Words and phrases that writers use to organize text.
1. ADDING A POINT
• Also is used in formal speech and writing. It is not normally used as a connector at the beginning of a sentence:
Eating too much sugar leads to overweight, and also damages the teeth.
• As well as is followed by a noun or -ing:
Eating too much sugar leads to overweight, as well as damaging the teeth.
• As well as this can be used as a connector, referring to a previous sentence:
Eating too much sugar leads to overweight, and also damages the teeth. As well as this, it has been linked with increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
• In addition is a connector. In addition to begins a phrase adding to a clause:
Eating too much sugar leads to overweight, and also damages the teeth. In addition, it has been linked with increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
In addition to strengthening your heart, exercise improves your immune system.
• Moreover, furthermore and what is more are more formal connectors and emphasize that there is an additional point to be made:
Eating too much sugar leads to overweight, and also damages the teeth, and what is more, it has been linked with increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
• Above all is a connector which adds a point, and stresses it is the most important one:
Eating too much sugar leads to overweight, and also damages the teeth. Above all, it has been linked with increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
• Besides is a connector with a similar meaning to anyway or in any case:
It's too late to go to the cinema, and, besides, there aren't any good films on.
2. CONTRAST OR CONCESSION
• However can be used as a connector at the beginning or end of the sentence. Note that there is always punctuation on both sides of it, generally a full stop or comma:
Recycling is increasing. However, there is still a waste disposal problem.
Recycling is increasing. There is still a waste disposal problem, however.
• Yet can be used at the beginning of the contrast clause:
Recycling is increasing, yet there is still a waste disposal problem.
• Compare the use of although:
Recycling is increasing, although there is still a waste disposal problem.
Although recycling is increasing, there is still a waste disposal problem.
• Despite (this) contrasts a previous point with one coming after it. Note that despite followed by a noun or -ing form of the verb:
Despite increased recycling, there is still a waste disposal problem.
Despite the increase in recycling, there is still a waste disposal problem.
• In spite of (+ noun) is used in a similar way:
In spite of increased recycling, there is still a waste disposal problem.
In spite of the fact that recycling has increased, there is still a waste disposal problem.
• Nevertheless and the more formal nonetheless are more formal connectors referring back to the previous point, and can also come at the end of the sentence. But can come first:
Recycling is increasing. Nevertheless/Nonetheless, there is still a waste disposal problem.
There is still a waste disposal problem, nevertheless/nonetheless.
Recycling is increasing, but nevertheless/nonetheless, there is still a waste disposal problem.
3. DEGREE
• To some extent and to a certain extent are ways of saying 'partly'. They can come at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence. Note that this changes the meaning:
To some extent, experts believe that this is true. (not all experts believe this)
Experts believe to some extent that this is true. (they do not completely believe it)
Experts believe that this is true to some extent. (it is partly true)
• In some respects and In some ways are connectors limiting what comes before or after:
Many economists argue that the crisis was caused by government inaction. In some respects, this is true.
• More or less is an adverbial expression with the same meaning and comes before an adjective, or alone at the end of a sentence:
Most experts believe that this is true more or less.
Most experts believe that this is more or less true.
4. COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
• On the one hand ... (but/while) on the other hand introduces contrasting points:
On the one hand, raising taxes increases government revenue, but on the other hand it may take away incentives for some earners.
• On the contrary points out that something is true, but the opposite of a previous point:
Widespread use of pesticides did not eradicate the disease. On the contrary, in some areas, the incidence of the disease actually increased.
• Compared to, in comparison to/with are used in introductory or closing phrases:
In comparison to last year, there has been improvement.
Compared with/to last year, there has been improvement.
There has been improvement in comparison to last year.
There has been improvement compared with/to last year.
• In the same way introduces a second point which is said to be similar to the first:
Wave power generators use the movement of the waves to produce electricity. In the same way, tidal generators use the back and forward motion of the tides.
• (But) at least shows that there is an advantage, despite a disadvantage just mentioned.
Electric cars cannot travel long distances, but at least they are pollution free.
5. EXCEPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES
• Except (for) and apart from can mean the same:
Nobody was hurt, except for one passenger who suffered minor injuries.
Nobody was hurt, apart from one passenger who suffered minor injuries.
• Apart from can also mean in addition to/as well as:
Apart from providing accommodation, the Society also offers free meals.
• Instead (of) means that one thing replaces another:
They decided not to fly, but to go by train instead.
Instead of flying, they decided to go by train.
• Alternatively is a more formal way of starting a sentence meaning or:
We could fly. Instead/Alternatively, we could go by train.
We could fly, or alternatively, we could go by train/or we could go by train instead.
6. Sequences
7. Summarizing and explaining
8. Making assertions
9. Giving examples
10. Making Clear
11. Making statements less direct
12. Comment and viewpoint
