Shopping & Consumerism — Part 4
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: formal, written-register phrases for analyzing consumer behaviour and shopping trends — the kind of academic-leaning language that strengthens a CELPIP Writing Task 2 argument about spending habits.
Why register matters for consumer topics
Writing Task 2 sometimes frames shopping as a social trend rather than a personal story ("Are people becoming too materialistic?"). That framing calls for analytical language — phrases that describe patterns across groups of people, not just your own experience. These connectors help you write like a commentator, not just a shopper.
Formal connectors and phrases
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| consumers are increasingly inclined to | more people are tending to (do something) | Consumers are increasingly inclined to shop online rather than in stores. |
| this trend can be attributed to | this pattern is caused by | This trend can be attributed to the convenience of same-day delivery. |
| it is worth noting that | introduces an important related fact | It is worth noting that loyalty programs also drive repeat purchases. |
| despite the convenience of | acknowledges a benefit before a counterpoint | Despite the convenience of one-click ordering, impulse spending has risen. |
| there is a growing tendency among shoppers to | describes a widening pattern | There is a growing tendency among shoppers to prioritize sustainability. |
| in terms of cost-effectiveness | when evaluating value for money | In terms of cost-effectiveness, bulk buying often makes more sense. |
| as a result of aggressive marketing | caused by intense advertising strategies | Sales spiked as a result of aggressive marketing campaigns. |
| this phenomenon is not without its drawbacks | acknowledges downsides of a trend | This phenomenon is not without its drawbacks, however. |
| a case in point is | introduces a specific supporting example | A case in point is the rise of subscription-box services. |
| it stands to reason that | it logically follows that | It stands to reason that lower prices attract more buyers. |
| to summarize / in conclusion | closes the argument | In conclusion, convenience has reshaped how people shop. |
| on balance | weighing both sides, overall | On balance, the benefits of online shopping outweigh the risks. |
Worked example — CELPIP Writing Task 2 (survey response)
Prompt: Are people becoming too materialistic because of online shopping?
Consumers are increasingly inclined to buy more than they need, and this trend can be attributed to the sheer convenience of modern shopping apps. It is worth noting that targeted advertising plays a major role too — as a result of aggressive marketing, people are exposed to tailored offers dozens of times a day. Despite the convenience of one-click checkout, this constant exposure encourages spending that isn't always necessary. A case in point is flash-sale notifications, which create urgency where none previously existed. That said, this phenomenon is not without its drawbacks: rising personal debt is one visible consequence. On balance, I believe online shopping hasn't made people inherently more materialistic, but it has made overspending far easier, and it stands to reason that awareness is the best defense.
Common mistakes
- Using it is worth noting that to introduce your main point rather than a secondary, supporting detail — save it for asides.
- Confusing on balance (weighing pros and cons overall) with "in balance," which isn't a standard collocation.
- Overloading a single paragraph with too many formal connectors — one or two per paragraph reads naturally; five feels mechanical.
- Forgetting that a case in point is must be followed by a specific, concrete example, not another general statement.
Recap
You've collected twelve formal connectors — from consumers are increasingly inclined to through on balance — for analyzing shopping trends persuasively. Part 5 closes the topic with casual spoken fluency chunks for CELPIP Speaking about shopping habits.