🧵 Grammar · Clauses, Connectors & Sentence Style
Linking Words & Discourse Markers
A master list of the connecting words that make your English flow — organised by what job each one does.
Grammar › Clauses, Connectors & Sentence Style › Linking Words & Discourse Markers
The rule in one sentenceLinking words and discourse markers connect ideas and signal the relationship between them — addition, contrast, cause and result, sequence or example — and choosing the right one, with the right punctuation, is what makes English sound joined-up instead of like a list of separate sentences.
What do linking words actually do?
Every linking word answers a silent question for the reader: “how does this new idea relate to the last one?” Is it another point in the same direction (addition), a change of direction (contrast), a reason or an outcome (cause and result), a step in a process (sequence), or a concrete illustration (example)? Get the category right and the logic of your sentence is instantly clear.
Linking words also carry register. Witness for the Prosecution was adapted from a stage play; however, the screen version added new plot twists to heighten the suspense sounds formal and written. It started as a play, but Witness for the Prosecution added new twists on screen sounds exactly as true, just more conversational. Same logical relationship — contrast — expressed two different ways.
🎬 Compare: “Killers of the Flower Moon runs three and a half hours, so some cinemas built in an intermission” (informal, coordinating conjunction, comma only) vs. “Killers of the Flower Moon runs three and a half hours; as a result, some cinemas built in an intermission” (formal, needs a semicolon or full stop before it).
The meaning is identical — only the punctuation and the formality change.
Punctuation is the part learners forget. Words like however, moreover, therefore and consequently are not conjunctions — they can’t glue two full sentences together with just a comma. They need a semicolon or a full stop before them, and a comma after. Simple conjunctions like and, but, so only ever need a comma.
How to build it: linking words by function
Addition
- also, in addition, moreover, furthermore, as well as
- Coach Carter redefined the high-school sports drama genre. In addition, it helped launch several young actors’ careers.
- The Blind Side recreates a pivotal true story in forensic detail; moreover, it used practical, on-location filming rather than heavy CGI.
Contrast
- however, on the other hand, although, whereas, despite, in spite of
- Little Women (1994) is a warm family drama for most of its runtime; however, the final act turns unexpectedly emotional.
- Whereas Coach Carter emphasises discipline off the court, most sports dramas focus purely on the game itself.
Cause & result
- because, since, as, therefore, as a result, consequently, so
- The filmmakers wanted Anatomy of a Murder’s courtroom scenes to feel authentic, because Hollywood dramas of the era often felt staged; as a result, the production followed precise legal procedure throughout the screenplay.
- The lead role in We Are Marshall required months of preparation; consequently, the cast trained extensively with real football drills before filming began.
Sequence
- first, then, next, after that, finally, meanwhile
- In The Rainmaker, the young lawyer first struggles to find any clients; then he takes on a powerful insurance company in court.
- In Widows (2018), the widows first mourn their husbands’ deaths; meanwhile, they secretly begin planning the heist needed to repay a dangerous debt.
Example
- for example, for instance, such as, like, namely
- Many sports dramas favour practical effects over CGI; for example, large sections of We Are Marshall were filmed using real game footage and stunt work instead of computer animation.
- Studio Ghibli films, such as Spirited Away, are famous for hand-drawn animation.
When to use which
Formal / academic writing
- moreover, furthermore, consequently, whereas, nonetheless, therefore
- Little Women (1994)’s tone shifts gradually across the story; nonetheless, Gillian Armstrong keeps the tone consistent through careful pacing.
Spoken / informal English
- also, but, so, plus, then, though (at the end of a sentence)
- A Time to Kill was a huge hit — critics were divided too, though.
Quick punctuation test
1. Sentence-initial connector: comma right after it. However, few sequels manage to recapture what made the original so beloved.
2. Mid-sentence connector joining two full sentences: semicolon before, comma after. Furiosa is a prequel; however, it can be watched on its own.
3. Simple conjunction (and, but, so): just a comma before it, no semicolon. Furiosa underperformed, but critics praised it.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
Common mistakes
❌ Witness for the Prosecution was adapted from a play, however it added new twists for the screen.
✅ Witness for the Prosecution was adapted from a play; however, it added new twists for the screen.
“However” needs a semicolon or full stop before it, not just a comma.
❌ Because The Blind Side runs over two hours. Some cinemas added an intermission.
✅ Because The Blind Side runs over two hours, some cinemas added an intermission.
A “because” clause on its own is a sentence fragment — it must be joined to the main clause with a comma.
❌ Despite the film was long, audiences loved Killers of the Flower Moon.
✅ Although the film was long, audiences loved Killers of the Flower Moon.
“Despite” and “in spite of” must be followed by a noun, not a full clause with subject and verb — “although” is the word for that.
❌ Furthermore A Time to Kill earned strong reviews.
✅ Furthermore, A Time to Kill earned strong reviews.
Sentence-initial connectors like “furthermore” need a comma right after them.
Exceptions & tricky cases
1. “So” plays two roles. As a coordinating conjunction it just needs a comma: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels became a cult classic, so its influence spread across British cinema. Informally, it can also open a spoken sentence: “So, have you seen Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?”
2. “Yet” has two unrelated meanings. As a contrast connector it means “but”: Emma (2020) is visually unconventional for a period drama, yet it earned widespread critical praise. As a time adverb it means “still/until now”: Fans haven’t stopped debating Emma (2020)’s ending yet.
3. “Still” changes job depending on position. As a sentence-initial connector it means “nevertheless”: The reviews were mixed. Still, Napoleon Dynamite became a beloved cult classic over time. As a plain adverb it means “continuing”: Fans are still quoting the film’s best lines today.
4. “As” is ambiguous. It can mean cause: As The Blind Side was filmed largely on location, the visuals feel authentic. Or time: As the final game clock runs down in the climactic scene, the crowd noise fades into silence. Formal writing often avoids “as” for cause to prevent this confusion.
Practice: choose the right connector
Eight quick questions. Pick the answer you’d actually write — you get the explanation either way.
1. Anatomy of a Murder’s source novel was based on a real murder trial that spanned months; ___, the filmmakers condensed the timeline significantly for the film.
Condensing the timeline is a result of the long history, not a contrast — “therefore” signals cause and result.
2. Little Women (1994) is a warm story for most of its runtime ___ the final act turns emotional.
Joining two full sentences with “however” needs a semicolon (or full stop) before it, never just a comma.
3. ___ the film’s two-hour length, The Blind Side kept audiences engaged throughout.
“Despite” is followed by a noun phrase (“the film’s length”); “although” would need a full clause instead.
4. Killers of the Flower Moon is based on a true story; ___, the filmmakers consulted the Osage community during filming.
Consulting the community is an added detail, not a contrast — “in addition” fits.
5. In The Rainmaker, the young lawyer first doubts his chances; ___, he realises he can win the case.
“Eventually” signals a later step in a sequence; “meanwhile” signals something happening at the same time elsewhere.
6. ___ was Emma (2020) visually unconventional, it also earned widespread critical acclaim.
“Not only … it also” is a correlative addition pattern; “So” doesn’t build this structure.
7. A Time to Kill earned strong reviews___ it became one of the most talked-about legal dramas of its year.
Breaking records leading to that title is a result, not a contrast — “so” fits.
8. Napoleon Dynamite’s reviews were mixed. ___, it became a cult classic over the following years.
“Still” (meaning nevertheless) signals contrast with the previous sentence; “then” signals time sequence, which doesn’t fit here.
Keep going
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