Linking devices

No	Aims	Linking Devices
	To make contrasting points	☺ although ☺ yet ☺ however ☺ nevertheless ☺ in spite of ☺ but ☺ while ☺ despite ☺ even if ☺ even though ☺ at the same time
	To list points	☺ firstly ☺ in the first place ☺ first of all ☺ to start with ☺ secondly ☺ thirdly ☺ finally
	To add more points on a topic	☺ what is more ☺ furthermore ☺ also☺ apart from this/that ☺ in addition to☺ moreover ☺ besides☺ too ☺ not to mention the fact that
	To list advantages /disadvantages	· one advantage/ disadvantage of... · another advantage/ disadvantage of... · one other advantage/ disadvantage of... · a further advantage/ disadvantage of... · the main advantage/ disadvantage of... · the first advantage/ disadvantage of... · the greatest advantage/ disadvantage of...
	To express personal opinion	☺ in my opinion/view ☺ to my mind/way of thinking ☺ I for one think /believe ☺ personally I believe ☺ It strikes me that ☺ I feel very strongly that ☺ I am inclined to believe that ☺it seems to me that ☺ as far as I am concerned
	To refer to other sources	☺ according to☺ with reference to
	To conclude	☺ finally☺ lastly ☺ above all ☺ all in all ☺ taking everything into account ☺ on the whole ☺ all things considered ☺ in conclusion ☺ as I have said ☺ as was previously stated ☺ to sum up
	To express reason / cause	☺ because of ☺ owing to ☺ due to ☺ for this reason
	To express effect	☺ therefore ☺ thus ☺ as a result ☺ consequently ☺ so ☺ as a consequence
	To emphasise what you say	☺ clearly ☺ obviously ☺ of course ☺ needless to say ☺ in particular
	To express reality	☺ in fact ☺ actually ☺ as a matter of fact ☺ in practice ☺ the fact of the matter is that
	To express difference between appearance and reality	☺ on the face of it ☺ at first sight ☺ apparently
	To state an argument against your opinion	☺ it is popularly believed that ☺ people often claim that ☺ contrary to popular belief ☺ it is a fact that ☺ it is often alleged that ☺ people argue that
	To state other people's opinions	☺ many people are in favour of /against … ☺ some people argue that … ☺ a lot of people think /believe that …
	To introduce the other side of the argument	· opponents of this view say… · however, there are people who oppose… · however, there are those who claim that …
	To express balance	☺ while ☺ whereas ☺ on the one hand ☺ on the other hand ☺ for one thing ☺ for another thing
	To give examples	☺ for example ☺ for instance
	To refer to what actually happens	☺ in practice ☺ in effect
	To make general statements	☺ as a rule ☺ generally ☺ in general ☺ as a general rule ☺ on the whole
	To make partly correct statements	☺ up to a point ☺ to a certain extent ☺ to some extent ☺ in a way ☺ in a sense
	To express limit of knowledge	☺ to the best of my knowledge ☺ for all I know ☺ as far as I know
	To rephrase	☺ that is to say ☺ in other words ☺ to put it mildly ☺ to put it plainly
	To bring up other points or aspects	☺ as far as... is concerned ☺ regarding ☺ with regard to ☺ as for
	To imply that nothing else needs to be said	☺ anyway ☺ at any rate ☺ in any case
	To show that you accept the situation	☺ as it is ☺ under the circumstances ☺ things being as they are