Linking Words Guide

Giving A Reason
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 / Because 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."
"As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."
“Mr. Jones walked slowly as his joints were feeling stiff.”

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 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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 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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Giving a result
Therefore As a result

Consequently So

Therefore, 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
However While
But Whereas

Although / even though Nevertheless

Despite / despite the fact that Nonetheless
In spite of / in spite of the fact that
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.”

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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 Information
Also Moreover
In addition Apart from
As well as In addition to
Furthermore 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]

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Summarizing
In short To summarize
In brief To conclude
In summary 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.”

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