What do you know?
What does physics have in common with writing?
Both physics and writing feature cohesion – a term used in writing to mean linking and ordering sentences and paragraphs.
Introduction to linking words and phrases
Linking words and phrases are used to connect ideas in your writing more effectively.
Key learning points
- How to join sentences and paragraphs to make writing easier to follow.
- How to use Words and phrases which can show connections between sentences and paragraphs. in your writing:
- for comparison
- to make contrasts
- to develop your story or argument
- to show time passing
Video about linking words and phrases
A video about the different words and phrases and how they can be used to compare, contrast and show the passage of time in your writing
Here's a range of words and phrases. Some of these are coordinating conjunctions that join sentences together. Others are connectives that link ideas, sometimes in separate sentences or paragraphs. Here’s a few examples:
Max dropped litter. Sanj picked it up.
Which linking word might help?
Max dropped litter, but Sanj picked it up.
Linking words help us to compare and contrast two different ideas, like His Dark Materials, a series by Philip Pullman and Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley. To compare them, you might say:
Pullman writes about fantasy. Shelley writes about the supernatural.
Or
Pullman writes about fantasy, and similarly Shelley writes about the supernatural.
By changing the word or phrase that links the two statements, we can find the right word to reinforce the connection between each clause. We could add further information too, to show cause and effect of that connection:
Pullman writes about fantasy, and similarly Shelley writes about the supernatural. As a result, they attract a similar audience.
Next, to contrast the authors you will need a word that showcases the opposition of two ideas. We can drop one in between the clauses, and we can even add another to introduce the theme of opposition at the start of the sentence.
The use of commas is important here too.
In contrast, Pullman’s stories are set in a fantasy world, whereas Shelley’s plot relies on the science of electricity based in the real world.
Using connectives not only helps move your arguments forward but,
in conclusion,
connectives can help bring your work to an end, as some reflect the passage of time.
Why join sentences and paragraphs?
Linking and ordering your sentences and paragraphs is called cohesion.
Without cohesion, your writing will be disjointed and it will not be clear how the different ideas are related, making the reader confused.
A piece of writing with good cohesion will be easy for the reader to follow, as the connections between different ideas will be clear, and the sentences and paragraphs will flow elegantly.
Linking words for comparison
When you want to compare ideas in your writing, it’s important to use the right type of linking words. Without words for comparison, it is difficult to show the similarities between ideas:
Exercise is an easy way to stay healthy. Eating a balanced diet is important. Sleeping well will help you feel good. It is important to relax so that you don’t feel stressed.
If we add words and phrases for comparison, we can create a better sense of connection between the ideas, so our writing makes more sense and we create a better overall message:
Exercise is an easy way to stay healthy, just as eating a balanced diet is important. Similarly, sleeping well will help you feel good. It is also important to relax so that you don’t feel stressed.
Some linking words and phrases for comparison include:
- similarly
- also
- likewise
- like
- just as
Linking words to make contrasts
Sometimes in your writing you might want to show contrasts between things that are different. It is difficult to show this clearly by just stating the differences:
My dog really likes company. My cat prefers to be left alone. Sometimes my cat will let me pick her up.
If we add a linking word for contrast, we can emphasise the differences:
My dog really likes company, unlike my cat who prefers to be left alone. However, sometimes my cat will let me pick her up.
Some linking words for contrasts include:
- however
- conversely
- unlike
- yet
- whereas
- but
Which five of these words could you use to show the contrasts between different ideas?
Firstly / unlike / despite / similarly / later / yet / additionally / even though / just as / furthermore / conversely
To make contrasts you could use: unlike, despite, yet, even though, conversely.
Linking words to show development
When you are writing a story or an argument, it’s really important to show how the story or argument develops, so that the reader can follow it.
Without linking words it is difficult to follow an argument or to see the connections between the ideas:
Pizza is the best food in the world. It is really cheesy. You can eat it hot or cold. There are hundreds of different toppings. Pizza is better than any other food.
If linking words are added, it is easier to show the connections between the ideas and build up the argument:
Pizza is the best food in the world. Firstly, it is really cheesy. Secondly, you can eat it hot or cold. Also, there are hundreds of different toppings. Because of this, pizza is better than any other food.
Some useful linking words to move a story or argument on:
- firstly
- secondly
- additionally
- moreover
- furthermore
- also
Where should these connectives go in this paragraph to develop this argument?
Furthermore / Additionally / Also / Firstly
We should avoid using cars where possible. _______, car emissions are bad for the environment. _______, if we walked or cycled we would be healthier. _______, if fewer people used cars, the roads would be less busy. _______, the air would be cleaner.
Answer:
We should avoid using cars where possible. Firstly, car emissions are bad for the environment. Additionally, if we walked or cycled we would be healthier. Furthermore, if fewer people used cars, the roads would be less busy. Also, the air would be cleaner.
Linking words to show the passage of time
Sometimes in your writing it is important to show the reader that time has passed. This is useful when writing about past events or when writing stories.
Without linking words it is hard to see when the events in the story are happening, so the story loses some of its impact:
Sandrine had been practicing tennis. She showed everyone how much she had improved. Her PE teacher asked her to join the school tennis team. She played her first match and won!
If linking words are added to show the passage of time, the story is improved and the events in the story feel more connected:
Sandrine had been practicing tennis throughout the summer holidays. When she got back to school she showed everyone how much she had improved. Later that day, her PE teacher asked her to join the school tennis team. The next week she played her first match and won!
Some useful linking words and phrases to show the passage of time:
- later
- the next day
- after a while
- for a year
- meanwhile
- at first
- but then
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