Linking Words

Linking Words

       It is essential to understand how Linking Words, as a part of speech, can be used to combine ideas in writing - and thus ensure that ideas within sentences and paragraphs are elegantly connected - for the benefit of the reader. This will help to improve your writing (e.g. essay, comment, summary (scientific) review, (research) paper, letter, abstract, report, thesis, etc.).
It is also fundamental to be aware of the sometimes subtle meaning of these "small" words within the English language.

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        "Linking Words" is used as a term to denote a class of English words which are employed to link or connect parts of speech or even whole sentences. They are also called connecting words. There are 2 categories of Linking Words (or Connecting Words):

List of Commonly Used Linking Words

Function	Coordinators	Subordinators	Transitions
	Link independent clauses within a sentence.	Link an independent clause with a dependent clause or phrase within a sentence.	Link independent clauses within a sentence. Link sentences within a paragraph.
Punctuation	Use a comma before a coordinator: I researched the topic, and I created the presentation.	When the dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma: After I researched the topic, I created the presentation. Do not use a comma when the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence: I created the presentation after I researched the topic.	When the transition begins the sentence, it should be followed by a comma: First, I researched the topic. Then, I created the presentation. When the transition connects two independent clauses, a semi-colon comes before it and a comma follows it: I researched the topic; afterwards, I created the presentation.
Showing time, beginning, during, ending	And	Before As As long as At the same time (as) Every time Since So long as The first/second/next/last time When Whenever While By the time Till Until	Afterward(s) At first Initially Meanwhile Meantime Simultaneously Eventually Finally
Showing a sequence	And	After As soon as Ever since Following Later Once	Next Subsequently Then Thereafter First Firstly Initially To begin Next Second Secondly Then Third Thirdly Finally Last Lastly
Showing conclusion	So		In all In summation In conclusion To conclude
Showing contrast	But Either … or Yet	Although Despite Even though In spite of Instead of Though Whereas While	By comparison By contrast Conversely However In contrast Instead Nevertheless Nonetheless On the contrary On the other hand Otherwise
Showing similarity	Neither … nor Either … or		In other words Likewise Similarly
Adding information	And		Additionally Also Besides Further Furthermore In addition Moreover
Adding example			For example For instance In particular
Showing cause	For	As a result of … Because … Due to (the fact that) In order to … Resulting from … Since …
Showing effect	So	(If) … then … resulting in So …that … then	Accordingly, As a result, Consequently, Hence, Therefore, Thus,
Showing condition		Even if If … then In case Provided that Providing Unless Whether or not

Linking Words - A complete list of Transition Words & Conjunctions also called Cohesive Devices – Connecting Words

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