Linking Words and Phrases

STUDENT
LINKING WORDS AND

PHRASES
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Most pieces of formal writing are organised in a similar way: introduction; development of main ideas or
arguments; conclusion. Linking words and phrases join clauses, sentences and paragraphs together.
A piece of writing or text may include the following:
idea
and
one idea is linked to another
idea
or an alternative is presented
idea
but
an objection is made
idea
Connectives
The main linking words and phrases are grouped below according to the similarity of their meaning to
the three basic connectives and, or, but. Some can be used to link paragraphs and others can only be
used to link ideas within a paragraph.
1 enumeration (points in order)

a listing 2 addition i reinforcement
ii comparison
b transition (leads to a new stage)
c summary (gives a summary or conclusion)
1 and d reference (refers to what was said before)
e example
f result (the consequence of what was said before)
g place (refers to things in or outside the document)
h time (refers to other studies)
2 or i reformulation (expresses something in another way)

j replacement (expresses an alternative)
3 but k contrast (presents a different view)

l concession (agrees that something is good, with limitations)
1. and
a) Listing
1. Enumeration indicates a cataloguing of what is being said.
Most lists use clearly defined groups of words:
first, furthermore, finally,
one a second a third etc.
first(ly), second(ly), third(ly), ... etc.

...
to begin/start with, in the second place, moreover, to conclude,
above all
last but not least mark the end of an ascending order
first and foremost mark the beginning of a descending

first and most importantly order
2. Addition to what has been previously indicated.
i. Reinforcement (includes confirmation):
above all indeed

actually in addition
additionally moreover
again not only . . . but also . . .
also notably
as well (as) obviously
besides particularly
especially specifically
further then
furthermore too
what is more
ii. Comparison (similarity to what has preceded):
also in the same way

both . . . and . . . likewise
correspondingly similarly
equally too
b) Transition (can lead to a new stage in the sequence of thought):
now
regarding
turning to
with respect/regard to
as for often used when discussing something briefly

as to
c) Summary (a generalisation or summing up of what has preceded):
altogether then
hence therefore
in brief thus
in conclusion to conclude
in short to sum up
overall to summarise
d) Reference (refers back to previous sentences):
and mainly
as follows mostly
chiefly namely
for instance notably
for example or
in other words particularly
in particular such as
including that is
e) Example:
for example
for instance
such as
to illustrate
as an illustration
to demonstrate
f) Result
(expresses the consequence or result from what is implicit in the preceding sentence or sentences):
accordingly now
as a result so
as a consequence so that
because of the consequence is
consequently the result is
for this/that reason then
hence therefore
in order that thus
g) Place:
above in front
adjacent in the background
at the side in the foreground
behind there
below to the left
elsewhere to the right
here
h) Time:
after a while now

afterwards once
at last presently
at that time previously
at the same time shortly
before simultaneously
currently since
earlier soon
eventually subsequently
finally then
formerly thereafter
in the meantime until
in the past until now
initially whenever
later while
meanwhile
2. or
i) Reformulation (expresses something in another way):
better
in other words
in that case
rather
that is
that is to say
to put it (more) simply
j) Replacement (expresses an alternative to what has preceded):
again
alternatively
another possibility would be
better/worse still
on the other hand
rather
the alternative is
3. but
k) Contrast
by (way of) contrast

conversely
in comparison
in fact
in reality
instead
on the contrary
(on the one hand) . . . on the other hand . . .
then
l) Concession (indicates that the previous view is accepted with reservations):
admittedly in spite of
after all naturally
all the same nevertheless
although no doubt
although this may be true nonetheless
at the same time notwithstanding
besides only
despite still
doubtless under certain circumstances
even if/though up to a point
even so while
however yet
The information in this leaflet is based on Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech and Svartvik, ‘Sentence Connection’ in A Grammar of
Contemporary English from Jordan R R. 1990 Academic Writing Course, 2nd ed., Collins ELT, London; and Parks, A.F., Levernier,
J.A. and Hollowell, I. M. 1996, Structuring Paragraphs: A Guide to Effective Writing, Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, pp. 117 – 118.

Linking Words and Phrases

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Linking Words and Phrases

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Linking Words and Phrases

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

STUDENT

LINKING WORDS AND

A piece of writing or text may include the following:

1 enumeration (points in order)

2 or i reformulation (expresses something in another way)

3 but k contrast (presents a different view)

first, furthermore, finally,

one a second a third etc.

first(ly), second(ly), third(ly), ... etc.

to begin/start with, in the second place, moreover, to conclude,

first and foremost mark the beginning of a descending

i. Reinforcement (includes confirmation):

above all indeed

ii. Comparison (similarity to what has preceded):

also in the same way

b) Transition (can lead to a new stage in the sequence of thought):

as for often used when discussing something briefly

c) Summary (a generalisation or summing up of what has preceded):

after a while now

i) Reformulation (expresses something in another way):

j) Replacement (expresses an alternative to what has preceded):

by (way of) contrast

l) Concession (indicates that the previous view is accepted with reservations):

You might also like