LINKING WORDS

There are many features of texts which help the reader understand how the information in the text is
organised. This term covers a wide range of words and phrases which make text easier to understand. A
selection is given here.

ADDING A POINT
As well as the obvious dangers, there was the weather to be considered.
In addition to the obvious dangers, there was the weather to be considered.
Not only were there the obvious dangers, but there was also the weather to be considered.

DEVELOPING A POINT
Besides/furthermore/in addition/moreover/what's more/on top of that/to make matters worse,
smoking has been directly linked to lung cancer.

CONTRAST
The identity of the attacker is known to the police. However/nevertheless/all the same no name has
been released.
The identity of the attacker is known to the police. No name has, however/all the
same, been released.

Remember that:
- Nevertheless is more formal than however.
- However means `in spite of this fact´ and we can also use it to add information that seems surprising or
contrast with what we have just said.

(Al)though/while/even though/in spite of the fact that/ despite the fact that the identity of the
attacker is known to the police, no name has been released.

Remember that:
- Although/ (Even) though + clause + coma: (Even) though she is successful, she is so modest.
- Even though is more enphatic than although. We use it to emphasise the surprising contrast of two
facts.
- We can use though, but not although, at the end of a clause: I eat most dairy products. I´m not keen on
yogurt, though.
- We can reverse the order of the two clauses: She is so modest, (even) though she is successful.
- In spite of/despite + noun/-ing: In spite of her success, she is so modest.
- In spite of/despite the fact that + clause + coma: In spite of the fact that she is successful, she is so
modest.
* Even though implies that something is true, whereas even if refers to a hypothetical situation.

The identity of the attacker is known to the police. A name has nevertheless/nonetheless/still not been
released.
No, I didn't say the President got it wrong. On the contrary, I think he's handled the affair superbly.
I prefer city life as opposed to country life.
I prefer city life, whereas John prefers country life.
Donahue established his reputation as a novelist. In contrast, his new book is a non-fiction work.

Remember that:
- We use whereas to say that something is true of one thing but it is not true of another: Why are some
cancers curable whereas others are not?
- We don´t use whereas when there is a surprising factor: Although/While Sophie´s father is from Spain,
she doesn´t speak Spanish. (not whereas).
- We use while/whilst at the beginning of a clause to introduce information which contrasts with
something we have said in the main clause. It is more formal than although: The first car is made in
Korea while the second one is manufactured in Japan.
- Whilst is a rather literary word and some people avoid using it.
EXPLAINING REASONS
The government does not intend to cause any further provocation.
As a result/'accordingly'/thus/hence/'consequently'/for that reason, all troops
have been withdrawn.
The employers have promised to investigate these complaints, and we in turn have
agreed to end the strike.

Because/ Since (more formal) everything looked different, I had no idea where to go.
We must begin planning now, for (formal)/because the future may bring unexpected changes.
My mother´s arrived, so I won´t be able to meet you.
Ken just had to apologise, seeing that (informal)/as he knew he´d made a mistake.
We were delay because of/due to/owing to an accident.
The accident was due to a mistake.
It was owing to/due to his encouragement that she applied for the job.

MAKING GENERALISATIONS
Broadly speaking, generally speaking, on the whole, by and large, to a large/some/a certain extent,
this has been an encouraging year for the company.

STARTING
That's absolute rubbish! For a start/first of all/in the first place/for one thing, it was Rod who said that,
not me. And secondly ...

GIVING NEW INFORMATION

She then turned to Henry, who incidentally/by the way is now about two metres tall, and said ...
By the way/incidentally, do you remember an old friend of ours called Ransom?

CONCESSION/QUALIFICATION
OK, so you two have had a few problems. Even so/all the same, I don't see why
you need to split up.
Lancaster is a man of great personal integrity. Having said that/even so/all the
same, I don't think he'd make a good chairman.

REALITY
What did you think of 'Death in Action'?
To be (perfectly) honest/to tell the truth, I can't stand films like that.

EXPRESING PURPOSE AD RESULT

He took the course to/in order to/so as to get a better job.

She stayed at work late in order that/so that she could complete the report.

- To is preferred in spoken English.

- We rarely use just “not + to inf.”, but instead we use so as not to or in order not to.
- In contrastive sentences, we can use not + to inf., but to + inf.: I came to see you not (in order/so as) to
complain, but (in order/so as) to apologise.
- So that is more common than in order that, and it is used in less formal situations.

The model was designed such that/in such a way that (LESS FORMAL) the value of x could be calculated
(in a way that has the result that).

In fact, the tax cuts have been designed in such a way as to leave out the very people it is supposed to
help. (Less formal)

It was such a popular play that the performance was sold out after the first day.