1. LINKING WORDS + ?
Joaquín Silos
Núria Ribalta

2. WHAT ARE LINKING WORDS?
The more expressive among us don’t just speak or write single sentences but join various ideas together. This is called discourse.
Linking words (or discourse markers) are used to connect ideas together to help people understand our ideas and to make what we say sound more interesting.

3. CONTRASTING The machine is old. However / HOWEVER NEVERTHELESS
They are usually followed by a comma and introduce a sentence which contrasts with the previous one.
Examples
HOWEVER
NEVERTHELESS
ON THE OTHER HAND
DESPITE / IN SPITE OF + noun
Despite the fact
In spite of the fact
ALTHOUGH + clause
The machine is old. However /
Nevertheless, it should work for a few more years.
In spite of/Despite its age, the machine should work for a few more years.
Although/In spite of the fact that the machine is old, it should work for a few more years.

4. ADDING BESIDES (introduces a stronger argument)
The following expressions introduce further information which extends an argument.
Examples
BESIDES (introduces a stronger argument)
MOREOVER
FURTHERMORE
WHAT IS MORE
IN ADDITION
NOT ONLY (inversion)
She is attractive. Besides/ Moreover/Furthermore/ What’s more she is very intelligent. Not only is she attractive, (but) she is very intelligent too. Not only is she attractive, (but) she is also very intelligent .

5. CAUSE & RESULT Cause DUE TO + noun OWING TO + noun …BECAUSE OF + noun
Examples
Cause
DUE TO + noun
OWING TO + noun
…BECAUSE OF + noun
…BECAUSE + clause
AS + clause
SINCE + clause
The football match was cancelled because of/ owing to / due to the rain. The football match was cancelled because it was raining. As/ Since it was raining, the football match was cancelled.

6. Consequence
Examples SO
THEREFORE
AS A RESULT
THIS IS WHY
CONSEQUENTLY
FOR THIS REASON
It was raining. Therefore/ As a result/ This is why/ For this reason the football match was cancelled. I think therefore I am

7. PURPOSE Examples … SO AS TO + infinitive structure
… IN ORDER TO + infinitive structure
… SO THAT + clause
He bought a bicycle in order to/ so as to get more exercise.
He bought a bicycle so that he would get more exercise.

8. EXAMPLES A new sentence with an example is introduced by either:
FOR EXMPLE
FOR INSTANCE
…SUCH AS …
The pen-knife has different uses, such as removing stones from horses hooves.

9. CLARIFYING
A number of expressions are used, especially in speech, to clarify what we have said.
Examples
I MEAN ( informal, spoken)
IN OTHER WORDS
THIS IS TO SAY (formal)
A kangaroo is a marsupial. In other words / This is to say it is underdeveloped at birth and is carried around in a pouch for several weeks.

10. FOCUSING
We often want to focus a conversation on something we think is important.
Examples
IN TERMS OF
IN RELATION TO
REGARDING
AS FAR AS … IS CONCERNED
In terms of/ In relation to/ Regarding its effect on employee morale, you don`t need to worry. As far as its effect on employee morale is concerned , you don’t need to worry. Regarding your request for a pay rise, I think we can talk about it later.

11. SUMMARISING
There are a number of different ways of introducing a conclusion.
Examples
TO SUM UP
ALL IN ALL
IN BRIEF
IN SHORT
IN CONCLUSION
ON THE WHOLE
To sum up/ All in all/ In short , the process has been beneficial for the company.