List of Commonly Used Linking Words

Function Coordinators Subordinators Transitions

Link independent Link an independent clause - Link independent clauses

clauses within a with a dependent clause or within a sentence.
sentence. phrase within a sentence. - Link sentences within a
paragraph.

Punctuation Use a comma When the dependent clause
before a is at the beginning of the
coordinator: sentence, it should be
I researched the followed by a comma:
topic, and I After I researched the
created the topic, I created the
presentation. 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,  And  Before  Afterward(s)

beginning,  As  At first
during, ending  As long as  Initially
 At the same time (as)  Meanwhile
 Every time  Meantime
 Since  Simultaneously
 So long as  Eventually
 The first/second/next/last  Finally
time
 When
 Whenever
 While
 By the time
 Till
 Until

Showing a  And  After  Next

sequence  As soon as  Subsequently
 Ever since  Then
 Following  Thereafter
 Later  First
 Once  Firstly
 Initially
 To begin
 Next
 Second
 Secondly
 Then
 Third
 Thirdly
 Finally
 Last
 Lastly
Function Coordinators Subordinators Transitions

Showing  So  In all
conclusion  In summation
 In conclusion
 To conclude

Showing  But  Although  By comparison

contrast  Either … or  Despite  By contrast
 Yet  Even though  Conversely
 In spite of  However
 Instead of  In contrast
 Though  Instead
 Whereas  Nevertheless
 While  Nonetheless
 On the contrary
 On the other hand
 Otherwise

Showing  Neither … nor  In other words

similarity  Either … or  Likewise
 Similarly

Adding  And  Additionally

information  Also
 Besides
 Further
 Furthermore
 In addition
 Moreover

Adding  For example

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  Accordingly,

 … resulting in  As a result,
 So …that  Consequently,
 … then  Hence,
 Therefore,
 Thus,

Showing  Even if
condition  If … then
 In case
 Provided that
 Providing
 Unless
 Whether or not