Sentence connectors

Sentence connectors are used to link ideas from one sentence to the next and to give paragraphs
coherence. Sentence connectors perform different functions and are placed at the beginning of a
sentence. They are used to introduce, order, contrast, sequence ideas, theory, data etc. The
following table lists useful connectors.

Useful sentence connectors

Logical / sequential order Order of importance

• Firstly, secondly, thirdly etc • Most / more importantly

• Next, last, finally • Most significantly
• In addition • Above all
• Furthermore • Primarily
• Also
• At present / presently • It is essential / essentially

Contrast Result

• However • As a result
• On the other hand • As a consequence
• On the contrary • Therefore
• By (in) comparison • Thus
• Consequently
• In contrast
• Hence
Comparison Reason

• Similarily • The cause of

• Likewise
• The reason for
• Also

Common subordinators
Below are some examples of commonly used subordinators.

Comparison &
Cause / effect Time
Contrast
• Although • Since • After
• Though • So that • When
• Even though • Until
 • While • Whenever
• Because
• Whereas • Before
Possibility Place & manner
• if • Wherever
• as if • Where
• whether
• How
• unless

Linking words and phrases

Although some of these words have already been mentioned as sentence connectors, they can
also be used to develop coherence within a paragraph, that is linking one idea / argument to
another. Print off this page to keep as a reference of useful linking words and phrases.

Sequence Result Emphasis

• First / firstly, second / • So • Undoubtedly
secondly, third / thirdly • As a result • Indeed
etc • As a consequence • Obviously
• Next, last, finally (of) • Generally
• In addition, moreover • Therefore • Admittedly
• Further / furthermore • Thus • In fact
• Another • Consequently • Particularly / in
• Also • Hence particular
• In conclusion • Especially
• Due to • Clearly
• To summarise
• Importantly
Addition Reason Example
• And • For • For example
• In addition / • Because • For instance
additionally / an • Since • That is (ie)
additional • As • Such as
• Furthermore • Including
• Also • Because of
• Too • Namely

• As well as
Contrast Comparison
• However • Similarly
• Nevertheless • Likewise
 • Nonetheless • Also
• Still • Like
• Although / even though • Just as
• Though • Just like
• But • Similar to
• Yet • Same as
• Despite / in spite of • Compare
• In contrast (to) / in • compare(d) to /
comparison with
• While • Not only...but also
• Whereas
• On the other hand

• On the contrary
List of English Conjunctions
A after although and as as far as as how as if as long as as soon as as though as
well as
B because before both but
E either even if even though
F for
H how however
I if if only in case in order that
N neither nor now
O once only or
P provided
R rather than
S since so so that
T than that though till
U unless until
W when whenever where whereas wherever whether while
Y yet