Addition
| Marker | Use / register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Furthermore / Moreover | formal; adds a stronger or more important point | Furthermore, the report failed to address the key concerns. |
| In addition (to) | neutral-formal; can precede a noun or clause | In addition to the salary, you receive full benefits. |
| What is more | slightly informal; emphasises a surprising extra point | It was expensive — what is more, it didn't even work. |
Contrast
| Marker | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nevertheless / Nonetheless | formal; contrast despite a previous point (= even so) | It was a risk. Nevertheless, we decided to proceed. |
| On the contrary | contradicts or denies what was just said | "You seem unhappy." "On the contrary, I'm delighted." |
| In contrast / By contrast | compares two different things side by side | The north is cold. By contrast, the south is very warm. |
| Whereas / Whilst | contrasts within one sentence (formal) | She prefers tea, whereas her brother drinks coffee. |
| Having said that | introduces a contrasting point after a concession (semi-formal) | The food was average. Having said that, the atmosphere was lovely. |
On the contrary vs on the other hand:
"On the contrary" CONTRADICTS ("No, that's wrong"). "On the other hand" BALANCES two valid ideas ("There are advantages … on the other hand, there are also disadvantages").
Reason and cause
| Marker | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Given that | formal; reason that is already established | Given that the budget was cut, the results are impressive. |
| In view of (the fact that) | formal; considering a specific reason | In view of the fact that you are ill, you may leave early. |
| Bearing in mind (that) | formal; taking a reason into account | Bearing in mind the cost, this seems a reasonable offer. |
Summarising and concluding
In conclusion / To conclude: used at the start of a formal final paragraph.
To sum up / In summary: slightly less formal; recaps main points.
All in all / On balance: weighing everything considered.
Overall: general wrap-up, common in both formal and informal writing.
To sum up / In summary: slightly less formal; recaps main points.
All in all / On balance: weighing everything considered.
Overall: general wrap-up, common in both formal and informal writing.
Clarifying and reformulating
| Marker | Example |
|---|---|
| That is to say / i.e. | The deadline has been moved — that is to say, you have an extra week. |
| In other words | She refused to comment. In other words, she had something to hide. |
| Namely | Only two students passed, namely Alex and Maria. |
Exercises
Choose the most appropriate discourse marker.
1. The project was expensive. ___, the results were disappointing.
2. "You must be exhausted." "___, I feel completely energised."
3. The interview went badly. ___, she was offered the job.
4. The hotel was noisy. ___, the location was perfect for sightseeing.
5. ___ the situation, we have decided to postpone the event.