Improving Writing: discourse markers

A ‘discourse marker’ is a word or phrase that helps to link written ideas. These words are generally more formal lexical items that find little use in speech –
which is perhaps why they do not always come naturally to students. Discourse markers can be used, for example, to link ideas that are similar (e.g. the
adverbs, also and similarly); and they can be used to link ideas that are dissimilar (e.g. however, alternately). As such, this useful group of words is an
essential part of a student’s writing toolkit. They work to help create a clear structure by acting as a kind of ‘linguistic signpost’ that contributes to a well-
constructed essay or argument. They provide a sense of clarity, coherence, fluency and logic to a piece of writing.

The discourse markers covered in the resources provided with this ‘toolkit’ are, essentially, for essay writing, but a list of more generally useful discourse
markers is also included.

Why discourse markers are essential

Students may be aware of the more basic, commonly used discourse markers in speech, such as then, so, after that, instead of...., but when faced with
new forms of writing, extended writing or more formal writing; or when faced with the rigours of an argumentative essay, they often have trouble in
ordering and sequencing their ideas fluently. This is why discourse markers are an essential part of their own linguistic toolkit – and why they figure so
highly in mark schemes and examiners’ comments.

Providing students with discourse markers as a ‘toolkit’ will help them in both their organisation of ideas and improve their written expression. More than
this, a knowledge and use of discourse markers actually helps a student see how to write about a topic more clearly.

ADDING SEQUENCING ILLUSTRATING CAUSE and

and first, second, for example EFFECT

also third… such as because

as well as finally for instance so

moreover next in the case of therefore

too meanwhile as revealed by… thus

furthermore after illustrated by consequently

additionally then hence

subsequently

COMPARING QUALIFYING CONTRASTING EMPHASISING

similarly but whereas above all
likewise however instead of in particular
as with although alternatively especially
like unless otherwise significantly
equally except unlike indeed
in the same way.. apart from on the other notably
as long as hand..

if conversely
A LIST
To add a point:

and, also, as well as, moreover, too, furthermore, additionally, in addition to, at the same
time, again, too, equally important, in addition, likewise, above all, most of all, least of all,
and, either…or, neither…nor, nevertheless, to continue
‘Cause and effect’:

because, so, therefore, thus, consequently, hence, as a result

Sequence:

First, in the first place, at first, once, once upon time, to begin with, at the beginning, starting with,
initially, from this point, earlier, second, secondly, in the second place, next, the next time, then,
after that, following that, subsequently, on the next occasion, so far, later on, third, in the third
place, consequently, last, last of all, at last, at the end, in the end, final finally, to finish, to conclude,
in conclusion

Repetition:

All in all, altogether, in brief, in short, in fact, in particular, that is, in simpler terms, to put it differently,
in other words, again, once more, again and again, over and over, to repeat, as stated, that is to say, to
retell, to review, to rephrase, to paraphrase, to reconsider, to clarify, to explain, to outline, to
summarize

To generalize:

on the whole, in general, generally, as a rule, in most cases, broadly speaking, to some extent, mostly,
above all, chiefly, essentially, largely, primarily, usually

To illustrate:

For example, as an example, for instance, in this case, in the case of, to illustrate, as illustrated by, as
revealed
Cause by, to show, to demonstrate, in particular, such as, namely, for one thing, indeed, in other
and effect
words, to put it in another way, thus, to explain, suppose that, specifically, to be exact

To concede:

it is true that, of course, after all, no doubt, naturally, I grant you, it may well be, although this may be
true, although, to admit, to confess, to agree, in accord with, I allow, I accept

To conclude or summarise:

To conclude, in conclusion, to close, last of all, finally, to end, to complete, to bring to an end, thus,
hence, therefore, as a consequence of, as a result, in short, to sum up, to summarize, to recapitulate,
consequently
To compare:

As, as well as, like, in much the same way, resembling, parallel to, same as, identically, of little
difference, equally, matching, also, exactly, similarly, similar to, in comparison, in relation to

To express attitude:

Frankly, honestly, I think, I suppose, after all, no doubt, I’m afraid, actually, as a matter of fact, to tell
the truth, unfortunately, I believe, in my opinion, To be truthful

To contrast, disagree and ‘qualify’:

Though, although, and yet, but, despite, despite this fact, in spite of, even so, for all that,
however, in contrast, by contrast, on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, in one way,
in another way, although this may be true, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, yet, to differ from, a
striking difference, another distinction, otherwise, after all, instead, unlike, opposite, to oppose,
in opposition to, versus, against, while it is true

To emphasise:

Above all, after all, indeed, as a matter of fact, the main issue is, chiefly, especially, actually, the
most significant, the chief characteristic, the major point, the most necessary, extremely, to
emphasize, to highlight, to stress, by all means, undoubtedly, more importantly, most important of
all, most of all, moreover, furthermore, significantly, without a doubt, certainly, to be sure, surely,
absolutely, obviously, more and more, of major interest, to culminate, in truth, the climax of, to add
to that, without question, unquestionably, as a result, probability

Time 1

before, earlier, previously, formerly, recently, not long ago, at present, presently, currently, now, by
now, until, today, immediately, simultaneously, at the same time, during, all the while, in the future
yesterday,, tomorrow, henceforth, after, after a short time, after a while, soon, later, later on,
following, the following week

Time 2

Suddenly, all at once, instantly, immediately, quickly, directly, soon, as soon as, just then, when,
sometimes, some of the time, in the meantime, occasionally, rarely, seldom, infrequently,
temporarily, periodically, gradually, eventually, little by little, slowly, while, meanwhile, always, all of
the time, without exception, at the same time, repeatedly, often, frequently, generally, usually, as
long as, never, not at all