish
• Example essay about  Donald Trump in Spanish
• Example essay about  corruption in Spanish
• Example essay about  innovation  in Spanish
• Example essay about  Aristotle  in Spanish
• Example essay about  homosexuality  in Spanish
• Example essay about  smoking  in Spanish
• Example essay about  sports  in Spanish
• Example essay about  life projects  in Spanish
• Example essay about  technology  in Spanish
• Example essay about  love  in Spanish
• Example essay about  racism  in Spanish
• Example essay about  bullying  in Spanish

Please use the comments area below in this post if you can’t find the essay you were looking for! – you can write in English if your Spanish isn’t the best 🙂

2 comentarios en «Essays in Spanish»

Odio la escuela

Aquí hay un ensayo escrito en español sobre el ataque del 11 de septiembre La mañana del 11 de septiembre de 2001 fue la mañana en que el mundo entero hizo una pausa y contuvo la respiración. Cada 11 de septiembre desde entonces, la gente de todas partes se detendrá para recordar. Esa fue la mañana en que terroristas de Arabia Saudita secuestraron cuatro aviones estadounidenses diferentes, pensando solo en la misión suicida que tenían por delante y en lo que tenían que hacer para llevarla a cabo. De alguna manera subieron a los aviones sin ser detectados y en algún momento del vuelo se revelaron.Se hicieron con el control del avión, amenazando a los pasajeros con una bomba. Sin embargo, lo que los pasajeros no sabían es que no había ninguna bomba. Los terroristas tenían planes diferentes para los aviones ese día. Su estrategia era estrellar los cuatro aviones contra diferentes edificios, matando a tantas personas como pudieran. El primer avión, el Vuelo 11 de American Airlines, se estrelló contra la torre norte del World Trade Center. Otro avión, el Vuelo 175, voló hacia la torre sur del World Trade Center y también estalló en llamas. El tercer avión secuestrado, el vuelo 77 de American Airlines, se estrelló contra el edificio del Pentágono.Mientras tanto, personas de todo el mundo miraban las noticias. Miles de personas sabían de este ataque, pero solo algunos podían ayudar. Otros solo podían ver las noticias y contener la respiración, esperando lo mejor. La mayoría de las personas intentaron llamar a sus familias y algunas de esas personas se pusieron en contacto con ellos. Algunas de esas personas estaban en el Vuelo 93. Juntos estaban tratando de averiguar qué estaba pasando. Alguien debe haber juntado las piezas y sabía que tenía que hacer algo. Varios pasajeros intentaron retomar el control del avión, pero solo provocaron que el secuestrador hiciera volar el último avión contra el suelo en Pensilvania. El resultado fue devastador. Las torres norte y sur del World Trade Center se derrumbaron y muchos bomberos arriesgaron sus propias vidas para intentar salvar a otras. Según el sitio web de la CNN, más de dos mil personas fueron gravementeheridos y casi tres mil personas perdieron la vida. La razón principal del ataque fue el intento de Al Qaeda de desestabilizar las economías occidentales. Tal vez también estaban tratando de enviar un mensaje sobre algo. Nueve años después del ataque, mi papá recuerda ver las noticias y ver los aviones golpeando los diferentes edificios y destruyendo tanto. También recuerda que muchas personas murieron en todos los accidentes. Cuando mi mamá piensa en el 11 de septiembre, recuerda que venía a recogernos a mi hermano y a mí de la escuela. Ella vino alrededor de las 11:30 a buscarnos porque solo nos quedamos la mitad del día en ese entonces. Mi mamá estaba haciendo mandados antes de eso y no había oído hablar del ataque. Luego se enteró de que también tenía que buscar a mi hermana, porque los dejaron salir temprano. Cuando llegamos a casa, mi mamá dice que encendió la televisión para tratar de averiguar qué había sucedido. Lo descubrió con bastante facilidad porque el ataque estaba en todas las noticias. Mi hermana, Emily, estaba en segundo grado cuando ocurrió el ataque. Ella recuerda que su clase estaba almorzando cuando los padres de todos llegaron y los llevaron a casa. También recuerda que todos los padresestaban asustados por algo, pero ella no sabía lo que había sucedido. Estaba en el jardín de infantes el 11 de septiembre y no recuerdo nada de ese día, aparte de lo que he escuchado desde entonces. Después de ver el video en clase, me di cuenta de la destrucción que realmente fue el ataque. Causó el colapso total de dos torres en el World Trade Center. Tantas personas estaban atrapado dentro de ambos edificios y casi ninguno logró salir. Los que lo hicieron definitivamente son extremadamente afortunados de estar vivos. Sin embargo, solo unas pocas personas en el primer piso lograron salir. No había esperanza para las personas en los pisos superiores, lo que empeoró este día. Desde el ataque de 2001, la economía nunca se ha recuperado por completo. El principal efecto económico a largo plazo del ataque fue la guerra en Irak. Nuestros soldados han estado allí durante nueve años y no se está volviendo más fácil para nadie. Enviamos más y más tropas para ayudar a luchar en la guerra, y la economía sigue siendo mala. Definitivamente también ha sido una lucha financiera para el gobierno. En mi opinión, nada bueno salió del 11 de septiembre. Comenzó otra guerra más para que nuestros soldados pelearan, y muchas personas ya han perdido la vida. Todos los años a partir de ahora todos se detendrán por un momento para pensar y lamentarse por el ataque del 11 de septiembre de 2001.

Deja un comentario Cancelar la respuesta

Guarda mi nombre, correo electrónico y web en este navegador para la próxima vez que comente.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

75 Common Spanish Transition Words to Connect Your Thoughts

Transition words are the knots that hold sentences together. They help things blend together and smooth out our sentences:

Fui al parque, luego al gimnasio y finalmente a la tienda. ( I went to the park, then the gym and finally the store.)

Without them, our speech would sound choppy and oversimplified.

What Are Transition Words?

Types of spanish transition words, 1. transition words for time, 2. transition words for location, 3. transition words for explaining, 4. transition words for add-ons, 5. transition words for results, 6. transition words for emphasis, 7. transition words for comparison and contrast, 8. transition words for summarizing, quiz on spanish transition words, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Transition words in Spanish are words and phrases that help us connect ideas between sentences .

When we connect sentences with transition words, we add only a couple of words, but we make the meaning of what we are saying much clearer. Have a look:

No tengo mucho tiempo. Voy a ir a la fiesta. (I don’t have much time. I will go to the party.)

The sentences may be correct, but what is the relation between them? By adding transition words to the mix, everything starts to make sense:

No tengo mucho tiempo pero voy a ir a la fiesta. (I don’t have much time but I’ll go to the party.)

• Thousands of learner friendly videos (especially beginners)
• Handpicked, organized, and annotated by FluentU's experts
• Integrated into courses for beginners

Aunque no tengo mucho tiempo, voy a ir a la fiesta. ( Although I don’t have much time, I’ll go to the party.)

No tengo mucho tiempo. Además , voy a ir a la fiesta. (I don’t have much time. Besides , I’m going to the party.)

Depending on the meaning of your sentence, you’ll want to use a different set of transition words to help you with it.

They’re classified into different groups depending on the resource, but here are the eight types of transition words often referred to:

• Time • Location • Explanation • Add-ons • Result • Emphasis • Comparison and c ontrast • Summary

If you pay attention to how native speakers converse, you’ll notice how these transition words can come into play and help a sentence flow.

The first type of transition words have to do with time, whether we’re talking about something that already happened, will happen or maybe just constructing a timeline:

Note that luego, después and más tarde can be used interchangeably when describing a succession of events or giving instructions.

If we’re looking at where one thing is relative to another, we can use these transitional phrases:

• Interactive subtitles: click any word to see detailed examples and explanations
• Slow down or loop the tricky parts
• Show or hide subtitles
• Review words with our powerful learning engine

If we need some help in explaining something smoothly, we can use these words to provide context:

If you’ve made one statement, but have additional details to add, you can tack them on with these words:

Just remember that y can only connect two words, phrases or sentences of the same category. This is called coordination, and y is a coordinating conjunction.

When referring to cause and effects, you can use these phrases to transition from one to the other:

Using these transition words correctly will really strengthen whichever part of your phrase that you emphasize it with:

Comparing and contrasting requires lots of transition words in order to flow and make sense:

Sometimes we need some help transitioning into a concluding statement, which is why these terms can come in handy:

Now that you’ve learned some Spanish transition words, it’s time to test your knowledge! Choose the best option to complete each sentence in the quiz below. To retake the quiz, just refresh the page. 

These small but powerful words help us to convey exact meaning we want and sound more fluent, so be sure to practice them!

• Learn words in the context of sentences
• Swipe left or right to see more examples from other videos
• Go beyond just a superficial understanding

The best way to learn how to use these Spanish transition words properly is by seeing and hearing them used in context.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)

Try FluentU for FREE!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

• International
• Education Jobs
• Schools directory
• Resources Education Jobs Schools directory News Search

Useful Essay Phrases for A LEVEL SPANISH

Subject: Spanish

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

16 June 2018

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

Great essay phrases to use in your A LEVEL SPANISH essay exam (AQA Paper 2) to get those top marks!

Includes the English translation of the phrases. Includes phrases for introductions and conclusions!

Creative Commons "NoDerivatives"

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

sorrentomiss

Really useful. Thanks for sharing.

I’m glad, no problem!

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

Thompson916

Super useful!

could the price for your lovely notes for the spanish a level be reduced please. maybe you could get more money if more people buy the reduced option?

Hi Mmurad, the price for the notes have been extremely subsidised and are really good value for money - they are cheaper than the A-level textbook! Look out for times when the resources are on sale!

carmenfortu

Una lista fantastica!

!Muchas gracias!

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

Last places remaining for July 14th and July 28th courses . Enrol now and join students from 175 countries for the summer of a lifetime

• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

Comments are closed.

The Spanish-American War: a Turning Point in American History

This essay about the Spanish-American War of 1898 highlights the conflict’s role in transforming the United States into a global power. It discusses the war’s origins in Cuban independence efforts and American expansionist aspirations, noting key events like the sinking of the USS Maine and victories in the Philippines and Cuba. The essay also addresses the war’s consequences, including American imperialism, geopolitical shifts, and its impact on U.S.-Latin American relations, particularly through the Platt Amendment.

How it works

Spanish-american Wojna 1898 of bits and pieces central division in American history, moving people on a world phase how frightful power in a turn 20 – ?? of century. This registration however conflict, what yields to transformation, between the united states and Spain tucked in a fuel convergence of American aspirations for expansion and Cuban hot fight for independence from the Spanish colonial rule.

Originates from Kuby, where longstanding will arise up against Spanish plenary powers boiled during years, war stocked substantial American sympathy, as notifications of Spanish atrocities develop through Medias.

Mysterious decline of Maine of military ship of the USA in Havana get up on an anchor in February 1898, though his detailed reason becomes discussed, became a scream, what comes alive, on the united states, strengthening public sense and putting pressure on President William McKinley, that a decision measure used.

War was directly opened quickly from April to August 1898, leaving deep and far-reaching values. Commodore Brought George over Dewey, U.S. A navy resolutely set defeats to the Spanish fleet in Philippines, providing American influence pacific ocean and marking national appearance how a main player in East Asian businesses.

In the Caribbean theatre, American zmusza, by the way Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders, attained the known victories in Kubie, especially in Battle dignity of Hill Yuan. These successes separated efficiency America modernized military and propped up national pride. Agreement of Paris in December 1898 formally sheathed the sword, giving control of the states, united above Puerto Rico, Guam, and by Philippines, while Cuba acquired independence from Spain.

Consequence of War of Spanish-american was reflected how inwardly, so and international. Inwardly, a conflict impelled the wave of American imperialism, that exposed to the doubt traditional isolationism of politician. Debates above joining to Philippines of intensive political conversation, what sparkles, with anty-imperialistami, that argue against actions that they counted contrary to the American ideals of self-determination and constitutional management.

On a global phase, war marked the central moving to geopolitics. The united states appeared how dominant naval power with businesses, what broadens on his distances. Acquisition of territories for example Puerto Rico and Guam gave a kind new the American foreign policy, impelling new considerations in the rule of foreign territories and translating international alliances. In addition, War of Spanish-american had the strong operating on U.S.-Latin mutual relations of American. Implementation of Amendment of Platt in 1901, that set Kub? how U.S. protectorate, underscored the American increase influence in Western Hemisphere. This position of interventionist set a phase for U.S. foreign policy in a region during decades, determining his role how a leader in hemispheres businesses.

In maintenance, Spanish-american Wojna 1898 was a zero hour, that moved the states united in global prominent position, giving a kind new how his domestic policy, so and his role in international businesses. While shortly in motion, the deep consequences of war influenced debates on imperialism, national identity, and American position of development in the world. As people entered the new era of global obligation, the inheritance of War of Spanish-american prolonged to form his place in a global order.

Cite this page

The Spanish-American War: A Turning Point in American History. (2024, Jun 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-spanish-american-war-a-turning-point-in-american-history/

"The Spanish-American War: A Turning Point in American History." PapersOwl.com , 28 Jun 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-spanish-american-war-a-turning-point-in-american-history/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Spanish-American War: A Turning Point in American History . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-spanish-american-war-a-turning-point-in-american-history/ [Accessed: 29 Jun. 2024]

"The Spanish-American War: A Turning Point in American History." PapersOwl.com, Jun 28, 2024. Accessed June 29, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-spanish-american-war-a-turning-point-in-american-history/

"The Spanish-American War: A Turning Point in American History," PapersOwl.com , 28-Jun-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-spanish-american-war-a-turning-point-in-american-history/. [Accessed: 29-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Spanish-American War: A Turning Point in American History . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-spanish-american-war-a-turning-point-in-american-history/ [Accessed: 29-Jun-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Advertisement

More from the Review

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Best of The New York Review, plus books, events, and other items of interest

July 18, 2024

Current Issue

The Tuning Fork in the Ear

June 25, 2024

Mara Corsino

In a series of conversations with Merve Emre at Wesleyan University, some of today’s sharpest working critics discuss their careers and methodology, and are then asked to close-read a text that they haven’t seen before. The Review is collaborating with Lit Hub to publish transcripts and recordings of these interviews, which across eleven episodes will offer an extensive look into the process of criticism.

While I hesitate to use the word “delicious” to describe anything other than food, Carina del Valle Schorske writes delicious essays. One in particular, which won a 2021 National Magazine Award, is about Covid-19 grief and postapocalyptic dance floors . “In Plato’s ‘Protagoras,’ Socrates argues that dancing girls have no place in philosophical gatherings,” she writes. She proceeds to prove Socrates wrong by weaving together social dancing, journalism, and a philosophy of visibility. Another essay, a profile of the rapper and singer Bad Bunny that appeared in both English and Spanish, does what the ideal profile should do: situates an enigmatic, alluring, and successful cultural figure in a particular time, place, genre, and language. It provides us with not only an account of a person, but a panoramic view of history.

Carina received her Ph.D. in English and comparative literature from Columbia University. Her writing has appeared in The Believer , The Point , Virginia Quarterly Review , and The New York Times Magazine , where she is a contributing writer, and she is currently at work on her debut collection of essays, The Other Island . 

Most people in this audience are college students. How do you get from where they are to where you are now?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. I do come from a family with where there’s a precedent for higher education. My father’s father was a professor. But on the other side, my mother’s mother was a singer on Puerto Rican radio before she migrated and worked regular blue-collar jobs her whole life. My mom was a performer in the Nuyorican scene when she was young. During my childhood, I had a sense of the value of artistic and intellectual life.

It was interesting being raised by New York and New Jersey people in the Bay Area. There weren’t really Puerto Ricans or Caribbean people there. The Jewish people were not the same as the Jewish people on the East Coast. So there was a certain sense of cultural dislocation, even though my parents both had strong leftist sensibilities and I was very aware of the Bay Area as the hotbed of a certain kind of radicalism—Black Panthers, César Chavez, ethnic studies—alongside the hippie spiritual stuff going on in my family. I went to Yale on full financial aid. In many ways, it was edifying, and, in many ways, it was very scary.

Why did you find college frightening?

I would say that I arrived in college already exhausted by the class conflicts and pressures of private school, where the fiction that I “deserved” to be there concealed the threat that I must continue deserving, must manifest my gratitude. And at Yale all of that was even more intense; I could see the gears of power turning. I was supposed to be in the Directed Studies program, which is a Great Books curriculum for freshmen who show promise in the humanities. It bothered me that the definition of rigor was submission to this list of European texts that hadn’t changed much since the nineteenth century. So I bailed: I took seminars on Orientalism, on Caribbean intellectuals. Hazel Carby was a big influence—my mom had books by Alice Walker and Toni Morrison at home, but she was my official gateway into Black feminism. Both of my majors, Literature and Ethnicity, Race & Migration, were global and interdisciplinary. Some might argue that I had no disciplinary training over the course of my whole academic career. But I feel grateful for the education that I ended up getting. It forced me to make connections and analogies.

I studied poetry. I wanted to be a poet, but I never quite figured out how to make my poetry accommodate the political and historical questions that seemed urgent to me. I was also interested in a form of writing that could possibly support me as a career. I loved essays. But I graduated into that very difficult economy after the 2008 crash. At that point all the magazine internships were still unpaid. The editorial assistant gigs in New York or D.C. paid $17,000 or $25,000 a year. I wasn’t able to take those jobs even though I was credentialed appropriately. My boyfriend at the time lived in Boston. He was getting a Ph.D. at MIT and he said, “Come live with me for six months and look for a job.”

I thought I wanted to work at Harvard’s Hiphop Archive. I sent them a review I’d written of Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III . They weren’t hiring, but I had a conversation with the director, Marcy Morgan. She connected me to the editors of Transition , a magazine of decolonial politics and culture that was founded in Uganda in 1961 by Rajat Neogy. In the 1990s, it was revived by Henry Louis Gates and Anthony Appiah. Transition published a lot of interesting experimental work over the years: Bessie Head, V.S. Naipaul, Chinua Achebe, Paul Theroux, interviews with Caetano Veloso and Julie Dash. When I was there, I worked with lots of amazing writers including Zinzi Clemmons and Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah. It was so understaffed, and it didn’t pay much more than those other jobs, but because I was living with my boyfriend, the salary was feasible. On the side, I did some freelance editing and research for a psychoanalyst.

You applied to graduate school while working at the magazine?

That’s right. I started at Columbia five years after I graduated from college. It was also a strategic choice because it seemed like the most financially viable option—benefits, six years of funding, and guaranteed housing for six years in Manhattan, not far from my grandmother’s place in Washington Heights. I started the Ph.D. knowing that being a traditional scholar probably wasn’t a good match for me, but it seemed like the most capacious option for being intellectually self-directed and having time to figure out how I wanted to write. I started publishing during my second year in the program, using some of the materials that I was being introduced to in classes. I wanted to write about what I was reading—D.W. Winnicott, Clarice Lispector, Gwendolyn Brooks—in a voice for the public. My adviser, Saidiya Hartman, saw that I was yearning for a more intense, intimate, populist mode of engagement and sort of gave me her blessing. I started with little magazines like The Point , Boston Review , and Lit Hub. Because I wasn’t relying on those publications for money, I could afford to pursue my own subjects and style.

Almost every one of my guests has either an M.A. or a Ph.D., and has decided, for whatever reason, to take their talents somewhere other than the university. When you knew that you weren’t interested in being a traditional scholar, what kinds of things were you looking for in your education and how might you link that education to the essays that you’ve written—for instance, the essay on postapocalyptic dance floors?

That’s a great question because you wouldn’t think the links are very direct with that essay. But the stuff about Katherine Dunham really came from my oral exams. Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer, scholar, pedagogue, and activist. I was very much inspired by the people I was reading, figures from the middle of the twentieth century like Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Deren, and the Cuban anthropologist Lydia Cabrera. They had relationships to academic institutions, but their interventions were radical and experimental. They were in precarious economic or social positions and were trying to piece together viable careers, to get in where they could fit in. I was supposed to be working on them but I felt more like I wanted to work with them. 

It’s interesting that you brought up the midcentury anthropologists. When I read your pieces, I think of a roving, immersive, ethnographic writer who is, for instance, getting drunk with Bad Bunny and analyzing it afterward. I wonder if you could talk about how you position yourself as both a witness and an experiential subject in the essays that you write.

The phrase “participant observer” was helpful to me. The other thing I admire about anthropology, even with its colonial legacy—or in reaction to the colonial legacy—is the idea of writing a position paper. I don’t mean that in the legislative sense, but anthropologists are asked to account for their positionality in relation to what they’re writing about. I don’t think you need to make that the focus of every piece of criticism that you write, but I think that all writers should be taking stock of where their investment comes from. When I’m teaching, I like to present my students with a Gramsci line from his Prison Notebooks that Edward Said quotes in Orientalism : “The starting-point of critical elaboration is the consciousness of what one really is, and is ‘knowing thyself’ as a product of the historical processes to date, which has deposited in you an infinity of traces, without leaving an inventory.” Then he says you have to make that inventory. So it’s about reflexivity, but it’s also about the pleasure of participation and the rewards of intimacy. I know I’m never outside or above the situation I’m trying to describe, and I don’t aspire to be.

So, on the one hand, you’re trying to convey the politics of participation, and on the other hand, the pleasure of participation. There are different ways to make that inventory, and there is perhaps nothing as cringe-worthy as reading a piece in which a subject is strenuously trying to account for their own positionality and doing it in a way that feels either apologetic or insincere.

Or secretly self-aggrandizing. Like they feel obligated to say, Look how terribly privileged I am! And then they move on without letting that alter their analysis at all. It’s annoying.

How do you make sure your writing stays sensitive and reflexive in an intellectually robust way without being—I will use the word again—cringe?

You have to think about what’s relevant to the story. Not every element of your biography is relevant. To me it’s so much about tone. Margo Jefferson always talks about that. Not to draw a parallel with pornography, but you know it when you hear it. Does the tone sound sincere? Does it sound artificial? I feel like there’s a tuning fork inside my ear that helps me figure it out, which may not be a super cerebral answer to your question.

I will get back to the question of tone. In a sense, it’s a little unfortunate that you brought it up now because it would’ve been a nice pivot to the object that I’m going to give you. But I have one question to ask before we get to the object. The ways that you act as a participant observer are tremendously expansive. You engage with multiple people, sites, objects, and histories, all layered onto one another. Perhaps the most striking calibration that you attempt in these essays is between the history of individuals and the history of Puerto Rico. C ould you talk a little bit about your national or international, or transnational—whichever word you want to use—commitments?

The world comes to us in a tremendously complex tangle. The norms of contemporary journalism—maybe just journalism, period—insist on the present in a way that is flattening and not true to the thickness of time. In general, and definitely in the US, we are discouraged from historical thinking. Even in terms of what’s going on right now, in Israel and Palestine, you hear people say that referring to the occupation or anything that preceded October 7 is a distraction from the present. That attitude is not going to help us understand the violence of our world order. And it won’t help us transform it. I would say the same about nationalism. It’s not explanatory, and we miss so much if we insist on framing things that way. I come from self-consciously diasporic communities, but even if I didn’t, I hope I would still have enough sense to keep my moral focus on people rather than states.

In terms of Puerto Rico in particular, I know that you’re referencing the Bad Bunny profile, and, to a lesser extent, the dance essay, which does feature many Nuyoricans because we’ve always been creative drivers in the city’s music and dance scenes: mambo, salsa, hustle, hip-hop. With the profile, the fact-checkers wouldn’t let me use the word “nation” or “country” to write about Puerto Rico, even though Bad Bunny himself had used the word “país,” because that’s not Puerto Rico’s official political status. I ended up translating “país” as “homeland,” because another word that Puerto Ricans often use is “patria,” which is more like “fatherland.” I thought “homeland” kind of threaded the needle. But that’s an example of how seemingly small stylistic questions can be fraught with political conflict in American publications.

It’s not like I want to include Puerto Rican History 101 in every essay that I write. In fact, I find that work very thankless and frustrating and annoying. I want readers to have the tools to understand the meaning of a figure like Bad Bunny, but I don’t want to privilege the hypothetical “mainstream” readers who don’t have that context over the readers who do. I think it’s okay—good, actually!—for there to be some friction, some mystery. You said “layered” and that’s what I strive for.

I want to go back to what you said about having a tuning fork in your ear. I do not think of myself as a good listener of music. I’m good at listening to other people, I think, but I’m not a good listener of music, and I don’t even know what I mean when I say that exactly. I’m wondering if you could help us listen to something. I’ve previously given people texts to read or photographs to look at, but I was hoping that you could help us figure out how to listen to an object with an eye to making exactly the kind of argument that you have been detailing.

Do you recognize the object?

It’s “Yo Perreo Sola” by Bad Bunny—the lead single of the album that was out when I interviewed him, YHLQMDLG . It wasn’t my favorite track.

How does one begin to listen? I realize this is difficult because unlike having a text in front of you, the experience is over.

The first thing that I’m registering, always, is how the music makes me feel in my body. And this is a dance song.

That is already an interesting genre distinction to me. In our house, there are only two kinds of songs: there are jams and there are bangers. But you have a different kind of generic setup in your mind?

Yes. I’m interested in this typology of genre. It’s a dance song if I want to dance to it, which is maybe a simple definition. But this song is also making a claim about dance. The chorus is about “perreo”—twerking is not a perfect analogy, because “perreo” turns the word “dog” into the verb “perrear.” In the classical vision, the woman is maybe pinning the man to the wall with her butt. But on this song there’s a woman’s voice saying, “I do this by myself. I don’t need you.”

The genre judgement also has to do with a musical genealogy. When I first heard the song, with its quasi-feminist message, I immediately thought of “Yo Quiero Bailar” by Ivy Queen. Ivy Queen’s from the previous generation, sort of the Celia Cruz of reggaeton—the only girl who got any respect in that boys’ club. With “Yo Quiero Bailar,” she’s talking about how the kind of erotic movement that might happen on a Caribbean dance floor does not automatically imply consent for activities elsewhere. She wants to grind, she wants to sweat, but that doesn’t mean she wants to fuck. So for me, the message of “Yo Perreo Sola” feels derivative. And the sonics don’t make up for that.

On the one hand, you draw a distinction between what you feel like the song makes you want to do—the affective or embodied response to it—and, on the other hand, hearing the beats that plug the song into a whole history of genre. All you need to hear is the title of the song repeated to extract that generic history. Then, you can make a judgment. Is that all happening at the same time or is it sequential?

I always try to notice what my first reactions are, but I don’t privilege them too much, because music is a repetitive form. I guess these days you can “repeat” most anything. But with music, I think there’s an invitation to repeat. I’m interested in how my thoughts and feelings continue to evolve through multiple listens.

When I was getting my Ph.D., I taught freshman comp, and I would sometimes tell my students, “Feeling is thinking and thinking is feeling.” What I mean by “feeling is thinking” is that feelings are a useful starting point for understanding: you notice your feelings and then there’s an opportunity to step back and try to analyze where they’re coming from. Like, why am I angry? Why am I bored? And then “thinking is feeling”: when you experience yourself making a rational claim or critical judgment, you should inquire into the emotions that might be lurking under the surface of “thought.”

How do you land on the feeling or thought that this is a boring dance song? You offered a conceptual justification: It’s already been done, and the quasi-feminist message of it is not new. But when I think of a boring dance song, it’s one that makes me not want to dance.

Totally. It’s just as much rooted in my body as it is in a discourse analysis of the song’s freshness. I find the beat on “Yo Perreo Sola” a little frantic, and I don’t like the EDM escalation around the chorus. My sweet spot for dancing is more mid-tempo. And I prefer songs where you get a bunch of different beat switches, a super mix like “Safaera.” Those kinds of songs call back to salsa classics that are rooted in jazz and other Black improvisational traditions where there are long percussion breaks and polyrhythms.

But there’s still some pleasure for me in “Yo Perreo Sola.” It really developed another meaning in quarantine: the song came out in the summer of 2020, when we were all at home dancing on our own. There was something fun about that.

We haven’t really talked about the words. You’ve talked about the beat, the rhythm, and the callback to other songs in the same genre or subgenre. Where do lyrics come in? I have a recurring argument with my husband who hears rhythm first and doesn’t pay any attention to lyrics. I often only hear lyrics, and I’m quite dismissive based on lyrics and lyrics alone. Do you pay attention to lyrics in the same way you pay attention to words as a translation?

That’s funny, I have a similar conflict with my mother. She’s like, “You’re always paying attention to lyrics!” I don’t think that’s true exclusively, but listening to lyrics definitely made me want to be a writer. I was the kind of teenager that was always on those websites learning the words. But my dad listened to a lot of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. My mom listened to a lot of poetic Latin American singers. I came of age during the mainstreaming of rap as popular music. The voice is one of the instruments and the delivery of the words is one of the instruments. Words are rhythm. So to me, the distinction between words and music doesn’t feel tenable. I’ve always had the strong sense that words, music, and movement emerge together. We’ve disaggregated them in our society, but that’s not how it has to be.

I think a lot about rhythm, delivery, and tone in my own writing, especially when I’m writing about music. I’m allowing the object to influence the way that I’m expressing myself. One of the ways that I can show a reader what I’m writing about is by absorbing and performing some element of it.

Do you try to match your prose to, for instance, the rhythm of a lyric when you’re embedding it in a sentence? Are you trying to imitate or to perform what you’ve absorbed?

I did with the Bad Bunny story. I wanted to be funny. I wanted to be irreverent. I wanted to be slick and sticky. Or when I’m writing about a live performance of Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin singing “Ooh Baby Baby” on Soul Train, I want to take on a wistful legato. I want my structure and my sentences to have some of the tender lucidity that I feel there.

Since people can’t have the experience of listening to the music itself, the prose needs to approximate what you would judge its style to be like?

Exactly. There’s a line that people repeat when they want to describe the supposed difficulty of music writing: “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” That’s crazy to me, because dancing is about architecture. Dancing is about space. It’s about how we navigate public space and our bodies in relation to one another. Dancing is already about architecture, and writing is about music because words are already a musical phenomenon. It’s not such a big leap to make the connection.

Part of the great joy of listening to music is listening to it with other people. I don’t get as much pleasure listening to something by myself as I do when I listen to something with my kids or my husband, or when I go to a concert. Listening with strangers is its own form of pleasure. How do you think about bringing other people’s experiences into the mix? Surely part of what’s happening when you’re listening in public is that your body is reacting to other bodies, reacting to the music?

I would argue that music is an inherently communal form even when you’re alone—or certainly when I’m alone. I’m thinking about all the other people it’s touched by the time it reaches me. I like to try to find ways to formalize that curiosity. In a profile, I like to look beyond the individual that our neoliberal media system has selected to be the hero. I’m more interested in how and why we collectively made them the hero. And in all my stories, it’s also about the interview practice, about refusing or reaching beyond traditional notions of expertise. Like, your average twentysomething in Puerto Rico has a richer sense of what Bad Bunny means than some musicologist.

When I’m listening to music or writing about a particular piece of music, I’m really trying to listen for how other people listen. If I hear a snatch of music coming from a car on my block, I like to see who’s driving. If I hear something out in public, how are other people reacting? If I’m on Twitter, I’m reading what people are saying about a new album drop. I think it’s fair to say that music is our most popular art form. That’s part of its value. Besides the supreme pleasure that I personally derive. Besides my wish that I could sing or play piano or play guiro. But I can’t. So, here we are.

An axis along which critics arrange themselves is the axis of authority that has, on its one end, the centralization of authority, and on the other, the active seeking or embrace of plurality. Another way to think of it might be as the difference between a centripetal and a centrifugal force in criticism. Have you always sought out that plurality of view? Does it change based on what your object is or where you are in your career as a critic? Were there more anxieties about being an authority figure, having just one voice, one view, one relation of experience?

In general, I’m not interested in a kind of criticism where people retweet it and say, “This is the last word on X or Y. Mic drop.” I’ve never been interested in those kinds of proprietary claims. I’m interested in a form of criticism that really opens up other desires, associations, lines of inquiry—because to me, an object is never exhausted, no matter how many people write about it. But there’s also so much where the idea of authority or expertise barely comes up because critics haven’t seen those objects as worthy of analysis. That’s my sweet spot.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Submit a letter:

Email us [email protected]

Carina del Valle Schorske is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine . She is at work on her debut collection of essays, The Other Island . (June 2024)

Merve Emre is the Shapiro-Silverberg Professor of Creative Writing and Criticism and the Director of the Shapiro Center at Wesleyan. She is the host of The Critic and Her Publics , a new podcast series produced in partnership with The New York Review and Lit Hub. (April 2024)

June 9, 2022 issue

Exquisite Solitude

March 9, 2023 issue

Looking for Chaïm Soutine

April 20, 2023 issue

December 7, 2023 issue

March 10, 2022 issue

The Only Way to Go

February 24, 2022 issue

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Defending Bryher

Subscribe and save 50%!

Get immediate access to the current issue and over 25,000 articles from the archives, plus the NYR App.

Already a subscriber? Sign in

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

The Ten Commandments Are Trump’s Favorite of All the Commandments

By Christopher Buckley

Mr. Buckley is a novelist and humorist.

Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana signs a bill mandating that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms. He says of the legislation, “ I can’t wait to be sued .”

Mr. Landry is sued by 28 organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amalgamated Atheists of America, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Beelzebubbians, the Spouses of U.S. Supreme Court Justices Neighborhood Welcome Wagon Association, and Liberals for the Prevention of Morality.

The Republican Party responds with a fund-raising email blitz for a new legal defense fund. The subject line reads, “Moses ❤️ Louisiana (and Trump!!!).”

Donald Trump hails Mr. Landry, calling him “the greatest mayor of Louisiana maybe ever.”

“Actually, ever,” he adds.

When President Biden points out that Louisiana is a state, not a city, a Trump spokesman responds with a statement: “Once again, the morally corrupt head of the Biden Marxist Leninist Maoist family crime syndicate has demonstrated its contempt for all residents of Louisiana, or as it will be known in the second Trump term, Holy Land East.”

Speaking before the annual conference of the Evangelical Substitute Teachers Association on the eve of Thursday’s presidential debate against Mr. Biden, Mr. Trump calls the Ten Commandments “my favorite of all the commandments.” In an apparent reference to Moses, he says that “being from New York City,” he “personally knows many, many people named Moe, all of them terrific, and most of them dentists.”

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .