Use of English

Linking
Words
What are linking words?

• Linking words are words that join clauses

into sentences.

• There are three main types of linking

words:
• conjunctions
• sentence connectors
• subordinators.

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Conjunctions
• Conjunctions are the most common form of linking
word. They are used to join two parts of a sentence
together are generally in the middle of a sentence.
There are seven co-ordinating conjunctions. These
are:
• and • or • nor
• but • for • yet.
• so
Example:
Successful students work hard and they organise their time effectively.

Independent Independent
clause clause
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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.

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Logical / sequential order

• Firstly, secondly, thirdly etc

• Next, last, finally
• In addition
• Furthermore
• Also
• At present / presently

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Order of
importance Contrast

• Most / more • However

importantly • On the other hand
• Most significantly • On the contrary
• Above all • By (in) comparison
• Primarily • In contrast
• It is essential /
essentially

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 Compariso
Result n

• As a result • Similarly
• As a consequence • Likewise
• Therefore • Also
• Thus
• Consequently Reason
• Hence
• The cause of
• The reason for

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Activity 1 – Fill in the gaps

Time management skills are essential for study

success. ___________, there are several useful
strategies that can be used to improve your time
management skills. __________, have clear goals in
mind. __________, plan your time by having a
yearly and weekly planner. Careful planning will
enable you to keep on the top of your work and
avoid stress. __________, reward yourself when
the job is done.

Firstly Finally Secondly In fact

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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.

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Comparison Cause and
and contrast effect
• Although • Since
• Though • So that
• Even though • Because
• While
• Whereas

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Time Possibility
• After • if
• When • as if
• Until • whether
• Whenever • unless
• Before

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Place and manner

• Wherever
• Where
• How

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Activity 2:
Identify 4 linking words / phrases

• Do teams in organisations need leaders?

• How and why the leader was selected also appears to
affect the leader’s effectiveness. Addison (1996), for
instance, asserts that if a leader is elected
democratically by the team and from within the
team, there is more likelihood of an effective work
relationship between team members. However, Smith
(1996) notes that more than 60% of 500 workplace
teams studied operate with team leaders chosen by
the middle or upper management. Furthermore, in
more than half of these, the team leaders did not
have the confidence of the team members to the
extent that effectiveness and efficiency was
compromised.
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