This document lists various linking expressions used in academic writing. It provides expressions to express personal opinion, refer to other sources, add information, contrast ideas, draw conclusions, list advantages and disadvantages, state facts, enumerate points, and indicate reasons, results, examples, clarification, similarity, emphasis, and purpose. Some examples of linking expressions given are "in my opinion", "according to", "moreover", "however", "to sum up", "the main advantage", "in fact", "firstly", "because", "so", "for example", and "in order to".

1. LINKING EXPRESSIONS
 To express personal opinion: in my opinion/view, I think/ believe/ feel
(that), I (strongly) agree/disagree, it seems to me, as I see it, as far as I am
concerned, to be honest, personally, frankly, obviously, naturally,
(un)fortunately, (un)fairly, undoubtedly, I must admit, let’s remember/not
forget, to my mind/way of thinking, it strikes me that.
 To refer to other sources: according to, with reference to, in X’s opinion.
 Addition: in addition, additionally, moreover, furthermore, also, too, and,
besides, apart from, as well (as), not to mention the fact that.
 Contrast: in contrast, however, on one hand, on the other hand, on the
contrary, despite, in spite of, but, still, yet, while, whereas, although, though,
even though, nevertheless, instead, in comparison.
 Conclusion: to sum up, on the whole, to conclude, in conclusion, in short, all
in all, as I have said, as was previously stated, taking everything into account,
finally, lastly, above all.
 To list advantages/disadvantages: the main/the most important/ the
greatest/ one/an/another/a further advantage/disadvantage of.
 To express reality: in fact, in reality, actually, as a matter of fact.
 To list points: first, firstly, first of all, at first, at the beginning, in the first
place, to begin with, for a start. Second(ly), third(ly), next, then, after (that),
later, after(wards), finally, lastly, last (of all), in/at the end.
 To express reason/cause: because (of), as, since, due to, owing to, for this
reason, this/that is (the reason) why, now that.
 To express result/effect: so, therefore, so/such…that, consequently, as a
consequence, thus, one/another result of … is, as a result (of), for this
reason, then, under these/those circumstances, in that case.
 Exemplification: for example, for instance, as, such as, like, particularly, in
particular, especially.
 Clarification: in other words, I mean, that is to say, to put it another way,
specifically.
 Similarity: similarly, in the same way, likewise, equally.
 Emphasis: besides, not only this but … also, what is more, indeed, to tell you
the truth, in fact, actually, as a matter of fact.
 Purpose: to, in order (not) to, in order that, in case, so that, so as (not) to.