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Text connectives or Connectors

June 12, 2007 — Laproff

Text Connectives:

Other words which contribute to the cohesion of the text are the text connectives. These are often called connectors, discourse markers or signal words. They provide the reader with signposts indicating how the text is developing. If the writer wants to show that a summary is coming up, for example, a phrase such as In short …or briefly … can be used. If the text is giving a sequence of points, these can be highlighted by the use of such words as to begin …, Secondly …, In conclusion…

The following is a list of commonly used text connectives:

Clarify	Showing cause/result	Indicating time	Sequencing ideas	Adding information	Condition/ concession
in other words	so	then	firstly, first	too	in that case
I mean	therefore	next	in the first place	in addition	otherwise
to put it another way	then	afterwards	first of all	indeed	if not
for example	consequently	at the same time	to start with	apart from that	however
for instance	in/as a consequence	before that	to begin	also	nevertheless
to be more precise	as a result	in the end	for a start	furthermore	despite this
or rather	for that reason	finally	second, third, fourth …	On top of that	besides
in particular	due to …, owing to …	soon	at this point	and besides	yet
in fact	accordingly	after a while	to get back to the point	above all	on the other hand
as a matter of fact	because of this	at this point	then	along with	however
that is	in that case	meanwhile	in short	What is more	on the contrary
namely		at this moment	all in all	again	anyhow, anyway
to illustrate		later	briefly	let alone	instead
		previously	to summarise/to sum up	as well	still
			finally	likewise	even so
			a final point	moreover	all the same
			to conclude	similarly	in any case
			in conclusion	equally	at least
			given the above points	in the same way	though
			in light of the above		despite this

- GCSE ENGLISH - Useful connectives

ADDING	SEQUENCING	EMPHASIZING	COMPARING
and	next	above all	equally
also	then	in particular	in the same way
as well as	first, second, third,?	especially	similarly
moreover	Finally	indeed	likewise
too	meanwhile	notably	as with
	after	significantly	like
CAUSE AND EFFECT	QUALIFYING	ILLUSTRATING	CONTRASTING
because	however	for example	whereas
so	although	such as	instead of
therefore	unless	for instance	alternatively
thus	except	as revealed by	otherwise
consequently	if	in the case of	unlike
	as long as		on the other hand
	apart from
	yet

Broad Meaning	Connective Adverbs and Phrases	Conjunctions
Addition	also, too, similarly, in addition, even, indeed, let alone	and, as, like
Opposition	however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, though, alternatively, anyway, yet, in fact, even so	but, or, (al)though, whereas, while
Reinforcing	besides, anyway, after all	in that
Explaining	for example, for instance, in other words, that is to say, i.e., e.g.	and
Listing	first(ly) … second(ly), first of all, finally, lastly, for one thing … for another, in the first place, to begin with, next, in sum, to conclude, in a nutshell	because, since, as, for, if, unless, now (that), so (that), in case, provided (that), whether … or …
Indicating result	therefore, consequently, as a result, so, then	when, before, after, since, until, till, while, as, once, whenever
Indicating time	then, meanwhile, later, afterwards, before (that), since (then), meanwhile

FIRSTLY	SECONDLY, FURTHERMORE, MOREOVER, IN ADDITION	FINALLY	IN CONCLUSION, IN SUMMARY, THUS
This can be used for the first supporting argument.	These can be used for any further supporting arguments (except, of course, for “Secondly” which can only be used for the second).	This can be used for the last supporting argument. Note: this is not a concluding connective and also you can use “Furthermore”, “Moreover” or “In addition” for the last argument if you wish	These all carry roughly the same meaning. They should be used to indicate that you are making final statements that cover all the supporting arguments in a very general way.

Also: También

As long as: Con tal de que, a condición de que

Because of (this): Por (esto), a causa de (esto)

By the way: A propósito, por cierto

Even so: Así y todo, aún así

Even though: A pesar de que, aunque

Even if: Incluso si

Firstly: En primer lugar

From now on: De ahora en adelante

However: Sin embargo

In any case: De todos modos

In conclusión: En conclusión, para terminar

In my opinión: En mi opinión

In this way: De este modo

In this respect: A este respecto

In short: En resumen, en resumidas cuentas

In some way: En cierto modo

It seems to me that: (A mí) me parece que

I think: Yo creo que, pienso que

Likewise: Asimismo

Moreover: Además, es más

On the other hand: Por otro lado, por otra parte

One way or another: de un modo u otro

Regarding: Con respecto a

So: Así es que, de modo que, así pues

Something like that: Algo así, algo parecido/ similar

Therefore: Así pues, por lo tanto, por eso

More Informative Paragraphs – Tie Your Ideas Together

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tgeorges/write/les15.htm

As you build paragraphs, you’ll need some “glue” to bind your sentences together. Otherwise, your readers will have trouble making the logical jumps from one sentence to the next. Even though the connections between your sentences may be clear to you, you can’t count on your readers to supply those links. Remember that a paragraph should form a single logical unit. If it doesn’t create a single idea in your readers’ minds, it’s not doing its job.

English supplies us with useful linking words called CONNECTIVES, which form the logical bridges between ideas. If you keep these verbal guideposts in mind and use them as you write, you will almost automatically provide the interrelations among ideas that every reader looks for.

Here is a list of some connectives. Like the subordinating conjunctions, these are the good guys; use them liberally (but correctly and appropriately), and I guarantee that your writing will become more effective. They are hard to overuse.

Connective words that describe relationships:

ALSO - HOWEVER - ALTHOUGH – INCIDENTALLY - THEREFORE – BESIDES – LIKEWISE – THUS – MEANWHILE – MOREOVER – USUALLY – FURTHERMORE – NEXT – WHATEVER – GENERALLY – YET – ACCORDINGLY – NEVERTHELESS – INSTEAD – IN CONTRAST – FOR EXAMPLE.

Connectives that give a sense of time:

FIRST - SECONDLY – FINALLY - NOW – ONCE - WHEN – ULTIMATELY - EVENTUALLY – LASTLY - LATER - MEANWHILE – PREVIOUSLY – THEN - SOON – FORMERLY – SOMETIMES.

Other Connective phrases:

TO BEGIN WITH – ON THE OTHER HAND – IN BRIEF – IN GENERAL – IN SUMMARY - MORE SPECIFICALLY – INSTEAD OF - IN ADDITION TO – IN OTHER WORDS – ANOTHER WAY TO – FOR THE SAME REASON - NO MATTER WHAT – SUCH A – THAT’S WHAT/WHY – IN FACT – WHAT’S MORE – IN THE SAME WAY – ON THE CONTRARY – CONVERSELY – AS A RESULT – SUMMING UP – IF SO / NOT.

All of these words and phrases link ideas and assure continuity in your writing. Another useful principle to assure continuity in your writing and tie your sentences together is:

- TRY TO HAVE A WORD OR PHRASE SOMEWHERE IN EACH SENTENCE THAT REFERS TO SOMETHING IN A PREVIOUS SENTENCE.

One easy way to follow this principle is to use pronominal adjectives like these to refer to nouns in previous sentences:

THIS – THAT – THESE – WHICH – THEIR – HIS – ITS – HER

For example: Dr. Quark testified that the only scientific value of creationism lies in its position among primitive superstitions and mythologies. His testimony helped strike down laws requiring its teachings to be included in biology textbooks.

Another way to assure continuity in your writing is simple repetition; that is, carry the same nouns from one sentence to the next.

For example: Scientists map the winds and precipitation inside hurricanes by flying specially instrumented aircraft through them. These aircraft must withstand stresses of up to six times the force of gravity.

If you try to use these connective devices in your own writing, but have difficulty, be suspicious that the ideas that you’re trying to link together in a single paragraph are merely a sequence (that is, a catalog) of logically unrelated ideas. Rearrange or rewrite them until you can logically tie them together. Remember: All the sentences in a paragraph should be logically related.

INTENSIVES:

Another way to tie ideas together is with intensives. Intensives help you emphasize what’s important and to set the important apart from the incidental – a major goal of all scientific and technical writing. Compare the following two sentences, the first without intensives and the second with intensives added:

The whale is the largest living mammal. The largest whales weigh over 150 tons, are 100 feet long, and consume 5 tons of food each day.

The whale is by far the largest living mammal. In fact, the largest whales weigh as much as 150 tons and grow as long as 100 feet. These enormous animals consume 5 tons of food each day.

Notice how the bold words that have been added emphasize certain points the author deemed important.

Here is a list of some useful intensives:

ESPECIALLY - AS MUCH AS - EVEN IF/THOUGH – INCREASINGLY - BY FAR – SO…THAT – MORE IMPORTANTLY – HIGHLY – ONLY – PARTICULARLY – IN FACT - VERY SIGNIFICANTLY – QUITE - SUCH – MOST - UNIQUE - AT ALL – ABOVE ALL – INDEED – IN ANY CASE.

CAUTION: Misusing or overusing intensives (most notoriously, the word very) can weaken your writing. Use them like garlic – sparingly. Eliminate intensives that are thrown in gratuitously or that don’t make a definite contribution by emphasizing an important fact or idea. Littering your writing with intensives where they are not needed makes your writing sound trite and strains your credibility.

Here is an exercise to give you practice linking your ideas together. Add connectives, intensives (from the lists above, or make up your own) and repeated words to the following sentences to make a coherent paragraph:

- Global Airlines carried three-million passengers last year.

- They expanded their routes into the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

- The new DC-12 aircraft proved more fuel-efficient than the older 737’s.

- Older, unprofitable routes were dropped.

- Passengers seem to like on-time flights and automatic ticketing.

- Only one-million passengers flew Global two years ago.

- Their record has been accident-free since 1950.

- Global planes have averaged 80-percent full last year.

- Profits were up 60 percent, in spite of increased fuel costs.

YOUR PARAGRAPH: ……………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

LESSON SUMMARY AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE:

For your paragraphs to appear as logical units, they have to hang together and convey a single idea. Use connectives and intensives to link ideas and to make the important ones stand out.

THEORY:

1. http://esl.about.com/library/writing/blwrite_connectors_cause.htm

ESL.About.com: A guide to English sentence connectors showing cause and effect.

2. http://esl.about.com/library/writing/blwrite_connectors_comparison.htm

ESL.About.com: A guide to English sentence connectors showing comparison.

3. http://esl.about.com/library/writing/blwrite_connectors_condition.htm

ESL.About.com: A guide to English sentence connectors showing condition.

4. http://esl.about.com/library/writing/blwrite_connectors_contrast.htm

ESL.About.com: A guide to English sentence connectors showing contrast.

5. http://esl.about.com/library/writing/blwrite_connectors_opposition.htm

ESL.About.com: A guide to English sentence connectors showing opposition.

6. http://esl.about.com/library/writing/blwrite_connectors_opposition.htm