Linking phrases — the expressions that connect sentences and paragraphs — are assessed under Coherence & Cohesion in Writing and Fluency & Coherence in Speaking. Examiners reward candidates who use a range of cohesive devices naturally. The key word is 'range' — candidates who use only 'however' and 'furthermore' in every response score Band 5–6. This guide provides 50 linking phrases organised by function for immediate use in your IELTS responses.
1Adding Information (10 phrases)
Basic: Furthermore, Moreover, In addition, Additionally, Also. Sophisticated: What is more, Not only this, but, Beyond this, Over and above this, It should also be noted that. Example sentences: 'Renewable energy reduces carbon emissions. Furthermore, it creates long-term employment in manufacturing and installation sectors.' 'The policy has reduced pollution significantly. What is more, it has generated considerable tax revenue that funds public health services.' Note: 'Also' is weakest — reserve it for mid-sentence use: 'which also raises questions about…'. Lead paragraphs with stronger connectors to demonstrate range.
2Contrasting and Conceding (15 phrases)
Contrast: However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, On the other hand, By contrast, That said, Even so, Despite this. Concession (acknowledging before contrasting): Admittedly, While it is true that, Although this argument has some merit, It must be acknowledged that, Granted. Example for contrast: 'Automation increases productivity. However, it simultaneously displaces workers in sectors without viable alternatives for retraining.' Example for concession: 'Admittedly, economic growth generates resources that can be used to address inequality. Nevertheless, growth alone is an insufficient mechanism for reducing poverty — the distribution of gains matters as much as their generation.'
3Showing Cause and Effect (10 phrases)
Cause: Because of this, As a result of, Owing to, Due to, Stemming from, On account of. Effect: Therefore, Consequently, As a result, Hence, Thus, This leads to, This gives rise to. Sequence: First and foremost, This in turn, Subsequently, As a consequence. Example: 'Urban populations have grown rapidly in developing nations. As a result, demand for affordable housing has dramatically outpaced supply in many major cities. This in turn has given rise to informal settlements that lack basic infrastructure and services.' Note the chain: cause → immediate effect → downstream consequence. Using this three-link causal chain in Task 2 demonstrates sophisticated analytical thinking.
4Giving Examples and Concluding (15 phrases)
Examples: For example, For instance, To illustrate, A case in point is, This is exemplified by, As demonstrated by. Specifying: In particular, Specifically, Notably, Especially, Above all. Concluding and summarising: In conclusion, To conclude, On balance, All things considered, Taking everything into account, Ultimately, In summary, To summarise. For Speaking Part 3 opinions: In my view, From my perspective, It is my belief that, I am convinced that, As far as I am concerned. Caution: do not begin more than one body paragraph with the same linking phrase. Rotate through the lists above to demonstrate the range that Coherence & Cohesion Band 7 requires.
🎯 Key Takeaway
These 50 linking phrases cover every logical relationship you will need in IELTS Writing and Speaking. Do not try to memorise all 50 immediately — learn 5 per day this week, organised by function, and practise using each one in an IELTS context sentence. By the end of the week, you will have internalised 35 new linking phrases and demonstrably widened your cohesive device range.