Giving examples

For example
For instance

And
In addition
As well as
Also
Too
Furthermore
Moreover
Apart from
In addition to
Besides

Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis. “We also spoke about
marketing.”
You can use also with not only to give emphasis.
“We are concerned not only by the costs, but also by the competition.”

We don’t usually start a sentence with also. If you want to start a sentence with
a phrase that means also, you can use In addition, or In addition to this…
As well as can be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.
“As well as the costs, we are concerned by the competition.”
“We are interested in costs as well as the competition.”
Too goes either at the end of the sentence, or after the subject and means as
well.
“They were concerned too.”
“I, too, was concerned.”
Apart from and besides are often used to mean as well as, or in addition to.
“Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.”
“Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.”
Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are making.
“Marketing plans give us an idea of the potential market. Moreover, they tell us
about the competition.”

Summarising

In short
In brief
In summary
To summarise
To conclude
In conclusion
We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a
summary of what we have said or written.

Sequencing ideas

The former, … the latter

Firstly, secondly, finally
The first point is
Lastly
The following
The former and the latter are useful when you want to refer to one of two
points.
“Marketing and finance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in
the first term and the latter is studied in the final term.”

Firstly, … secondly, … finally (or lastly) are useful ways to list ideas.

It’s rare to use “fourthly”, or “fifthly”. Instead, try the first point, the second
point, the third point and so on.
The following is a good way of starting a list.
“The following people have been chosen to go on the training course: N Peters,
C Jones and A Owen.”

Giving a reason

Due to / due to the fact that

Owing to / owing to the fact that
Because
Because of
Since
As
Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun.
“Due to the rise in oil prices, the inflation rate rose by 1.25%.”

“Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2 weeks.”

If you want to follow these words with a clause (a subject, verb and object), you
must follow the words with the fact that.
“Due to the fact that oil prices have risen, the inflation rate has gone up by
1%25.”

“Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company has been
unable to fulfill all its orders.”

Because / because of
Because of is followed by a noun.
“Because of bad weather, the football match was postponed.”
Because can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For
example, “Because it was raining, the match was postponed.”
“We believe in incentive schemes, because we want our employees to be more
productive.”

Since / as
Since and as mean because.
“Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff.”

As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff.”

Giving a result

Therefore
So
Consequently
This means that
As a result
Therefore, so, consequently and as a result are all used in a similar way.
“The company are expanding. Therefore / So / Consequently / As a result, they
are taking on extra staff.”

So is more informal.

Contrasting ideas

But
However
Although / even though
Despite / despite the fact that
In spite of / in spite of the fact that
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
While
Whereas
Unlike
In theory… in practice…
But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a
sentence.
“He works hard, but he doesn’t earn much.”
“He works hard. However, he doesn’t earn much.”

Although, despite and in spite of introduce an idea of contrast. With these

words, you must have two halves of a sentence.
“Although it was cold, she went out in shorts.”
“In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts.”

Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing to.
They must be followed by a noun. If you want to follow them with a noun and a
verb, you must use the fact that.
“Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on extra
employees.”

Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that or anyway.

“The sea was cold, but he went swimming nevertheless.” (In spite of the fact
that it was cold.)
“The company is doing well. Nonetheless, they aren’t going to expand this
year.”

While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from

each other.
“While my sister has blue eyes, mine are brown.”

“Taxes have gone up, whereas social security contributions have gone down.”

“Unlike in the UK, the USA has cheap petrol.”

In theory… in practice… show an unexpected result.

“In theory, teachers should prepare for lessons, but in practice, they often don’t
have enough time.”
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 / secondly,
third / thirdly etc
 Next, last, finally
 In addition,
moreover
 Further /
furthermore
 Another
 Also
 In conclusion
 So  Undoubtedly
 As a result  Indeed
 As a  Obviously
consequence (of)  Generally
 Therefore  Admittedly
 Thus  In fact
 Consequently  Particularly /
 Hence in particular
 Due to  Especially
 Clearly
 Importantly
 To summarise
Addition
 And
 In addition /
additionally / an
additional
 Furthermore
 Also
 Too
 As well as
Contrast
 However
 Nevertheless
 Nonetheless
 Still
 Although / even
though
 Though
 But
 Yet
 Despite / in spite
of
 In contrast (to) /
in comparison
 While
 Whereas
 On the other
hand
 On the contrary
Reason Example
 For  For example
 Because  For instance
 Since  That is (ie)
 As  Such as
 Because of  Including
 Namely
Comparison  
 Similarly
 Likewise
 Also
 Like
 Just as
 Just like
 Similar to
 Same as
 Compare
 compare(d) to
/ with
 Not only...but
also

1.    Addition:
 also
 in addition
 too
 as well
2.    Alternation:
 Instead
 alternatively
3.    Cause:
 therefore
 so
 consequently
 thus
4.    Comparison:
 similarly
 in the same way
 likewise
5.    Conclusion:
 in conclusion
 finally
 lastly
6.    Condition:
 then
 in that case
7.    Contradiction:
 in fact
 actually
 as a matter of fact
8.    Contrast:
 yet
 however
 but
 nevertheless
9.    Equivalence:
 in other words
 that means
 namely
 that is to say
10. Example:
 for example
 for instance
11. Generalisation:
 as a rule
 in general
 usually/normally
12. Counter-evidence:
 on the other hand
  conversely
 
Agreement / Addition / Similarity
The transition words like also, in addition, and, likewise, add
information, reinforce ideas, and express agreement with
preceding material.
 
in the first place
not only ... but also
as a matter of fact
in like manner
in addition
coupled with
in the same fashion / way
first, second, third
in the light of
not to mention
to say nothing of
equally important
by the same token
again
to
and
also
then
equally
identically
uniquely
like
as
too
moreover
as well as
 together with
of course
likewise
comparatively
correspondingly
similarly
furthermore
additionally

 
 

Opposition / Limitation / Contradiction

Transition phrases like but, rather and or, express that there is
evidence to the contrary or point out alternatives, and thus introduce
a change the line of reasoning (contrast).
 
although this may be true
in contrast
different from
of course ..., but
on the other hand
on the contrary
at the same time
in spite of
even so / though
be that as it may
then again
above all
in reality
after all
but
(and) still
unlike
or
 (and) yet
while
albeit
besides
as much as
even though
although
instead
whereas
despite
conversely
otherwise
however
rather
nevertheless
nonetheless
regardless
notwithstanding

 
 

Cause / Condition / Purpose

These transitional phrases present specific conditions or intentions.
 
in the event that
granted (that)
as / so long as
on (the) condition (that)
for the purpose of
with this intention
with this in mind
in the hope that
to the end that
 for fear that
in order to
seeing / being that
in view of
If
... then
unless
 
when
whenever
while
 
because of
as
since
while
lest
in case
provided that
given that
only / even if
so that
so as to
owing to
inasmuch as
due to

Examples / Support / Emphasis

These transitional devices (like especially) are used to introduce
examples as support, to indicate importance or as an illustration so
that an idea is cued to the reader.
 
in other words
to put it differently
for one thing
as an illustration
in this case
for this reason
to put it another way
that is to say
with attention to
by all means
 
 
 
important to realize
another key point
first thing to remember
most compelling evidence
must be remembered
point often overlooked
to point out
on the positive side
on the negative side
with this in mind
notably
including
like
to be sure
namely
chiefly
truly
indeed
certainly
surely
markedly
 such as
 
especially
explicitly
specifically
expressly
surprisingly
frequently
significantly
particularly
in fact
in general
in particular
in detail
for example
for instance
to demonstrate
to emphasize
to repeat
to clarify
to explain
to enumerate

 
 

Effect / Consequence / Result

Some of these transition words (thus, then, accordingly,
consequently, therefore, henceforth) are time words that are used
to show that after a particular time there was a consequence or
an effect.
Note that for and because are placed before the cause/reason. The
other devices are placed before the consequences or effects.
 
as a result
 under those circumstances
in that case
for this reason
in effect
for
thus
because the
then
hence
consequently
therefore
thereupon
forthwith
accordingly
henceforth

 
 

Conclusion / Summary / Restatement

These transition words and phrases conclude, summarize and /
or restate ideas, or indicate a final general statement. Also some
words (like therefore) from the Effect / Consequence category can
be used to summarize.
 
as can be seen
generally speaking
in the final analysis
all things considered
as shown above
in the long run
given these points
as has been noted
in a word
for the most part
 after all
in fact
in summary
in conclusion
in short
in brief
in essence
to summarize
on balance
altogether
overall
ordinarily
usually
by and large
to sum up
on the whole
in any event
in either case
all in all
 
Obviously
Ultimately
Definitely

Time / Chronology / Sequence

These transitional words (like finally) have the function of limiting,
restricting, and defining time. They can be used either alone or as
part of adverbial expressions.
 
at the present time
from time to time
sooner or later
at the same time
up to the present time
to begin with
in due time
as soon as
as long as
in the meantime
in a moment
without delay
in the first place
all of a sudden
at this instant
first, second
 
immediately
quickly
finally
after
later
last
until
till
since
then
before
hence
since
when
once
about
next
now
 
 
formerly
suddenly
shortly
henceforth
whenever
eventually
meanwhile
further
during
in time
prior to
forthwith
straightaway
 
by the time
whenever
 
until now
now that
 
instantly
presently
occasionally

 
 
Many transition words in the time category (consequently; first,
second, third; further; hence; henceforth; since; then, when; and
whenever) have other uses.
Except for the numbers (first, second, third) and further they add a
meaning of time in expressing conditions, qualifications, or reasons.
The numbers are also used to add information or list
examples. Further is also used to indicate added space as well as
added time.
 
Space / Location / Place
These transition words are often used as part of adverbial
expressions and have the function to restrict, limit or qualify space.
Quite a few of these are also found in the Time category and can be
used to describe spatial order or spatial reference.
 
in the middle
to the left/right
in front of
on this side
in the distance
here and there
in the foreground
in the background
in the center of
 
adjacent to
opposite to 
here
there
next
where
from
over
near
above
below
down
up
under
further
beyond
nearby
wherever
around
between
before
alongside
amid
among
beneath
beside
behind
across