Monday, 26th October 2009

Let's improve our writing (list of connectors)


Here it is a list of linking words for you to use in your essays, reports and any kind of writing. They are classified according to their meaning.

Listing
firstly, secondly ...
to begin / start with ..., to conclude with
in the first place, in the second place
next , then , finally, last(ly)
to conclude ...
last but not least ...
to summarise , to sum up

Adding information
also, too, then
furthermore ...
moreover ...
in addition to that ...
above all ......
what is more ...
additionally

Comparing
equally, likewise, similarly, in the same / a different way
compared to / with, in comparison with
as ... as , both ... and ...
you can´t compare it with ...

Concluding
all in all... / in conclusion ...
to sum up ...
I draw the conclusion / arrive at the conclusion that ...
I conclude ...
consequently ..

Exemplifying
for example (e.g.), for instance
that is to say
... such as ...

Expressing result
consequently
therefore
thus
as a result
because of that ...-
that´s why ...

Expressing contrast
on the contrary
in contrast to that
but , yet, however
nevertheless ...
whereas ..., while ...
neither .... nor ...
on the one hand ..., on the other hand ...

Expressing concession
besides, however, still, though,
in spite of that, despite that
admittedly
if , unless

Giving one´s own opinion
In my view; To my mind, In my opinion, As I see it,
I think that , I believe that , I have come to the conclusion that,
I would not say that ..., Therefore I cannot agree with ...,
I am doubtful whether / certain that ...
According to the text ...
It seems to me that ...
Another argument is that ...
As far as I am concerned, ....
One reason is that ...
I would say that ...
As we have seen, ...
As we know from ...., ...
For all these reasons I would support the view that ...
As a result ...
In short ...
With regard to ...
It is for this reason that I think ...
I am convinced that ...
I feel that ...

I'm also including a link where you will find lots of connectors in English with their translation in Spanish connectors glossary. I recommend you to visit it.

If you watch the following video, you will listen to a practical explanation of the use of the linking words in English

Here you have two exercises to practise the use of the connectors

Exercise 1: in this one, you will have to combine two sentences to make one through connectors

Exercise 2 : this is a multiple choice exercise where you will have to choose the connector that fits best in each sentence

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