LINKING WORDS
When writing, it’s important to link your sentences. Linking words make your writing easier to understand.
Some linking words (e.g. and, because, but, so, since, etc.) can join 2 short sentences in one longer one. (e.g. He is
clever. He is hard-working. à He is clever and hard-working).
Some linking words (e.g. In addition, What is more, However, On the other hand, etc.) show how ideas are related
either between 2 sentences or 2 paragraph. (e.g. I have written to you 3 times already. I still have not received a reply
from you. à I have written to you 3 times already. However, I still have not received a reply from you.)
Linking words can be used to:
list points or show a First(ly), (=Erstens) / First of all, / In the first place, /To start with, / To begin with,
sequence (=Reihenfolge) / Secondly, / Thirdly, / Finally, /Last but not least, (=zu guter Letzt) everyone knows
that mobile phones can have a negative effect on our social life.
add more points Außerdem: What is more, / Furthermore, /Moreover, / Apart from this/that, /
In addition (to this) /Additionally, /Besides (this), the Internet is very useful at
school.
The Internet is also very useful at work.
The Internet is very useful at work too.
Not only is the Internet useful at school, but it is also very helpful at work.
show cause (=Grund) More and more people are travelling by air because /due to the fact that /
owing to the fact that (=aufgrund des Faktes, dass) / since (=da, weil) /as (=da, weil)
flights are getting cheaper and cheaper.
Note: due to/owing to the fact that à very formal!
show Facebook gives you the opportunity to get in touch with friends 24/7. Therefore,
effect/result/consequences (=daher) / So, / Thus, (=Folglich) / Consequently,(=Folglich) /As a consequence, /As a
(=Auswirkungen) result, /For this reason, more and more adolescents are using it for
communication.
Or: Facebook gives you the opportunity to get in touch with friends 24/7;
therefore, more and more adolescents are using it for communication.
give examples For example / instance, by running or swimming three times a week you feel
younger and live longer.
By taking regular exercise such as/like running or jogging you feel younger.
If you want to feel younger, you should take regular exercise, particularly, /in
particular, / especially,(=insbesondere) running or jogging.
show contrast Seatbelts are known to save lives, yet (=dennoch) / but many people refuse to
(=Gegensatz) wear them.
Seatbelts are known to save lives. However, (=jedoch) / Nevertheless,
(=Nichtsdestotrotz) / Nonetheless, (=Nichtsdestotrotz) many people refuse to wear
them.
Although (=Obwohl) / Even though (=Obwohl) / In spite of the fact that (=Trotz des
Faktes, dass) / Despite the fact that seatbelts are known to save lives, many
people refuse to wear them.
On the one hand, (=Auf der einen Seite) everybody knows that smoking is
dangerous. On the other hand, (=Auf der anderen Seite) numerous people smoke a
lot on a daily basis.
Note: in spite of/despite the fact that à very formal!