We need the word visual please.
So - "ABC on descent 9000 received alpha, visual." If no visual is received we assume you are not and process for the IAL. If you later become visual then "ABC, visual" is nice.
Saves me rabitting on about '..descend to 2,500, cleared ILS RWY 21 approach etc" and then in response I get "...2500 cleared ILS 21 approach and we are visual"!! So now do you want the visual approach or do you want the ILS?