IELTS · Articles · October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Linking words for IELTS: lists by function, with examples
Linking words (also called linkers or cohesive devices) connect ideas: however, therefore, in addition, for instance. They show how one sentence relates to another: adding to it, contrasting with it or explaining a cause.
Without them, speech and writing fall apart into separate statements. With them, you sound like you are reasoning. That is why they affect your band directly in both Speaking and Writing: Coherence is a quarter of the score.
Linking words by function
Adding
| Linker | Example |
|---|---|
| moreover | The city is beautiful. Moreover, it’s very safe. |
| in addition | In addition, the rent is affordable. |
| what’s more | What’s more, it barely rains here. |
| besides | Besides, I don’t have the time. |
| as well as | It’s cheap as well as convenient. |
| not only… but also | Not only is it cheap, but it’s also fast. |
In speech: plus, on top of that. They sound more natural in Speaking than moreover.
Contrast
| Linker | Example |
|---|---|
| however | I love big cities. However, they can be exhausting. |
| on the other hand | On the other hand, rent is much cheaper here. |
| nevertheless | It was raining. Nevertheless, we went out. |
| although / though | Although it was late, we kept walking. |
| whereas | He likes tea, whereas I prefer coffee. |
| despite / in spite of | Despite the cost, it was worth it. |
In speech: that said, then again, the flip side is.
Cause
| Linker | Example |
|---|---|
| because | I stayed home because I was tired. |
| since / as | Since it was late, we took a taxi. |
| due to | The delay was due to the weather. |
| owing to | Owing to the strike, trains were cancelled. |
| the reason why | The reason why I moved is the job. |
Result
| Linker | Example |
|---|---|
| therefore | Prices rose. Therefore, demand fell. |
| as a result | As a result, fewer people travel. |
| consequently | Consequently, the plan was dropped. |
| so | It was raining, so we stayed in. |
| which is why | It’s expensive, which is why I rarely go. |
Examples
| Linker | Example |
|---|---|
| for instance / for example | For instance, take public transport. |
| such as | Many skills, such as cooking, are useful. |
| in particular | I love Japan, Kyoto in particular. |
| namely | One thing bothers me, namely the noise. |
Sequence and conclusion
first of all, to begin with, then, after that, finally, lastly; in conclusion, to sum up, overall, on the whole.
Qualifying and softening
The most forgotten group, and the one that helps most in Speaking: to some extent, more often than not, it depends on, arguably, in other words.
However vs but
The most common confusion. Both express contrast, but they behave differently.
But is a conjunction. It joins two parts within one sentence, usually after a comma:
I wanted to go, but it was too late.
However is an adverb. It starts a new sentence and is followed by a comma:
I wanted to go. However, it was too late.
The mistake is writing I wanted to go, however it was too late. Use a full stop or a semicolon before however. The same distinction applies to because (a conjunction, within a sentence) and therefore / as a result (adverbs, a new sentence).
Although vs despite
Although / though + subject and verb:
Although it was raining, we went out.
Despite / in spite of + a noun or an -ing form:
Despite the rain, we went out. In spite of being tired, she kept working.
You cannot say Despite it was raining. If a full clause follows, use although.
Speech and essays need different sets
In essays, formal linkers fit: moreover, furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, in conclusion.
In speech, the same words sound bookish. In conversation people say Plus, I really enjoy hiking rather than Moreover, I enjoy hiking.
| Formal (essay) | Natural (speech) |
|---|---|
| Moreover | Plus / On top of that |
| Nevertheless | That said / But still |
| Consequently | So / Which is why |
| For instance | Like / Say |
| In conclusion | All in all / At the end of the day |
Written linkers in conversation sound memorised, and they do not raise your band.
The main mistake: too many linkers
It seems logical: linkers raise Coherence, so more is better. In practice it is the opposite. A text where every sentence starts with Moreover / Furthermore / In addition reads as mechanical. The official Writing descriptors describe “mechanical” cohesion as a band 6 feature.
A working rule: use a linker where the relationship between ideas would otherwise be unclear. If it is already clear, leave it out.
Weak:
I like the city. Moreover, it is safe. In addition, it is clean. Furthermore, people are friendly.
Better:
I like the city, mainly because it’s safe and clean. What’s more, people are genuinely friendly.
The second version has one linker, and it does a job.
How to make them active vocabulary
- Pick 8–10 linkers, not all of them: two each for contrast, cause, examples and qualifying.
- For Speaking, choose the spoken versions: that said, plus, which is why, it depends on.
- Speak and write, deliberately using 2–3 linkers per answer. It feels unnatural at first; that is normal.
- Reread and listen back, marking where a linker is awkward or unnecessary.
You can see linkers at work in the sample answers for Speaking Part 1 and Part 3: notice how rarely moreover appears and how often that said does. For essays, see the Writing Task 2 guide.