To sound smooth and be easier to understand, English learners should use connecting words

1. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Why do you need to connect your ideas?
Conjunctive adverbials

2. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Help others understand your ideas.
Add interest to your talking and writing.
Impress your teacher or boss with your English skills.
Conjunctive adverbials

3. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Here’s example. Let’s start with two separate ideas.
1. You need to have your professional credentials recognized.
2. You need Canadian experience.
How could you link these two ideas?
Conjunctive adverbials

4. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
You need to have your professional credentials
recognized, but you also need Canadian experience.
Clause, conjunctive adverb clause.

5. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
You need to have your professional credentials
recognized, but you also need Canadian experience.
Or
One sentence, two clauses
Clause, conjunctive adverb clause.

6. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
You need to have your professional credentials
recognized. But, you also need Canadian experience.
Two sentences
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

7. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
You need to have your professional credentials
recognized. But, you also need Canadian experience.
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.
Optional, works for long words, emphasis

8. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Why would you choose: one sentence, two clauses?
• more formal
Clause, conjunctive adverb clause.

9. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Why would you choose two sentences?
• less formal
• easier to understand
• emphasizes the connecting word
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

10. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
A more formal option
Replace the conjunction with a semi-colon
You need to have your professional credentials
recognized; you also need Canadian experience.
Clause; conjunctive adverb clause.
Rare here; use with the Queen..

11. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What are some of the ways we link ideas?
Clause, conjunctive adverb clause.

12. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Time
I will pass the course, then I will receive my credentials.
Clause, conjunctive adverb clause.

13. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Adding
I will pass the course and I will get a better job.
Clause conjunctive adverb clause.

14. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Cause
I received my Canadian credentials.
Consequently, I got a better job.
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

15. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Contrast
Jay is often late for work. In contrast, Hamida
is always on time.
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

16. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Compare
Jay has improved our products.
Similarly, Hamida has contributed to our
innovation.
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

17. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Summarize Thank you for listening to my presentation. To
conclude, let me emphasize three points.
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

18. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
We link ideas by
Accuracy
Yang said the numbers were disappointing.
Actually, he meant we could go broke.
Sentence. Conjunctive adverb, sentence.

19. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
time?
… then I will receive my credentials.
next
meanwhile
finally
subsequently

20. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
adding?
And I got a better job
What’s more
Besides
On top of that
Furthermore

21. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
cause?
Consequently, I got a better job.
Hence
So
Therefore

22. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
contrast?
In contrast, Hamida is always on time.
But
On the other hand
Conversely
Nevertheless

23. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
compare?
Similarly, Hamida has contributed to our innovation.
Likewise
Equally important
In the same way
Along the same line

24. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
summarize?
To conclude, let me emphasize three points.
In conclusion
To sum up

25. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
What other words could you use for
more accurately?
Actually, he meant…
In fact
In truth
Really
Undoubtedly

26. Try these
You need to have your professional
credentials recognized. ____, you need
to get some Canadian experience.

27. Try these
You need to have your professional
credentials recognized. In addition, you
need to get some Canadian experience.
Or
And
Also

28. Try these
You need to have your professional
credentials recognized, ______you need
to take some college courses.

29. Try these
You need to have your professional
credentials recognized, so you need to
take some college courses.
Or
consequently

30. Try these
We were thinking of giving everyone a
raise. _____, we increased their paid
sick leave.

31. Try these
We were thinking of giving everyone a
raise. Instead, we increased their paid
sick leave.
Or
Alternatively

32. Try these
In the first quarter, higher revenues
increased our profits.___________ costcutting measures contributed to our
bottom line.

33. Try these
In the first quarter, higher revenues
increased our profits. Equally
important, cost-cutting measures
contributed to our bottom line.
Or
Equally important
Moreover

34. Try these
He said he was introducing productivity
measures.__________, he meant jobs
would be cut.

35. Try these
He told the team the numbers weren’t
good. Actually, he meant people would
be laid off.
Or
Really
In fact

36. Try these
Thank you for the opportunity to speak
to your group. __________, let me
repeat three points.

37. Try these
Thank you for the opportunity to speak
to your group. In conclusion, let me
make three points.
Or
To sum up

38. Try these
Lee finished writing his report, _____ he
read his email.

39. Try these
Lee finished writing his report, then he
read his email.
Or
next

40. Try these
She is a weak team leader. _____, the
executives like her.

41. Try these
She is a weak team leader.
Nevertheless, the executives like her.
Or
Still

42. Try these
The tests were successful. _____, they
could start planning the marketing
campaign.

43. Try these
The tests were successful.
Consequently, they could start planning
the marketing campaign.
Or
As a result
Therefore

44. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
You’ll learn more connecting words as you
improve your English. But you’ve made a great
start.

45. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Use shorter connecting words when you’re talking.
Use longer ones in writing.
Use very long ones in formal settings, legal documents or with the Queen.
notwithstanding
nevertheless

46. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Help others understand your ideas.
Add interest to your talking and writing.
Impress people with your English skills.
Conjunctive adverbials

47. Words that Connect
Two Ideas
Connected as One
Copyright 2014
Conjunctive adverbials