Linking words are words or phrases that connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. They help your writing become clear, organized, and smooth.

They show relationships between ideas such as:

• addition
• contrast
• reason
• result
• time
• example
• conclusion

Without linking words, writing can sound broken or confusing.

Example:

• I was tired. I finished my homework. I went to sleep.
• I was tired, but I finished my homework. Then, I went to sleep.

List of Linking Words (with Sentence Examples)

1. Addition

Word/Phrase	Example
and	She bought apples and oranges.
also	He speaks French. He also speaks German.
moreover	The car is fuel-efficient; moreover, it’s very reliable.
furthermore	The report is late; furthermore, it contains errors.
in addition	In addition to his salary, he earns bonuses.
as well as	She is talented as well as hardworking.

2. Showing Contrast / Opposition

Word/Phrase	Example
but	I wanted to go, but I was too tired.
however	It was expensive. However, it was worth it.
nevertheless	The weather was bad. Nevertheless, they went hiking.
on the other hand	This phone is cheap. On the other hand, it has poor battery life.
although / even though	Although it was late, she kept working.
despite / in spite of	Despite the rain, we played outside.
whereas	He is outgoing, whereas his brother is shy.

3. Cause (reason)

Word/Phrase	Example
because	He passed because he studied hard.
since	Since you’re here, let’s start the meeting.
as	As it was getting dark, we went home.
due to	The game was cancelled due to the storm.
owing to	Owing to lack of funds, the project stopped.

4. Result (Effect / Consequence)

Word/Phrase	Example
so	I was hungry, so I made a sandwich.
therefore	She trained daily; therefore, she won.
thus	The roads were icy; thus, schools closed.
consequently	He forgot his keys; consequently, he was locked out.
as a result	The company lost money. As a result, jobs were cut.

5. Giving Examples

Word/Phrase	Example
for example	Many pets, for example dogs and cats, need daily care.
for instance	He has several hobbies. For instance, he plays guitar.
such as	I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling.
like	She avoids foods like sugar and white bread. (informal)
in particular	I love art. In particular, I enjoy Impressionist paintings.

6. Sequencing Ideas

Word/Phrase	Example
first / firstly	First, preheat the oven.
second / secondly	Secondly, mix the dry ingredients.
next / then	Next, add the eggs.
after that	After that, pour into a pan.
finally / lastly	Finally, bake for 30 minutes.

7. Concluding / Summarizing

Word/Phrase	Example
in conclusion	In conclusion, exercise improves health and mood.
to sum up	To sum up, we need more staff and better equipment.
overall	Overall, the trip was a success.
in short	In short, the plan failed due to poor timing.

8. Showing Time / Sequence in a Process

Word/Phrase	Example
meanwhile	She cooked dinner. Meanwhile, he set the table.
subsequently	He quit his job; subsequently, he started a business.
previously	Previously, she had worked as a teacher.
eventually	They argued for hours but eventually agreed.
ultimately	Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Practice Exercises