Linking Words

Cause Effect
There are three linking words for cause and
effect

Conjunction

Transition

Preposition
 Conjunction
Because

As

Since

So

First sentence + conjunction + second sentence.

 Conjunction
“Because”, “as”, and “since” introduce a cause;
“so” introduces an effect.
They are often used like this:
First sentence + conjunction + second sentence.

For example:
• I stayed at home because it was raining. Or:
• It was raining, so I stayed at home. (use a comma before “so”)

You can also reverse the order of the sentences with because, as, and since.
For example:

• Because it was raining, I stayed at home. (use a comma between the first
and second sentences)
 Transition
First sentence + transition + second sentence.

Therefore

Consequently

As a result
 Transition
All of those transition introduce an effect.
These are used to join two complete sentences
(or independent clauses) together.
For example:
• It was raining; therefore, I stayed home.
(sentence); (transition), (effect)
Or:
• It was raining. Consequently, I stayed
 Preposition

Due to

Because of
 Preposition
Due to and because of introduce a cause in the
form of a noun phrase. They are often used like
this:
Sentence + due to + noun phrase.
Because of + noun phrase, + sentence.
For example:
• I stayed at home due to the rain.
Or:
• Because of the rain, I stayed at home.