Connectives, or linking words, are essential in formal English writing to link clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together to form a cohesive unit of written work. Connective words and phrases that are appropriately used count towards a higher Writing Test Band Score. Look at the table below.
TABLE OF SOME OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED CONNECTIVE WORDS AND PHRASES
(Refer to an academic writing textbook or teacher for a detailed discussion of appropriate usage.)
Note:
- Connectives marked with an asterisk (*) do not usually occur in the middle of sentences.
- Inclusion in a particular group does not mean that the connectives are always interchangeable.
| No. | Group | Description | Words & Phrases |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sequencing/Listing | Use to catalogue (make a list of items or sequence (place in order) what you say. | First of all,...* | In the first place,...* | To begin with,...* First(ly),...* | Second(ly),...* | Third(ly),...* | First,...* Next,... | Then,... | After that,... | Finally,... |
| 2 | Reinforcing | Use to add to and strengthen what you have said. | Also,.. Besides,,.. Furthermore,... In addition,... Moreover,... |
| 3 | Equating | Use to indicate similarity with what has been said. | In the same way,... Likewise,... Similarly,... |
| 4 | Summarising | Use to introduce a generalisation of or conclusion to what you have said. | In conclusion,...* In summary,... * To conclude,...* To sum up,...* |
| 5 | Referring | (e.g.) Use to indicate you will give (or have given) one or more examples of that you have said. (i.e.) Use to indicate an explanation of what you have said. | For example,... For instance,... In particular,... particularly,... ... such as... ,... that is,... / ,... that is to say,... ..., namely,... |
| 6 | Showing Results | Use to express the consequence of what you have said. | As a result,... Consequently,... Hence,... So... Therefore,... Thus,... |
| 7 | Inferring | Use to deduce from what you lave said. (Either what might or might not have happened, is happening, or will happen.) | In other words,... In that case,... Then... (Or) else,... Otherwise,... |
| 8 | Giving Alternatives | Alternatives Use to refer to an alternative to what you have said. | Alternatively,... On the otto hand,... Then again,... |
| 9 | Restating | Use to express what you have said in another way (usually more simply.) | In other words,... That is to say,... To put it simply,... |
| 10 | Contrasting | Use to compare or contrast with what you have said. | Conversely,... In comparision,... In contrast to his,... Instead,... On the contrary,... ,... whereas,... ..., while... /..., whilst... |
| 11 | Conceding | Use to indicate other ways of considering what you have said. | After all,... All the same... Although... Though... Even though,... Even if,... In spite of,... Despite this / that,... Nevertheless,... Nonetheless,... Still,... Yet,... |
