List of Commonly Used Linking Words

Function Coordinators Subordinators Transitions

Link Link an independent clause Link independent

independent with a dependent clause or clauses within a
clauses within phrase within a sentence. sentence.
a sentence.
Link sentences within
a paragraph.

Punctuation Use a comma When the dependent clause
before a is at the beginning of the
coordinator: sentence, it should be
I researched followed by a comma:
the topic, After I researched the
and I created topic, I created the
the presentation.
presentation.
Do not use a comma when
the dependent clause is at
the end of the sentence:
I created the
presentation after I
researched the topic.
When the transition
begins the sentence,
it should be followed
by a comma:
First, I researched
the topic.
Then, I created the
presentation.
When the transition
connects two
independent clauses,
a semi-colon comes
before it and a comma
follows it:
I researched the
topic; afterwards, I
created the
presentation.

Showing  And  Before  Afterward(s)

time,  As  At first
beginning,  As long as  Initially
during,
 At the same time  Meanwhile
ending
(as)  Meantime
 Every time  Simultaneously
 Since  Eventually
 So long as  Finally
 The
first/second/next/last
time
 When
 Whenever
 While
 By the time
 Till
 Until

Showing a  And  After  Next

sequence  As soon as  Subsequently
 Ever since  Then
 Following  Thereafter

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List of Commonly Used Linking Words

 Later  First
 Once  Firstly
 Initially
 To begin
 Next
 Second
 Secondly
 Then
 Third
 Thirdly
 Finally
 Last
 Lastly

Showing  So  In all
conclusion  In summation
 In conclusion
 To conclude

Showing  But  Although  By comparison

contrast  Either  Despite  By contrast
… or  Even though  Conversely
 Yet  In spite of  However
 Instead of  In contrast
 Though  Instead
 Whereas  Nevertheless
 While  Nonetheless
 On the
contrary
 On the other
hand
 Otherwise

Showing  Neither  In other words

similarity … nor  Likewise
 Either  Similarly
… or

Adding  And  Additionally

information  Also
 Besides
 Further
 Furthermore
 In addition
 Moreover

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List of Commonly Used Linking Words

Adding  For example

example  For instance
 In particular

Showing  For  As a result of …

cause  Because …
 Due to (the fact that)
 In order to …
 Resulting from …
 Since …

Showing  So  (If) … then  Accordingly,

effect  … resulting in  As a result,
 So …that  Consequently,
 … then  Hence,
 Therefore,
 Thus,

Showing  Even if
condition  If … then
 In case
 Provided that
 Providing
 Unless
 Whether or not