Linking Words Guide

Giving A R eason

Due to / due to the fact that

Owing to / owing to the fact that

Because/ Because of

Since / As

Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun:

"Due to the rise in oil prices, the inflation rate rose by 1.25%."

"Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2

weeks."

"Due to the fact that oil prices have risen, the inflation rate has gone

up by 1.25%."

"Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company

has been unable to fulfill all its orders."

Because / B ecause of

Because shows how one idea causes another:

"We use incentive schemes because we want our employees to be more

productive."

Because is normally used in the middle of the sentence, but it can be

used in the beginning as well:

"Because of bad weather, the football match was postponed."

Since / as

Since and as mean because and can be used in both the beginning and

middle of a sentence:

"Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."1

"As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."

“Mr. Jones walked slowly as his joints were feeling stiff.”

2

Combine these sentences or main ideas using the specified linking words:

[Due to]

There were budget cutbacks.

The school had to reduce the number of afterschool programs.

E.g. Due to budget cutbacks, the school had to reduce the number of afterschool

programs.

Einstein ’ s discoveries were amazing.

Scientists have been able to unlock the power of the atom.

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[Owing to]

There has been an increase in CO2 emissions in the atmosphere over the last 50

years.

The green house effect has become more intense and noticeable.

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[Owing to the fact that]

There were many cases of Swine Flu this year.

Many parents were worried about their children’s health.

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[Because of]

Many parents had concerns.

Students who were suspected of having swine flu were sent home.

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3

Combine these sentences or main ideas using the specified

linking words:

[Because] –use it in the beginning of the sentence

The GIFLE students had an overwhelming number of writing assignments.

Many of them felt frustrated and stressed.

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[Owing to the fact that]

Darren’s wife is Korean.

He has a great appreciation for Korean food and culture.

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[Since]

Min Su was a diligent student.

He was able to pass the teacher’s exam on the first try.

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[As]

Ji Sun was very loud and boastful.

It was difficult for him to make friends easily.

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4

Giving a result

Therefore

ConsequentlyAs a result

SoTherefore, consequently, and as a result are all used in a similar way

to show a result:

"The company is expanding; therefore, they are taking on extra staff."

“The company’s revenues are decreasing. Consequently, they have had

to fire some staff.

As a result of increased carbon dioxide emissions, the green house

effect is becoming stronger.

The student scored poorly in his exam. As a result, he was unable to

enter his desired university.

Combine these sentences or main ideas using the specified

linking words:

[Therefore]

The attitude we bring to our teaching will greatly affect the quality of influence we

have on our students.

It is vital that we cultivate in ourselves positive attitudes towards learning and how we

relate with others.

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[Consequently]

Joseph took great care in completing his work with excellence and enthusiasm.

He was quickly promoted to a management position in the company.

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[As a result]

Ivy had a bad habit of not returning things that she borrowed.

Her friends enjoyed her company, but were hesitant to lend her anything.

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Contrasting ideas

HoweverBut

WhileWhereas

Although / even thoughDespite / despite the fact thatIn spite of / in spite of the fact that

NeverthelessNonetheless

Unlike

But should not be used at the beginning of a sentence because it is a

conjunction.

INCORRECT: “He works hard. But he doesn’t earn much.”

CORRECT: "He works hard, but he doesn't earn much."

However has the same meaning as but:

It has a more formal tone and can be used at the beginning of a sentence

or in the middle of a sentence.

"He works hard. However, he doesn't earn much."

Life is challenging; however, I believe we can use these challenges to

learn a great deal about ourselves.

Although, even though, despite, and in spite of also link ideas of

contrast:

When using these linking words, you need two independent clauses (two

complete sentences) that have contrasting ideas.

"Although it was cold, she went out in shorts."

"In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts."

“Even though the man had little money, he still remained content.”

Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing

to, but have a different function.

Despite and in spite of must be followed by a noun.

“Despite the poor weather, many fans still came out to the concert.”

“In spite of the audience’s poor response, the comedian kept on telling

bad jokes.”

If you want to follow them with a noun and a verb, you must use the fact

that.

"Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on

extra employees."

“Despite the fact that the students had many assignments, all of them

stayed enthusiastic.”

Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that:

"The sea was cold, but, nevertheless, he still went swimming."

"The company is doing well. Nonetheless, they will not expand this

year."

While, whereas, and unlike are used to compare two different things:

"While my sister has blue eyes, mine are brown."

"Taxes have gone up, whereas social security contributions have gone

down."

"Unlike in Asia, the USA has cheap car fuel."

Combine these sentences or main ideas using the specified

linking words:

[Although]

Mugsy Bogues was only 165 cm in height.

He was considered a strong basketball player in the NBA.

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[Even though]

Many people initially scoffed at Vincent’s unusual style of painting.

Vincent continued to paint the world in a way that way meaningful to him as an artist.

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[Even though]

Many people initially scoffed at Vincent’s unusual style of painting.

Vincent continued to paint the world in a way that way meaningful to him as an artist.

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Combine these sentences or main ideas using the specified

linking words:

[In spite of]

Mrs. Han always had a cheerful smile towards their students.

She sometimes had increasing health problems.

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[In spite of the fact that]

The student came to class late

Her teacher had warned her many times.

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[Despite]

The weather was very cold.

Edmund and his friends decided to have a barbeque outside anyways.

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[Despite the fact]

Stephen Hawking has to use a wheel chair to get around.

He still has had a very productive life as world class physicist and author.

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[Nevertheless]

The clock read, “one o’clock A.M.”

He still kept typing on his computer because his writing task was only half done.

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[Nonetheless]

Jean felt angry at the terrible comments written about her on the Internet.

She continued to write controversial articles on politics and religion on her Internet

blog.

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Combine these sentences or main ideas using the specified

linking words:

[While]

My sister lives in New York with her husband.

I live in South Korea with my wife.

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[Whereas]

South Korea parents collectively invest millions of dollars each year into their

children’s education.

American parents spend considerably less.

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[Unlike]

Lawrence was able to complete his assignments on time.

Joseph was always late.

E.g. Lawrence was able to complete his assignments on time, unlike Joseph, who was

always late.

People always had a good first impression of Lucy because she was outgoing and

cheerful.

Jane was shy and sullen.

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Adding I nformation

Also

In addition

As well as

Furthermore

Moreover

Apart from

In addition to

Besides

Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis:

"We also spoke about marketing."

If you are going to use but also in a sentence, it must be preceded by not

only:

"We are concerned not only by the costs, but also by the competition."

In English academic writing, we do not usually start a sentence with also or

and.

If you want to start a sentence with a phrase that means also, use in addition,

or In addition to this…

“In addition to giving their students many writing tasks, the GIFLE writing

instructors gave many grammar tasks to complete.

As well is used in an identical fashion to in addition

"As well as the costs, we are concerned by the competition."

"We are interested in costs as well as the competition."

Apart from and besides mean as well as, or in addition to.

"Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer."

"Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer."

Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are

making.

“The students were unable to submit their homework on time. Moreover, they

were unable to provide a reasonable excuse as to why their homework was

missing. Furthermore, they did not appear to be troubled by their poor

performance.”

[typically, you do not use furthermore right after moreover or vice versa in

formal paragraph]

Summari z ing

In short

In brief

In summary

To summarize

To conclude

In conclusion

We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a

summary of what we have said or written previously.

[Assume he writer just wrote an essay about her hero]

“In short, my mother is one of the finest human beings that I have ever

met, and for these reasons I consider her my hero.”

“To conclude, I consider Albert Schweitser to be an outstanding example

of a sacrificial and purposeful life.”