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Discourse Markers

1 min
C1

Discourse markers like moreover, on the other hand, and by the way connect and organise ideas across sentences rather than adding grammatical meaning — pick one that matches both the logical relationship (addition, contrast, result, topic shift) and the register of your writing or speech.

CEFR C1·other

Formula

organize, signal attitude, manage flow
Addition
moreover, furthermore, what's more
Contrast
on the other hand, mind you, having said that
Result
as a result, consequently, hence
Topic shift
by the way, anyway, incidentally

Examples

Positive
Having said that, the rewards could be significant.
Negative
I don't enjoy big parties. Mind you, this one might be fun.
Question
By the way, did you hear about the meeting?

Usage

  • •Connect ideas across sentences (not just within them)
  • •Signal the speaker's attitude or stance
  • •Make speech and writing flow more naturally and sound more advanced

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What are discourse markers used for?

Discourse markers connect ideas across sentences, not within them — they are the glue between one statement and the next rather than between clauses in a single sentence. They also signal the speaker's attitude or stance ("Frankly, I think the idea is brilliant") and help speech and writing flow more naturally.

Because they operate at the level of the whole text, they're largely optional grammatically — removing one doesn't break the sentence, it just removes the signal of how the ideas relate.

Formal vs informal discourse markers — how do they differ?

"Hence" and "consequently" belong in academic or formal writing, while "mind you" and "anyway" are conversational, common in British English speech. Using an informal marker in an academic essay ("Mind you, the results were mixed") reads as a register mismatch — swap it for "However" or "Nevertheless."

Matching register also means recognising synonyms that mean the same thing at different formality levels: "by the way" (casual) and "incidentally" (formal) do the same job.

Comparison Table

Discourse markers by function and register
FormFunctionFormalInformalExample
Additionmoreover, furthermorewhat's more, alsoMoreover, the results confirm our hypothesis.
Contraston the other hand, neverthelessmind you, having said thatMind you, the food was terrible.
Resultconsequently, henceso, that's whyConsequently, the project was delayed.
Topic shiftincidentallyby the way, anywayBy the way, are you free tomorrow?
Save this comparison chart
Comparison diagram: Discourse markers by function and registerDownload PNG

More Examples

  • The hotel was lovely. Mind you, the food was terrible.

    Subtle contrast / concession

  • Having said that, I do see your point.

    Softening a contrast

  • On the other hand, working from home has its drawbacks.

    Presenting an opposing view

  • By the way, are you free tomorrow?

    Topic change

  • Frankly, I think the idea is brilliant.

    Signaling honesty / personal stance

  • In other words, we need a new strategy.

    Rephrasing for clarity

Common Mistakes

  • ✗Overusing one marker: starting every sentence with "However" feels repetitive.
  • ✗Wrong register: "Mind you" is informal; in academic writing prefer "However" / "Nevertheless".
  • ✗Misplaced commas: "Mind you the food was terrible" → "Mind you, the food was terrible" (comma after).

Tips

  • ✓Discourse markers are mostly OPTIONAL — they signal RELATIONSHIPS, not grammatical necessity.
  • ✓Match register: "by the way" (casual) vs "incidentally" (formal); both mean the same thing.

Advanced Notes

Discourse markers operate at the level of the text, not the sentence — they are the glue between ideas rather than within them. Register awareness is critical: "hence" and "consequently" belong in academic or formal writing, while "mind you" and "anyway" are conversational repair markers you hear in British English. Learners at C1 often know the formal set ("furthermore", "nevertheless") but miss the informal set entirely, making their spoken English sound stiff. Corpus research shows "however" is the most overused marker in learner academic writing; building a broader repertoire is what distinguishes C1 from C2 text.

FAQ

Is it bad to start every sentence with "However"?

Yes, in practice — overusing one marker like "However" at the start of every sentence feels repetitive. Corpus research on learner academic writing shows "however" is the most overused discourse marker; build a wider repertoire (nevertheless, on the other hand, that said) instead.

Is "mind you" formal or informal?

"Mind you" is informal and conversational. In academic or formal writing, use "However" or "Nevertheless" instead to signal the same kind of contrast.

Where does the comma go after a discourse marker?

Right after it: "Mind you, the food was terrible," not "Mind you the food was terrible." Most discourse markers are followed by a comma when they open a sentence.

What's the difference between a discourse marker and a linking word?

Discourse markers operate across whole sentences or turns, managing flow and attitude ("However," "Having said that," "By the way") and are optional. Linking words (although, because, so that) join clauses grammatically within a single sentence and are structurally required to form that sentence.

Is "by the way" the same as "incidentally"?

Yes — they mean the same thing (introducing a topic shift) but sit at different formality levels: "by the way" is casual and spoken, "incidentally" is formal and written.

Practice

  1. 1.The hotel was lovely. , the food was terrible.
  2. 2., I do see your point.
  3. 3., are you free tomorrow?
  4. 4.The trial failed twice; , the team abandoned the approach.
  5. 5., I think the idea is brilliant.
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Compare With

Linking Words: However, Although, Despite, In Spite Of(B1)Hedging and Cautious Language(C1)