We use discourse markers every day, often without even realising it. They’re essentially phrases and words that quite literally mark the direction of a conversation or discourse. They are used to connect, organise and manage what we think, say or write or to express a certain attitude. They can also be used to redirect or focus a conversation. You might sometimes see them being referred to as ‘linking words’, ‘linking phrases’, or ‘sentence connectors’.
To change the direction of a conversation, but making a link with what has just been said.
- A: I really like your shirt. Hasn’t Harry got one just like it?
- B: Talking of Harry, did he get the job he applied for?
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To introduce something you have just thought of, or to change the subject completely.
- So let’s meet at five o’clock. By the way / Incidentally, could you possibly lend me some money until the weekend?
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To introduce additional surprising or unexpected information.
- A: Did you see the match last night?
- B: No I didn’t. Actually / In fact / As a matter of fact I don’t really like football.
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To introduce the idea that what you said before is less important than what you are going to say. To return to the main topic after a digression.
- We didn’t go away at the weekend because I had too much work. In any case / Anyway the weather was awful, so we didn’t miss anything.
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To introduce a positive point after some negative information. To make what you have just said less definite.
- Yes, it was a bad accident. At least nobody was killed, though.
- Tom’s coming to the meeting, or at least he said he was.
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To return to a previous subject, often after you have been interrupted.
- As I was saying, if Mark gets the job we’ll have to reorganise the department.
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To generalise.
- On the whole, I think that women make better journalists than men.
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To say that you are taking everything into consideration.
- I like both flats, but all in all, I think I prefer the one next to the cathedral.
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To introduce a strong argument that the other person may not have taken into consideration.
- I think we should buy them. After all, we’ll never find them anywhere cheaper than this.
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To add additional information or arguments.
- I don’t think I’ll come to Nick’s party. It will finish very late. Besides, I won’t know many people there.
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To introduce the most important or fundamental point.
- Basically, my job involves computer skills and people skills.
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To introduce a fact that is very clear to see or understand.
- Obviously you can’t get a real idea of life in Japan unless you can speak the language.
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To make things clearer or give more details.
- She’s very selfish. I mean, she never thinks about other people at all.
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To say something again in another way.
- A lot of people booed, and some people even left early. In other words, it was a complete disaster.
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To say what the result would be if something did not happen or if the situation were different.
- Please try not to make a mess when you make the cake. Otherwise I’m going to have to clean the kitchen again.
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To introduce a new topic or to announce a change of subject.
- That’s all you need to know about the travel arrangements.
- As far as accommodation is concerned, As regards / Regarding accommodation, the options are living with a family or living in a hall of residence.
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To introduce an explanation or clarification of a point you have just made.
- The government are going to help first-time buyers. That is to say, they are going to make mortgages more easily available.
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To balance contrasting facts or points. On the other hand is also used alone to introduce a contrasting fact or point.
- On (the) one hand, more young people today carry knives. On (the) other hand, the total number of violent crimes has dropped.
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