Discourse markers

We use different discourse markers in speaking and writing. In speaking, the

following discourse markers are very common:

anyway like right you know

fine now so I mean

good oh well as I say

great okay mind you for a start

Ordering what we say

We also use discourse markers to order or sequence what we say. Some of the
common words and phrases which we use for this are:

and in general second to sum up

and then in the end *secondly what’s more

first (of all) last of all so well

*firstly next lastly a…b

for a start on top of that third(ly)

Discourse markers that monitor what we say

As we talk, we monitor (or listen to) what we are saying and how our listener is
responding to what they hear. We often rephrase or change what we say depending
on how our listener is responding. We use words and phrases such as well, I mean,
in other words, the thing is, you know, you know what I mean, you see, what I mean
is.
Saying something in another way

Sometimes, as we talk, we add phrases to show our listener that we are going to
rephrase, repeat or change what we are saying. These discourse markers help to
make what we say clearer for the listener:

I just had to leave early. What I mean is I hated the show. It just wasn’t funny.

You exercise regularly, you have a good diet and you don’t have too much
stress. In other words, I think you have nothing to worry about. Your health seems
very good.

I think I’ve found a house I’d like to buy. Well it’s an apartment actually. It’s ideal
for me.

Shared knowledge

When we talk, we think about how much knowledge we share with our listener. We
often mark what we think is old, shared or expected knowledge with you know and
we mark new knowledge that we see as not shared with the listener with phrases
like see, you see, the thing is:

You know, hiring a car was a great idea. (The speaker and the listener know about
hiring the car.)

A:
Why don’t you come and stay with me when you’re in Lisbon?

B:
It’d be difficult. I have to be back in Dublin by Friday. You see, my sister is getting
married on Saturday so I won’t have time to visit. (B assumes that A doesn’t know
about her sister’s wedding. This is new information)

Discourse markers as responses

As we listen to someone speaking, we usually show our response to what we hear

either by gesture (head nod) or by a short response (Mm, yeah, really, that’s a
shame). This shows that we are listening to and interested in what is being said.
We call these short responses ‘response tokens’.

Common response tokens include:

absolutely fine okay wow

(all) right good quite (more formal) yeah

certainly great really yes

definitely I see sure

exactly no wonderful

that’s great/interesting/amazing/awful, etc.

Discourse markers showing attitude

Some expressions are used to mark attitude or point of view in speaking or writing.

Common expressions of attitude are:

actually frankly I think (I’m) sorry

admittedly hopefully literally surprisingly

amazingly honestly naturally thankfully

basically ideally no doubt to be honest

certainly if you ask me obviously to tell you the truth

clearly I’m afraid of course understandably

confidentially I must admit predictably undoubtedly

definitely I must say really unfortunately

essentially in fact sadly

fortunately indeed seriously

Discourse markers: sounding less direct

We are careful when we speak not to sound too direct or forceful. We use words
and phrases such as like, maybe, sort of to soften what we say (hedges).

We often use these words and expressions as hedges:

apparently kind of perhaps roughly

arguably like presumably sort of/ kind of*

I think maybe probably surely

just

* sort of is more common in British English; kind of is more common in American

English.

Her last book was called… erm what was it? I can’t remember the name.