Linking Words

Linking Words

What are they?

What Are Linking Words?

Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences when you speak or write English.

We can use linking words to give examples, add information, summarise, sequence information, give a reason or result, or to contrast ideas.

Why Should I Learn Linking Words/Connecting Words?

The answer to this one is fairly straightforward. If you don’t know a variety of linking words to connect ideas together in a piece of writing, then you’re writing won’t make sense. In the very best case here, your reader will become confused and fail to follow the message you are trying to get across in your writing, because the bits of text that should ordinarily fit together, just won’t, without the linking words there to connect them.

Examples of Linking Words

Linking Words to Add more Information

These words simply add additional information to your sentence or paragraph to show that two ideas are similar.

Here are some examples:

-It started to rain and I got soaked – ‘and’ is the linking word that connects the two ideas of the individual being in the rain and getting soaked.

-It can’t be the dog’s fault nor the cat’s – ‘nor’ connects the idea that neither the cat or dog was at fault.

-We could go shopping first then get a bite to eat – ‘then’ shows that both ideas are connected, it also adds some sequence to the sentence by showing the order of things.

Linking Words – Addition

• Function: To add to what has been previously stated

• And - Moreover

• In addition - In addition to

• As well as - Apart from

• Also - Besides

• Too

• Furthermore

Use...

Ideas are often linked by and. In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and.

“We discussed training, education and the budget.”

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

Use...

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.”

Use...

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.”

Linking Words to Contrast a Point

Sometimes you need to link two ideas together that are actually opposites in terms of what you are trying to say. Here are some words that will help you do that:

1. Annie could have gone for a run but she decided she was too tired – ‘but’ connects two ideas that are related, but they oppose one another. She could have gone for a run, but she didn’t.

2. It’s my turn to make dinner tonight although a takeout might be easier – ‘although’ provides an opposite argument again, so it links the ideas in a contrasting way.

3. Carrots seemed to be the bunnies preferred food. On the other hand, lettuce was chosen second most frequently and the difference was marginal – ‘on the other hand’ shows clearly to the reader that a different point of view is coming.

Linking Words – Contrast

• Function: To show how things are different

• But - Unlike

• However - In theory… in practice…

• Although / even though

• Despite / despite the fact that

  In spite of / in spite of the fact that

• Nevertheless Nonetheless

• While Whereas

Use...

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.”

Use...

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.”

Use...

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 to Support a Point

If you’re trying to prove something or say something happened as a result of something else, then you will need words like the following:

- I failed my test because I didn’t study – ‘because’ gets the reader ready to learn why somebody failed their test.

- I could have done something differently, in fact we all could have – ‘in fact’ shows that the two ideas are linked together and support one another.

- Jack had been sad since his girlfriend broke up with him – ‘since’ is being used here to explain why Jack was sad, so it links the ideas again.

Linking Words – Condition / Reason

• Function: To provide a condition to what has been stated

• Due to / due to the fact that

• Owing to / owing to the fact that

• Because - Because of

• Since - As

...

There are many more examples and reasons for using linking words, but if you do some more research into the different linking words that there are, you’ll be able to see how you might use them to connect two ideas together in some way. Remember, they don’t always need to support one another. Sometimes ideas are connected because they oppose one another too.

Use...

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.”

Use...

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.”

Use...

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.”

Multiple Choice

I was watching Netflix, ________ I didn't do my homework.

• because

• but

• so

Multiple Choice

I have a computer, ____ I don't have a pen.

• and

• but

• for example

Multiple Choice

I turned off the air conditioning ____ I was cold.

• but

• because

• and

Multiple Choice

I like playing football, tennis ____ computer games.

• and

• but

• also

Multiple Choice

I like playing sports. ____, I like playing football and basketball.

• Also

• For example

• Last

Multiple Choice

I eat fruit ____ apples and bananas.

• because

• such as

• next

Multiple Choice

Jon is going to work in China ____ he is learning Chinese.

• and

• but

• so

Multiple Choice

We like ice cream ______ cake on our birthday!

• and

• but

• so

Multiple Choice

I went to Christine's office, ______________ she was away.

• because

• but

• so

Multiple Choice

I turned off the air conditioning ____ I was cold.

• but

• because

• and

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.”