But aren't words like 'Firstly, secondly, in addition' just un | Cambridge IELTS practice |Official™

But aren't words like 'Firstly, secondly, in addition' just unnecessary fillers or clichés?

When I have suggested ways to connect ideas more clearly, some people have replied, 'Sure, but isn't it a bit of a cliché to use words like 'the latter' or 'Firstly' etc?' Again, this resistance to do what is needed to improve coherence and cohesion may help to explain why this problem is so persistent. The answer is, no, it is not a cliché to clearly show how your ideas are connected. In fact, many of the academics I follow on Twitter, who supervise PhD students and edit journals, often bemoan the fact that so many of the academic papers they see lack the signposting needed to make the connections between ideas clearer, so the problems this causes go beyond the IELTS test.

The belief that words and phrases like this should be avoided may come from following bad advice. I was recently sent an image of a list of words and phrases that a website had declared were 'unnecessary language fillers.' The list is a confusing mix of phrases that should indeed be avoided, because they are either inaccurate or too informal (From my perception: in recent days, I guess), while other phrases on the list are useful cohesive devices: First of all; Nowadays; On the one hand; Some people believe. This is a very good reminder that you must always look for reliable sources of information.

Key idea: The language that you learn forms an essential toolkit for your writing. Deciding that some of these tools should be avoided is like a master builder declaring, 'I'd never use a hammer to hit a nail, everyone does that, it's such a cliché. A master builder would always use the right tool for the job. In IELTS, you must do the same to show that you have mastered the skill of writing.

Pauline Cullen. The Key to IELTS Writing
@cambridgematerials