linking words and.docx

8/11/2019 LINKING WORDS AND.docx

1/6

LINKING WORDS ANDPHRASESMost pieces of formal writing are organised in a similar way: introduction;development of main ideas orarguments; conclusion. Linking words and phrases join clauses, sentences andparagraphs together.A piece of writing or text may include the following:one idea is linked to anotheran alternative is presentedan objection is made

STUDENTLearning

CentreFLINDERS UNIVERSITY

ideaandideaorideabutideaSTUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/06/2006CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders University of South AustraliaCRICOS Provider Number: 00114A

ConnectivesThe main linking words and phrases are grouped below according to thesimilarity of their meaning tothe three basic connectives and, or, but. Some can be used to link paragraphsand others can only beused to link ideas within a paragraph.1. anda) Listing1. Enumeration indicates a cataloguing of what is being said.Most lists use clearly defined groups of words:

above alllast but not least mark the end of an ascending orderfirst and foremost mark the beginning of a descendingfirst and most importantly order1 enumeration (points in order)a listing 2 addition i reinforcementii comparisonb transition (leads to a new stage)c summary (gives a summary or conclusion)1 and d reference (refers to what was said before)e example

f result (the consequence of what was said before)g place (refers to things in or outside the document)


2/6

h time (refers to other studies)2 or i reformulation (expresses something in another way)j replacement (expresses an alternative)3 but k contrast (presents a different view)l concession (agrees that something is good, with limitations)

first, furthermore, finally,one a second a thirdfirst(ly), second(ly),...third(ly), ...to begin/start with,in the second place,moreover, to conclude,

etc.etc.2. Addition to what has been previously indicated.

i. Reinforcement (includes confirmation):above all indeedactually in additionadditionally moreoveragain not only . . . but also . . .also notablyas well (as) obviouslybesides particularlyespecially specificallyfurther thenfurthermore too

what is moreii. Comparison (similarity to what has preceded):b) Transition (can lead to a new stage in the sequence of thought):c) Summary (a generalisation or summing up of what has preceded):also in the same wayboth . . . and . . . likewisecorrespondingly similarlyequally toonowregardingturning to

with respect/regard toas foras toaltogether thenhence thereforein brief thusin conclusion to concludein short to sum upoverall to summariseoften used when discussing something brieflySTUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/06/2006

CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders University of South AustraliaCRICOS Provider Number: 00114A


3/6

d) Reference (refers back to previous sentences):e) Example:f) Result(expresses the consequence or result from what is implicit in the precedingsentence or sentences):

g) Place:and mainlyas follows mostlychiefly namelyfor instance notablyfor example orin other words particularlyin particular such asincluding that isfor examplefor instance

such asto illustrateas an illustrationto demonstrateaccordingly nowas a result soas a consequence so thatbecause of the consequence isconsequently the result isfor this/that reason thenhence thereforein order that thusabove in frontadjacent in the backgroundat the side in the foregroundbehind therebelow to the leftelsewhere to the righthereh) Time:2. or

i) Reformulation (expresses something in another way):j) Replacement (expresses an alternative to what has preceded):after a while nowafterwards onceat last presentlyat that time previouslyat the same time shortlybefore simultaneouslycurrently sinceearlier sooneventually subsequently

finally thenformerly thereafter


4/6

in the meantime untilin the past until nowinitially wheneverlater whilemeanwhile

betterin other wordsin that caseratherthat isthat is to sayto put it (more) simplyagainalternativelyanother possibility would bebetter/worse still

on the other handratherthe alternative isSTUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/06/2006CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders University of South AustraliaCRICOS Provider Number: 00114A

3. butk) Contrastl) Concession (indicates that the previous view is accepted with reservations):The information in this leaflet is based on Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech and Svartvik, SentenceConnection inA Grammar ofContemporary English from Jordan R R. 1990Academic Writing Course, 2nd ed., Collins ELT,

London; and Parks, A.F., Levernier,J.A. and Hollowell, I. M. 1996, Structuring Paragraphs: A Guide to Effective Writing, Bedford/St.Martins, Boston, pp. 117 118.

by (way of) contrastconverselyin comparisonin factin realityinsteadon the contrary(on the one hand) . . . on the other hand . . .

thenadmittedly in spite ofafter all naturallyall the same neverthelessalthough no doubtalthough this may be true nonethelessat the same time notwithstandingbesides onlydespite stilldoubtless under certain circumstanceseven if/though up to a point

even so whilehowever yet


5/6

ExerciseCan you insert appropriate transitional words in the following sentences?In the first exercise the category of transitional word is given. In the secondexercise you will have todecide which category is most appropriate.

(taken from Parks, AF, Levernier, JA and Hollowell, IM 1996, Structuring paragraphs A guide toeffective writing, Bedford/St.Martins, Boston, pp. 119-120)

A.Our states correctional system is plagued with problems. (a) _________,(example) high officialsincrease their personal wealth by awarding building and catering contracts todisreputable companies inreturn for bribes. (b) ___________, (addition) promotions within the system aremade on the basis ofpolitics, not merit. (c) __________, the system is filled __________ (result) with

people at the topwho know little about what they are doing. (d) __________, (addition) carelesssecurity measures,allowing trusted inmates to control certain operations of the institution, are partof the growingproblem. But one increasing tendency in particular is doing harm to thesystems image and efficiency.This is the tendency of officials who are charged with important tasks and whomake faulty decisions tocover up their mistakes. (e) __________, one would think that amid all the strifesome effort

__________ (conclusion) would be made to rectify these problems, but aseemingly doggeddetermination to resist change overshadows the system.B.Genetic screening in business, or testing the genes of employees to see if theyare susceptible toworkplace-related diseases, may present problems for the tested. (a)__________, the geneticscreening tests and technology in general are in their infancy stages. (b)__________, many physiciansand health professionals doubt their reliability. (c) ___________, once genetic

information is recordedon employees, it cannot always be kept secret. Even though employers areassured that their medicalfiles are confidential, clerical staff have access to them. (d) __________, if theyare entered into acomputer data base, they are available to anyone with access. (e) __________,some argue that suchscreening procedures are violations of personal rights. (f) __________, manycite similarities betweengenetic screening and drug testing, noting that both involve a process ofobtaining information from

unwilling individuals that might affect them adversely. Opponents of geneticscreening point out that


6/6

some employees with the potential for workplace diseases would rather run therisk than lose theirjobs.STUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/06/2006CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders University of South AustraliaCRICOS Provider Number: 00114A

Answers to Exercise In each case there may be several possible choicesText A(a) Example: For one thing FrequentlyFor instance For example Often(b)Addition: Furthermore MoreoverIn addition What is more(c) Result:As a result Consequently(d)Addition: In addition What is moree) Conclusion: In shortText B(a) Example: First First of all For one thing

(b) Result: Consequently Hence Therefore(c)Addition: Second MoreoverFurther What is moreFurthermore(d) Example: Indeed Specifically(e) Result:As a result Consequently HenceThus(f) Example: In particular Indeed Significantly

linking words and.docx

Documents