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
 To summarise
Addition
 And
 In addition /
additionally / an
additional
 Furthermore
 Also
 Too
 As well as
Contrast
 So  Undoubtedly
As a result  Indeed
 As a  Obviously
consequence (of)  Generally
 Therefore  Admittedly
 Thus  In fact
Consequently  Particularly / in
 Hence particular
 Due to  Especially
 Clearly
 Importantly
Reason Example
 For  For example
 Because  For instance
 Since  That is (ie)
 As  Such as
 Because of  Including
 Namely
Comparison
 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
 Similarly
 Likewise
 Also
 Like
 Just as
 Just like
 Similar to
 Same as
 Compare
 compare(d) to /
with
 Not only...but
also

Conectivos ou conjunções são palavras usadas para unir duas ou mais frases ou duas
palavras na mesma frase. Aqui estão os conectores mais comuns agrupados em
categorias.
Aditivos and, not only … but also …, not only … but … as well, both … and …, no
sooner … than
Alternativos ou Disjuntivos or, either … or …, neither … nor …, whether … or …,
else, otherwise
Condicionais if, whether, unless, provided, providing, as long as, in case, in case of
Concessivos although, though, even though, even if, despite, in spite of, not even if,
regardless of
Conclusivos therefore, hence, thus, so, consequently
Continuativos then, moreover, furthermore, besides, in addition to
Adversativos but, however, nonetheless, yet, still, on the other hand, instead, instead of,
on the contrary
Causais because, for, because of, as a result of, due to, owing to, since, as
Comparativos as, as … as …, not as … as …, not so … as …, just as … so …, as if, as
though
Funcionais so, so that, so as to, so as not to, in order to
 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
 In addition
 Furthermore
 Also
 At present / presently
 Most significantly
 Above all
 Primarily
 It is essential / essentially

Contrast Result

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

 Similarily  The cause of

 Likewise  The reason for
 Also

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 &
Cause / effect Time
Contrast

 Although  Since  After

 Though  So that  When
 Even though  Because  Until
 While  Wheneve
 Whereas r
 Before
 Possibility Place & manner

 if  Wherever
 as if  Where
 whether  How
 unless