Linking words

How to use linking words

Linking words generally come before a new idea as a way to introduce it. This includes new clauses, new sentences, and new paragraphs, as well as standalone words and phrases.
When a linking word or phrase begins a sentence, clarity is usually helped if you place a comma after it.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches contain a lot of healthy nutrients. Moreover, they’re delicious!
This works in most situations as long as the linking word does not take an object. But certain linking words or phrases, like despite, besides, and in spite of, use an object, in which case you should put the comma after the object.
The principal wanted to cancel the pizza party. Besides the principal, everyone else wanted it to happen.
On the other hand, using a linking word to connect clauses in the same sentence has its own rules. There are two different methods: using a semicolon or placing the linking word after a conjunction.
If the clauses are connected by a semicolon, place the linking word after the semicolon. Then, place a comma after the linking word, before the rest of the clause.
First, plant one foot next to the ball; next, strike the ball with the bone above your big toe; last, follow through with your leg to send the ball forward.
If the clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so), no additional punctuation is necessary. However, you can add commas if you feel the linking word should be set apart from the rest of the sentence.
We were tired after the match, but without a doubt we still wanted to celebrate.
We were tired after the match, but, without a doubt, we still wanted to celebrate.
Both of the examples above are acceptable; whether or not to add commas depends on the author’s style.
Likewise, if the linking word is used to connect phrases or words instead of entire clauses, commas are optional.
Engineering requires an understanding of technology, communication, and above all mathematics.
Engineering requires an understanding of technology, communication, and, above all, mathematics.