Pin

Linking Words, Connecting Words

Full List and Useful Examples:

Linking words (connecting words) are something we need to know in any style of writing.
Because it helps the reader to follow the flow of what you are saying. Whether it’s an argument
in an essay, or an epic scene in a fantasy novel, your reader needs to be able to follow what you
are saying. So, what are linking words, why should you bother learning them, and what does it
look like in practice? Well, this guide will answer all of those questions!

Table of Contents

 Linking Words
o What Are Linking Words?
o Why Should I Learn Linking Words/Connecting Words?
 Examples of Linking Words
o Linking Words to Add more Information
o Linking Words to Contrast a Point
o Linking Words to Support a Point
 Complete List of Linking Words & Connecting Words
o Linking Words – Result
o Connecting Words – Emphasis
o Linking Words – Addition
o Linking Words – Reason
o Connecting Words – Illustration
o Linking Words – Contrast
o Linking Words – Comparison
o Connecting Words – Order
o Connecting Words – Summary
o Linking Words – Condition
o Connecting Words – Concession
o Connecting Words – Generalization
o Connecting Words – Restatement
o Connecting Words – Reference
o Connecting Words – Clarification
o Connecting Words – Space/ Location

Linking Words:
What Are Linking Words/Connecting Words?
Linking words are words that connect ideas together in a piece of writing. It shows that two
things are related in some way, or that the point you are making has supporting information. The
difference between linking words and simple paragraph starters that we looked at previously, is
that linking words can be found at the start of paragraphs, but also in the middle of sentences to
connect two ideas together too.

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. So, you know what they are and why you need
to know them – but what are some examples of linking words? We couldn’t possibly include
them all because there are literally hundreds, but hopefully by highlighting some examples and
showing their importance in a sentence, you’ll be able to understand the job they do more clearly
and focus on learning some other ones for yourself.

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 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:

 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.
 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.
 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 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.
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.

Complete List of Linking Words & Connecting Words

Linking Words – Result:

Function: To provide the result of what has been stated or has occurred:

 Accordingly
 As a consequence (of)
 As a result
 Consequently
 Due to
 For this reason
 Forthwith
 Hence
 Then
 Therefore
 Thereupon
 Thus

Connecting Words – Emphasis:

Function: To put forward a point or idea more forcefully

 Above all
 Absolutely
 Chiefly
 Clearly
 Definitely
 Especially
 Even
 Importantly
  In detail
 In truth
 Indeed
 It should be noted
 Naturally
 Never
 Obviously
 Of course
 Particularly / in particular
 Positively
 Surprisingly
 To clarify
 To emphasize
 To repeat
 Truly
 Undoubtedly
 Unquestionably
 With attention
 Without a doubt

Linking Words – Addition:

Function: To add to what has been previously stated

 Additionally, /an additional

 Along with
 Also
 And
 Apart from this
 As well as
 As well as that
 Besides
 Coupled with
 Finally
 First
 Further
 Furthermore
 In addition
 In addition to this
 In the same fashion
 Last
 Moreover
 Not only…but also
 Not to mention
 Second
 Similarly
  Third
 Together with
 Too

Linking Words – Reason:

Function: To provide reasons for what has been stated or has occurred

 Because of
 For the purpose of
 Given that
 Granted that
 In fact
 In order to
 In view of
 Owing to
 Provided that
 Seeing that
 So that
 With this in mind
 With this intention
 With this purpose

Connecting Words – Illustration:

Function: To provide examples

 As an example of
 For example, / For instance
 For one thing
 Illustrated by
 In another case
 In the case of
 In this case
 In this situation
 Including
 Like
 Namely
 On this occasion
 Proof of this
 Specifically
 Such as
 To clarify
 To demonstrate
 To demonstrate/ To clarify
 To simplify
Linking Words – Contrast:

Function: To show how things are different

 Alternatively
 As opposed to
 Contrarily
 Contrary to
 Conversely
 Despite/in spite of
 Differing from
 Even so
 However
 In contrast (to)
 In opposition
 Instead
 Nevertheless
 Nonetheless
 Nor
 Notwithstanding
 On the other hand
 Rather
 Though
 Unlike
 Up against
 Whereas
 While
 Yet

Linking Words – Comparison:

Function: To show how things are similar

 Alike
 As with
 Both
 By the same token
 Compare / compare(d) to (with)
 Correspondingly
 Either
 Equal
 Equally
 In a similar manner
 In common
 In like manner
 In the same way
  In the spitting image of
 Just as
 Just as…so too
 Just like
 Likewise
 Most important
 Resembles
 Same as
 Similar to
 Similarly
 Still another

Connecting Words – Order:

1. Function: To indicate the order of what is being said

 First/ firstly
 Second/ secondly
 Third/ thirdly
 Finally
 At this time
 Following
 Previously
 Before
 Subsequently
2. Function: To mark the end of an ascending order

 Above all
 Lastly and most importantly
 Last but not least
3. Definition: To mark the beginning of a descending order

 First and foremost, …

Connecting Words – Summary:

Function: To sum up what has been previously stated

 All things considered

 Altogether
 As demonstrated above
 As noted
 As shown above
 As you can see
 Briefly
  By and large
 Generally speaking
 Given these points
 In a word
 In any event
 In brief
 In conclusion
 In essence
 In short
 In summary
 In the end
 In the final analysis
 On the whole
 Overall
 Therefore
 To conclude
 To end
 To sum up
 To summarize
 Ultimately

Linking Words – Condition:

Function: To provide a condition to what has been stated

 Although this may be true

 As
 Because of
 Even if
 Given that
 Granted that
 If
 In that case
 In the event that
 Lest
 On the condition that
 Only if
 Since
 Then
 Unless
 When
 Whenever
 While

Connecting Words – Concession:

Function: Connecting words and phrases to accept a point or idea with reservation

 Admittedly
 Albeit
 All the same
 Although
 Although/Even though
 And still
 And yet
 Be that as it may
 Even if
 Even so
 Even though
 However
 In spite of
 Nevertheless
 Nonetheless
 Regardless of this
 Up to a point

Connecting Words – Generalization:

Function: To make a general statement

 As a rule
 Broadly speaking
 Commonly
 For the most part
 Generally speaking
 In general, / Generally
 In most cases
 Mainly
 More often than not
 Mostly
 Normally
 Often
 On the whole
 On the whole
 Overall
 Predominately
 Regularly
 Typically

Connecting Words – Restatement:

Function: To express an alternative to what has been previously stated

  Alternatively
 Alternatively stated
 Expressed simply
 In a nutshell
 In other words
 In short
 In simple language
 In simple terms
 In summation
 Namely
 Otherwise stated
 Put differently
 Put in another way
 Reiterated
 Said differently
 Simplified
 Simply put
 That is to say
 To put it differently

Connecting Words – Reference:

Function: To a relationship between continuing ideas presented in your essay.

 As applied to
 As far as
 Concerning
 Considering
 In connection to
 In terms
 Pertaining to
 Regarding
 Some examples of these might be:
 Speaking about/of
 The fact that
 With regards to
 With respect to

Connecting Words – Clarification:

Function: To indicate that you will be exploring your ideas in more detail.

 I mean
 In explanation
 In lay terms
 In other words
  In simple terms
 Simply put
 Simply stated
 That is to say
 To break it down
 To clearly define
 To explain
 To make plain
 To put it clearly
 To put it in another way
 To simplify

Connecting Words – Space/ Location:

Function: To clarify spatial relationships/ provide spatial order and reference.

 Across
 Adjacent
 Adjacent
 Around
 At the rear
 Below
 Beneath
 Near
 Nearby
 Next to
 On bottom
 On top
 Opposite
 Over
 Surrounding
 To the left
 Underneath