LINKING WORDS

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 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 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 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: Examples • 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.