What are linking words? Part 1

A linking word is a word which shows a connection between clauses or sentences. `However' and `so' are linking words.

It is fundamental to understand how Linking Words, as a part of speech, can be used to combine ideas in writing - and thus ensure that ideas within sentences and paragraphs are elegantly connected - for the benefit of the reader. This will help to improve your writing (e.g. essay, article, comment, summary (scientific) review, (research) paper, letter, abstract, report, thesis, etc.). It is also important to be aware of the sometimes subtle meaning of these "small" words within the English language. 

Linking words and phrases are used to show relationships between ideas. They can be used to join two or more sentences or clauses (a clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a verb). Linking words and linking phrases can be used to add ideas together, contrast them, or show the reason for something.

Using the right linking words helps you to organize what you have to say about a text. It also helps you introduce and develop the essential ideas that will form the basis of your essay in a tightly connected structure and as short a space as possible.

Linking words and other connecting devices help you carry over from one sentence to another, from one paragraph to another, in a way that allows the reader to better understand your ideas. Since your reader does not see the world exactly as you see it and does not necessarily make the same mental connections you make, linking words also help you to articulate your ideas and communicate them to other people in a way that supports a clear and persuasive argument. Note that connecting words and phrases are aids to writing, not ends in themselves. Therefore, they should not be used excessively.

Conjuction Junction - What's your funtion?

"Linking Words" is used as a term to denote a class of English words which are employed to link or connect parts of speech or even whole sentences. They are also called connecting words. There are two categories of Linking Words:

 Conjunctions and Transitions

Conjunctions & Cohesive Devices

In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects words, sentences, phrases or clauses. A discourse connective is a conjunction joining sentences. This definition may overlap with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a "conjunction" must be defined for each language. In general, a conjunction is an invariable grammatical particle, and it may or may not stand between the items it conjoins.

The definition may also be extended to idiomatic phrases that behave as a unit with the same function, eg "as well as", "provided that".


Many students are taught that certain conjunctions (such as "and", "but", "because", and "so") should not begin sentences. But authorities such as the Chicago Manual of Style state that this teaching has "no historical or grammatical foundation."

Words that link two parts of a sentence are called conjunctions (see "to conjoin"). The most common ones are 'and', 'or' and 'but'. There are three basic types of conjunctions:

coordinating conjunctions

used to connect two independent clauses

subordinating conjunctions

used to establish the relationship between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence

correlative conjunctions

used to join various sentence elements which are grammatically equal

Coordinating Conjunctions

Comes usually in the middle of a sentence, and a comma is used before the conjunction (unless both clauses are very short). They join individual words, phrases, and independent clauses.
Whereas coordinating conjunctions join parts of a 'sentence', the purpose of transitional words and phrases usually is to join two 'sentences'.

And, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet — are the seven coordinating conjunctions. To remember them, the acronym FANBOYS can be used.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Also called subordinators, introduce a dependent clause. These adverbs that act like conjunctions are placed at the front of the clause - and a comma is needed at the end of the adverbial phrase when it precedes the main clause. 

In other West Germanic languages like German and Dutch, the word order after a subordinating conjunction is different from that in an independent clause, e.g. in Dutch want ("for") is coordinating, but omdat ("because") is subordinating. The clause after the coordinating conjunction has normal word order, but the clause after the subordinating conjunction has verb-final word order. Compare:

Hij gaat naar huis, want hij is ziek. ("He goes home, for he is ill.")

Hij gaat naar huis, omdat hij ziek is. ("He goes home because he is ill.")

Similarly, in German, "denn" (for) is coordinating, but "weil" (because) is subordinating:

Er geht nach Hause, denn er ist krank. ("He goes home, for he is ill.")

Er geht nach Hause, weil er krank ist. ("He goes home because he is ill.")

Correlative Conjunctions

They are always used in pairs and denote equality; and show the relationship between ideas expressed in different parts of a sentence - and thus make the joining tighter and more emphatic. When joining singular and plural subjects, the subject closest to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural. 

Conjunctive Adverbs

They are often used as a linking device between ideas. They show logical relationships expressed in clauses, sentences or paragraphs.
Conjunctive adverbs are very emphatic, so they should be used sparingly.