Effective Linking Words and Phrases for Writing
Useful expressions and linking words/phrases
Listing Points
- Firstly, First of all, In the first place, To begin/start with
- Secondly, Thirdly, Finally
Listing Advantages
- One/Another/A further/An additional (major) advantage of… is …
- The main/greatest/first advantage of… is …
Listing Disadvantages
- One/Another/ A further/An additional (major) disadvantage/drawback of…
- The main/greatest/most serious/first disadvantage /drawback of…
- Another negative aspect of…
Introducing Points/Arguments
- One (very convincing) point/argument in favour of… / against
- A further common criticism of… / It could be argued that…..
- Often claimed/suggested
- It is widely argued maintained that…..
- Generally felt/believed/held
Expressing Opinions
Some/many/most people/experts/scientist/skeptics/critics
- Claim/suggest/argue/feel that…
- Maintain/believe/point out/agree/hold that…
- Advocate (+ing/noun)/support the view that…
- Oppose the view that…
- Are in favour of/against…
- Are of the opinion that/convinced that…
- Are opposed to…
Adding More Points
- In addition (to this), furthermore, moreover, besides, apart from, what is more
- As well as, not to mention (the fact) that, also, not only … but also/as well
- Both … and, There is another side to the issue/question/argument of…
Making Contrasting Points
- On the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nonetheless, nevertheless, even so
- It may be said/argued/claimed that,…
- Others/many people oppose this viewpoint/strongly disagree…, claim/feel/believe this argument is incorrect/misguided
- Although, though, even though, while, whilst, whereas, despite/in spite of (the fact that), regardless of the fact that
- Opponents of … argue/believe/claim that…
- The fact that… contradicts the belief/idea that…
- While it is true to say that…, in fact…
- While/Although …, it cannot be denied that…
Useful expressions and linking words/phrases
Introducing Examples
- For example, for instance, such as, like, in particular, particularly, especially
- This is (clearly) illustrated/shown by the fact that…
- One/A clear/striking/ typical example of (this)…
- The fact that…. shows/illustrates that…
Emphasizing a Point
- Clearly, obviously, it is obvious, naturally, of course, needless to say, indeed
Expressing Reality
- In fact, the fact (of the matter) is, actually, in practice, it is a fact that, in effect
Making General Statements
- As a (general) rule, generally, in general, on the whole, by and large, in most cases
Making Partially Correct Statements
- To a certain extent/degree, to some extent/degree, in a way/sense, this is partly true (but)
- To a limited extent, there is some truth in (this), in some cases, up to a point
Explaining/Clarifying a Point
- In other words, that is to say, this/which means that
Expressing Cause
- Owing to, due to (the fact that), on account of, on the grounds that, given that, because, as, since
Expressing Effect
- Therefore, thus, as a result/consequence, consequently, so, for this reason
- If… were to happen, … the effect/result would be…
Expressing Intention
- To, so as to, in order to, so that, with the intention of (+ing)
Useful expressions and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing balanced considerations/opinion indirectly
- In conclusion,
- On balance,
- All things considered,
- Taking everything into account/consideration,
- To conclude,
- To sum up,
- All in all,
- Finally/Lastly
Useful expressions and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing opinion directly
- In conclusion,
- On balance,
- All things considered,
- Taking everything into account/consideration,
- To conclude,
- To sum up,
- All in all,