Erratic – Word Of The Day For IELTS

Enhancing your IELTS vocabulary with precise adjectives can significantly improve your Lexical Resource score. Today’s word, “erratic,” is especially useful for describing unpredictable, irregular, or unusual behaviour, patterns, or results. Using this word in IELTS Speaking and Writing helps you explain irregularities or instability in situations, people, or processes with clarity and sophistication.

Meaning of Erratic

Adjective: Something that is erratic does not follow any pattern or plan and happens in a way that is unpredictable or irregular.

Erratic is particularly effective in IELTS when discussing behaviour, human actions, natural phenomena, trends, or results. Using this word demonstrates your ability to describe variability and uncertainty, which can elevate your writing and speaking responses.

Synonyms for Erratic

• Abnormal
• Arbitrary
• Bizarre
• Unpredictable
• Irregular

Collocations

• Erratic behaviour
• Erratic patterns
• Erratic results
• Erratic performance

Examples of “Erratic” in Context

IELTS Speaking:

• “Often the only striking feature of such a representation is the very erratic behaviour of the observations in relation to time.”
• “Dorman-Smith’s erratic behaviour had exasperated him already.”
• “In his collection of the works of contemporaries, Scott’s policy was more erratic than consistent.”

IELTS Writing:

• “The results of the rest of the sale were wildly erratic, with 36 percent left unsold.”
• “Weather patterns in the region have become increasingly erratic over the last decade, affecting agriculture and local communities.”
• “Student performance in the exam was erratic, showing large variations between subjects and individual capabilities.”

How to Use “Erratic” in IELTS Speaking & Writing

“Erratic” is suitable for topics involving:

• Describing unpredictable human behaviour or decisions
• Talking about fluctuating data, trends, or results
• Discussing inconsistent performance or outcomes
• Highlighting instability in natural phenomena, such as weather, animal behaviour, or climate

Using erratic conveys precision and formality, helping you express irregularity or unpredictability, which is valued by IELTS examiners.

IELTS Tip

Use erratic as a formal, high-level alternative to simpler words like unpredictable, irregular, or inconsistent.

• Instead of saying: “His behaviour is unpredictable,”
• You can say: “His behaviour is erratic, making it difficult to anticipate his responses.”

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct word: circumspect, erratic, tournament, soulful, circumstances, motivation

1. Modelling several series at the same time is more appropriate in certain __________.
2. She mothered all of them in a way that Jennie could not know she was becoming more __________.
3. Economic constraints or limitations can be overcome given a sufficiently high __________ to do well by the individual entrepreneur.
4. He looked at Louis, who stood aside watching Jambo out of wounded, __________ eyes.
5. Eighteen teams competed in the annual __________ over three nights at Barlaston.
6. Walesa was __________ in discussing his political actions.

Answer Key:

1. circumstances
2. erratic
3. motivation
4. soulful
5. tournament
6. circumspect

Incorporating words like erratic into your IELTS responses allows you to describe unpredictability, irregularity, and instability with precision and sophistication. Whether discussing behaviour, results, trends, or natural phenomena, practising this word in multiple contexts will enhance your lexical range, fluency, and overall IELTS performance. Regular practice and proper usage of high-level adjectives like erratic can help you achieve a higher band score in both Speaking and Writing.

Also Check: 

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