DISCOURSE CONNECTOR CHART

X= original, stated, main idea.

Y= new idea to be

introduced

If both ideas have equal importance or weighting, you should use separate
sentences or independent clauses in a compound sentence. If one idea is less
important, put it on the dependent clause of a complex sentence.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EXPECTED INFORMATION

X, and Y X; also, Y X. Also, Y X; Y also X. Y also

X, so Y

X; furthermore, Y

X. Furthermore, Y

X; of course, Y

X. Of course, Y

X; moreover, Y

X. Moreover, Y

X; naturally, Y

X. Naturally, Y

X; in addition, Y

X. In addition, Y

X; surely, Y

X. Surely, Y

INTENSIFIED INFORMATION
X; in fact, Y

X. In fact, Y

X; as a matter of fact, Y X. As a matter of fact, Y

DEFINING INFORMATION OR RESTATEMENT

X; that is, Y

X (that is, Y)

X. That is, Y

X; i.e., Y [only in the middle of sentences]

X (i.e., Y)

X; in other words, Y

X. In other words, Y

X; in simpler terms, Y
X; to put it differently, Y
EXAMPLES
X; for example, Y

CONCLUSIONS

X. For example, Y

X. Therefore, Y

X. In short, Y

X. To conclude, Y

X. In conclusion, Y

X. On the whole, Y

X. In summary, Y

X; in particular, Y

X. Finally, Y

X. All in all, Y

X; specifically, Y

X. Evidently, Y

X. Clearly, Y

X; namely, Y

X. Actually, Y

X. To sum up, Y

X; for instance, Y
X; to illustrate, Y

X. To illustrate, Y

X. Altogether, Y
CONTRAST
X, but Y

COMPARISON
X. But Y

X; likewise, Y

X. Likewise, Y

X, yet Y

X. Yet Y

X; similarly, Y

X. Similarly, Y

X; however, Y

X. However, Y

X; in like a manner, Y X. In like a manner, Y

X; on the contrary, Y

X. On the contrary, Y

X; in the same way, Y X. In the same way, Y

X; on the other hand, Y X. On the other hand, Y

X; nevertheless, Y

X. Nevertheless, Y

X; nonetheless, Y

X. Nonetheless, Y

X although Y

Although Y, X

X even though Y

Even though Y, X

CAUSE (X) / EFFECT (Y)

Introduce another item in a series

X, so Y

First, second, third, etc.

X; therefore, Y

X. Therefore, Y

In the first place, in the second place, etc.

X; consequently, Y

X. Consequently, Y

For one thing....; for another...

X; as a result, Y

X. As a result, Y

Next,

X; for this reason, Y

X. For this reason, Y

Then,

Y because X

Because X, Y

Furthermore,

Y since X

Since X, Y

Moreover,

Y because of X

Because of X, Y

In additon,

Y due to X

Due to X, Y

Finally,

X; hence, Y

Last,

X; accordingly, Y

Also,

X; thus, Y

Similarly,

X; then, Y

Besides,
As well as,

Concession to an opposing
point of view

To resume original line of

reasoning after concession

X. Certainly, Y

Y. Nonetheless, X

X. Naturally, Y

Y. All the same, X

X. Of course, Y

Even though Y, X

X. It is true that Y

Y. Still, X

X. To be sure, Y

Y. Nevertheless, X

X. Granted that Y
TEMPORAL
Frequency

Duration

Particular time

Beginning

Middle

Frequently

During

Now

At first

In the meantime

Hourly

Briefly

Then

In the beginnning

While this was

going on

Often

For a long time

At that time

Since

Meanwhile

Occasionally

Minute by minute

In those days

Before then

As it was happening

Now and then

For many years

Last Sunday

In the preceding
weeks

At that moment

Day after day

Next Christmas

At the same time

Again and again

In 1995

Simultaneously

At the beginning of
August

Next, then

Two months ago

TEMPORAL

SPATIAL

The end and beyond

Closeness

Distance

Eventuallly

Close to

In the distance

Up

At an angle

Finally

Near

Far

Down

To the right

At last

Next to

Beyond

Forward

To the left

In the end

Alongside

Away

Backward

In front of

Sideways

Behind

Subsequently

Adjacent to On the far side

Later

Facing

Afterwards

Here

There

Direction

Along

Above

Below

Across

Inside

Outside