Linking words

LINKING WORDS



Linking words, also known as transition words, are words and phrases like however or on the other hand that connect clauses, sentences, paragraphs, or other words. The purpose of linking words (which are different from linking verbs) is to make communication smoother and more logical when moving from one idea to another.
Linking words are an essential part of writing to “link” all your ideas in a way that flows without interruption. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know, including some linking word examples. But first, let’s take a closer look at the question “What are linking words?”

What are linking words?

Linking words and phrases like however, additionally, or for example are used to connect different ideas in a way that makes writing smoother and more fluid. To understand why linking words are important, it’s best to see what writing looks like without them.
She was running late. She stopped for coffee.
These two sentences are correct in their grammar, but they are a little difficult to read. Logically, they seem contradictory—if she was late, why did she stop for coffee? The change from one idea to another is too abrupt.
Let’s see how those sentences read with a linking word.
She was running late. However, she stopped for coffee.
The ideas are the same as in the first example, but the linking word however helps transition between them. It signals to the reader that the topic is changing so it doesn’t surprise them.
In this way, writing can transition from one idea to a drastically different one without confusing the reader. This greatly improves the flow of writing, making it easier to read.
Keep in mind that linking words are not the same thing as linking verbs, even though their names sound the same. One specific type of linking word, conjunctions, have elaborate and distinctive grammar rules, so in this guide we’re going to focus exclusively on linking words used as transition words.