Text connectives
Taken from A New Grammar Companion 3rd Edition by Beverly Derewianka
Other words that contribute to the cohesion of the text are the text connectives. These are often referred to using terms such as connectors, transition words, discourse markers, connective adjuncts or signal words. They provide the reader with signposts indicating how the text is developing and linking stretches of text. If the writer wants to show that a summary is coming up, for example, a phrase such as In short … or Briefly … can be used. If the text is giving a sequence of points, these can be highlighted through the use of such words as: To begin …, Secondly …, In conclusion … The following is a list of commonly used text connectives.
For ease, you can download a copy of the below table here.
| Clarifying |
Showing cause/result |
Indicating time |
in other words
I mean
to put it another way
for example
for instance
to be more precise
or rather
in particular
in fact
as a matter of fact
that is
namely
to illustrate |
therefore
then
consequently
as a consequence
as a result
for that reason
accordingly
because of this
so
on account of this |
then
next
afterwards
at the same time
before that
in the end
finally
after a while
at this point
meanwhile
at this moment
later
previously
earlier
until then |
| Sequencing ideas |
Adding information |
Other |
in the first place
first of all
to start with
to begin
for a start
second, third, fourth
at this point
to get back to the point
then
in short
all in all
briefly
to summarise/to sum up
finally
a final point
to conclude
in conclusion
given the above points
in light of the above |
in addition
apart from that
too
furthermore
also
on top of that
and besides
above all
along with this
what’s more
again
as well
likewise
moreover
similarly
equally
in the same way |
in that case
otherwise
if not
however
nevertheless
on the contrary
despite this
besides
on the other hand
anyhow, anyway
instead
still
even so
all the same
in any case
at least
though
despite this
alternatively
|
Troubleshooting
Sometimes text connectives are confused with conjunctions, and indeed they often perform a very similar function. Conjunctions, however, join two clauses and operate within a sentence. Text connectives, on the other hand, form links between sentences and other longer stretches of text. Also, while conjunctions are placed at the beginning of a clause, text connectives can be more freely placed at various positions within the sentence (as, for example, in the use of however and on the other hand in this paragraph).
Purchase the book