formal connectors for essays

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Connectors in English: How to Use Them

Are your essays in English marked poorly despite your grammatically correct sentences?

Have you ever been told that your paragraphs don’t connect to each other even though they talk about the same topic?

This is where English connectors come in—a.k.a., the words I’ve marked in bold above!

Today, I’m going to talk about what connectors in English are, the most common ones you’ll come across and how to practice them.

Once you’re done with this article, I hope you’ll agree that these words and phrases are simply magical!

What Are English Connectors?

English connectors for cause and effect, english connectors for illustration, english connectors for emphasis, english connectors for comparison, english connectors for contrast, english connectors for sequence, english connectors for conclusion, tips for practicing english connectors, 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)

English connectors are little words and phrases that help you connect sentences, paragraphs and ideas. Used both in spoken and written English, they help make your English sound more logical and structured.

You can think of connectors as like the thread that holds a necklace’s beads (i.e. sentences, paragraphs and ideas) together.

In fact, you probably already use them without even realizing it!

Note that English connectors are different from English conjunctions . While conjunctions link two or more words or clauses within a sentence, connectors establish that two separate sentences or ideas are related to each other. 

To help you understand further, I’m going to walk you through some of the most common connectors in English and how they’re used. Some are used formally, while others are more casual. Some are even  interchangeable —that is, you can use them in place of similar words.

In everyday conversations , we often need to explain things.

Perhaps you were late for school because your car ran out of gas. Or you want to buy chocolates because you want to surprise your mother on her birthday.

Explaining things will be much easier if you throw in these important English connectors.

Let’s take a look at them!

Giving illustrations or examples helps us prove our point and convince other people to believe us. These words help people understand what you’re trying to say and can help them see why you believe what you believe.

While discussing an issue or idea, you may want to focus on a particular point or example. To make the listener understand the importance of that specific idea, you can use the following connectors.

Sometimes, we need to draw attention to certain similarities to make a point or explain something. This is especially important in writing!

To make better comparisons, use the following English connectors.

Sometimes, we need to express different or contradicting ideas side-by-side. Doing this helps the listener or reader focus on important differences and makes them aware of the many sides of a topic.

These connectors are useful when you’re giving step-by-step instructions or listing points.

Finally , how do you let your reader know that you’ve reached the end? (See what I did there?)

There are certain connectors that we usually use during conclusions or when we’ve reached the end of what we wanted to say. When writing or stating conclusions, you usually repeat the most important points.

Here are some quick tips that’ll help you learn English connectors more efficiently.

Make Your Own Sentences

To explain the meanings and uses of different connectors, I’ve provided example sentences for each. However, you’ll remember them much better if you come up with your own examples.

You can start by using connectors in your diary entries, notebooks, essays and the like. Soon, you’ll find yourself using these connectors in everyday speech as well!

Write a Short Story or Essay

To see the huge difference English connectors can make, try writing a paragraph without any connectors and then rewrite it using some of the connectors above. You’ll quickly realize that your sentences will flow better, sound more logical and become easier to understand.

Learn English with Authentic Content

You probably want to speak English like a native (or at least try to). So why not learn from natives? Try watching a speech in English to get a good idea of how these fit together. Look for the ones with transcripts that you can write notes in, maybe even circling all of the connecting terms as you see them. 

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

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Do Online Exercises

Finally, to check whether you’ve understood how to use connectors correctly, you can try online exercises from websites that cover English grammar .

For example, the ones on English Daily  and English Grammar are pretty short and can be completed in a few minutes.

There’s also ToLearnEnglish , which provides a brief list of common connectors before you solve the exercise, making it a great resource for review.

Now that you know the most commonly-used English connectors, you can use them in sentences and paragraphs with great confidence. Try your hand at some of the exercises I’ve suggested for practice.

So what are you waiting for?

Get out there and start incorporating these useful English connectors into your everyday life!

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Formal Linking Words / Cohesive Devices

Linking words can also be referred to as connectors, conjunctions, and cohesive devices. This webpage includes a useful lesson on helping improve students’ knowledge of these linking words. It includes a lesson plan using a kinaesthetic matching activity and worksheet.

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Linking Words Reference Sheet

Print off and give this to students as a helpful reference guide. 

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Linking Words – Full List, Examples & Worksheet

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Worried that your essay lacks structure and coherence? Perhaps you should use linking words, transition words, or connectors to give it a boost.

Linking words join separate sentences to improve writing flow. You can also find them mid-sentence to connect clauses.

Read on as I show you the definition and types of linking words in English. I also list examples of linking words under every category, and I whipped up a helpful worksheet to test your skills.

What Are Linking Words?

Linking words, transition words, or connecting words in the English language help connect ideas and sentences when speaking or writing.

Linking words and phrases are connectors or transitional phrases. They are also part of formal language, so you’ll find them in academic writing, opinion writing, critical essays, dialectic essays , journalism, and business documents.

Some linking verbs link clauses within a sentence, such as although, in case, and whatever. That means you can find them in the middle of sentences from time to time. Others link two complete sentences, such as besides, as a result, and however.

List of Transition Words

Now that you know the meaning of transition words, let’s look at the usage of transition words in sentences and clauses. Don’t worry, I’ll break it all down for you!

Below, I’ve got a list of linking words and phrases to serve as alternative choices for connecting ideas in writing. Note that there are several types of transition words which we will discuss later.

Agreement/Addition/Similarity

Linking words may help the reader understand additional comments or ideas in a statement. They may also express agreement or similarities. These words are also called additive transition words, commonly found in expository essays and narrative essays.

• In the first place
• As a matter of fact
• In like manner
• In addition
• Not only, but also
• Coupled with
• In the same way
• In the same manner
• First, second, third
• Not to mention
• In the light of
• By the same token
• Additionally
• Correspondingly
• Furthermore
• Comparatively
• At the same time
• Together with
• Identically

Here are some examples of additive linking words in a sentence.

• The group found that a constructivist approach leads to higher test scores. Moreover, essay examinations show higher levels of learning.
• The resort has tennis courts. Furthermore, it has an Olympic pool.

Negative Ideas

Some linking words come in pairs to join negative ideas.

• Not, neither
• Neither, nor

Here are sentence examples of linking words showing negative ideas.

• I haven’t seen Lory, neither have I talked to her friend.
• I neither drink nor smoke.

Opposition/Limitation/Contradiction

Whereas some linking words show an extra idea, these transition phrases and words express contrasting ideas in writing.

• Although this may be true
• In contrast
• (and) still
• Notwithstanding
• Different from
• Of course…, but
• On the other hand
• On the contrary
• Be that as it may
• Nonetheless
• Even so/though
• Nevertheless
• In spite of

Here are some sentences with linking words of opposition.

• The short story can be analyzed using a functionalist lens. However, its historical theme is better understood with a critical perspective.
• As much as I want to go, I must take care of my sister.

Some linking words show relationships between ideas by accepting an idea with reservation instead of showing complete opposition. Here are some examples.

• All the same
• Regardless of this
• Up to a point

Here are some sentence examples.

• Many citizens opposed this unfair policy, which the president nevertheless enacted.
• I like him even if we have different views in life.

Cause/Condition/Purpose

You may also use linking words in your writing piece to show conditions and purpose for a logical flow of ideas. Words like reason get the reader ready to understand why. These words are commonly found in hypothesis essays.

• In the event that
• Granted (that)
• Provided that
• On (the) condition (that)
• For the purpose of
• With this intention
• With this in mind
• In the hope that
• Inasmuch as
• To the end that
• For fear that
• In order to
• Seeing/being that
• The researchers used this method so that the results would be valid, reliable, and aligned with the objectives.
• I will not be attending the seminar due to a high fever.

Examples/Support/Emphasis

You can also use transition words in your piece of writing that show examples or support of an idea.

• In other words
• To put it differently
• For one thing
• In particular
• As an illustration
• In this case
• For example
• For instance
• For this reason
• To put it another way
• To demonstrate
• That is to say
• With attention to
• By all means
• To emphasize
• To enumerate
• Particularly
• Significantly
• Specifically
• Surprisingly
• Important to realize
• Another key point
• On the negative side
• First thing to remember
• Must be remembered
• To point out
• Point often overlooked
• She visited several cities, namely Portland, Jacksonville, Charleston, and Hartford.
• Transition words improve writing flow. For instance, we use further to add extra ideas related to the previous statement.

Effect/Consequence/Result

You might also spot transitional devices for essays that show consequences, results, and effects.

• As a result
• In that case
• Under those circumstances
• Accordingly
• Consequently

Consider the examples below.

• We watered the plant for seven days. In effect, it grew three inches taller.
• Because she didn’t study for the test, Anna failed and had to retake it.

Conclusion/Summary/Restatement

These words and phrases show transitions between sentences to show conclusions. You’ll find these words in essay conclusions of different essay types.

• In simple language
• In explanation
• In lay terms
• In a nutshell
• As can be seen
• In simple terms
• Generally speaking
• All things considered
• As shown above
• In the final analysis
• In the long run
• In either case
• Given these points
• As has been noted
• In any event
• On the whole
• By and large
• For the most part
• In conclusion
• To summarize

Note that in lay terms and in explanation are formal alternative choices to “ in a nutshell.”

Here are some examples.

• Matter is a material that occupies space and has mass. In simple language, it is any physical substance.
• I don’t want to climb the corporate ladder. After all, money isn’t everything.

Time/Chronology/Sequence

Linking words’ other role in writing is to show sequence or chronology. Under the time category, these phrases add a meaning of time. You can find these words in an essay introduction when the writer explains how the paper is structured.

• In due time
• From time to time
• At the present time
• Sooner or later
• Up to the present time
• To begin with
• Straightaway
• In the meantime
• In a moment
• Without delay
• All of a sudden
• At this instant
• First, second
• By the time
• Immediately
• Occasionally
• I watched the movie on television. Eventually, I fell asleep.
• First, fill the pan with water. Then, bring it to a boil.

Space/Location/Place

The following transition words are famous adverbial expressions that limit or modify space. Some of these words and phrases are also transition words of time.

• In the middle of
• To the left/right
• In front of
• On this side
• In the distance
• In the foreground
• In the background
• In the center of
• Adjacent to
• Opposite to

Below are sentence examples using transition words of space.

• My house is located behind the building.
• To the left of the supermarket is a flower shop.

Common Mistakes With Transition Words

Transition words help you create a flow of arguments for readers to understand what you’re saying. But misused transition words and phrases will make your writing unclear. Avoid these mistakes to give your readers a better experience.

Starting a Sentence With So, And, and Also

Both so and and are coordinating conjunctions, which means they can start independent clauses that stand on their own. But it’s not recommended to use these words and also as sentence starters in formal writing. For example:

• Incorrect: Also, there are unauthorized charges on my credit card account.
• Correct: Furthermore, there are unauthorized charges on my credit card account.

Combination of Transition Words And/Or

When writing an essay, avoid English transition words and/or because it makes your paper look messy. Instead, consider whether you need both connectors or only one of them. If you need them both, try this alternative.

• Incorrect: boat and/or plane.
• Correct: boat, plane, or both.

Using As Well As as Alternative to And

As well as has a different meaning from the transition word and. And means you’re listing something of equal importance. Meanwhile, as well as is for additional, less essential information. Here’s an example.

• Incorrect: In this paper, I discuss my movie analysis as well as provide recommendations for improvement.
• Correct: In this paper, I discuss my movie analysis and provide recommendations for improvement.

Archaic Words

Your writing may not make any sense to readers if you overuse archaic transition words like therewith .

For example, hereby means as a result. We can replace it with more modern and explicit phrasing expressing how the current statement is connected to the previous statement.

Linking Words Summary

A linking word is a term that connects different ideas in your text, whether they are contrasting, supporting, or adding. They can improve your writing and help it flow better, I promise!

Regardless of the style of writing, every piece of writing contains linking words to show perfect transitions. I hope my guide on the definition and list of transitions helps you use these words and phrases correctly. Memorize each category, and don’t overuse them in essays.

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75 linking words for academic writing (+examples)

Linking words play an important role in academic writing: They connect different paragraphs, sections or ideas in a text. Therefore, they considerably improve the readability and argumentation of academic texts such as a thesis, dissertation, essay or journal publication. This list of 75 linking words includes examples of how they can be used in academic writing.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using the links below at no additional cost to you . I only recommend products or services that I truly believe can benefit my audience. As always, my opinions are my own.

Linking words expressing order and sequence in academic writing

Linking words expressing additions in academic writing, linking words expressing cause and effect in academic writing, linking words expressing contrasts and comparisons in academic writing, linking words expressing emphasis in academic writing, linking words expressing illustrations in academic writing, linking words expressing summaries and conclusions in academic writing, linking words expressing conditionality in academic writing, linking words expressing generalisations in academic writing, linking words expressing concessions in academic writing.

1. First(ly), second(ly), third(ly)

Example: First, I review the existing literature on cross-border collaboration. Second, I explain the methodology …

Example: The thesis starts with a literature review. Next, I describe the case study design.

Example: Finally, recommendations for future research are presented.

4. Subsequently

Example: Study participants underwent several experiments and were subsequently examined.

5. Afterwards

Example: The event increased public awareness of this issue. Afterwards, politicians debated it more openly.

6. Eventually

Example: Eventually, this led to the creation of a social movement.

Example: Before scientists discovered the role of neurons in information processing, they assumed that…

8. Previously

Example: Previously, scholars believed that nurture was the most important factor in a child’s development.

Example: Scholars examine the causes and effects of poverty.

10. Furthermore

Example: Furthermore, the data illustrates the number of chemicals that can be found in drinking water.

11. Additionally

Example: Additionally, the interviewee lamented a lack of attention to his work.

12. As well as

Example: Scholars utilise qualitative as well as quantitative methods to study this phenomenon.

13. Besides

Example: Besides the public outreach component, we wrote a handbook to disseminate the research results in the academic community.

Example: The financial compensation was also appreciated by the study participants.

15. Moreover

Example: Moreover, interviewees were asked to describe their own experiences.

You may also like: How to paraphrase a quote: 4 simple strategies

16. Because

Example: This theory was ultimately rejected because it was built on a flawed dataset.

Example: The outcomes improved since different parties joined forces.

Example: As the number of studies increases, better conclusions can be drawn.

Example: Scientists realised that the data analysis had flaws. So they decided not to run the same data analysis again.

20. Therefore

Example: Many researchers have conducted this experiment with similar results. Therefore, this theory can be debunked.

21. Consequently

Example: The literature highlights the importance of age and physical fitness. Consequently, these factors will be investigated further.

Example: Due to a low response rate, the study’s validity is low.

23. Nevertheless

Example: One academic study found the opposite results. Nevertheless, it can be argued that…

Example: Many scholars have explored this issue. Yet, to date, no inclusive framework exists to explain…

25. Although

Example: Although a confidentiality agreement was provided, study participants were hesitant to disclose private information.

26. In spite of

Example: In spite of the different study contexts, all experiments pointed to similar results.

27. Whereas

Example: People often stated that they are aware of the rules whereas they behaved as if they did not.

Example: While older studies often emphasise structural effects, newer ones tend to highlight the role of agency.

29. In contrast

Example: In contrast to previous findings, my analysis shows that…

30. Similarly

Example: One study found that the majority of residents in disadvantaged areas do not have access to sufficient resources. Similarly, my research revealed that most residents live too far away from the services and resources they would need to climb the social ladder.

31. Equally

Example: E qually important, however, is the role of personal beliefs in decision-making processes.

32. Likewise

Example: The interviewee considered this issue important and expected his colleagues to do likewise.

33. On the other hand

Example: On the one hand, research in this field advanced considerably in the last 20 years. On the other hand, a lot remains unclear.

Example: Unlike social scientists, physical scientists often conduct laboratory examinations.

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35. Particularly

Example: Particularly relevant for this study is the molecular orbital theory.

36. Especially

Example: Especially younger interviewees expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo.

37. Above all

Example: Above all, this method can generate better insights into the physical processes at hand.

Example: Indeed, motivation turned out to be a defining factor of academic success.

38. Clearly

Example: Clearly, these scholars were not aware of recent advances in medical sciences.

39. Definitely

Example: This was definitely the most important event of the year.

40. Importantly

Example: More importantly, the findings underscore the importance of conflict resolution.

41. Undoubtedly

Example: Undoubtedly, all stakeholders had good intentions.

42. Obviously

Example: Obviously it is too early to draw final conclusions.

43. Of course

Example: Of course, this study should be replicated in a different context.

44. Surprisingly

Example: Surprisingly, all results were unambiguous.

45. Such as

Example: Scientists have explored different parts of the problem, such as CO2 emissions and hydrological processes.

46. For example

Example: Many interviewees were nervous. For example, when asked to describe the event, some of them started to stutter.

47. For instance

Example: Scholars have criticised this approach for different reasons. For instance, they argued that qualitative methods are insufficient to draw generalisable conclusions.

48. In this case

Example: Difficulties arise when no study participants can be found. In this case, alternative methods should be considered.

50. To conclude

Example: To conclude, the empirical analysis supports previous research findings.

51. In conclusion

Example: In conclusion, the reviewed literature highlights a clear research gap.

52. To sum up

Example: To sum up, a mixed methods approach is a better choice than a purely quantitative one.

53. In summary

Example: In summary, it is my opinion that conditions should be improved.

54. In short

Example: In short, scholars call for more research on climate change mitigation.

55. Altogether

Example: Altogether, these examples support the main argument.

Example: Energy supply became a growing problem. Thus, new policies were implemented.

Example: The first dataset was incomplete. Hence, a new dataset had to be developed.

Example: Unless stated otherwise, I refer to the concept as…

59. As long as

Example: As long as the conditions do not change, the results should remain stable.

Example: If scientists study this phenomenon in the future, they should pay attention to structural drivers.

61. Provided that

Example: Provided that nothing changes, the effects on society will be negative.

Example: Should the distribution change, it is fair to expect…

63. Even if

Example: Even if more experiments are conducted, human behaviour remains hard to predict.

Example: Often, this issue was flagged by interviewees themselves.

65. Commonly

Example: Commonly, this criterion is used for categorising plants.

66. Overall

Example: Overall the data confirmed the hypothesis.

67. Typically

Example: Typically emotions run high in such situations.

68. Generally

Example: Generally speaking, scholars address this issue from two angles.

Example: Mainly researchers in the global North discuss this phenomenon.

Example: Mostly, these results cannot be replicated outside of the lab.

71. Even if

Example: This is hard to prove. Even if the study sample is large enough.

72. Regardless of

Example: Regardless of their genetic makeup, mice showcased the same symptoms.

Example: Albeit experiencing setbacks, successful students do not get discouraged.

74. Admittedly

Example: Admittedly, the validity of this study should be increased.

75. Nonetheless

Example: Nonetheless, this study can be seen as a valuable contribution to the international literature.

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• Linking Words & Connector Words: Ultimate List With Examples
• Learn English
• James Prior
• No Comments
• Updated February 23, 2024

Linking words and connector words are essential tools for effective communication and writing. They play a crucial role in connecting ideas, enhancing coherence, and guiding the flow of information. Whether you’re writing an essay, giving a presentation, or engaging in a conversation, using appropriate linking words can greatly improve the clarity and effectiveness of your message.

In this ultimate list of linking words, we have compiled a comprehensive collection of linking words along with examples to help you understand their usage and apply them in various contexts. From words that highlight contrast and similarity to those that indicate cause and effect or order of importance, this list covers a wide range of linking words to suit different purposes.

Ready to link your words? Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What are linking words?

Linking words, also known as connector words or transition words, are words or phrases that connect ideas or parts of a text, providing coherence and smoothness to the overall flow of information. They serve as bridges between sentences, paragraphs, or even larger sections of a document, helping to establish relationships, indicate contrasts, add information, show cause and effect, provide examples, and more.

Here are some common categories of linking words with examples:

Linking words for addition

Addition: Words that show the addition of information or ideas.

These linking words and phrases can help you add information, reinforce ideas, or provide further examples in your writing or conversation. Use them appropriately to expand on your points and enhance the overall coherence and richness of your communication.

• She is fluent in English, and additionally, she speaks French and Spanish.
• The report highlights the benefits of renewable energy; furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of conservation.
• The new system not only improves efficiency but moreover, it reduces costs.
• In addition to his regular job, he volunteers at a local charity.
• She not only excels in academics but also actively participates in extracurricular activities.
• The team consists of experienced professionals as well as enthusiastic newcomers.
• The company values teamwork; likewise, it fosters individual growth and development.
• Besides working full-time, he manages to pursue his hobbies and spend time with famil
• The website offers free shipping; what’s more, customers can enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• On top of their regular duties, employees are encouraged to take part in professional development opportunities.
• Developing strong interpersonal skills is equally important as acquiring technical knowledge.
• The event attracted a large audience, not to mention the media coverage it received.
• Along with the new software update, customers will also receive enhanced customer support.
• The company achieved its sales targets for the year; what is more, it surpassed them by 20%.
• The team completed the project ahead of schedule; besides that, they received positive feedback from the client.
• The company’s commitment to quality, coupled with its competitive pricing, sets it apart from its competitors.

Linking words for contrast

Contrast: Words that highlight differences or contrasting ideas.

These linking words and phrases can help you express contrasting ideas and show the differences between two or more concepts or situations. Remember to use them appropriately based on the context and your intended meaning.

• She studied hard; however, she didn’t pass the exam.
• John loves traveling; on the other hand, his sister prefers staying at home.
• The weather was terrible; nevertheless, they decided to go for a walk.
• He had a sprained ankle; nonetheless, he played in the soccer match.
• Despite the rain, they went to the beach.
• In spite of the traffic, they arrived on time.
• Although it was late, they continued with their work.
• Even though she was tired, she went to the gym.
• I enjoy reading, while my brother prefers watching movies.
• Sarah loves cooking, whereas her husband prefers eating out.
• Unlike his friends, Mark is not a fan of horror movies.
• She hates winter; conversely, I love it.
• She expected him to be upset; on the contrary, he was happy.
• They planned to go to the cinema, but instead, they stayed home and watched a movie.
• The cat is small and playful, in contrast to the dog, which is big and lazy.
• He enjoys sports; conversely, his sister prefers art.
• On one hand, the book is interesting; on the other hand, it’s quite lengthy.
• They could go by car, or alternatively, they could take the train.
• The movie received mixed reviews; nevertheless, it became a box office hit.
• She didn’t pass the test, but in any case, she learned a lot from studying.

Linking words for similarity

Similarity: Words that highlight similarities or shared ideas.

These linking words and phrases can help you express similarities between two or more ideas, situations, or individuals. Use them appropriately based on the context to highlight shared characteristics or experiences.

• Sarah enjoys reading; likewise, her brother is an avid reader.
• John and Emily both love hiking; similarly, they enjoy spending time in nature.
• Just as Sarah likes swimming, in the same way, her best friend enjoys diving.
• Jack has a passion for photography, similarly to his sister who is also an enthusiast.
• Just like her mother, Jane has a talent for playing the piano.
• The two artists approach their work in a similar vein, both using vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes.
• Mark loves cooking, and by the same token, he also enjoys experimenting with new recipes.
• As the workload increased, the stress levels of the employees correspondingly rose.
• Both Sarah and Emily are equally skilled in playing the guitar.
• The designer creates unique clothing pieces, and in a similar fashion, the jewelry maker crafts one-of-a-kind accessories.
• Just as the sun rises in the morning, the moon appears in the evening.
• The teacher explains complex concepts in a simple and understandable way, in the same manner as her colleague.
• He enjoys hiking and camping, and his friends, likewise, too, share his enthusiasm for outdoor activities.
• Just as a bird builds its nest with care and precision, in the same way, an architect plans and constructs a building.
• The two books explore themes of love and loss, along similar lines, inviting readers to contemplate the human experience.
• As with all great artists, Picasso’s work continues to inspire and influence generations.
• Exercise is essential for physical health, and just as importantly, it is crucial for mental well-being.
• Much like a puzzle, life consists of various pieces that fit together to form a bigger picture.

Linking words for cause and effect

Cause and Effect: Words that demonstrate cause and effect relationships.

These linking words and phrases can help you express the cause-and-effect relationship between events or actions. Use them appropriately based on the context to convey the reason and result of a particular situation or occurrence.

• He failed the exam because he didn’t study.
• They arrived early since they left home on time.
• As a result of heavy rainfall, the streets were flooded.
• The event was canceled due to bad weather conditions.
• The store was closed, therefore, they had to find another place to shop.
• He missed the train, consequently, he arrived late to the meeting.
• Owing to a power outage, the concert was postponed.
• She didn’t have enough sleep, thus, she felt tired throughout the day.
• He couldn’t attend the party, for this reason, he sent his apologies.
• The storm caused damage to the houses, resulting in the need for repairs.
• The baby was hungry, so she started crying.
• Lack of exercise and poor diet often leads to weight gain.
• They missed the train because of heavy traffic.
• The roads were icy, this is why there were many accidents.
• They spent all their money, as a consequence, they couldn’t afford the trip.
• He quit smoking, and since then, he feels healthier.
• The company introduced a new product, and in turn, its sales increased.
• She studied hard so that she could pass the exam.

Linking words for time and sequence

Time and sequence: Words that indicate time or sequence of events or actions.

These linking words and phrases can help you express the chronological order and sequence of events or actions. Use them appropriately to guide your audience through the progression of ideas or to outline the steps in a process or narrative.

• Firstly, let’s discuss the main causes of climate change.
• Secondly, we need to consider the potential solutions to the problem.
• Next, we will move on to the implementation phase of the project.
• We need to complete the research phase first. Then, we can start analyzing the data.
• After that, we can proceed with the construction of the building.
• The company experienced financial difficulties. Subsequently, they had to lay off several employees.
• The team was working on the project. Meanwhile, the marketing department was preparing the promotional materials.
• The two processes are happening simultaneously, ensuring efficient production.
• The report will be ready in a week. In the meantime, please proceed with the other tasks.
• During the meeting, we will discuss the budget and timeline.
• While he was studying, his friends were playing video games.
• Please wait here until your name is called.
• We need to complete the paperwork before the deadline.
• She attended the conference, and afterward, she shared her insights with the team.
• Finally, we reached an agreement after a long negotiation process.
• In the end, they decided to cancel the project due to budget constraints.
• The presentation was engaging, and at the same time, informative.
• Initially, he struggled with the new software, but with practice, he became proficient.
• At first, the project seemed overwhelming, but with proper planning, it became manageable.

Linking words for order of importance

Order of Importance: Words that highlight the hierarchy or ranking of ideas based on their significance.

These linking words and phrases can help you establish the order of importance when presenting ideas or arguments. Use them to emphasize the significance of certain points, highlight key considerations, or guide the reader’s attention to the most critical aspects.

• Most importantly, we need to prioritize the safety of our employees.
• Above all, we must prioritize the needs of our customers.
• The company’s success primarily depends on effective leadership and strategic planning.
• First and foremost, we need to address the urgent issue of inflation.
• The new policy chiefly focuses on reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
• Notably, the project resulted in significant cost savings for the organization.
• Above anything else, maintaining a high standard of quality is our top priority.
• It is essential to note that effective communication is the foundation of strong relationships.
• It is worth mentioning that the company’s ethical practices have earned it a positive reputation.

Linking words for exemplification

Example: Words that provide examples or illustrate a point.

These linking words and phrases can help you introduce examples and provide further clarification or evidence to support your statements. Use them to enhance your explanations and illustrate your points effectively.

Here’s a list of linking words and phrases that are commonly used to illustrate an example, along with examples:

• There are many fruits you can choose from, for example, apples, oranges, and bananas.
• Many countries have implemented environmental policies; for instance, Sweden has significantly reduced its carbon emissions.
• I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and swimming.
• The party was attended by several guests, including friends, family, and colleagues.
• He has many hobbies, like painting, playing the guitar, and photography.
• The company provides various employee benefits, as an illustration, health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Let me give you an example to illustrate my point.
• There are several endangered species in the area, namely the African elephant, the Bengal tiger, and the giant panda.
• The city offers various attractions, in particular, museums, parks, and historical landmarks.
• The project requires specific skills, specifically programming and data analysis.
• By way of example, let’s consider the case of a successful startup that disrupted the market.
• To give an example, let’s say you want to improve your fitness; you can try activities like jogging, swimming, or joining a gym.
• The experiment was conducted to demonstrate the effects of temperature on plant growth.
• As a case in point, many countries have implemented renewable energy initiatives to combat pollution.
• I will use a specific scenario to exemplify how the new policy can be implemented effectively.
• The job requires strong communication skills , in essence, the ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively.
• The city has invested in renewable energy projects to reduce its carbon footprint. One example of this is the installation of solar panels on public buildings.
• To be specific, the company offers three main product lines: electronics, appliances, and furniture.
• The data collected serves as proof that the new marketing strategy is effective.
• In a similar manner, many companies have embraced remote work as a response to the pandemic.

Linking words for focusing

These linking words and phrases can help you direct attention or emphasize a specific aspect of your discussion or argument. Use them appropriately to highlight the main points or focus areas, ensuring clarity and precision in your communication.

Here’s a list of linking words and phrases that are commonly used to express focusing or directing attention, along with examples:

• Specifically, we need to address the issue of employee turnover in our department.
• The marketing team has made significant progress, particularly in digital advertising.
• In particular, we need to improve our customer service to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Notably, the company achieved a record-breaking sales figure in the last quarter.
• This task requires attention to detail, especially when dealing with sensitive data.
• Specifically speaking, the new software update addresses the security vulnerabilities.
• Above all, we must prioritize the safety of our employees.
• The company’s success mainly relies on customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
• The primary goal of our project is to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
• Essentially, our focus should be on optimizing operational efficiency.
• Individually, each team member plays a crucial role in achieving our objectives.
• Precisely, we need to adhere to the project timeline to meet the deadline.
• Specifically, with regards to customer feedback, we have received positive reviews.
• The new product line has a sleek design, not to mention its advanced features.
• It is worth noting that the market trends are shifting towards online shopping.
• Above everything else, we need to prioritize the quality of our products.
• In essence, our primary objective is to provide exceptional customer service.
• To be more precise, we should focus on improving our supply chain management.
• In specific terms, the sales team needs to focus on building client relationships.
• More importantly, we need to address the concerns raised by our customers.

Linking words for conclusion

Conclusion: Words that summarize or conclude a text.

These linking words and phrases can help you signal the conclusion of your argument, presentation, or essay. Use them to summarize key points, restate your main argument, or provide a final thought or recommendation.

• In conclusion, it is evident that deforestation poses a significant threat to our planet.
• To sum up, the project was a great success, exceeding all expectations.
• Ultimately, the decision lies in your hands.
• All in all, it was a memorable vacation filled with adventure and relaxation.
• Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication.
• In summary, the findings of the study suggest a strong correlation between exercise and mental well-being.
• To conclude, the evidence supports the hypothesis that regular exercise improves cardiovascular health.
• The data collected consistently points to the same conclusion; therefore, we can confidently assert our findings.
• In essence, the research demonstrates that social media has a profound impact on interpersonal relationships.
• The campaign received widespread support, and as a result, donations increased significantly.
• In a nutshell, the project aims to promote sustainability through renewable energy initiatives.
• The experiments consistently yielded similar results; thus, we can draw a definitive conclusion.
• The evidence strongly suggests a link between smoking and lung cancer; hence, it is crucial to raise awareness about the risks.
• In light of these findings, it is necessary to reconsider the current educational policies.
• The company faced financial challenges, and consequently, had to downsize its workforce.
• In conclusion, it can be stated that effective communication is the key to successful teamwork.
• Taking all factors into account, it is clear that globalization has both positive and negative consequences.
• The lack of investment resulted in decreased productivity, as a consequence, the company experienced a decline in profits.
• The study findings reveal a correlation between stress levels and sleep quality; thus, it can be inferred that managing stress positively affects sleep.
• Given these points, it is evident that the project should be prioritized for its long-term benefits.

If you’d like more examples, check out this list of other ways to say in conclusion .

Conclusion: Ready to link your words?

These are just some examples of linking words, and there are numerous other linking words and phrases available for different purposes and contexts. Using them appropriately can greatly enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing or speech. So, if you want to become more fluent in English, it’s time to start thinking about linking words!

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Useful Linking Words and Phrases to Use in Your Essays

By: Author Sophia

Posted on Last updated: October 26, 2023

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Linking words and phrases are used to show relationships between ideas. They can be used to join two or more sentences or clauses.

We can use linking words to give a result , add information , summarize , give illustrations , emphasize a point , sequence information , compare or to contrast idea .

Useful Linking Words and Phrases

In this article, you will learn about the most common linking words and phrases:

Giving a Result

Usage : To provide the result of what has been stated or has occurred

Linking W ords :

• As a result
• As a consequence
• Consequently
• For this reason
• His wife left him.  As a result , he became very depressed.
• She has lived in France, and  as a consequence  she speaks French fluently.
• We do not have enough money.  T herefore  we cannot afford to buy the new car.
• We do not own the building.  Thus , it would be impossible for us to make any major changes to it.
• There has been a great deal of rain and  consequently  the reservoirs are full.
• The customer was displeased with her meal,  hence  the chef prepared a replacement.
• For this reason , they are not a good choice for exterior use.
• Due to  a broken wing, this bird can’t fly.

Adding Information

Usage : To add to what has been previously stated

Linking Words:

• Additionally / an additional
• Furthermore
• As well as that
• In addition
• In addition to this
• Apart from this
• Additionally , the bus service will run on Sundays, every two hours.
• He said he had not discussed the matter with her.  Furthermore , he had not even contacted her.
• We are unable to repair this watch.  Also , this is the fourth time this has happened.
• I love wearing earrings. I design and make them  too .
• We went to the park today.  As well as that , we did some shopping.
• Along with  parties and parliaments, elections have lost their charm.
• I can’t afford to go to the concert.  Besides , I don’t really like classical music.
• You haven’t paid the rent yet.   In addition , you owe me money.
• The report is badly presented.  Moreover , it contains inaccuracies.
• John’s grades are terrible because he has been so lazy these days.  In addition to this , his relationship to his parents got worse.
• Apart from this  paragraph, the report contains a number of sensible initiatives.

Summarizing

Usage : To sump up what has been previously stated

Linking words :

• In conclusion
• To summarize
• To conclude
• In conclusion , walking is a cheap, safe, enjoyable and readily available form of exercise.
• To summarize , this is a clever approach to a common problem.
• The food was good and we loved the music.  Altogether  it was a great evening.
• His novels belong to a great but vanished age. They are,  in short , old-fashioned.
• To sum up , there are three main ways of tackling the problem…
• In summary , this was a disappointing performance.
• Briefly , our team is now one of the best in the world.
• To conclude , I want to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Giving Examples

Usage : To provide examples

Linking words:

• For example/ For instance
• In this case
• Proof of this
• There are many interesting places to visit in the city,  for example / for instance , the botanical garden or the art museum.
• I prefer to wear casual clothes,  such as  jeans and a sweatshirt.
• Including  Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I’ve got a week off work.
• We need to concentrate on our target audience,  namely  women aged between 20 and 30.
• I think I would have made a difference  in this case .
• This building are a living  proof of this  existence, so we must preserve it.
• I also make other jewellery  like  rings and bracelets.

Emphasizing a Point

Usage : To put forward a point or idea more forcefully

• Undoubtedly
• Particularly / in particular
• Importantly
• Without a doubt
• It should be noted
• Unquestionably
• Undoubtedly , the story itself is one of the main attractions.
• I don’t mind at all.  Indeed , I would be delighted to help.
• Obviously , we don’t want to spend too much money.
• I love silver earrings,  in particular  ones from Mexico
• The car is quite small,  especially  if you have children.
• Clearly , this will cost a lot more than we realized.
• More importantly , can he be trusted?
• He’s an  absolutely  brilliant cook.
• I  definitely  remember sending the letter.
• We still believe we can win this series  without a doubt .
• I’m  neve r  surprised at what I do.
• It should be noted  that   if you have something to note, then note it
• Unquestionably , teaching has been a paramount part of his career.
• Above all , this forest is designed for wear and tear.
• This is  positively  the worst thing that I can even imagine.

Sequencing Ideas

Usage : To indicate the order of what is being said

• First/ firstly (Second/ secondly, Third/ thirdly, Finally)
• At this time
• Subsequently
• Lastly and most importantly
• Last but not least
• First and foremost
• Firstly , I prefer the train because I can see the landscape.
• At this time , the young man leapt into the air and flew off towards sunset.
• They arrived on Monday evening and we got there the  following  day.
• I had visited them three days  previously .
• Your name is  before  mine on the list.
• Subsequently , new guidelines were issued to all employees.
• Above all , keep in touch.
• Lastly, and most importantly , you should be optimistic.
• Last but not least , I find I seriously cannot relate to women.
• We will continue to focus on our players  first and foremost .

Comparing Ideas

Usage:  To show how things are similar

• Compare / compare(d) to(with)
• By the same token
• In the same way
• Correspondingly
• Similarly , the basketball and hockey games draw nearly full attendance.
• Equally , not all customers are honest.
• Her second marriage was  likewise  unhappy.
• She’s  just as  smart as her sister.
• Working with housecats is  just like  working with lions or tigers.
• Some people say I have a running style  similar to  him.
• Having a power is not  the same as  using the power.
• He gets the ball off quickly  compared to  two years ago.
• Teenagers should be more respectful;  by the same token , parents should be more understanding.
• Alex enjoys telling jokes;  in the same way/similarly/likewise ,his son adores funny stories.
• Correspondingly , the roles each of them played were soon different.

Contrasting Ideas

Usage : To show how things are different

• Nevertheless
• On the other hand
• Nonetheless
• Despite / in spite of
• In contrast (to)
• Alternatively
• Differing from
• Contrary to
• Unlike  most systems, this one is very easy to install.
• There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law.  Nevertheless , it is important that we try.
• Laptops are convenient;  O n the other hand , they can be expensive.
• The problems are not serious.  Nonetheless , we shall need to tackle them soon.
• Despite/ In spite of  the rain, I went for a walk.
• In contrast to  the diligent bee, the butterfly flies hither and yon with no apparent purpose.
• The agency will make travel arrangements for you.  Alternatively , you can organize your own transport.
• Northern European countries had a great summer.  On the contrary/conversely , Southern Europe had poor weather.
• Even so , many old friends were shocked at the announcement.
• Differing from  his white colleagues, he preferred instructing his scholars to the ambition of acquiring personal renown.
• The situation in Ireland is quite  contrary to  this principle.

Linking Words for Essays | Images

Below is a handy list of words that are both useful and appropriate to academic language:

Other linking words to give an example or an illustration:

• In  this  case,
• In  another  case
• Take  the  case  of
• To  illustrate
• As  an
• Illustration
• To  take  another  example
• That  is
• As  shown  by
• As  illustrated  by
• As expressed by

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Sunday 16th of October 2022

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• English Grammar

Linking Words: List of Sentence Connectors in English with Examples!

Struggling to connect ideas? ‘Connectors in English’ have your back. Connect, express, and impress – all with Connectors in English!

Connectors Definition

Linker Words or Word Connectors are used to link large groups of words: phrases and sentences . You can also use them to connect paragraphs to give them coherence. Sentence connectors are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence and may be categorized as follows:

• This restaurant has the best kitchen in town. However, their staff are quite rude.

2. IN CONTRAST

• House prices have gone up this year. In contrast, car prices seem to be stagnating.

3. NEVERTHELESS

• I was in so much pain I didn’t want to get up in the morning. Nevertheless, I went to football practice as usual.

4. NONETHELESS

• I don’t think Sean has serious behavioural problems. Nonetheless, I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning.
• I’ve asked you a thousand times not to leave your dirty socks on the floor. Yet, you keep doing it.

6. ON THE OTHER HAND

• England has the best language schools. On the other hand, it has the worst weather.

7. BY COMPARISON

• Going out with Jim has its risks. By comparison, being with Tim is as easy as falling off a log.

8. ON THE CONTRARY

• I don’t hate Jim. On the contrary, I’m rather fond of him.
• I didn’t want to take a side in the argument. Instead, I put my headphones on and listened to some smooth jazz.

10. IN ANY CASE

• I was thinking of going round Jim’s place. In any case, I haven’t been invited.

11. ALL THE SAME

• Yes, he’s very good-looking. All the same, I don’t think you should go out with him.

Read more: Other ways to say ON THE OTHER HAND!

👉 SIMILARITY

1. LIKEWISE

• You can’t give your phone number to every man who asks for it. Likewise, you can’t go out with everyone who fancies you.

2. SIMILARLY

• You’re not allowed to use your phone here. Similarly, you have to switch it off when you’re in the library.

3. CORRESPONDINGLY

• She’s an excellent photographer. Correspondingly, her paintings are works of art.

4. IN THE SAME WAY

• Cutting down on sugar will help you lose weight. In the same way, doing more exercise will help you get rid of a few kilos.
• I want to talk to Prince Harry when I’m in England. Also, I want to meet his sister-in-law.

Read more: Difference between COMPARED TO and COMPARED WITH

1. AS A RESULT

• I’ve done a pranic healing course. As a result, I’ve been able to cure my neighbour’s sick cat.

2. AS A CONSEQUENCE

• Zack has skipped school on many occasions. As a consequence, he’s failed his French test.

3. THEREFORE

• We’re going to experience some meteor showers in the next few days. Therefore, the number of miraculous self-healings will rise.
• You didn’t tell me you wanted to come. Thus, we won’t be taking you with us.

5. ACCORDINGLY

• Plenty of tourists visit the area in summer. Accordingly, selling hand-made objects is the main source of income for locals.

Read more: 6 Ways to Improve Your English Writing Skills

👉 SEQUENCING

1. FIRST, FIRSTLY, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE FIRST PLACE

• First of all, I’d like to talk about the benefits of having a pet pig.

2. TO BEGIN WITH

• To begin with, pet pigs are cleaner than dogs.

3. FOR ONE THING

• For one thing, they’re completely loyal to their owners.

4. SECOND, SECONDLY, IN THE SECOND PLACE

• Secondly, their impressive numeracy skills must be mentioned.

5. FOR ANOTHER THING

• For another thing, you might want to consider how cute they look in pyjamas.

6. THIRD, THIRDLY, IN THE THIRD PLACE

• In the third place, you can always count on your pet pig to perform some tricks for you when you’d like to impress a pretty girl.
• Also, they don’t eat much.
• Besides not eating much, they won’t ever chew on your electric cords.

9. IN ADDITION

• In addition, they can be taught to feed themselves if you allow them access to your pantry.

10. FURTHERMORE

• Furthermore, they make wonderful walking buddies.

11. MOREOVER

• Moreover, they’ll show you the way home when you’re drunk.

12. FINALLY

• Finally, pet pigs are fantastic guards. No burglar would ever have the heart to hurt a pet pig.

13. LAST, LASTLY, LAST OF ALL

• Lastly, your reputation as an eccentric will rapidly grow in the neighbourhood if you’re seen walking a pet pig on a leash every morning.

Read more: 18 Powerful Websites to Improve Your Writing Skills in English

👉 ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

1. MOST IMPORTANTLY

• I’d like to talk to you about how to keep calm at your workplace. Most importantly, never go to the canteen while your boss is there.

2. PRIMARILY

• You’ll have to focus on your immediate surroundings. Primarily, on your computer screen.

3. ABOVE ALL

• Above all, don’t ever look up from your notes when people are around.

4. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY

• Most significantly, avoid eye-contact at all costs.

5. ESSENTIALLY, BASICALLY (usually spoken)

• How can I put this? Essentially, having an affair with one of your colleagues should be the last thing on your mind.

Read more: 7 Special Apps To Quickly Improve Your Typing Speed

👉 PARTICULARIZATION

1. IN PARTICULAR, PARTICULARLY

• Nearly a third of marriages end in divorce. In particular, it’s middle-aged couples that yearn for much more from life.

2. MORE SPECIFICALLY

• Couples tend to argue about financial issues. More specifically, they argue when one of them is out of work.

Read more: How Many Types of Expressions there are in English?

👉 EXAMPLIFICATION

1. FOR EXAMPLE

• To solve this problem, you might want to try making small gestures. For example, making your spouse’s favourite meal for dinner or giving him a massage after a tiring day.

2. FOR INSTANCE

• Appreciate the small things your spouse does for you. For instance, leave thank-you notes for them every now and then.

3. TO ILLUSTRATE

• Misunderstandings can be highly destructive. To illustrate, if your spouse sees you with a friend of the opposite sex in a café, he might not understand why he hasn’t been invited and demand an explanation.

Read more: Other ways to say for example?

👉 EXPLANATION

1. THAT IS TO SAY, THAT IS

• Keep romance alive. That is to say, don’t let your lovelife fall into routine.
• I have a very good reason for not trusting my ex. Namely, he’s a convicted felon.

3. IN OTHER WORDS

• Don’t be unsociable. In other words, go out and make some friends.

4. PUT DIFFERENTLY

• John has managed to get over Jane. Put differently, he’s started seeing other women.

Read more: 10 Common English Expressions with Explanation (Video)

👉 EMPHASISING

1. AS A MATTER OF FACT

• I love sleeping with my pet pig. As a matter of fact, I can’t fall asleep unless he’s in my bed.
• I told them not to invite Rachel to the party. In fact, I was the only person who saw what a party pooper she really was.

3. ACTUALLY

• I think it would be a good idea to send her some flowers. Actually, you should get her a hundred orchids.
• He may be the best-dressed man around. Indeed, he has a really good taste in fashion.

Read more: Essential Academic Writing Examples and Phrases!

👉 FOCUSING AND LINKING

1. AS FOR (often suggests disinterest or dislike)

• I’m going to Janet’s party at the weekend. As for Mary’s, I think I’ll pass.

2. WITH RESPECT TO

• Starting your own IT company may be the one of the best things you can do right now. With respect to opening a pet shop, it’s hard to say the same thing.

3. REGARDING

• Start your day with making the most important phone calls. Regarding emails, you might put them off until later.

4. WITH REGARD TO

• With regard to handling complaints, you might want to keep in mind that your customers are always right.

5. AS REGARDS

• Working from home has many advantages. As regards disadvantages, it might be difficult to keep your cat off your keyboard.

6. TALKING OF

• Talking of cats, you can’t trust them to keep you company when you need it. They’re quite selfish creatures.

7. AS FAR AS … CONCERNED

• As far as dogs are concerned, they might give you a chance to get up from your desk and get some exercise during the day.

Read more: English Grammar: Sentence Structure in English

👉 CONCLUSION

1. IN CONCLUSION

• In conclusion, it may be said that pigs make the best pets.

2. IN BRIEF

• Meeting my boss at the pub was an interesting experience. In brief, it was a disaster.

3. IN SUMMARY

• In summary, it may not be the best idea to frequent the same pubs as your boss.

4. TO SUM UP

• To sum up, some people are better suited to working from home than others.

5. ALL IN ALL

• All in all, you have to make sure both you and your customers are satisfied with your work.

Read more: What are the other ways to say in conclusion ?

👉 CORRECTION

• I thought it was a good idea to get a ferret. Rather, it had always been my dream to get one.

2. TO BE MORE PRECISE

• You might want to change a few things. To be more precise, I think you should start again from scratch.

Read more: Best English Grammar and Spelling Checkers Online

1. AT FIRST

• It wasn’t a piece of cake to learn English. At first, I couldn’t pronounce all the words correctly.
• Then, I couldn’t spell all the words correctly.

3. AFTERWARDS

• Afterwards, I had a hard time understanding the tenses.
• Later, I couldn’t memorize phrasal verbs and idioms.

5. IN THE MEANTIME

• In the meantime, I was getting some help from MyEnglishTeacher .

6. MEANWHILE

• Meanwhile, I was enjoying my skype lessons more and more.

Read more: A Visual List of 100 English IDIOMS FOR TIME with Examples

👉 DISMISSAL

(of what was said before)

• I couldn’t get my head around the Passive Voice. Anyway, I don’t think it’s important to use it all the time.
• Anyhow, I’ve just decided to learn Russian next.

3. AT ANY RATE

• At any rate, I don’t want to become a simultaneous interpreter in five languages.

Linking Words Quiz › TEST YOURSELF

• To begin with
• In the back
• As a result
• On top of that
• Subsequently
• Firstly / Secondly
• Soon / After
• Now / Later
• Before / After
• In particular
• On the other side
• On the other hand
• All the same
• Nevertheless
• At any rate
• Another / like
• Likewise / equally
• Just as / so too
• For one thing
• Furthermore
• Accordingly
• Despite this
• In contrast
• Along those lines
• In other words
• However / asked
• As far as / concerned
• As for / treated
• As far as / thinking

👉  Connectors Synonyms

Connectors are not only used in grammar . Connectors are things that are used to connect or tether two, or more, things together. There are many different synonyms for connectors:

• Bond, coupling, joint, link, adapter, clamp, fastener, junction, tie, terminal, plug, fitting, splicing, fastener, sleeve, etc.

👉  Sentence Definition

A sentence is a set of words that forms a coherent and complete thought and message. This means that a sentence says something concrete. It has to be structured and logical in order for the sentence to be correct.

Sentences are made up of various parts , such as: nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, articles, etc. Within a sentence, there are parts that relate the thought and message , such as: subject, predicate, object, phrase, punctuation, etc. Each of these parts is important for a sentence to be complete.

Through sentences we tell other people what we think, feel, or what we want to do . In order to relate those thoughts we string together words into groups. These finally relate our message to other people and the world.

There are four different types of sentences , and each has its own specific goal and structure. These types are: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.

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One of the best posts I’ve ever read here. Congrats!!

It’s awesome so useful and practical thanks a million. I’m gonna share it with my friends.

I liked it so much. Thank you Mr/Mrs tutor.

Indeed, it refreshing our vocabulary

Thank you very much!! This must be by far one of the greatest post I’ve seen to improve my writing skills and expand the vocabulary of connectors. Therefore 😉 , I will add to my list of resources and share with my friends

So glad! 😃❤️

Thanks a ton, teacher!

Sure, anytime!

Thankyou soo muchhh for this usefull info..

Thank you so much for this useful

Excellent exercise

My great thanks

It is highly appreciated

Thanks a lot

you are welcome!

Helpful post! You have nicely divided all the connectors in group like result, time, explanation, conclusion …. and present them with accurate examples. Everything is easy to grab. Thanks for sharing this rare post.

Thank you so much Mohan! I’m glad you loved it!

Thanks for this usefull lessons. They are highly educattive.

Thank you so much!

So far this is the best post I’ve ever seen. I find it hard to use those connectors in statements. I can speak basic English and sometimes not concise with my statements because I’m not good in using connectors in English. Thank you for this great post. It will help a lot of speakers to become articulate with the language.

Thank you so much Oscar for your feedback!

Thanks millions for posting the tables of connecting sentences. Have a great life

I love this array of connectors. Great selections to fit our lesson. Thank you to all who are part of this website and contributors. God bless you all!

Thank you so much Mica.

Linker words, also known as sentence connectors, play a crucial role in connecting phrases, sentences, and paragraphs for enhanced coherence in writing. In terms of contrast, words like “however,” “in contrast,” and “nevertheless” emphasize opposing ideas. For expressing similarity, “likewise,” “similarly,” and “correspondingly” are effective. Result-oriented connectors include “as a result,” “therefore,” and “accordingly,” signaling outcomes or consequences. These words help create a logical flow within text, ensuring a smooth transition between ideas. Whether highlighting differences, similarities, or results, these connectors contribute to cohesive and well-structured writing, facilitating the comprehension of complex information.

Its very useful , thank you.

Thank you so much Himali!

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Linking/transition words: Things you need to know...

All assignments are written in formal language.   You need to ensure that you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding alongside your ability to answer the question/solve the problem. 

Below are some ideas to help you to develop your structure and flow.

• Linking / transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences and paragraphs together. They should be used within sentences and to move from one idea to another (between sentences).   

These words and phrases indicate the direction, order and flow of ideas. Significantly, they strengthen the quality and structure of your work.

• Redundant Words - less is more.  P articularly when trying to reduce the word count, it is important to look for phrases which can be replaced with a single word.

Linking/Transition Words

Transitions link one main idea to another separated by a semi-colon or full-stop.  When the transition word is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma:

Among other functions, they can signal cause and effect or sequencing (see examples in the table below).

Linking words: conjunctions

Linking words within a sentence  are referred to as coordinating conjunctions.  Do not worry about the term: think about the function.

Conciseness / redundant words

Microsoft Word now has an additional feature within the Edito r - it is called conciseness or wordiness.  

• If you cannot see the Editor menu a quick tip is to hold down the function (fn key at the bottom left of the keyboard) + F7 (top line of keys).
• From the Refinements section - select Conciseness - if there are any suggestions a number will appear in the box alongside this option
• A dotted line will appear under any groups of groups
• Either select the identified text by clicking with your right mouse button OR click on the down down next to the Conciseness menu.
• MS Word will display any alternative words which you can either select and they will be replaced in your text or reject if you want to keep the original phrases.

Examples:  try to replace phrases with a single words which mean the same.

Need to know more...

• Related pages
• External links
• Academic writing Illustrates the main features of academic writing so that you are aware of what it is and what it involves
• Critical Thinking Academic work involves thinking, not just accepting what you read or are told.
• Terms and Definitions Important words appear in your assignments and examinations. The aim of this factsheet is to help you to fully understand what they mean.

Additional resources to help you to improve your confidence and grades:-

• Writing Effectively  demonstrates the importance of: clarity, structure, relevance, argument and precision.
• Writing Mechanics  gives further examples and resources on areas including: sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Linking/Transition words - Scribbr  https://www.scribbr.co.uk/syntax/transition-words-examples/ [Accessed 10 February 2023]

There are many books concerning academic writing, look around Dewey number  808

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• English Videos

Connectors in English: An easy guide to linking words [VIDEO]

And. But. Nevertheless. However. Because. Furthermore. These seemingly simple words pack a punch, seamlessly linking ideas and propelling your message forward. We call them transition words, linking words or connectors in English.

Think of connectors as the handy tools that help stitch your sentences together, making your writing flow smoothly like a well-oiled machine adding flavor and cohesion to your words, phrases and sentences.

So if you’re ready to harness the potency of them, join us in the mini-video lesson with Berlitz English teacher, Luiz Chantre, as we unravel how to use linking words in English in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

Throughout this article, we’ll be referring to them as connectors, linking words and transition words. Watch the video lesson below, follow along in the blog article lesson… or both!

Connectors in English: Video lesson summary

Connectors are essential words that link phrases, clauses, or ideas to ensure clear, coherent communication. Mastering connectors is crucial for expanding vocabulary, understanding complex texts, and achieving success in proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS.

Importance of linking words or connectors:

• Enhance cohesion and coherence in text
• Aid in understanding complex ideas
• Facilitate effective communication

Types of connector words in English:

• Adding information: and, also, moreover
• Showing contrast: but, however, on the other hand
• Expressing cause and effect: because, therefore, so
• Making comparisons: as, like, similarly

Using transition words in English:

• Understand the function of each connector
• Place connectors correctly in sentences
• Practice reading and writing with connectors

Importance of transition words in English

Transition words or connectors play a vital role in the English language, aiding in the seamless flow of ideas and information. Understanding the significance of connectors is essential for effective communication and comprehension, especially in academic and professional settings.

Here are some key reasons why they’re important in English:

• Enhance clarity: Connectors help in clearly expressing relationships between ideas, ensuring that the message is easily understood.
• Improve coherence: By linking phrases and sentences, connectors create a cohesive and logical structure in writing and speech.
• Highlight relationships: Connectors showcase the connections between different parts of a text, emphasizing contrasts, cause and effect, comparisons, and more.
• Facilitate understanding: Using connectors appropriately aids in grasping complex concepts and following the flow of information in a conversation or written piece.
• Elevate language proficiency: Mastering connectors demonstrates a higher level of language proficiency and sophistication in communication.

Overall, connectors serve as the glue that holds language together, enabling individuals to express themselves clearly and effectively in English.

Types of connectors

Connectors play a crucial role in English by linking ideas, phrases, or clauses to ensure clear and effective communication. There are several types of connectors that serve different functions in a sentence:

1. Coordinating connectors:

These connectors link words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. They include:

• And: Adds information or lists items
• But: Shows a contrast or contradiction
• Or: Presents alternatives
• So: Indicates a consequence or reason
• Yet: Introduces a contrasting idea

2. Subordinating connectors:

These connectors link dependent and independent clauses, showing the relationship between them. Examples include:

• Because: Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship
• Although: Introduces a contrast or concession
• While: Shows simultaneous actions or events
• Since: Specifies a reason or time
• Unless: Implies a condition

3. Correlative connectors:

These connectors work in pairs to connect similar grammatical elements. Common correlative connectors include:

• Both...and: Indicates a dual situation
• Either...or: Presents a choice between two options
• Not only...but also: Emphasizes additional information
• Whether...or: Introduces alternatives
• As...as: Makes comparisons between two elements

4. Adversative connectors:

These connectors express contrast, opposition, or conflict in a sentence. Some examples of adversative connectors are:

• However: Introduces a contrasting idea
• Nevertheless: Indicates a concession or opposition
• On the other hand: Presents an alternative perspective
• Instead: Offers a different option or choice
• Conversely: Shows a reverse relationship

By understanding the different types of connectors and their functions, individuals can enhance their writing and speaking skills in English.

Examples of common linking words

Linking words, also known as connectors, are essential in English to establish relationships between different parts of a sentence. Here are some common examples of linking words:

1. Addition:

2. contrast:.

• On the other hand

3. Cause and effect:

4. comparison:, 5. addition of information:.

• Furthermore
• In addition
• Additionally
• Consequently
• As a result

7. Emphasis:

8. time sequence:, 9. condition:.

• Provided that

10. Illustration:

• For example
• For instance

Practice exercises with transition words in English

Practice exercises with connectors are essential to reinforce your understanding and usage of these important linking words in English. By engaging in various exercises, you can enhance your proficiency and fluency in using connectors effectively. Here are some practice exercises with connectors to help you master their usage:

1. Fill in the blank

Complete the following sentences by choosing the appropriate connector from the given options:

• She wanted to go shopping, _______ it started raining.
• I enjoy playing tennis, _______ I don't have time today.
• The book was expensive; _______ I decided to buy it.

2. Create contrast

Construct sentences that demonstrate contrast using connectors such as "but," "however," or "on the other hand." For example:

• I like pizza, _______ I prefer pasta.
• She is studying hard; _______ she still struggles with exams.

3. Cause and effect scenario

Write sentences that illustrate cause and effect relationships using connectors like "because," "therefore," or "so." For instance:

• He missed the train _______ he arrived late for the meeting.
• She loves ice cream, _______ she eats it every day.

4. Comparison exercise

Practice making comparisons by using connectors such as "as," "like," or "similarly" to highlight similarities or differences between two elements. Try sentences like:

• Paris is _______ beautiful as Rio de Janeiro.
• She sings _______ a professional opera singer.

5. Dialogue practice

Engage in a dialogue exercise with a partner where you take turns using connectors in your conversation. Simulate real-life scenarios and practice responding appropriately with connectors to enhance your communication skills.

FAQs about transition words in English

For those looking to master connectors, here are some frequently asked questions to provide clarity and guidance:

1. What are connectors in English?

Connectors are words that link phrases, clauses, or sentences to establish relationships and ensure coherence in communication. They’re also known as transition words or linking words.

2. Why are linking words important?

Linking words are essential for enhancing clarity, coherence, and understanding in written and spoken English, making them crucial for effective communication.

3. How can I improve my use of connectors?

Improving your use of connectors involves understanding their functions, practicing their placement in sentences, and engaging in regular reading and writing exercises.

4. What are common types of connectors in English?

Common types of connectors include coordinating connectors like "and" and "but," subordinating connectors like "because" and "although," correlative connectors like "both...and" and "either...or," and adversative connectors like "however" and "nevertheless."

5. How do I know which connector to use in a sentence?

Choosing the right connector depends on the relationship you want to convey between ideas. Understanding the function of each connector and the context of your sentence can help you make the appropriate selection.

6. Are there any tips for using connectors effectively?

Some tips for using connectors effectively include understanding their functions, placing them correctly in sentences, practicing with a variety of connectors, seeking feedback for improvement, and avoiding common mistakes like misusing or overusing connectors.

Get more free English language learning video content on our English video blog here.

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Using connectors in English to improve your writing skills

The most common connectors, and the ones used most frequently in speech, are and , but , or , because , so and then , and with them you can express most ideas quite well. However, in order to demonstrate a more sophisticated knowledge of the language and to express more nuanced ideas, especially in formal writing, there are many other connectors that you need in your repertoire. Let’s have a look at some of them.

CONNECTORS IN ENGLISH:

***Connectors that add information or strengthen an assertion***

in addition to : In addition to numerous seminars and workshops, conference participants will also be able to attend the screenings of several documentaries.

moreover : The new software is cheap and easy to use; moreover , it’s compatible with most operating systems.

furthermore : Candidates caught cheating will be asked to leave the exam hall immediately. Furthermore , they will be banned from taking the exam in the future.

***Connectors that weaken an assertion**

mind you (informal): John’s one of the friendliest people I know. Mind you , he can be a bit shy when you first meet him.

having said that : The city centre is generally very safe for tourists. Having said that, visitors should keep an eye on their belongings while travelling on public transport.

***Connectors that show a contrast between ideas***

however : Mike didn’t think he had studied enough to pass the exam. I n the end, however , he passed it with flying colours.

although : Simon has a credit card, although he very rarely uses it.

even though : Even though  you’ve studied this grammar before, it’s still a good idea to review it from time to time.

nevertheless/nonetheless : A lot of improvements have been made to internet security over recent years. Nevertheless , stories of hacked accounts and stolen identities are still worryingly common.

even so : Jack was concerned he might not be fit enough to climb the mountain. Even so , he went ahead and climbed it anyway.

despite : Despite being turned down at first by dozens of publishers, J. K. Rowling finally went on to become one of the most successful writers of our era.

in spite of : The match went ahead in spite of the rain .

whereas : It used to be expensive to travel by plane between different European cities, whereas these days it is often much cheaper than taking the train.

(On the one hand) … on the other hand… (This shows a balanced contrast of ideas): ( On the one hand, ) I would like to earn more money. On the other hand , I don’t really want to work longer hours.

***Connectors that show the cause of something***

because of : Joe was finally expelled from school because of his ongoing bad behaviour.

owing to : Owing to low ticket sales, several shows have been cancelled.

due to : The school has reported improved student engagement due to the increased use of interactive technology in the classroom.

***Connectors that show the result of something***

consequently : The cost of living has risen tremendously in recent years. Consequently , more families than ever are struggling to survive.

therefore : Student numbers have been steadily increasing over the last few years. Therefore , the college has decided to move to larger premises.

as a result : The company was making considerable losses. As a result, nearly a third of staff had to be made redundant.

***Connectors that show the reason for something***

in order to : The police have installed security cameras in the town centre in order to help reduce crime.

so that : I started using the cloud so that I could access my files from anywhere.

so as to : The government is relaxing visa regulations so as to make it easier for overseas students to study here .

You might also be interested in…

– 35 common English proverbs

– 21 unusual English expressions from around the world

–  30 useful English idioms and expressions

–  10 unusual expressions in English and where they come from

–  50 of the most useful English abbreviations and acronyms

– 20 words and phrases English owes to Shakespeare

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70+ Connective Words To Power Up Your Essays [COMPREHENSIVE LIST]

by Kerri-Anne Edinburgh | Aug 5, 2021

When you’re writing an essay or assignment, you need to use every trick in the book to maximise your marks. And one of the best tools for radically improving your writing is the power of connective words .

Used correctly, connective words can give your writing new depth and meaning, improve readability (important for your examiner!) and demonstrate the logic of your arguments.

Luckily for you, we’ve got plenty of categories, definitions and connectives examples to help you get started…

Psst – this article uses loads of connectives. See if you can spot them in use: we’ve italicised the best examples!

What are connective words?

Simply put, connectives are words – or phrases – that link parts of your writing together.

You’re probably familiar with the most common connective words: and, as, because, but, if, or, so . In fact, I’ve used a few of them already – did you spot them?

Don’t limit your essay writing to the basics though, because there are hundreds of connectives that can help you to demonstrate different ideas, such as cause and effect , or the chronology of events .

We’re going to explore ten types of connectives below, but first , here’s a quick refresher on the grammar behind connective words:  

Definitions: The grammatical bit

Understanding the grammar behind your writing might not be your thing – but bear with me, because remembering these six definitions will help you know which connective to use when, and where to place them!

(If you’re just looking for examples of connectives, feel free to skip straight past this bit!)

Connectives fall into three grammatical categories: conjunctions, prepositions, and adverbs.

• For example: and, but, for, or, yet .
• Today , I finished my history assignment but forgot to workout .
• Such as: at, in, of, on, under .
• I need to finish the conclusion of my essay before I go to dinner.
• For instance: upwards, quickly, fortunately .
• My deadline is tomorrow. Fortunately , I proofread my thesis chapter already .

Using adverb and preposition connective words adds specific meaning – and thus clarity – to your writing. They are particularly useful for successful essay signposting .

Definitions part 2: Connectives in sentences

When using connectives, it’s also important to remember that not all sentences are created equal in importance . And so , when connecting them into longer sentences, different types of connectives create different results:

• For example: I find French tricky but I love learning Spanish.

On the other hand,

• A subordinate clause relies on the main clause to make sense. Therefore, these connectives give information about the relationship between the clauses by specifying an order or place to events, or a cause and effect link.
• Here’s an example: I need to do my homework if I want to get a good grade .

A useful type of subordinating connective for essay writing is the:

• For instance: Firstly , I carried out the experiment, and secondly , I analysed the results.

And that’s your grammar refresh done!

If you’re struggling with essay-writing grammar, a great tool for checking your writing is Grammarly * – we use it at Exam Study Expert because it catches a broad range of mistakes. Their blog is also a great place to learn how to use conjunctions , prepositions , adverbs and more.

How to use connective words

So how do you go about using connectives?

In this section, we’re going to discuss the where, what and how …

Where to add connectives:

As we’ve seen , connective words are often found in the middle of a sentence, joining two clauses. But don’t forget you can also use them at the beginning of a sentence to link two consecutive sentences – OR two ideas within your paragraphs (did you see what I did there?).

Some of your connectives will even be linking entire paragraphs and sections – these are often examples of signposting to guide the reader through your section or argument.

What’s more , many connectives are not just single words but phrases. These connectives are particularly useful for essay writing and academic vocabulary. For example: as well as, for an example of this, for instance, in addition to, on the other hand, such as .

What to use connectives for:

When you’re writing an essay or assignment there are plenty of tasks you need to achieve: presenting evidence, making arguments and more.

Happily, connectives can help you achieve all these tasks by clarifying your meaning. You can use connectives for:

• Reinforcing or emphasising a point
• Exemplifying and showing results
• Comparing and discussing points of view
• Constructing a timeline or sequence of events
• Listing points (and signposting them)
• Explaining your argument
• Drawing together conclusions

It’s a long list! So master using connectives and you’ll drastically improve the readability of your writing across all sections of your essay.

How to add in useful connective words:

You’re probably already using basic connectives in your writing.

But if you want to get serious about the benefits to your grades, make sure you’re systematic about how you add them during your essay construction – and (later) proofreading to check they make sense on a large(r) scale!

From experience, I would suggest that the best method for choosing and adding effective connectives is to:

• Sketch out a rough draft of your paragraph or essay section
• Are they separate arguments for the same thing? Or opposite points of view? Do they follow on logically (cause and effect) or chronologically?
• Mark where you want to add signposting connectives to indicate structure
• Check your examples of connective word types and choose options that convey the meaning you need…

And for that purpose, we’ve compiled four lists of connective words for you – including the TOP 70 connectives for effective essay writing! So read on…

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Types of connective words

So let’s get down to the really useful stuff: examples of connectives you can use in different situations in your essays!

There are three main types of connectives that we’re going to explore in turn:

• Comparative , Causal, and Temporal

Comparative connective words

These helpful words and phrases are perfect both for comparing similarities in data and arguments, and for pointing out their differences and oppositions. Use them to compare, discuss and argue.

When comparing points, you’ll often be adding to your argument, so these connectives are used for “ addition ”. The most common connectives for addition are: and, also, furthermore, moreover .

Here are some examples in practice:

• Leonardo Da Vinci was an artist and inventor, and also an influential Renaissance humanist.
• Exam Study Expert’s psychologist William offers expert one-on-one exam coaching . Furthermore , you can sign up for a free introductory session!
• My empirical data demonstrates that … ; similarly , theoretical models projected …

On the other hand , you might need to demonstrate and contrast your argument with the opposing point of view with a connective for “ opposition ”. The most commonly used are: alternatively, except, however, unless .

These examples all demonstrate opposition:

• Winston Churchill is best known for his wartime leadership of the United Kingdom, yet he was already in his 60’s when he took office.
• Some students find great study motivation from starting the day with their hardest task. In contrast , others find getting the ball rolling with smaller tasks more effective.
• Our first questionnaire was comprised of six questions. However , for our second questionnaire we …

Causal connective words

Causal connectives are effective for discussing cause and effect – relationships that have logical links that you want to point out and prove.

As such , academic writing is often full of causal connectives, and many of them demonstrate a very academic vocabulary (great for bonus points in your assignment!).

Most essays and assignments have a section (or several sections!) where you need to draw together your facts, ideas and arguments and point out the connections. These are the connectives to turn to at those moments!

The most commonly used are: as such, as a result (of), because, consequently, therefore, thus .

Here are some examples:

• The brains of London taxi drivers have a larger than usual area that deals with memory because they are required to memorise and navigate thousands of streets.
• Flashcards are a highly effective learning and memory tool, provided that you use them correctly.
• This study surveyed over 3,000 students. As a result , we were able to …

Temporal connective words

Whether you’re explaining the sequence of events that led to a historical battle, or demonstrating the steps in your experiment, temporal connectives are a highly valuable tool.

They’re all about discussing time and the chronology of events – what happened before, during and after . Therefore , they make for great signposting words too!

These examples explore each of the four sections in our temporal connectives lists:

• The law of gravity was not widely understood until it was mathematically formulated by Sir Isaac Newton in 1687.
• If you’re stressed about your exams, mindful meditation can be a great help. At the same time ,an inspirational quote might give you the boost you need!
• Initially , the experiment was expected to demonstrate … Eventually , we came to the conclusion that …

The TOP 70 connective words for effective essay writing!

To make sure that you’ve got the tools you need to improve your grades, we’ve compiled this epic list of all the best connectives to use in academic writing.

This is just a selection from the hundreds of connective words and phrases available. So there’s no need to make your essay stale by over-using the same one or two!

If there’s nothing else you grab when you’re ticking off Step #4 from the connectives methodology above – make sure you grab this list!

It covers all the stages of essay structuring and writing, from introduction to conclusion . And includes lists of connectives for:

• Signposting and listing
• Comparing and contrasting
• Illustrating your findings
• Demonstrating cause and effect
• Emphasising points
• Qualifying your arguments

We’ve highlighted the best and most commonly used connectives for each section to ensure you’ve got THE best resource to improve the quality of your essay immediately.

To finish off , here are some examples to get your essay-writing inspiration flowing:

• Firstly , it is well-known that retrieval practice is an effective learning method as compared with re-reading study texts and notes.
• I’m feeling tired tonight. Nevertheless , I must finish my homework and I want to take the dog for a walk.
• When it comes to …, however , there are several effective methods to …, in particular , …

Good luck with your essay!

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Connecting ideas

How to connect ideas at the sentence and paragraph level in academic writing.

What is cohesion?

Cohesion refers to the way we use vocabulary and grammatical structures to make connections between the ideas within a text. It provides flow and sequence to your work and helps make your paragraphs clear for the reader.

Cohesive devices are words and expressions that show relationships between parts of text and ideas, such as cause and effect, time, addition, or comparison and contrast.

Watch the video to learn how to make your ideas link together and your narrative flow.

How can I create cohesion?

Let’s look at types of cohesive devices.

Linking words

Academic writing usually deals with complex ideas. To enable the reader to follow your thoughts, they need to be clearly and smoothly linked. To join ideas and sentences, we use a number of connecting words and phrases. For example:

Additionally, and, also, apart from this, as well (as), in addition, moreover, further, furthermore.

If, in that case, provided that, unless.

Correspondingly, equally, for the same reason, in a similar manner, in comparison, in the same way, on the one hand, similarly.

Alternatively, although, but, conversely, despite, even so, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead, on the contrary, contrary to, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the other hand, rather, still, though, yet, whereas, while.

Again, in fact, interestingly, indeed, it should be noted (that), more important(ly), most importantly, to repeat, (un)fortunately, unquestionably.

A further instance of this is..., an example of this is…, for example, for instance, such as, thus, as follows.

In other words, more simply, namely, simply put, to put it differently / another way, such as, that is.

A / the consequence of, because, due to, for, the effect of …, since, the result of …

Accordingly, as a result/consequence, consequently, for this reason, hence, so, therefore, thus.

Admittedly, although, clearly though, even though, however, indeed, obviously.

As a rule, for the most part, generally, in general, in most cases, normally, on the whole, usually.

First, second, third (etc), next, before, earlier, finally, following, given the above, later, meanwhile, subsequently, then, to conclude, while.

A note about presentation and style

Check a usage guide for exact rules for punctuation. Many introductory phrases have a comma after them. For example, 'therefore,' and 'in addition,'.

Referring backwards

To avoid repeating words and phrases many times, we use cohesive devices to make references to other parts of a text, such as:

• Pronouns: it, he, she, his, her, they, their
• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
• Articles: a, the
• Adverbs: previously, subsequently

The Australian prime minister has called an early election. The date was selected to coincide with the start of the Olympic Games. This decision was based on the views of his ministerial advisors, who predicted that voter confidence in the government’s policies would be strong at this time . As previously mentioned , decisions on the timing of elections are based on predictions of voter confidence in the existing government.

In the example above:

• The date - refers back to the election date
• This decision - refers to the prime minister calling an early election
• His - refers to the Australian prime minister
• this time - refers to the start of the Olympic Games
• As previously mentioned - refers to all of the earlier information about the selection of election dates

Looking forward

We often use words and phrases to highlight new information for the reader. This helps make a smooth transition from one point to another. Such phrases include: the following, as follows, below, next, subsequently .

The following dates have been proposed for the forthcoming election: September 8, September 15 and 3 October.

The next issue to be discussed is the influence of the media on voter confidence in the government.

Connecting paragraphs

Apart from using the linking words / phrases above, showing the link between paragraphs could involve writing ‘hand-holding’ sentences. These are sentences that link back to the ideas of the previous paragraph. For instance, when outlining the positive and negative issues about a topic you could use the following:

Example (from beginning of previous paragraph):

• One of the main advantages of X is…

When you are ready to move your discussion to the negative issues, you could write one of the following as a paragraph opener:

• Having considered the positive effects of X, negative issues may now need to be taken into account…
• Despite the positive effects outlined above, negative issues also need to be considered...

It is always important to make paragraphs part of a coherent whole text; they must not remain isolated units.

Checking for paragraph links in your own work

When you are editing your next written assignment, ask yourself the following questions as you read through your work (Gillett, Hammond, & Martala, 2009):

• Does the start of my paragraph give my reader enough information about what the paragraph will be about?
• Does my paragraph add to or elaborate on a point made previously and, if so, have I made this explicit with an appropriate linking word / phrase?
• Does my paragraph introduce a completely new point or a different viewpoint to before and, if so, have I explicitly shown this with a suitable connective?
• Have I used similar connectives repeatedly? If yes, try to vary them using the above list.

Strategies to improve cohesion

• Select a piece of writing, preferably from a textbook or journal article, from your area of study.
• Choose a paragraph and underline or highlight all the different forms of cohesion used, such as using linking words, referring backwards, looking forwards or adding synonyms.
• Which forms are the most common?
• Choose a couple that you think are effective and practice using them in your own writing.
• Try to use a variety of ways to show the relationship between your ideas.

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

85 Connectors In English To Speak And Write Fluently

When you speak and write, you express ideas.

Many ideas.

And if you want people to understand your ideas, you need to express them clearly.

Not only that. 

You also need to connect them together and show how they are related to each other.

This is why you need connectors in English.

These are words and phrases that are used to link different parts of a sentence or different sentences together to show the relationship between them.

And in this post, you're going to learn over 80 of them!

What Are Connectors In English?

Here’s a simple example.

I ate a sandwich because I was feeling hungry.

2 ideas: 

• eating a sandwich
• feeling hungry

How are they related?

The word “because” (a connector) links them together by showing their relationship.

One idea is the cause (feeling hungry), the other idea is the consequence (eating a sandwich). 

Connectors in English are an essential part of the English language and in this blog post you will explore different types of connectors and look at a lot of examples of how they’re used.

Types Of Connectors In English

There are many different types of connectors in English. 

These include:

• Cause, effect, and result
• Sequence 

Let’s learn more about each type.

Connectors Of Cause, Effect, And Result

Connectors of cause, effect, and result show the relationship between events or actions.

Some examples:

• I couldn't come to the party because I had to work late.
• Since our return flight to Milan was cancelled, we had to spend one more day in Paris.

3. As A Result

• She studied hard and, as a result, she got an A on the test.

4. Consequently

• Many people today do not have time to cook healthy meals for themselves. Consequently, they often end up eating too much junk food.

5. Therefore

• Learning a language requires practice. Therefore, it’s important to find as many practice opportunities as you can.

6. Hence (Formal)

• Language learning can be more effective when you know what you want to achieve. Hence it is important to be clear about your language learning goals.
• She woke up late, so she missed her flight.

8. On Account Of

• All public transport services were cancelled on account of the strike.

9. Owing To (Formal)

• He remained sick owing to poorly prepared food.

10. Thanks To

• I was able to learn English thanks to the help of a great teacher. 

11. As A Consequence

• Many businesses had to shut down during the pandemic. As a consequence, economic growth slowed down.
• Many businesses had to shut down due to the pandemic. 

13. For This Reason

• He hates politicians. For this reason, he has never voted.

14. Thus (Formal)

• We do not own the company. Thus, it would be impossible for us to sell it to investors.

Connectors Of Sequence

Connectors of sequence are words or phrases that help to show the order or sequence of events or actions.

They indicate the temporal relationship between ideas, actions, or events in a sentence or paragraph.

Here are some common ones. They’re all used to indicate something that happened after something else.

15. After That

• First, I'll explain the basic rules of the game. After that, we'll start playing.
• Boil the water. Next, put the pasta in it.
• I went to the supermarket. Then, I came home and had lunch.

18. Afterwards

• We can first relax and have some coffee. Afterwards, we’ll go back to work.

19. Subsequently (Formal)

• The company experienced financial difficulties. Subsequently, they had to make several employees redundant and shut down some of their international headquarters. 

20. Finally/Lastly

I’d like to thank my mother and all my family members. And finally, I would like to thank you all for coming here today.

21. Last But Not Least

You can use this when you’re mentioning the last person or thing of a group in order to say that they’re not less important than the others.

• Last but not least, I’d like to thank my partner for supporting and encouraging me. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without her. 

22. First / Second / Third

• This study has the following aims: first, to investigate how international students in the UK learn English; second, to examine how well they can communicate; and third, to explore how language classes can play a role in helping overseas students adjust to life in England.

Connectors Of Time

Connectors of time are similar to connectors of sequence. They are used to show the order or sequence of events. 

Some examples of connectors of time include:

• After finishing work, he usually goes to the gym and spends two hours there.
• Before going to bed, I always brush my teeth.

25. Meanwhile

You use this to indicate that something is happening while something else is happening.

• John was working on his project. Meanwhile, I was cooking dinner.

This indicates that something is happening while something else is happening.

• As I was walking to the store, I saw my friend driving by.

27. As Soon As

A nice little phrase that you can use to indicate that one action happens immediately after another.

• I'll call you as soon as I arrive at the airport.

28. Once (=As Soon As; When)

• Once I finish my homework, I can go out and play with my friends.

You use “while” to indicate that two actions are happening at the same time.

• I was eating while my dad was watching TV.

“Since” is often used with the present perfect to indicate when the action started.

• I haven't seen her since 2018.
• Please stay here and don’t leave the train station until the train arrives.

You can use “when” to describe a situation that happens at or during a particular time or while something else is happening.

• I saw a deer when I was walking in the park,
• The teacher was not ready when the lesson began. 

33. In The Meantime

• The restaurant is fully booked at the moment so you’ll have to wait. In the meantime, you can take a seat outside and have some drinks if you like.

Connectors Of Addition

These connectors are used to add information or ideas.

Here they are:

• She's studying psychology in the morning and learning English in the evening.

35. As Well As

• She speaks Spanish as well as English.
• I don’t like washing the dishes. I also hate doing the laundry!

37. Moreover (Formal)

• The cost of living is high in this city. Moreover, the traffic is terrible.

38. Furthermore (Formal)

• Research has shown that exposure to language input is essential in second-language acquisition. Furthermore, there is evidence to support the claim that exposure to comprehensible input should be consistent.

39. In Addition (Formal)

• We need to hire more employees. In addition, we need to improve our training program.

40. Besides

• There's nothing to do today. Besides, it's raining so we can’t even go outside. 

41. Additionally

• She's a great teacher. Additionally, she's also a published author.
• I like Italian food and I can make great pizza too.

43. Not Only…But Also…

• Not only can this course help you improve your speaking skills, but it’s also a great way to meet like-minded students.

44. What Is More 

• Children who are bilingual outperform monolingual children on IQ tests. What is more, they appear to have an advantage in acquiring a third language.

45. Likewise (Formal)

• Her second child was likewise very smart.

Connectors Of Contrast 

These are connectors that can be used to show contrast between ideas.

• I want to go to the party, but I have to finish my homework first.

47. However

• She loves ice cream. However, she's lactose intolerant.

48. Although

• Although it was raining, they still went to the beach.
• I like going to the cinema. I prefer watching movies at home though. 

50. Despite The Fact That

• John continued to smoke cigarettes despite the fact that he knew they were bad for his health.

51. In Spite Of (The Fact That)

• In spite of the fact that the restaurant had poor reviews, they decided to give it a try and ended up enjoying the food.

52. Whereas

• She likes sweet foods, whereas he prefers salty ones.

53. On The One Hand / On The Other Hand

• On the one hand, I would love to take that job offer because it pays well. On the other hand, it's in a city far away from where I live, so I’m not sure what to do.
• I love to read, while he loves to watch movies.

55. Even Though

Even though he had studied hard, he still failed the exam.

56. Even If (= Whether Or Not)

• Even if it rains, I'll still go for a run this evening.

57. On The Contrary

• ‘“It must have been great!” 
• “On the contrary, I hated every minute.”

58. In Contrast

• The results of the survey show that, on average, women spend more time cooking for their families. In contrast, men spend more than five minutes a day preparing meals for their kids.
• He's incredibly busy, yet he still finds time to go to the gym. 

60. Nevertheless

• There is little chance that they will win the cup. Nevertheless, it is important that they do their best to succeed.

61. Nonetheless (Formal)

• These are serious issues. Nonetheless, we have a solid plan to solve them.
• The restaurant was dirty. Still, the food they serve is incredibly delicious.

Connectors Of Condition

These are words that are used to connect two clauses (a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence) to express a condition that must be fulfilled in order for something else to happen. 

Here are some examples for you:

• If it rains, we'll stay at home.

For more on “if” check out this post on the English conditional tense .

64. Unless (=If Not)

• I won't forgive you unless you apologise

65. Provided That

• I'll lend you my car, provided that you promise to return it by tomorrow.

66. As/So Long As (=Only If)

• You can use my laptop as long as you don't break it.

67. ​Supposing (That)

Used to ask somebody to pretend that something is true or to imagine that something will happen.

• Supposing that you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things with you, what would they be?

68. On Condition That (=Only If)

• I can drive you to the station on condition that you pay for the petrol.

Connectors Of Example

These are words and phrases used to introduce examples 

69. For Example

• There are many different fruits you can use for smoothies. For example, you can use berries, bananas, and mangoes.

70. Such As

• We sell many different types of vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
• Some people enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and camping, while others prefer indoor activities like reading and watching movies.

72. Including

There are many different types of pasta dishes, including spaghetti, fettuccine, and lasagna.

• There are many different types of computer programs, namely word processors, spreadsheets, and graphic design software.

74. For Instance

There are many ways to learn a language. For instance, you can try our StoryLearning method.

Connectors Of Comparison

Connectors of comparison are used to show the similarities and differences between two or more things. 

75. Likewise (Formal) = In A Similar Way

• John is a great cook. Likewise, Mary is skilled in the kitchen.

You use “unlike” to show difference / contrast.

• Unlike his brother, who is always punctual, Tom is always late for appointments.

77. By Comparison

You can use this to show a comparison between two or more things.

• The value of oil went up by 3 percent. By comparison, gold has fallen by 4 percent.

This structure is used to show similarity or equality between two things, actions, or qualities.

• The pizza I had last night was as delicious as the one I had in Italy.

79. Compared To 

• Compared to New York, Milan might seem a small city.

80. Similarly 

• She is an excellent swimmer. Similarly, her sister is a great swimmer too.

Connectors Of Summary

These are used to summarise or conclude a point or idea. Here are some examples:

81. In Conclusion

• In conclusion, the research shows that there is a clear correlation between exercise and mental health.

82. To Sum Up

• To sum up, it's clear that the new policy has had a positive impact on the company's profits.

83. All In All

• The event was well-organized and the speakers were engaging. All in all, it was a great success.

84. To Conclude

• To conclude, the evidence clearly supports the hypothesis that the climate is changing due to human activity.

85. On The Whole

• On the whole, I think the movie was pretty good, but the ending was disappointing.

Connectors In English Everywhere

As you can see, connectors in English are useful words and phrases that will help you show the relationship between ideas.

We have only seen connectors to link ideas within sentences, but they can also be used to connect ideas across paragraphs.

This is why it’s important to read books in English if you’d like to learn and notice connectors in English in context as you’ll be exposing yourself to a lot of written texts–which are rich in connectors!

Following the rules of StoryLearning can help you do this as you’ll be reading short stories in English and you’ll be exposing your brain to thousands of sentences, ideas, and connectors too!

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Breakout English

Linking words – How to improve your writing

Linking words, also known as linkers, cohesive devices, connectors and transition words, are a vital part of writing. Often when we teach English, we feed vocabulary and phrases to students which, if we’re not careful, can start sounding forced. For me, linking words are the exception to that. I find that a solid lesson with these special words can almost certainly help improve a students writing regardless of the level. It’s not just because it appears in writing marking scales for every official exam there is, it’s because they actually work. Without linking words, texts can feel dull and disconnected. That’s definitely not the image we want to give when trying to prove our level of English.

What are linking words?

There are linking words and phrases for different purposes. You can find exhaustive lists of linking words examples all over the web, but the important thing is using them to good effect.

If your writing was like the human body, the content words would be the flesh and the paragraph structure would be the skeleton. Linkers are like the joints of your writing. They help to connect the different parts together and interact with each other. An essay with good cohesive devices will flow and be easy to read. In fact, it’s practically impossible to write without them. You can do a fun writing activity with a consequences game in another post .

Linking words at different levels

Let’s use Cambridge writing scales as a guide for what we should be using at different levels. At B1 Preliminary (PET) candidates are expected to use basic linking words. Basic linking words are essentially and , so , but and because . At B2 First (FCE) level, a variety of linking words should be used. While by C1 Advanced (CAE), candidates are using cohesive devices to generally good effect.

Although the terminology shifts between levels, the concept is the same. An exam candidate’s writing should be connected together in a way that makes it flow from one section to another using words that help to achieve said outcome. Notice that it’s not until C2 Proficiency (CPE) level that candidates should be able to use cohesive devices with flexibility.

For more information about how Cambridge writing is marked, check out the different scales here .

If you’re looking to improve your writing for the Cambridge Advanced exam, consider our book Cambridge Advanced Writing Plus .

Linking words examples

There are so many transition words you can use in your writing, but having a ridiculously long list isn’t the best option in this case (and I’m normally a big fan of lists). When I teach writing, I tend to focus on a selection of common and useful linking words. These can be associated with their purpose. Words similar to and are used to add additional information. Words similar to but are used to contrast ideas. Words similar to so provide result and those similar to because develop reason.

This list is not exhaustive, but it’s enough for 90% of learners who are using linking words in English. These are good cohesive devices for an essay, a formal letter or a report. They can be used in a wide range of styles and contexts. Keep in mind that linking words and phrases are also a strong indication of formality in a text, but they aren’t the only factor.

The other essential factor to consider with linkers is how to use them in a sentence. Different ones need different grammatical structures surrounding them. This is what the activity below focusses on in detail.

The materials

There is little doubt that any exam preparation course will include a lesson on producing cohesive writing. These materials associate complex linkers with simple comparison words before putting them to use. We’ll consider both the meaning and the use of linking words and phrases. The topic focuses on money and wealth, which can pop up anywhere from B1 level onwards. Use them to improve writing skills, especially in formal writings like essays, reports and proposals.

EXAM PART : Writing

EXAM SKILLS : Using cohesive devices to improve organisation

TOPIC: Money

TIME: 60 minutes

PREPARATION: One copy of the worksheet per student

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Connectors / Linking Words for Writing – Functions and Tips

Updated On Sep 15, 2023

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Effective IELTS Essay Connectors for Writing Task 2 & Task 1

Linking words or connectors are the adverbs that turn out to be the easiest way to connect ideas or sentences with one unique word. Such linking words or connectors make the entire sentence look appealing. In IELTS, if you use the connesctors appropriately, it will showcase your advanced English communication skills.

So, in any way, if you find yourself stuck with handling these linking words or connectors, here are a few tips that will help you out.

How do Linking Words or Connectors Function? 

Jotted down below are a few reasons why you should be using linking words or connectors in your IELTS writing tasks:

• They make your writing clear and appealing.
• You get to provide meaning to otherwise complex sentences.
• They help readers understand how one sentence is related to the other.
• They help to know the purpose of the question and also give an appropriate answer to the question.

Tips to Use Linking words or Connectors

Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind when using linking words or connectors:

Are you being accurate with your choice of words?

There are a lot of linking words that can be used in a sentence, so you need to be careful while using the linking words and use them accurately.

Are you overusing linking words or connectors?

The linking words can be used once or twice in the sentence. Making overuse of the linking words in the sentence makes the sentence meaningless.

Are you mixing up?

Try to use a lot of linking words in the paragraph, but make sure the sentence is meaningful while using these words. Using a single word many times in a paragraph doesn’t make any sense. So while using the linking words, use them wisely.

Common Linking words and Connectors used in IELTS Writing

When writing an essay or a report in an IELTS exam, there are plenty of linking words or connectors used throughout. You can take ideas from the ones mentioned below:

Also check :

• IELTS Writing tips
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS Writing Practice tests

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are connectors important in writing?

Name some of the common connectors used in IELTS Writing?

What are some linking words expressing differences or contrasts?

Mention some linking words that can be used to express a finale or summarization

Where do you use connectors or linking words in IELTS writing?

Explore IELTS Writing

Proven tips to score Band 9 in IELTS Writing

Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

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B2+ Formal Linkers

A new worksheet for B2+ students to help them add more cohesion to their writing through the use of formal linkers and connectors. Download the handout and key below:

Lead students through the worksheet. Encourage creativity in the final activity. Set students an FCE or CAE part 1 essay for homework.

Label the groups of linkers (A, B, C, D) with the titles in the box based on their function.

• ____________________
• One of the main benefits of research into green energy is the impact it can have on the environment. Furthermore, by switching to renewable energy sources, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels such as oil.
• The project failed to live up to the expectations of the management team. What is more, it was €100,000 over budget.
• Construction of the solar farm was finished on time. Moreover, workers were able to increase power output by 15% in the first month.
• Many parts of the world are being ravaged by extreme weather conditions due to/owing to the impact of climate change.
• Emissions of harmful greenhouse gases have increased owing to/due to the fact that the world’s population keeps growing.
• Further research is needed in order to push the boundaries of our scientific knowledge.
• Governments should provide more funding for green energy projects so as to increase their efficiency.
• More charging stations for electric cars should be installed so that there are enough to meet demand.
• Space exploration is undoubtedly an exciting area of research. Even so, is it really the most pressing issue humankind is facing right now?
• In spite of/Despite recent technological advancements we have seen, we still know very little about the universe.
• In spite of/Despite the fact that time is running out, we must not give up and accept our fate.
• Much progress has been made in this field. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be done.
• Unless we take steps to combat climate change now, we may be too late.
• Even if we manage to reduce emissions considerably, there is no guarantee that it will be enough.
• We are still not sure whether or not we are alone in the universe.

Sentence Structure Rules

• What do you notice about the way all 4 linkers are used?

Look at the sentences and choose the correct alternative:

• Due to/owing to + a noun // a clause (subject + verb + object)
• Due to/owing to the fact that + a noun // a clause (subject + verb + object)
• In order to + a verb // a clause
• So as to + a verb // a clause
• So that + a verb // a clause
• What do “even so” and “nevertheless” have in common?
• In spite of/Despite + a noun // a clause (subject + verb + object)
• In spite of/Despite the fact that + a noun // a clause (subject + verb + object)

Look at the linkers in group D and match them to their meaning

• “it doesn’t matter if”
• “If we don’t”
• “If or not”

Complete the sentences with a linker from the previous exercise, more than one answer might be possible.

• They brought in extra seats …………. everyone could sit down.
• ………… you were the only man in the world, I still wouldn’t go out with you.
• They planted trees in the garden …………… attract more wildlife.
• His CV is impressive. ………….., I’m still not sure if he’s the right candidate.
• …………. all their hard work, they weren’t able to complete the project on time.
• I was unable to attend the meeting ……………. the heavy snowfall.
• Many people have chosen to move out of the city ……………….. house prices have fallen in the countryside.
• One benefit of city life is the superior health facilities. ……………….., there are many more job opportunities.
• It seems like a very tempting offer. ……………….., I feel I must reject it.
• ……………….. we run, we’re going to miss the last train.
• I’m still not sure ……………….. we made the right decision.
• He cancelled all his morning appointments ……………….. spend time with his family.

Creative Practice

Use linkers to upgrade these sentences for use in a C1 essay. You can also upgrade the language in the sentences.

• Shopping in shops is good, but shopping online is better.
• We should build more parks because they’re good for people.
• People got sad because the pandemic was bad.
• It doesn’t matter if you recycle, big companies are bad for the planet.
• There are too many cars, that’s why there’s lots of pollution.
• We should make drivers pay more to make them take the bus.
• Veganism is good but I don’t think I could do it.
• Books are good because they help you learn words and you imagine things.

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