1.
CONTRAST (but)
1. HOWEVER
This restaurant has the best kitchen in town. However, their staff are quite rude.
2. IN CONTRAST
House prices have gone up this year. In contrast, car prices seem to be
stagnating.
3. NEVERTHELESS
I was in so much pain I didn’t want to get up in the morning. Nevertheless, I went
to football practice as usual.
4. NONETHELESS
I don’t think Sean has serious behavioural problems. Nonetheless, I’ll talk to him
first thing in the morning.
5. YET
I’ve asked you a thousand times not to leave your dirty socks on the floor. Yet,
you keep doing it.
6. ON THE OTHER HAND
England has the best language schools. On the other hand, it has the worst
weather.
7. BY COMPARISON
Going out with Jim has its risks. By comparison, being with Tim is as easy as
falling off a log.
8. ON THE CONTRARY
I don’t hate Jim. On the contrary, I’m rather fond of him.
9. INSTEAD
I didn’t want to take a side in the argument. Instead, I put my headphones on and
listened to some smooth jazz.
10. IN ANY CASE
I was thinking of going round Jim’s place. In any case, I haven’t been invited.
11. ALL THE SAME
Yes, he’s very good-looking. All the same, I don’t think you should go out with
him.
2. SIMILARITY (same)
1. LIKEWISE
You can’t give your phone number to every man who asks for it. Likewise, you
can’t go out with everyone who fancies you.
2. SIMILARLY
You’re not allowed to use your phone here. Similarly, you have to switch it off
when you’re in the library.
3. CORRESPONDINGLY
She’s an excellent photographer. Correspondingly, her paintings are works of art.
4. IN THE SAME WAY
Cutting down on sugar will help you lose weight. In the same way, doing more
exercise will help you get rid of a few kilos.
5. ALSO
I want to talk to Prince Harry when I’m in England. Also, I want to meet his sister-
in-law.
RESULT
1. AS A RESULT
I’ve done a pranic healing course. As a result, I’ve been able to cure my
neighbour’s sick cat.
2. AS A CONSEQUENCE
Zack has skipped school on many occasions. As a consequence, he’s failed his
French test.
3. THEREFORE
We’re going to experience some meteor showers in the next few days.
Therefore, the number of miraculous self-healings will rise.
4. THUS
You didn’t tell me you wanted to come. Thus, we won’t be taking you with us.
5. ACCORDINGLY
Plenty of tourists visit the area in summer. Accordingly, selling hand-made
objects is the main source of income for locals.
3. SEQUENCING
1. FIRST, FIRSTLY, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE FIRST PLACE
First of all, I’d like to talk about the benefits of having a pet pig.
2. TO BEGIN WITH
To begin with, pet pigs are cleaner than dogs.
3. FOR ONE THING
For one thing, they’re completely loyal to their owners.
4. SECOND, SECONDLY, IN THE SECOND PLACE
Secondly, their impressive numeracy skills must be mentioned.
5. FOR ANOTHER THING
For another thing, you might want to consider how cute they look in pyjamas.
6. THIRD, THIRDLY, IN THE THIRD PLACE
In the third place, you can always count on your pet pig to perform some tricks
for you when you’d like to impress a pretty girl.
7. ALSO
Also, they don’t eat much.
8. BESIDES
Besides not eating much, they won’t ever chew on your electric cords.
9. IN ADDITION
In addition, they can be taught to feed themselves if you allow them access to
your pantry.
10. FURTHERMORE
Furthermore, they make wonderful walking buddies.
11. MOREOVER
Moreover, they’ll show you the way home when you’re drunk.
12. FINALLY
Finally, pet pigs are fantastic guards. No burglar would ever have the heart to
hurt a pet pig.
13. LAST, LASTLY, LAST OF ALL
4. ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
1. MOST IMPORTANTLY
I’d like to talk to you about how to keep calm at your workplace. Most importantly,
never go to the canteen while your boss is there.
2. PRIMARILY
You’ll have to focus on your immediate surroundings. Primarily, on your
computer screen.
3. ABOVE ALL
Above all, don’t ever look up from your notes when people are around.
4. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY
Most significantly, avoid eye-contact at all costs.
5. ESSENTIALLY, BASICALLY (usually spoken)
How can I put this? Essentially, having an affair with one of your colleagues
should be the last thing on your mind.
5. PARTICULARIZATION
1. IN PARTICULAR, PARTICULARLY
Nearly a third of marriages end in divorce. In particular, it’s middle-aged couples
that yearn for much more from life.
2. MORE SPECIFICALLY
Couples tend to argue about financial issues. More specifically, they argue when
one of them is out of work.
6. EXAMPLIFICATION
1. FOR EXAMPLE
To solve this problem, you might want to try making small gestures. For example,
making your spouse’s favourite meal for dinner or giving him a massage after a
tiring day.
2. FOR INSTANCE
Appreciate the small things your spouse does for you. For instance, leave thank-
you notes for them every now and then.
3. TO ILLUSTRATE
Misunderstandings can be highly destructive. To illustrate, if your spouse sees
you with a friend of the opposite sex in a café, he might not understand why he
hasn’t been invited and demand an explanation
7. EXPLANATION
1. THAT IS TO SAY, THAT IS
Keep romance alive. That is to say, don’t let your lovelife fall into routine.
2. NAMELY
I have a very good reason for not trusting my ex. Namely, he’s a convicted felon.
3. IN OTHER WORDS
Don’t be unsociable. In other words, go out and make some friends.
4. PUT DIFFERENTLY
John has managed to get over Jane. Put differently, he’s started seeing other
women.
8. EMPHASISING
1. AS A MATTER OF FACT
I love sleeping with my pet pig. As a matter of fact, I can’t fall asleep unless he’s
in my bed.
2. IN FACT
I told them not to invite Rachel to the party. In fact, I was the only person who
saw what a party pooper she really was.
3. ACTUALLY
I think it would be a good idea to send her some flowers. Actually, you should get
her a hundred orchids.
4. INDEED
He may be the best-dressed man around. Indeed, he has a really good taste in
fashion.
9. FOCUSING AND LINKING
1. AS FOR (often suggests disinterest or dislike)
I’m going to Janet’s party at the weekend. As for Mary’s, I think I’ll pass.
2. WITH RESPECT TO
Starting your own IT company may be the one of the best things you can do right
now. With respect to opening a pet shop, it’s hard to say the same thing.
3. REGARDING
Start your day with making the most important phone calls. Regarding emails,
you might put them off until later.
4. WITH REGARD TO
With regard to handling complaints, you might want to keep in mind that your
customers are always right.
5. AS REGARDS
Working from home has many advantages. As regards disadvantages, it might
be difficult to keep your cat off your keyboard.
6. TALKING OF
Talking of cats, you can’t trust them to keep you company when you need it.
They’re quite selfish creatures.
7. AS FAR AS … CONCERNED
10. CONCLUSION
1. IN CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it may be said that pigs make the best pets.
2. IN BRIEF
Meeting my boss at the pub was an interesting experience. In brief, it was a
disaster.
3. IN SUMMARY
In summary, it may not be the best idea to frequent the same pubs as your boss.
4. TO SUM UP
To sum up, some people are better suited to working from home than others.
5. ALL IN ALL
All in all, you have to make sure both you and your customers are satisfied with
your work.
11. TIME
1. AT FIRST
It wasn’t a piece of cake to learn English. At first, I couldn’t pronounce all the
words correctly.
2. THEN
Then, I couldn’t spell all the words correctly.
3. AFTERWARDS
Afterwards, I had a hard time understanding the tenses.
4. LATER
Later, I couldn’t memorize phrasal verbs and idioms.
5. IN THE MEANTIME
In the meantime, I was getting some help from MyEnglishTeacher.
6. MEANWHILE
Meanwhile, I was enjoying my skype lessons more and more.
11. DISMISSAL (of what was said before)
1. ANYWAY
I couldn’t get my head around the Passive Voice. Anyway, I don’t think it’s
important to use it all the time.
2. ANYHOW
Anyhow, I’ve just decided to learn Russian next.
3. AT ANY RATE
At any rate, I don’t want to become a simultaneous interpreter in five languages.
