Chapter 4 of 519% of exam
Connectors and Prepositions
Academic writing links ideas of cause, contrast, and result, and relies on fixed verb-preposition pairs. This chapter reviews transitions and collocations that appear in essays and research summaries.
Contrast and Result
'Despite' introduces a contrast before a noun phrase ('despite the limited sample'), while 'consequently' signals a result. Matching the connector to the logic of the two ideas is the core skill.
Verb-Preposition Collocations
Some verbs need a set preposition: 'account for observations' and 'focus on implications'. Using the wrong preposition sounds unnatural in formal writing.
Transitions Between Sentences
Transitions connect statements: 'consequently' shows a result, 'in contrast' shows opposition, and 'for instance' introduces an example. The relationship decides the choice.