Linking words

1.3 Linking words

Sentences fit together to form paragraphs. Paragraphs fit together to form a text. Often linking words are used to connect sentences or paragraphs.

Markers and linking words are words or phrases which show the relationships between ideas, e.g. first of all (sequence), therefore (consequence), in brief (summary). We put these words and phrases at or near the beginning of a sentence or paragraph. They connect the following information with the earlier information. We can use connectors and sequence markers to signal different types of relationships between ideas. The main relationships are:

1. Time

2. Logic (cause, contrast, condition, comparison and concession)

3. Text (addition, summary, paraphrase, example and highlight).

1. To signal time relationships:

Beginning

o First - first of all - initially - to start with - the first step - at the first stage o

Second - secondly - the second step - at the second stage

o Third - thirdly - the third step - at the third stage o

Then - after that o

Next - subsequently - the next step - at the next stage o

Finally - the final step - at the final stage

End

Below are the main words and phrases for the above relationships.

2. To signal logical relationships

The main categories are cause, contrast, condition, comparison, concession, contradiction, alternation:

a. Cause

therefore - so - accordingly - consequently - as a consequence/result - for this reason - hence (formal)

b. Contrast

yet - however - nevertheless - still - but - even so - by contrast - conversely - on the other hand - while - whereas - in spite of/despite - all the same

c. Condition

then - in that case - if

d. Comparison

similarly - in the same way

e. Concession

anyway - at any rate - still - although/though - even if/though

f. Contradiction

in fact - actually - as a matter of fact - indeed

g. Alternation

instead - alternatively - rather - again

3. To signal textual relationships

The main categories are: addition, summary, conclusion, equivalence, example, highlight, generalisation, stating the obvious:

a. Addition

also - in addition - moreover - furthermore - besides - too - overall - what's more (informal) - in brief/short

b. Summary

to sum up - then - overall - in brief/short - all in all

c. Conclusion

in conclusion - finally - lastly - to conclude

d. Equivalence

in other words - that means - namely - that is to say - or rather

e. Example

for example - for instance - say - such as - as follows - e.g. (formal and written) for example - for instance - say - such as - as follows - e.g. (formal and written)

in particular - in detail - especially - notably - chiefly - mainly

g. Generalisation

usually - normally - as a rule – in general - for the most part - in most cases - on the whole

h. Stating the obvious

obviously - naturally - of course - clearly

Exercise

Combine the following simple sentences into good compound sentences, using one of the connectives of the list on the preceding pages.

1. I could not decide which course to take. I asked my councillor for her advice.

2. The government will not raise taxes this year. The government will not eliminate any social programmes.

3. The sudden freeze had created extremely icy conditions. The road was closed.

4. Electro Ltd. is going to cut costs. Electro Ltd. will dismiss 500 employees.

5. The plane could only land on an airport runway. The helicopter could land on a rocky

field.

6. Brownfield Industries produces only ballpoint pens. Carson’s Enterprises produces

ballpoint pens,

7. Pencils and felt tipped markers.

8. At a stop sign one must come to a complete stop. At a yield sign one may slow down and then proceed with caution.

9. Ben had good grades and several recommendations. Ben did not get accepted by the

university.

10. The company must sell more cars next year. It is going to go broke.

11. Mark is only seventeen years old. He cannot vote yet.