Linking Words for Essays: How to Link Those Paragraphs and Sentences

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What you write about is only part of what makes up a great essay. Without good flow, your writers will end up lost or bored, so be sure your writing flows. The best way to be sure your writing flows is by linking up your paragraphs and sentences properly.

Take a class on college writing essentials for information that goes beyond just linking. If you just need help with linking, however, you can try some of these linking words. They can be a great asset to you when writing your essays. If you need to brush up on the different types of essays, read this helpful article.

These particular words or phrases are used to connect ideas or introduce a shift in the essay. Some of the words or phrases listed below will fit in more than one category. The different categories of words or phrases will do different things to your essays so be sure to check out what the particular category of words or phrases is for before choosing it. You might pick the wrong one.

Words and Phrases for Agreeing, Adding, and Showing Likeness

These particular words or phrases are used to add to the information, supplement ideas, or show an agreement with material before it. Here’s a brief list of words or phrases that will help you transition paragraphs that fit this criteria. Learn how to write for college with an online class.

again
also
like
too
and
equally
identically
as well as
together with
of course
in the light of
not to mention
to say nothing of
equally important
by the same token

Words and Phrases for Opposing, Limiting, and Contradicting

When using these words or phrases, you should be connecting paragraphs that show evidence that is contrary to the prior material or pointing out alternatives. This will show your readers that the essay has shifted to a different line of reasoning. Below are some words you can use to connect your paragraphs of this type. Write great college application essays with this online class.

but
rather
nonetheless
besides
unlike
regardless (Note: irregardless is not a word, so don’t use it as a synonym to regardless)
even so
although this may be true

Words and Phrases for Causes, Conditions, and Purposes

These particular transitions are designed to show something that was caused by something else, a condition, or the purpose of something. Below is a short list of words or phrases designed for this type of transition.

if
as
since
due to
so that
with this in mind
in order to
in the hope that

Words and Phrases for Examples, Supporting Ideas, and Emphasizing Information

The words and phrases listed below for this category can be used to introduce support, emphasize the importance of something, or to give an illustration of something. Here’s a short list of example words or phrases.

like
especially
surely
certainly
in other words
to put it another way
such as
to clarify

Words and Phrases to Show Results, Effects, and Consequences

These particular words are used to show that something had an effect on something else, to show the results of something, or to give the consequences of an action. Below is a brief list of transitions that can be used for this particular category.

for
thus
then
hence
therefore
consequently
in effect
for this reason
in that case
as a result

Words and Phrases for Concluding Paragraphs, Summarizing, and Restating

Most students have the most trouble with transitioning to their concluding paragraph. Now, you won’t have to be one those students with this helpful list of words to use for concluding, summarizing, or restating ideas.

obviously
ultimately
definitely
as can be seen
given these points
in a word
in essence
to summarize
in conclusion
in summary
in any event
to sum up

Words and Phrases to Show Chronological or Sequential Order

These are usually used along with transitional words or phrases from the above categories, but they can also be used alone. Here is a brief list of words and phrases used to define, limit, or restrict time.

after
later
last
until
finally
immediately
once
at the same time
sooner or later
by the time
in a moment
all of a sudden (Note: “all of the sudden” is not proper grammar so don’t use it as a phrase that can replace this one)

Words and Phrases to Give Location, Place, or Spacial Area

These words and phrases are like those that show chronological or sequential order. They can be used along with words from other categories, or they can be used alone. More often than not, they’re used along with other words from the above categories. They are used in similar manner to the time ones – to restrict, limit, or define space.

down
up
under
over
near
above
amid
among
beneath
beside
nearby
in the background
in the center of
adjacent to
opposite to
to the left/right
on this side

Use Transitions Wisely

All good things should be used sparingly, and the same should be said with your transitions. If you continually transition to something, you might end up losing track of what you were trying to point out in the first place. Organization is key, especially when writing an essay. Write quality paragraphs and essays with an online class, and you will never have too many transitions.

It’s also important to note that these transitions don’t always have to be at the beginning of a sentence. They can also be in the middle of sentences, connecting two separate sentences (like the use of “and”), or even at the end of sentences. Just make certain that your transitions are always used in a grammatically sound way. Otherwise, transitions will be the least of your problems.