Linking Words

Subordinators
Subordinators are linking words that are used to join clauses together. They are used at
the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. A clause is a group of words that must contain
a subject and predicate. There are two types of clauses:
 independent clauses - these can stand alone as a sentence by themselves

 dependent clauses - these make no sense by themselves.
Example
Common subordinators
Below are some examples of commonly used subordinators.
Comparison & Contrast Cause / effect Time

 Although  Since  After
 Though  So that  When
 Even though  Because  Until
 While  Whenever
 Whereas  Before
Possibility Place & manner
 if  Wherever
 as if  Where
 whether  How
 unless
Sentence connectors
Sentence connectors are used to link ideas from one sentence to the next and to give paragraphs
coherence. Sentence connectors perform different functions and are placed at the beginning of a
sentence. They are used to introduce, order, contrast, sequence ideas, theory, data etc. The following
table lists useful connectors.
Useful sentence connectors
Logical / sequential order Order of importance
 Firstly, secondly, thirdly etc  Most / more importantly

 Next, last, finally  Most significantly
 In addition  Above all
 Furthermore  Primarily
 Also  It is essential / essentially
 At present / presently

Contrast Result
 However  As a result
 On the other hand  As a consequence
 On the contrary  Therefore
 By (in) comparison  Thus
 In contrast  Consequently
 Hence
Comparison Reason
 Similarily  The cause of

 Likewise  The reason for
 Also
Linking words and phrases

Although some of these words have already been mentioned as sentence connectors, they can also be
used to develop coherence within a paragraph, that is linking one idea / argument to another. Print off
this page to keep as a reference of useful linking words and phrases.
Sequence Result Emphasis

 First / firstly, second / So  Undoubtedly
secondly, third / thirdly  As a result  Indeed
etc  As a consequence  Obviously
 Next, last, finally (of)  Generally
 In addition, moreover  Therefore  Admittedly
 Further / furthermore  Thus  In fact
 Another  Consequently  Particularly / in
 Also  Hence particular
 In conclusion  Due to  Especially
 To summarise  Clearly
 Importantly
Addition Reason Example
 And  For  For example
 In addition /  Because  For instance
additionally / an additional Since  That is (ie)
 Furthermore  As  Such as
 Also  Because of  Including
 Too  Namely
 As well as
Contrast Comparison
 However  Similarly
 Nevertheless  Likewise
 Nonetheless  Also
 Notwithstanding (dispite Like
the fact /thing mentioned)  Just as
 Although / even  Just like
though  Similar to
 Though  Same as
 But  Compare
 Yet Still  compare(d) to /
 Despite / in spite of with
 In contrast (to) / in  Not only...but also
comparison

 While
 Whereas
 On the other hand
 On the contrary
TRANSITION WORDS
Above all Finally Meanwhile

Actually First, Second, Third Moreover
Afterward First and foremost Next
All things considered For this reason No doubt
Accordingly From here on Of course
Another For instance For example On the other hand
Arguably Furthermore Otherwise
As a consequence However Paradoxically
As a matter of fact Incidentally Presently
As a result In addition Presumably
At any rate In any case Regrettably
At the same time In conclusion Similarly
At this point In fact Still
Be that as it may In my opinion Strangely enough
By, and, or In other words, as it were Then
By and large In the first place Therefore
By the same token In the meantime Too, also
Consequently In the same way Ultimately
Even so Ironically
Sequencing
Within a sentence From one sentence to the next From one paragraph to the next
first(ly), second(ly), etc.
in the first (second, third) place.
first(ly), second(ly), third(ly),
the primary (secondary, third)
finally
reason.
one (another, a final) reason.
Sequencing in time
meanwhile, in the meantime,

then, at once, next, meanwhile,
hitherto, at once, the next
in the meantime, soon, now, at
(generally not just "next"), soon
when, as, while, whilst, after, this moment, hitherto, until then
(as soon as), at this time (or
before (or now), after this, before this,
moment), until this time,
subsequently, immediately,
subsequently, throughout this,
suddenly, gradually
suddenly, gradually
Sequencing in place
where, wherever there, at this (or that) point, here at this (or that) point
Showing contrast
yet however, even so, nevertheless any of the between sentence links
instead, on the contrary, rather,
yet, by contrast, otherwise, on
but any of the between sentence links
the other hand, alternatively, at
any rate, in any case
Showing similarity
likewise, in the same way, likewise, in the same way,

similarly, in a similar manner, similarly, in a similar manner,
like, a parallel argument like, a parallel argument
Expanding upon or refining an argument
in addition (an additional),

also, in addition, furthermore, for
and, and also furthermore, an (or one) example,
example, another
another
Showing cause and effect
for this reason, that being so, on

account of this, therefore, as a
because, since, for, so, so that any of the between-sentence links
result, consequently, thus, in that
case, hence, accordingly
Showing conditionality
granted, that being so, in that granted, in the above case, under
if...then, provided that, unless
case, under the circumstances these circumstances
Resisting conditionality
(al)though, even though, whether still, despite this, in spite of still, despite this, in spite of this

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Subordinators

 independent clauses - these can stand alone as a sentence by themselves

Below are some examples of commonly used subordinators.

Comparison & Contrast Cause / effect Time

Useful sentence connectors

Logical / sequential order Order of importance

 Firstly, secondly, thirdly etc  Most / more importantly

 Similarily  The cause of

Linking words and phrases

Sequence Result Emphasis

Above all Finally Meanwhile

meanwhile, in the meantime,

likewise, in the same way, likewise, in the same way,

Expanding upon or refining an argument

in addition (an additional),

Showing cause and effect

for this reason, that being so, on

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