Linking Words in English: Definition, Rules, and Examples

Is there a gap between the complexity of your thoughts and the fluency of your writing on the page? It is a common academic hurdle: you understand the concept perfectly, but your written explanation lacks the smooth transitions that native speakers use instinctively. To bridge this gap, you must master linking words. These are the connectors that join clauses and whole sentences to establish relationships like cause, condition, and contrast.

In This Page

In this article, I will break down the syntax and style rules you need to know. I am going to give you clear examples and a framework to build coherence, ensuring your writing finally reflects your true ability.

What are linking words?

Linking words, also known as transition words or connectors, are words or phrases that join ideas together. They make your sentences more coherent, which means they are easier to understand and follow. Think of linking words as the glue that holds your sentences together and helps your thoughts move from one point to the next seamlessly.

For example, in the sentences:

I love tea. However, I don’t like coffee.
I studied hard because I wanted to pass the exam.

Words like ‘however’ and ‘because’ are linking words. They connect ideas and show the relationship between them.

Chart of linking words with examples in grammar — Linking words usage explained in chart

Functions of Linking Words

Imagine you’re telling a story or explaining something without using linking words. It would sound choppy and disconnected, like this:

“I woke up. I went to the kitchen. I made breakfast. I ate it.”

With linking words, the same story becomes:

“I woke up, then I went to the kitchen. After that, I made breakfast, and finally, I ate it.”

Adding linking words makes your story more interesting and easier to follow. It also helps your listeners or readers understand the relationships between your ideas.

How to Use Linking Words

Before using linking words, it’s crucial to understand their meanings and how they are applied. Here’s how to use them effectively

Choosing the Right Linking Word

Select the appropriate linking word based on the context:

Use “Additionally” for adding more information.
Use “For example” when providing an illustration.

Placement of Linking Words and Punctuating Them

Linking words can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of sentences for smooth transitions.

Starting a Sentence: Use a comma after a linking word.

However, I decided to give it a try.

In the Middle of a Sentence: Add commas around the linking word.

In this case, however, the outcome was unexpected.

Now let’s understand how to use linking words with coordination

Coordinating Conjunctions → Join two equal parts. Use a comma before: (FANBOYS) For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Example → I like apples, but he prefers oranges.

Subordinating Conjunctions → Introduce dependent clauses.

Comma → When the dependent clause comes first.
Example → Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
No Comma → When the dependent clause comes after.
Example → We went for a walk although it was raining.

Lists of All Types of Linking Words

Linking words connect ideas and improve sentence flow. Below is a complete list of each type of linking word to enhance your writing!

Addition Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that connect ideas and add information.

Addition
Additionally
Along with
Also
Another
And then
Apart from this
As well as
As well as that
Besides
Coupled with
Finally
First
Further
Furthermore
In addition
Then
In addition to this
Moreover
In the same fashion
Not only…but also
Not to mention
Similarly
Together with
What’s more
Plus

Contrast Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that show differences between ideas.

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

Cause and Effect Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that explain why something happens and its result.

Because
Since
Therefore
As a result
Consequently
Thus
Hence
Due to
Owing to
For this reason
On account of
Resulting from
Under the circumstances
In consequence of
As a consequence
The outcome is that
The effect of this
This has led to
Such that
Such is the case
Accordingly
Eventually

Linking Words of Cause and Effect in English

Comparison Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that show similarities or differences.

In comparison
In the same way
Correspondingly
Just as
Likewise
Similarly
Compared to/with
As well as
Equally
Along with
In a similar fashion
By contrast
Conversely
On the contrary
Same as
Unlike
Instead of
While
Nevertheless
In spite of
Yet
Nonetheless
At the same time
In contrast to
On the other hand

Words of Time Sequence in English

Here is a comprehensive list of words that show the order of events or steps.

First
First of all
Initially
At first
In the beginning
To start with
Next
Then
Subsequently
Later
Following that
Meanwhile
Simultaneously
Concurrently
At the same time
In the meantime
While
During
Throughout
After
Before
Prior to
Afterwards
Eventually
Finally

Example Linking Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that provide examples or clarify ideas.

For example
For instance
Such as
Like
Including
To illustrate
In particular
Specifically
Namely
As an illustration
To demonstrate
As shown by
In the case of
One example is
As evidence
In other words
As a case in point
To put it differently
As revealed by
A good example of this is
In a similar manner
This can be seen when
As a specific instance
To exemplify
As a sample
In one instance
As proof
Let’s consider
As an example of
To clarify

Conclusion/Summary Words in English

Here is a comprehensive list of words that wrap up ideas and provide a final statement.

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

Emphasis Linking Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that highlight key points or stress information.

Ultimately
Clearly
Clearly, then
Importantly
Most importantly
Notably
Significantly
Indeed
In fact
Undoubtedly
Without a doubt
Absolutely
Positively
Unquestionably
In particular
Especially
Primarily
Chiefly
Above all
It’s worth noting
It should be emphasized that
It’s important to highlight
A key point to remember
Of course
Naturally
To stress
Also
To highlight
It’s important to note
Even
To draw attention to
It cannot be overstated
To repeat
Truly

Clarification Linking Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that make ideas clearer or explain them differently.

I mean
In explanation
To be clear
In other words
Let me explain
To put it clearly
Simply stated
That is to say
To break it down
More precisely
To clearly define
Allow me to clarify
To put it in another way
Simply put
To simplify

Linking Words of Clarification in English

Linking Words for Expressing Purpose/Reason

Here is a comprehensive list of words that explain why something is done.

Because of
Therefore
For the purpose of
Given that
Granted that
In view of
Owing to
With this purpose
Provided that
Seeing that
With this in mind
In fact
In order to
As a result
With this intention
So that
With the aim of

Linking Words of Reason or Purpose in English

Sequence Linking Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that show the logical order of events.

First/Firstly
Second/Secondly
Third/Thirdly
Afterward
Finally
Initially
Following
Previously
Before
Subsequently
To start with

Condition Linking Words

Here is a comprehensive list of words that show conditions for something to happen.

If
Unless
Although this may be true
As
Because of
Even if
In that case
On the condition that
Only if
Since
Then
When
Whenever
While
Except if

Linking Words of Choice in English

Here is a comprehensive list of words that present options or alternatives.

Option 1 or Option 2
Either… or…
Whether… or…
Preferably… or…
In either case…
Or
Alternatively
While… In comparison…
Rather
Select between… or…
Choose either… or…

Linking Words for Restatement in English

Here is a comprehensive list of words that repeat or rephrase an idea for clarity.

I mean
Expressed simply
In a nutshell
Otherwise stated
Put in another way
In other words
That is to say
To put it differently
In simple terms
What I mean by this is
To rephrase
In short

Linking Words for Generalizing Information

Here is a comprehensive list of words that make broad statements for generalization.

In general
Generally speaking
On the whole
Overall
Broadly
By and large
In most cases
In the majority of instances
As a rule
For the most part
In a general sense
Without exception
Universally
Across the board
Without distinction
In a broader context
Typically
Commonly
Without specific regard to
In a global perspective
Without pinpointing

Linking Words of Generalize Information in English

Practical Examples of Linking Words

Let’s put linking words into action with more examples. Notice how they help the flow of each sentence:

I woke up early, then I made breakfast. After that, I went for a walk.
She was tired because she had worked all day. However, she still managed to cook dinner.
I went to the store and bought some vegetables. In addition, I picked up some fruit.
We planned to visit the beach, but it started raining, so we stayed home instead.
He loves reading books, especially novels. For example, he recently finished ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
I wanted to call my friend, but I couldn’t find my phone.
After finishing my homework, I watched a movie.
The car was old; however, it was still very reliable.
“In addition, we need to buy some vegetables for dinner.”

Conclusion

‘Linking words’ are considered a powerful tool in English. They make your sentences clearer, help your ideas connect, and make your speaking and writing much more engaging. By using linking words, you can take your English from simple and choppy to smooth and natural.

Linking Words Quiz

Pick the best connector for each sentence. You’ll see correctness after you choose. Open the hint only if you want help.

Timer begins when you start. You must answer at least five questions to finish.

Your Results

FAQs

Q1. What are linking words?

Linking words, also known as transition words or connectors, are words or phrases that create a connection between ideas, sentences, or paragraphs in a text.

Q2. What is the importance of using linking words?

Connecting words help to create cohesion and coherence in writing, making it easier for readers to understand the relationships between different ideas.

Q3. Why are linking words important in writing?

Linking words help writers to make their writing coherent and logical. They allow the writer to smoothly transition from one idea to the next, which helps keep the reader engaged and ensures that the writing flows logically.

Q4. Can I use the same linking word more than once in a paragraph?

While it’s generally better to use a variety of linking words to create a sense of flow and variety, there may be instances where using the same linking word multiple times in a paragraph is appropriate.

Q5. What are some commonly used linking words?

Here’s a list of commonly used linking words:
1. Addition:
and
also
in addition
furthermore
moreover
besides
2. Contrast:
but
however
on the other hand
although
nevertheless
yet
3. Cause and Effect:
because
since
as a result
therefore
consequently
thus
4. Comparison:
similarly
likewise
in the same way
just as
equally
5. Sequence or Order:
first, second, third, etc.
next
then
after
finally
subsequently
6. Emphasis:
especially
indeed
in fact
certainly
above all
7. Conclusion or Summary:
in conclusion
to sum up
overall
in summary
finally

Q6. What is the difference between conjunctions and linking words?

Conjunctions are a type of linking word that connects two clauses within a sentence. Linking words, on the other hand, connect different sentences or paragraphs within a text.

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