Words that join your ideas: Connectors (also called linking words or cohesive devices) are the words that join sentences and ideas together — and, but, because, however, therefore, for example, finally.
Cohesion is the quality that results: a text where every sentence flows naturally into the next, so the reader follows your argument without effort. Without connectors a text reads as a list of separate facts; with them it reads as one connected piece of writing.
- connector / linking word
- a word or phrase that joins ideas (and, but, because, however, finally)
- cohesion
- the quality of a text whose parts are clearly linked and flow smoothly
- addition
- joining a similar idea on (and, also, moreover, in addition)
- contrast
- showing a difference or surprise (but, however, although, on the other hand)
- cause / reason
- showing why something happens (because, since, as)
- result / consequence
- showing the effect of something (so, therefore, as a result)
- reference
- pointing back to something already mentioned, to avoid repeating it (it, they, this, such)
Why it carries the marks: Cohesion is rewarded directly in Criterion A (Language): examiners look for a range of connectors used accurately. A B-level answer that only joins ideas with and and but stays low; one that uses however, because, as a result, for example and finally reads as mature writing — and scores higher.
A connector for every job: Connectors are grouped by the relationship they signal. Pick the group that matches what you want to say, then choose a word from it. The table below is your toolkit — learn one or two from each row and you can link almost any pair of ideas.
| Relationship | Connectors | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | and, also, moreover, in addition, furthermore | It is cheap. Moreover, it saves time. |
| Contrast | but, however, although, on the other hand, nevertheless | It is cheap; however, it breaks easily. |
| Cause / reason | because, since, as | We left early because it was raining. |
| Result | so, therefore, as a result, consequently | It was raining, so we left early. |
| Sequence / time | first, then, after that, finally, meanwhile | First we planned. Then we wrote. |
| Example | for example, for instance, such as | Use fruit, for example apples or pears. |
| Conclusion | in conclusion, to sum up, overall, all in all | Overall, the trip was a success. |
Reference words also create cohesion: Cohesion isn't only linking words. Reference words point back so you don't repeat a noun: pronouns (it, they, them), demonstratives (this, that, these, those) and phrases like such a plan or the latter. Compare: "The plan was risky. The plan failed." → "The plan was risky, and it failed." The pronoun it stands in for the plan.
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Spot the connectors as you read: Cohesion matters when you read, too. Connectors are signposts that tell you what is coming next — a contrast, a reason, a result — so they help you follow the writer's argument and answer comprehension questions.
Read this short personal story once for meaning. Notice the highlighted linking words: each one tells you how the next idea relates to the last.
A new school: When my family moved to a new town, I was sure I would hate it. At first, I knew nobody, and so I spent every break alone. However, things slowly began to change.
One afternoon a girl called Priya asked me to join her table. Because she was so friendly, I felt brave enough to start a conversation. As a result, I made my first real friend. After that, school felt completely different.
Looking back, I realise the move was the best thing that happened to me. Although the first weeks were lonely, they taught me that a small act of kindness can change everything.
- and so
- result — knowing nobody led to spending breaks alone
- however
- contrast — things began to change, against expectation
- because
- cause/reason — she was friendly, which is why the writer felt brave
- as a result
- result — feeling brave led to making a friend
- after that
- sequence/time — what happened next
- although
- contrast/concession — the weeks were lonely, yet they taught a lesson
IB-style task — using a connector to answer
One question, step by step
- The question — "Why did the writer feel brave enough to start a conversation?"
- Find the cause connector. Look for because, which always introduces a reason: "Because she was so friendly, I felt brave enough to start a conversation."
- The answer — Because Priya was so friendly. The connector because points straight to the reason, so no outside knowledge is needed.
Reading technique: When a question asks why, hunt for a cause connector (because, since, as). When it asks about a change or a surprise, look for a contrast connector (but, however, although). The connector usually sits right next to the answer.
From a list of sentences to one argument: Watch what cohesion does to a piece of writing. Below, the same ideas are written twice: first as a choppy list, then joined with connectors and reference words. The second version says nothing new — it just links the ideas — yet it reads far better and scores higher on Criterion A.
IB-style task — adding cohesion step by step
Turning a draft into a cohesive paragraph
- The task — "Some people say technology makes us lazy. Do you agree?" Here is a first draft that has all the right ideas but reads as a list of separate sentences.
- The choppy draft — "Technology saves time. We do less work. We sit for hours. Our health suffers. Technology is useful. We must not depend on it." Every idea is there, but nothing is joined, so the reader has to do the connecting.
- Add linking words. Show how ideas relate: "Technology saves time, so we do less work. However, we also sit for hours, and as a result our health suffers." Now cause, contrast and result are signposted.
- Add reference to avoid repetition. Replace the repeated noun: "Technology is useful, but we must not depend on it." The pronoun it points back to technology, so we don't repeat the word.
- The cohesive version — "Technology saves time, so we do less work. However, we also sit for hours, and as a result our health suffers. Technology is undeniably useful; nevertheless, we must not depend on it." Same ideas, but now they flow as one argument.
Steal this for your own writing: Write your ideas first, in any order, even as a plain list. Then go back and add the joins: one connector between each pair of ideas, and a pronoun (it, they, this) wherever you've repeated a noun. This single editing pass is one of the fastest ways to lift your Criterion A mark.
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The slips to watch for: Three mistakes dominate. 1. Choosing a connector that signals the wrong relationship (using because where you mean so). 2. Overusing one connector — joining every idea with and. 3. Repeating a noun instead of using a reference word. Compare the good version with the typical mistake and the fix becomes clear.
Cohesive
- It was raining, so we stayed at home.
- The food was cold; however, it tasted good.
- I bought a book and read it that night.
Common error
- It was raining, because we stayed at home. (wrong relationship — needs 'so' for a result)
- The food was cold and it tasted good. ('and' hides the contrast — needs 'however')
- I bought a book and read the book that night. (repeats 'book' — use 'it')
Ask: what relationship, and have I said this noun already?: Before you write a connector, do two quick checks. 1. Name the relationship you mean — addition, contrast, cause, result — and pick a connector from that group. 2. If you're about to repeat a noun, swap it for a reference word (it, they, this, such). Vary your connectors so you don't lean on and and but alone.