Linking words for IELTS Preparation

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Linking words – Stating Your Opinion

Linking Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example
In my opinion	This is what I think	In my opinion, renewable energy sources are crucial for a sustainable future.
I believe	I am of the opinion	I believe that stricter gun control laws would lead to reduced violence.
From my perspective	How I see it	From my perspective, online education offers more flexibility than traditional classrooms.
It seems to me	This is my perception	It seems to me that social media has both positive and negative effects on society.
I am convinced	I firmly believe	I am convinced that exercise is essential for maintaining good health.
I am of the view	This is my viewpoint	I am of the view that cultural diversity enriches communities.
As far as I’m concerned	In my judgment	As far as I’m concerned, travel broadens one’s horizons.
I hold the opinion	I maintain this belief	I hold the opinion that government should invest more in renewable energy research.
Personally	From a personal perspective	Personally, I find classical music to be soothing and relaxing.
It is my contention	I assert	It is my contention that animal testing should be replaced with alternative methods.

These linking words and phrases can help you express your opinion clearly and confidently in your IELTS writing or speaking tasks. Remember to practice using them appropriately to enhance your communication skills.

Linking words – Expressing condition

Linking Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
If	Introduces a conditional clause	If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay indoors.
Unless	Except if	I won’t go to the party unless you come with me.
In case	If something happens	Take an umbrella in case it starts raining.
Provided that	On the condition that	You can borrow my car provided that you return it by 6 PM.
As long as	Only if	You can use my laptop as long as you’re careful.
Whether… or	Used to express a choice	Whether you like it or not, you have to do your homework.
Even if	Regardless of whether	Even if you study hard, the exam might still be difficult.
Supposing	Assuming that	Supposing he doesn’t show up, we’ll have to start without him.
Given that	Considering that	Given that she’s never been here before, she might get lost.

Here’s a table with linking words and phrases commonly used to express conditions, along with their meanings and example sentences.

Linking words – Concluding

Linking Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
In conclusion	Summing up or giving a final thought	In conclusion, it’s clear that technology has greatly impacted communication.
To sum up	To summarize what has been discussed	To sum up, the main factors contributing to climate change include industrial emissions and deforestation.
Ultimately	Ultimately, in the end	Ultimately, the success of the project depends on effective teamwork.
All in all	Considering everything	All in all, the event was a great success.
In summary	Brief summary of key points	In summary, the research highlights the importance of early childhood education.
To conclude	To bring a topic to an end	To conclude, I would like to emphasize the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Hence	Therefore, for this reason	The results were inconclusive; hence, further investigation is needed.
As a result	Due to this, as an outcome	The company invested in employee training; as a result, productivity increased.
Thus	In this way, consequently	The data shows a consistent pattern; thus, we can infer a strong correlation.
To summarize	To provide a brief overview	To summarize, the study indicates a clear relationship between exercise and mental health.

These linking words and phrases can help you effectively conclude your writing or speaking tasks on the IELTS test.

Linking words – Adding Information

Linking Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example
Furthermore	In addition; moreover	She not only excels in academics but furthermore, she’s a talented musician.
Additionally	Also; in addition to	He enjoys swimming, and additionally, he’s an avid hiker.
Moreover	Besides; furthermore	The concert tickets were expensive; moreover, they were sold out.
In addition	Also; furthermore	In addition to his job, he volunteers at a local charity.
What’s more	Furthermore; moreover	The hotel offers a stunning view, and what’s more, it has a rooftop pool.
Likewise	Similarly; in the same way	She enjoys painting, and likewise, her sister is an artist.
Not only…but also	Used to emphasize two points	Not only does he speak French fluently, but also Spanish.
Apart from	Besides; aside from	Apart from cycling, he’s also interested in photography.
Furthermore	Moreover; in addition	The research was thorough, and furthermore, it was well-presented.
Additionally	Furthermore; in addition	The study found positive results; additionally, it highlighted potential areas for future research.

These linking words and phrases can help you express additional information in a coherent and organized manner, which is important for tasks like writing essays and reports in the IELTS test.

Linking words – Marking time

Sure, I’d be happy to help you create a table with linking words that are used for marking time, along with their meanings and examples:

Linking Word	Meaning	Example
First/Firstly	To begin with; as the initial point	Firstly, let’s discuss the advantages of renewable energy.
Secondly	In the second place; following the first	Secondly, we’ll examine the challenges of urbanization.
Next	Following in order; after the previous	Next, we’ll delve into the effects of climate change.
Then	After that; subsequently	We’ll discuss deforestation first. Then, we’ll address…
After	Subsequent to; later than	After finishing school, he pursued a career in medicine.
Subsequently	Following in time or order	The company expanded its operations and subsequently…
Meanwhile	During the same time; at the same time	She studied economics. Meanwhile, he focused on art.
While	At the same time; although	While it rained, they continued their outdoor activity.
During	Throughout a specific time	During the summer, many tourists visit the coastal area.
Prior to	Before; earlier than	The data was collected prior to implementing the changes.

Remember that using these linking words effectively can help improve the coherence and clarity of your writing, which is especially important in tasks like the IELTS test.

Linking words – Showing effect

Certainly, here’s a table with linking words that show cause and effect, along with their meanings and examples:

Linking Word	Meaning	Example
Consequently	As a result	She studied diligently; consequently, she aced the exam.
Therefore	For that reason	He didn’t have his umbrella; therefore, he got soaked.
Thus	In this way	They saved money, thus affording their dream vacation.
Hence	From this time onward	The flight was delayed, hence they missed their meeting.
As a result	The outcome of an action	The team practiced hard, as a result, they won the game.
Because	Due to the fact that	He failed the test because he didn’t study.
So	Consequently	The weather was terrible, so the picnic was canceled.
Since	Because	Since it was raining, we stayed indoors.
Owing to	Because of	Owing to traffic, they arrived late to the event.
Therefore	As a consequence	He forgot his homework; therefore, he got detention.

Remember to use these linking words appropriately to enhance the coherence and cohesion of your writing during the IELTS test.

Linking words – Showing cause 

Linking Word	Meaning	Example
Because	Indicates a reason or cause	She couldn’t attend the party because she was sick.
Since	Introduces a reason or background	Since it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.
As	Demonstrates a cause-effect	As he studied hard, he achieved top marks.
Due to	Indicates the reason for something	The flight was delayed due to bad weather conditions.
Owing to	Signifies a cause or reason	Owing to his dedication, he got promoted quickly.
On account of	Highlights a cause or explanation	They cancelled the event on account of low attendance.
Thanks to	Implies a positive cause	Thanks to their support, we completed the project.

Feel free to use this table as a reference for linking words that demonstrate cause in your IELTS preparation.

Linking words – Expressing Partial Agreement

Linking Words	Meaning	Example
To some extent	Acknowledging agreement with a point, but not fully.	To some extent, I agree with your opinion on climate change.
Partially	Showing agreement with reservations.	I partially agree with your argument about technology’s impact on social interaction.
In a way	Indicating agreement while noting differences.	In a way, your proposal makes sense, but there are a few concerns I have.
To a certain degree	Expressing agreement while suggesting limitations.	I think your solution has merit, to a certain degree.
More or less	Agreeing with some variations.	I think I understand your viewpoint, more or less.
Up to a point	Concurring but with a boundary.	I can see your perspective up to a point, but there are factors to consider.
In some respects	Recognizing agreement in specific aspects.	In some respects, I see the validity of your analysis.
Partly, but…	Agreeing with exceptions or additional information.	I’m partly on board with your idea, but we need to address the budget concerns.

These linking words and phrases can help you express partial agreement in your writing or speaking tasks for the IELTS test.

Linking words – Expressing Certainty

Linking Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example
Certainly	Without a doubt	She will certainly pass the exam.
Definitely	Absolutely certain	I am definitely going to the party.
Without a doubt	No uncertainty	Without a doubt, he is the best candidate.
Surely	Almost certainly	She will surely get a high score.
It’s clear that	Obvious and certain	It’s clear that he knows what he’s doing.
It’s certain that	Beyond doubt	It’s certain that the sun will rise tomorrow.
There’s no doubt that	Absolutely sure	There’s no doubt that he’s a talented musician.
It’s a sure thing	A guaranteed outcome	It’s a sure thing that prices will increase.

Linking words – Generalizing

Linking Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
In general	Usually, typically	In general, people prefer to stay indoors during winter.
Generally speaking	Broadly speaking	Generally speaking, exercise is good for overall health.
On the whole	Overall	On the whole, the conference was a success.
By and large	Mostly, mainly	By and large, the new policy has been well-received.
For the most part	Mostly, largely	For the most part, students enjoy their school holidays.
As a rule	Typically, ordinarily	As a rule, cats are more independent than dogs.
In most cases	Usually, commonly	In most cases, a healthy diet leads to better fitness.
Generally	Commonly, typically	Generally, people are more productive in the morning.
It is often said	Commonly believed	It is often said that laughter is the best medicine.
Typically	Usually, normally	Typically, the prices of goods rise during the holiday season.

These linking words and phrases can be used to express generalizations in your writing or speaking tasks on the IELTS test. Make sure to practice using them appropriately to enhance the clarity and coherence of your responses.

Linking words – Contrasting

Linking Word	Meaning	Example
However	Indicates contrast or contradiction	She studied hard; however, she didn’t pass the exam.
Nevertheless	Shows a contrasting idea despite previous information	The weather was bad; nevertheless, they went for a hike.
On the other hand	Introduces an opposing viewpoint	Some people prefer cats; on the other hand, others prefer dogs.
Although	Introduces a contrast between two clauses	Although it rained, we still had a great picnic.
Despite	Expresses contrast despite a previous situation	Despite being tired, he finished the marathon.
Whereas	Highlights a difference between two things	He enjoys action movies, whereas she prefers comedies.
On the contrary	Shows a clear contrast to what was previously mentioned	He didn’t fail; on the contrary, he excelled in his exams.
Unlike	Indicates a difference between two things	Unlike her brother, she loves to cook.
In contrast	Introduces a comparison between different aspects	In contrast to the city, the countryside is quiet and peaceful.
Even though	Shows a concession of a point while introducing contrast	Even though it’s expensive, I’ll buy the designer shoes.

Remember to use these linking words appropriately to enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing or speaking in the IELTS test.

Linking words – Comparing

Linking Word	Meaning	Example
Similarly	To show a similarity between two ideas	Similarly, both countries have a rich cultural heritage.
Likewise	In the same way	He enjoys outdoor activities; likewise, she’s a nature enthusiast.
In comparison	To highlight the relationship between things	In comparison to last year, this year’s sales have increased.
In the same vein	In a similar manner	She excels in painting, and in the same vein, her sculptures are remarkable too.
Just as	Indicates a parallel or analogous situation	Just as the sun rises in the east, so does the moon.
Compared to	To indicate a relative difference	His speed was impressive, compared to the other runners.
In contrast	To point out differences	His outgoing personality is in contrast to her reserved nature.
Unlike	To show dissimilarity	Unlike traditional methods, this new technique is more efficient.
On the other hand	Introduces a contrasting idea	He’s not very organized; on the other hand, his sister is incredibly neat.
Conversely	Introduces an opposing viewpoint	He believed the project was worthwhile; conversely, she thought it was a waste of time.

Remember to use these linking words appropriately to create clear and cohesive comparisons in your IELTS writing tasks.

Linking words – Giving Examples

Linking Word	Meaning	Example
For example	Introducing a specific example	I have many hobbies, such as hiking and painting.
Such as	Giving a specific instance	I enjoy outdoor activities, such as biking and camping.
Like	Similar to, resembling	She has a talent for music, like her father.
For instance	Providing a particular case	Many countries have strict laws. For instance, Singapore bans chewing gum.
In particular	Focusing on a specific detail	The company offers various benefits, in particular, flexible working hours.
To illustrate	Clarifying with an example	The team faced challenges, but to illustrate, they managed to meet their deadline.
Namely	Identifying precisely	There are three main colors in the flag, namely red, blue, and green.
Specifically	In a detailed and precise manner	The instructions were specifically designed for beginners.
In other words	Rephrasing or clarifying	The experiment was unsuccessful— in other words, it didn’t produce the expected results.
As an example	Demonstrating with an instance	Some fruits, like apples and oranges, contain a lot of vitamin C, as an example.

Remember, using these linking words appropriately can enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing, making it more suitable for the IELTS test or any other language proficiency exam.