LINKING WORDS - Adding information, summarising, sequencing, giving reasons and contrasting ideas

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora

A practical list of common English linking words and phrases grouped by function, including adding information (and, in addition, also, too, moreover), summarising (in short, in brief, in summary, to conclude, in a nutshell), sequencing (firstly, secondly, lastly, the following, the former and the latter), giving reasons (because, since, as, due to/owing to with correct noun or fact that patterns), giving results (therefore, so, consequently, as a result), and contrasting ideas (but, however, although, despite/in spite of, while/whereas/unlike).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Adding information

Summarising

Sequencing ideas

Giving a reason

Giving a result

Contrasting ideas

[eng.house](eng.house) LINKING WORDS linking words a list of the most common linking words and phrases. Adding information And In addition As well as Also Too Furthermore Moreover Apart from In addition to Besides Ideas are often linked by and. In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and. “We discussed training, education and the budget.” Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis.“We also spoke about marketing.” You can use also with not only to give emphasis. “We are concerned not only by the costs, but also by the competition.” We don’t usually start a sentence with also. If you want to start a sentence with a phrase that means also, you can use In addition, or In addition to this… As well as can be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.“As well as the costs, we are concerned by the competition.” “We are interested in costs as well as the competition.” Too goes either at the end of the sentence, or after the subject and means as well. “They were concerned too.” “I, too, was concerned.” Apart from and besides are often used to mean as well as, or in addition to.“Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.” “Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.” Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are making.“Marketing plans give us an idea of the potential market. Moreover, they tell us about the competition.” Summarising In short In brief In summary To summarise In a nutshell To conclude In conclusion We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a summary of what we have said or written. Sequencing ideas The former,…the latter Firstly, secondly, ﬁnally The ﬁrst point is Lastly The following The former and the latter are useful when you want to refer to one of two points. “Marketing and ﬁ nance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in the ﬁrst term and the latter is studied in the ﬁnal term.” Firstly,…secondly,…ﬁnally (or lastly) are useful ways to list ideas. It’s rare to use “fourthly”, or “ﬁfthly” Instead, try the ﬁrst point, the second point, the third point and so on. The following is a good way of starting a list. “The following people have been chosen to go on the training course: N Peters, C Jones and A Owen.” Giving a reason Due to / due to the fact that Owing to / owing to the fact that Because Because of Since As Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun. “Due t o the rise in oil prices, the inﬂation rate rose by 1. 25% .” “Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2 weeks.” If you want to follow these words with a clause (a subject, verb and object), you must follow the words with the fact that. “Due t o the fact that oil prices have risen, the inﬂation rate has gone up by 1%25.” “Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company has been unable to fulﬁll all its orders.” Because / because of Because of is followed by a noun. “Because of bad weather, the football match was postponed.” Because can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For example,“Because it was raining, the match was postponed.” “We believe in incentive schemes, because we want our employees to be more productive.” Since / as Since and as mean because. “Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staĊ.” As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staĊ.” Giving a result Therefore So Consequently This means that As a result Therefore, so, consequently and as a result are all used in a similar way. “The company are expanding. Therefore / So / Consequently / As a result, they are taking on extra staĊ.” So is more informal. Contrasting ideas But However Although / even though Despite / despite the fact that In spite of / in spite of the fact that Nevertheless Nonetheless While

FAQs

How do you use 'also', and where should it be placed in a sentence?

Also can add an extra idea or emphasis, but it is usually not used at the start. If you need a meaning like 'also' at the beginning, use 'In addition' or 'In addition to this' instead.

What is the correct structure after 'due to' and 'owing to'?

Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun. If you want to add a clause (subject, verb, object), use 'due to the fact that' or 'owing to the fact that'.

Which linking words show contrast, and how do 'although' and 'despite' differ?

But, however, although/even though, despite/in spite of introduce contrast. Although/even though require two halves of a sentence, while despite/in spite of must be followed by a noun, or by 'the fact that' if you include a verb clause.

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora