Linking Words:

 Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences so that people can follow your ideas.

Giving example     

  For example/ for instance/ namely

 " There are two problems: namely, the time and the effort.

Adding information 

  And  ( Ideas are often linked by and.)

In addition / in addition to this 

  ( They can be used at the beginning of the sentence)

As well as  

  ( It can be used at the beginning or the middle of the sentence.)

  *   As well as the offer, we are concerned by the demand.

 *  We are interested in spoken  as well as written English.

  Also 
Also is used to add extra ideas or an emphasis. we don't usually
start a sentence with also. Instead, we use in addition, or in addition to this)

  Too

  ( Too goes either at the end of the sentence or after the subject,
  and means as well. It is usually used with an  affirmative meaning.

   -I, too, was happy to hear about your success.

   - My brother was happy, too.

  Furthermore /  Moreover  

  ( They add extra information to the point  you are making.)
- This car is very fast. Moreover, it's more comfortable.

  Apart from / besides  

  ( They are often used to mean as  well as or in addition to.)
- Apart from English, Arabic is widely spread in the world.

Summarising

  In short / In brief / In summary / To summarize /
  In a nutshell /To conclude /In conclusion/To sum up

  ( We use these words at the beginning of a sentence to give
  a summary of  what we have said or written.)

Sequencing ideas

   The former,.....the latter

   ( When you want to refer to one of two points.)
  -Of these two boys the former is my brother, but the latter is my cousin.

   Firstly,....secondly,....finally or lastly,..  

   ( They are useful ways to list   ideas.)

Giving a reason 

  Due to / Due to the fact that / Owing to / owing to 
the fact that / Because Because of / Since / As

  ( Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun.)
 ( Due to the fact that and owing to the fact that must
  be followed by a  subject and a verb.)

Giving a result

  Therefore, so, consequently, as a result

   They are used in a similar way, but so is more informal.

Contrasting ideas 

  But ( It is more informal. It isn't usually used at the beginning of a sentence.
  Although/ even though 

They can be at he beginning or the middle of a sentence.
( They must be  followed by a subject and a  verb.)

  Despite / In spite of

  ( They must be followed by a noun/ v+ing)
 - Despite being rich, he doesn't help the poor.
 - Despite his poverty, he feels happy.
 - In spite of his poverty, he feels happy.

Despite the fact that/ In spite the fact that 

  (They must be followed by a subject and a verb.)
 - Despite the fact that he is fat, he runs fast.

  Nevertheless/ Nonetheless 

 -  Most pupils are doing well. Nonetheless, they aren't going to get the full mark.

 While / whereas / unlike 

  ( They are used to show how two things are different from each other.)

In theory...........in practice

  ( They show an unexpected result.)
- In theory, teachers should prepare for  lessons, but in practice, 
they don't often have enough time.

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