Linking Words for PTE: The Complete List by Function (With Examples)
Every PTE linking word grouped by function, with examples for essays, Summarize Written Text and speaking, plus which connectors to avoid. Practise free.
Published 13 June 2026 · 9 min read · PTE Mocks editorial team
In one line
Linking words (also called connectors, transition words or cohesive devices) signal how your ideas relate. Used well, they lift the coherence PTE scores in your essay, Summarize Written Text and speaking. Used badly, in every sentence or stamped from a template, they hurt. Here is the complete list by function, with PTE-register examples and the connectors to avoid.
What linking words are, and why PTE rewards them
A linking word is a word or phrase that connects two ideas so the reader or listener can follow your reasoning: however, because, for example, in conclusion. You will also see them called connectors, transition words or cohesive devices. They are all the same family.
PTE Academic does not score linking words on their own, but it does score coherence. In Write Essay, one of the seven scored traits is Development, Structure and Coherence, and Pearson's own advice is to link ideas in a logical way and to check you have used linking words. Connectors are one of the clearest tools for hitting that trait, so the right ones in the right places genuinely help. The catch most guides skip is that overusing them works against you, and we cover both. If you are aiming for 79+, this is a cheap win to lock in, then practise it on real tasks.
Linking words by function
This is the core list. Each group below does one job in your writing or speaking. Learn a few from each, and reach for variety rather than repeating the same three.
Addition (add a related point)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In addition / Additionally | Sentence start, adds a new supporting point | In addition, remote work reduces commuting costs. |
| Furthermore / Moreover | Adds a stronger or further point | Furthermore, automation can improve workplace safety. |
| Also | Mid-sentence or start, keep it light | Governments also fund public transport for this reason. |
Contrast and concession (show difference, or concede a point)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| However | New sentence, signals a turn | However, this growth has raised environmental concerns. |
| On the other hand | Introduces the opposing view | On the other hand, critics argue the policy is too costly. |
| Although / Though | Joins a concession inside one sentence | Although the plan is expensive, it creates long-term value. |
| Despite / In spite of | Followed by a noun phrase, not a clause | Despite higher fees, enrolment continued to rise. |
| Nevertheless | Concedes a point, then pushes back | The risks are real. Nevertheless, the benefits outweigh them. |
Watch out: however starts a new sentence, while although joins clauses inside one sentence. Mixing them is a common error.
Cause and effect (show why, or what results)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Therefore | Formal result marker | Demand rose sharply; therefore, prices increased. |
| As a result / Consequently | Introduces an outcome | Funding was cut, and as a result, services declined. |
| Because / Since / As | Introduces the cause | Since fuel is costly, many people use public transport. |
| Thus / Hence | Concise and formal, use occasionally | The data is limited; thus, conclusions remain tentative. |
Sequence and order (organise stages or points)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Firstly, Secondly | Order your main points | Firstly, the policy lowers emissions. |
| Next / Then | Move to the following stage | Next, the government introduced subsidies. |
| Finally / Lastly | Last point before the conclusion | Finally, public awareness campaigns were launched. |
Examples and illustration (introduce evidence)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For example / For instance | Introduces a specific case | For example, Scandinavian countries fund free tuition. |
| Such as | Lists examples inside a sentence | Renewable sources such as wind and solar are expanding. |
| In particular | Narrows to a key case | This affects students, in particular those in remote areas. |
Comparison (show similarity)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Similarly / Likewise | Links two comparable ideas | Similarly, online courses widen access to education. |
| In the same way | Draws a parallel | In the same way, regular exercise improves mental health. |
| Compared with | Sets up a direct comparison | Compared with cars, trains emit far less per passenger. |
Emphasis (stress a key point)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Indeed | Reinforces the previous statement | The change was significant; indeed, it reshaped the sector. |
| In fact | Adds a stronger, factual point | In fact, the cost fell by nearly half. |
| Notably | Highlights importance, use sparingly | Notably, younger users adopted the technology fastest. |
Conclusion and summary (close or sum up)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In conclusion | Opens the final paragraph only | In conclusion, the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks. |
| To sum up / In summary | Summarises the argument | To sum up, balanced regulation serves both sides. |
| Overall | Gives a final judgement | Overall, investment in education yields long-term gains. |
Watch out: use in conclusion once, in the final paragraph only. Opening a body paragraph with it is a classic misuse.
Where linking words help across the PTE test
The same connector can be right in an essay and wrong in a one-sentence summary. Here is where they help, and where to be careful. No other guide maps this across every task.
| Task | How linking words help | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Write Essay | The clearest payoff. Connectors signal structure across your intro, two body paragraphs and conclusion, supporting the Development, Structure and Coherence trait. | Variety matters more than volume. A different, well-chosen connector per idea beats the same three repeated. |
| Summarize Written Text | Critical, because your answer must be one sentence. Joining words like and, but, while, because, although, which and whereas fuse the main idea with key points into one grammatical sentence. | Do not use essay markers (in conclusion, firstly, on the other hand) in a one-sentence summary. They break the single-sentence form. |
| Summarize Spoken Text | A short paragraph of roughly 50 to 70 words. A few connectors (because, however, therefore) keep it coherent and show you grasped the relationships in the lecture. | A couple of accurate connectors, not a string of them. |
| Retell Lecture (speaking) | Spoken signposting (firstly, the speaker explained, then, finally) organises your retell and helps your discourse flow. | Keep it natural and spoken. Over-formal written connectors sound stiff aloud. |
| Speaking and Listening | In speaking, simple linkers aid fluency and coherence. In Listening, the same words are signpost words that tell you where a lecture is going. | Recognising connectors as you listen is as useful as producing them. |
You can drill the writing tasks and the speaking tasks free, with AI scoring on each attempt.
How many is too many? The overuse trap
Connectors help only when they mark a real relationship between ideas. Bolting one onto every sentence does the opposite: it reads as mechanical and can pull down the coherence and linguistic-range traits you are trying to lift.
This matters more in PTE than in a human-marked test, because PTE writing is scored by an automated engine (with human review on some traits). Repetitive, formulaic, template-stamped writing is exactly the pattern automated scoring is built to notice. A memorised essay template with connectors slotted into fixed positions is a risk, not a shortcut.
A useful rule of thumb, framed as guidance rather than an official rule: aim for roughly one clear connector per idea or per sentence-pair, and deliberately vary them. Across a full essay that might be two or three listing markers, around two for contrast, and one or two each for cause and effect, examples and the conclusion. The honest takeaway is simple: use the connectors a careful writer would actually use, not the maximum you can fit. The best way to feel the difference is to write under time and read it back, which you can do on a full scored mock.
Connectors to avoid in academic PTE writing
Register matters. PTE essays and summaries are formal academic writing, and informal connectors weaken the impression of your vocabulary and linguistic range. Swap these out:
- plus → use in addition or moreover
- anyways / anyway → drop it, or use in any case
- so (at the start of a sentence) → use therefore or as a result
- and / but starting a formal sentence → rework the sentence or use a formal equivalent
- lots of, a bit, kind of → use many, slightly, somewhat
Building a wider academic word range fixes this faster than memorising connectors. Our vocabulary by topic decks are built for exactly that.
Worked example: weak vs improved
The same five ideas, first with no linking, then linked and varied. Notice the improved version does not add a connector to every sentence: three well-placed ones do the work.
Weak (ideas feel disconnected)
Online education is popular. It is cheaper than traditional study. Students can learn from home. Some people say it lacks interaction. It is still a good option for many learners.
Improved (linked and varied)
Online education has become increasingly popular, mainly because it is cheaper than traditional study and allows students to learn from home. On the other hand, some critics argue that it lacks face-to-face interaction. Overall, however, it remains a practical option for many learners.
The same skill applies to Summarize Written Text, where the rule is one sentence:
Weak (two sentences, breaks the rule)
The article discusses renewable energy. It also explains the high cost of adoption.
Improved (one linked sentence)
The article discusses the benefits of renewable energy while acknowledging that the high cost of adoption remains a key barrier.
Quick reference: go-to connectors by function
| Function | Reach for these first |
|---|---|
| Addition | In addition, Furthermore, Moreover |
| Contrast | However, On the other hand, Although |
| Cause and effect | Therefore, As a result, Because |
| Sequence | Firstly, Next, Finally |
| Examples | For example, Such as, In particular |
| Comparison | Similarly, Likewise, Compared with |
| Emphasis | Indeed, In fact, Notably |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, To sum up, Overall |
How to practise linking words for PTE
Reading a list will not move your score. Using connectors under exam conditions will. A simple routine:
- Write a full essay and a Summarize Written Text answer under time, then read them back and check each connector marks a real relationship.
- Deliberately vary your connectors. If you used however twice, swap one for on the other hand or in contrast.
- Read your writing aloud. Clunky or repeated connectors are easy to hear.
- Get scored feedback so you know whether your coherence is actually landing.
Drill the writing tasks free in our practice bank, see the recurring prompts on the most repeated PTE questions page, and widen your range with vocabulary by topic.
Frequently asked
What are linking words in PTE?
Linking words (also called connectors, transition words or cohesive devices) are words and phrases such as however, because and for example that connect your ideas so the reader can follow your argument. They are useful across PTE writing and speaking tasks.
Should you use linking words in a PTE essay?
Yes, but with care. They support the Development, Structure and Coherence trait, and Pearson advises using them. The goal is clear, varied connectors that mark real relationships, not a connector in every sentence.
How many linking words should I use in a PTE essay?
There is no fixed number. A useful guide is roughly one clear connector per idea or sentence-pair, with variety: a few for listing, around two for contrast, and one or two each for cause and effect, examples and the conclusion.
Can I use informal connectors like so, plus or anyways in PTE writing?
Avoid them in academic PTE writing. Words like plus, anyways and sentence-initial so read as informal and can weaken your vocabulary and linguistic-range impression. Use therefore, in addition or moreover instead.
Do linking words increase your PTE score?
They are not scored on their own, but coherence and structure are scored traits, and good connectors help you meet them. Using them well supports your score, while overusing them can work against you.
What are the best linking words for Summarize Written Text?
Because your answer must be one sentence, use joining words like and, but, while, because, although, which and whereas. Avoid essay markers like in conclusion or firstly in a single-sentence summary.
Should I use a connector in every sentence?
No. A connector in every sentence reads as mechanical and can hurt your coherence score. Use one only when it marks a genuine relationship between ideas.
What is the difference between however and although?
However starts a new sentence and signals a contrast with what came before. Although joins a concession inside a single sentence, for example: Although it is costly, it is effective. They are not interchangeable.
Are linking words the same as cohesive devices and transition words?
Yes. Linking words, connectors, transition words and cohesive devices all describe the same family of words that connect ideas in your writing and speech.
Where do linking words help most in the PTE test?
Most in Write Essay and Summarize Written Text, and also in Summarize Spoken Text, Retell Lecture and speaking for coherence. In Listening they act as signpost words that show where a lecture is heading.
Put it to the test
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