Connectors & Cohesion
Cohesive academic writing links ideas with the right connectors. This chapter covers transition words that show contrast, cause and effect, and addition, and the grammar that governs how each is used.
Contrast vs. Result Connectors
Decide whether two ideas contrast or whether one causes the other. Contrast connectors include 'however' and 'nevertheless'; result connectors include 'therefore' and 'consequently'. Choosing the wrong type reverses your meaning.
Grammar of Connectors
Some connectors have specific grammar. 'Despite' and 'because of' are followed by a noun phrase, while 'although' and 'because' are followed by a full clause with a subject and verb. Matching the structure is essential.
Cohesion Across Sentences
Transition words at the start of a sentence guide the reader from one idea to the next. Using 'however' to open a sentence signals that a contrast with the previous idea is coming.