Linking Words in English
We use connectives and transition words or phrases to connect ideas/sentences, or move smoothly from one idea/sentence to another in our writing. This is a list of common English connectives and transition words or phrases with examples to consider when writing a paragraph or an essay. Be sure you study these words and the examples given for further understanding.
Cause | ||||||||
| Linking words | Examples | |||||||
| Due to Thanks to Because of Owing to Because
| She didn’t go to school because she was sick.
Because of being sick, she didn’t go to school. | |||||||
Effect | ||||||||
| Linking words | Examples | |||||||
| Consequently As an effect So Therefore As a result As a consequence That’s why | She was so sick. So, she didn’t go to school.
She was very tired. Therefore, she didn’t do the dishes. | |||||||
Purpose | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| So as to To In order to So that | I study hard so as to be an engineer.
I study hard so that I can be an engineer. | |||||||
Definition | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| Is/are Means Can be defined as Is defined as Refer(s) | Psychology can be defined as the study of human mind.
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Giving examples | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| For example For instance Such as | Technology is making our lives easier. For example, robots can do some of our housework now. | |||||||
Sequencing | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| Firstly Secondly Thirdly Fourthly Finally Eventually | There are many ways in which you can be a good citizen. Firstly, you should respect other people. Secondly, you should do some voluntary work. Thirdly, stay in school. Finally, find a decent job. | |||||||
Explanation | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| That is to say In other words To put it simply To put it differently | I don’t think this is the right job for you. In other words, I want you to leave. | |||||||
Concession | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| Although Though Even though Despite In spite of However Yet | They’re rich. However, they’re unhappy.
They’re rich, but they’re unhappy. | |||||||
Addition | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| In addition to Along with Moreover Furthermore Besides What is more In addition As well as | Along with being a mother and house keeper, she is a business woman
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Similarity | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| Similarly Likewise Just as Just like Similar to Both …..and | Agadir has so many touristic destinations. Similarly, Marrakech has so many beautiful touristic places. | |||||||
Contrast | ||||||||
| Lining words | Examples | |||||||
| In contrast On the contrary On the other side otherwise Dissimilarly While Whereas Conversely | People from Agadir are very serious. In contrast, people from Marrakech are very funny
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