Ways of explaining or clarifying

As - adverb, conjunction, preposition

used for giving the reason for something

because - conjunction

used for introducing facts that explain why you believe that something is true

besides adverb, preposition

used when you are adding another stronger reason to support what you are saying

explain verb

used when you want someone to understand and forgive you

i.e. abbreviation

used when you are explaining exactly what you mean by something

inasmuch as conjunction

used for adding a comment that explains or makes clearer what you have just said

inasmuch as conjunction

used for adding a comment that limits what you have just said

look at

used for giving an example that proves that what you are saying is true

precisely adverb

used for adding emphasis to a reason or explanation

since adverb, conjunction, preposition

used when explaining why someone does something or why a situation exists

that adverb, conjunction, determiner, pronoun

used when explaining why someone feels sad, angry, happy etc

witness verb

used before you give an example that proves what you have just said

after all

used when giving a reason to explain what you have just said

as a matter of fact

used when you are going to disagree with or correct what has just been said

as if

used when you are describing something and you imagine an explanation for it that you know is not the real one

as much as anything

used for saying that something is one of the main reasons for a situation, feeling etc

at bottom

used when explaining the basic cause or nature of something

being...

used for giving an explanation of something

by extension

used for explaining that a particular person or thing is affected by something only because they are connected to what you have just mentioned

can’t begin to imagine/understand/explain etc

used for emphasizing that something is very difficult to imagine, understand etc

due to unforeseen circumstances

used in official statements for explaining that something unexpected has happened that will prevent an event or situation from continuing normally

for example

used when mentioning something that shows the type of thing that you are talking about and helps to explain what you mean

for instance

for example

for one reason or another

used for saying that there is more than one reason for something

for one thing

used when mentioning one reason for something as an example, when there are several reasons

for one thing...(for another thing)

used for giving a reason for something

for reasons of economy/safety/security etc

used for showing why a particular thing is done

for want of a better word/phrase/term

used for saying that you cannot think of a more exact way of describing or explaining what you mean

I mean (to say)

used for adding a comment or explaining what you have just said

in case

used for explaining why you are doing something

in other words

used for introducing another way of saying or explaining something, especially a more simple way

in that

used for introducing an explanation of what you have just said, showing in what way it is true

in the first place

used for stating the most basic reason for something

in the interest(s) of something

in order to preserve, develop, or achieve something

it’s just that...

used when you are explaining your reaction to something

it’s not that...it’s just that

used when you are explaining why you are doing something

judging by/from something

used for giving the reason why you think something is true

on this/that account

used when giving the reason for something

pure and simple

used for saying that there is no additional explanation for something

there it is/there you are/there you go

used when a situation is not satisfactory but there is nothing that you can do to make it better

so to speak

used for showing that you have expressed something in an unusual way

that is (to say)

used when explaining more clearly what you have just said

that is (to say)

used when you are going to correct something that you have just said

that is to say

used for explaining something that you have just said in a more exact way

the thing is

used for introducing an answer, comment, or explanation related to something that was just mentioned

the whole point

used for emphasizing that something is the main reason for something else

to put it another way

used when you are going to explain something in a different way in order to make it easier to understand

to put it in a nutshell

used when you are going to explain a long or complicated idea, story etc in a quick and simple way

to put it mildly

used for saying that the words you have chosen are not as extreme as they could have been

to put it simply

used for saying that you are explaining something in a clear and simple way

what with

used when you are giving a number of reasons for a particular situation or problem

you see

used when you are explaining something

Writing guide

I. Linking words

Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences, so that people can follow your ideas.

1) Giving examples

For example

For instance

Namely

The most common way of giving examples is by using for example or for instance.

Namely refers to something by name.

"There are two problems: namely, the expense and the time."

2)Adding information

In addition	Moreover
As well as	Apart from
Also	In addition to
Too	Besides
Furthermore	Moreover

Ideas are often linked by and. In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and.

"We discussed training, education and the budget."

Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis. "We also spoke about marketing."

You can use also with not only to give emphasis.

"We are concerned not only by the costs, but also by the competition."

We don't usually start a sentence with also. If you want to start a sentence with a phrase that means also, you can use In addition, or In addition to this…

As well as can be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.

"As well as the costs, we are concerned by the competition."

"We are interested in costs as well as the competition."

Too goes either at the end of the sentence, or after the subject and means as well.

"They were concerned too."

"I, too, was concerned."

Apart from and besides are often used to mean as well as, or in addition to.

"Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer."

"Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer."

Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are making.

"Marketing plans give us an idea of the potential market. Moreover, they tell us about the competition."

3)Summarising

In short	In a nutshell
In brief	To conclude
In summary	In conclusion
To summarise	In a nutshell

We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a summary of what we have said or written.

1) Sequencing ideas

The former, … the latter	Lastly
Firstly, secondly, finally	The following
The first point is	Lastly

The former and the latter are useful when you want to refer to one of two points.

"Marketing and finance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in the first term and the latter is studied in the final term."

Firstly, … secondly, … finally (or lastly) are useful ways to list ideas.

It's rare to use "fourthly", or "fifthly". Instead, try the first point, the second point, the third point and so on.

The following is a good way of starting a list.

"The following people have been chosen to go on the training course: N Peters, C Jones and A Owen."

2) Giving a reason

Due to / due to the fact that	Because of
Owing to / owing to the fact that	Since
Because	As

Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun.

"Due to the rise in oil prices, the inflation rate rose by 1.25%."

"Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2 weeks."

If you want to follow these words with a clause (a subject, verb and object), you must follow the words with the fact that.

"Due to the fact that oil prices have risen, the inflation rate has gone up by 1%25."

"Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company has been unable to fulfill all its orders."

Because / because of

Because of is followed by a noun.

"Because of bad weather, the football match was postponed."

Because can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For example, "Because it was raining, the match was postponed."

"We believe in incentive schemes, because we want our employees to be more productive."

Since / as

Since and as mean because.

"Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."

As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."

3) Giving a result

Therefore	This means that
So	As a result
Consequently	This means that

Therefore, so, consequently and as a result are all used in a similar way.

"The company are expanding. Therefore / So / Consequently / As a result, they are taking on extra staff."

So is more informal.

7) Contrasting ideas

But	In spite of / in spite of the fact that	Whereas
However	Nevertheless	Unlike
Although / even though	Nonetheless	In theory… in practice…
Despite / despite the fact that	While	Whereas

But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a sentence.

"He works hard, but he doesn't earn much."

"He works hard. However, he doesn't earn much."

Although, despite and in spite of introduce an idea of contrast. With these words, you must have two halves of a sentence.

"Although it was cold, she went out in shorts."

"In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts."

Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing to. They must be followed by a noun. If you want to follow them with a noun and a verb, you must use the fact that.

"Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on extra employees."

Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that or anyway.

"The sea was cold, but he went swimming nevertheless." (In spite of the fact that it was cold.)

"The company is doing well. Nonetheless, they aren't going to expand this year."

While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from each other.

"While my sister has blue eyes, mine are brown."

"Taxes have gone up, whereas social security contributions have gone down."

"Unlike in the UK, the USA has cheap petrol."

In theory… in practice… show an unexpected result.

"In theory, teachers should prepare for lessons, but in practice, they often don't have enough time."

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