How to Speak Sophisticated English using Linking Words
A common goal for professionals with an intermediate to advanced level of English is to sound more sophisticated when participating in meetings, writing emails, or just in general conversation.
An excellent way to speak English with more sophistication is by replacing basic linking words (e.g. “but,” “and,” “because”) with advanced linking words (e.g. “in spite of,” “due to”).
Doing this will enlarge your vocabulary and improve your structure at the same time, which are the two main ways of speaking English with more sophistication.
Remember that your first and most important objective when using English should always be to communicate your message clearly.
And once you feel confident that you can express yourself in a clear way, you can then advance and start looking at ways of sounding more sophisticated and native-like.
By the end of this post, you’ll know how to sound more sophisticated by using advanced linking words. You’ll also learn three ways to improve your memory and confidence using them in real-life situations.
Quick Review: What are linking words?
A linking word is a word or phrase which links parts of a sentence, or two sentences together.
“But,” “because,” “and,” “so,” are examples of basic linking words (also called conjunctions), which we use frequently.
“However,” “although,” “therefore,” “in spite of,” “nevertheless,” are examples of advanced linking words. We use these less frequently than the basic linking words.
How to Start Using Advanced Linking Words to Sound More Sophisticated
The idea here is not to completely replace basic linking words with advanced linking words, as they form part of the foundation of the English language.
Our objective is to use advanced linking words from time to time. You only need to use them a little to sound more sophisticated.
We are going to look at three common functions when using linking words:
1. Adding ideas.
2. Explaining expected results, outcomes, and consequences.
3. Conflicting ideas.
Then I’ll demonstrate how you can replace basic linking words with advanced linking words.
Function 1: Adding ideas.
Typically we use the basic linking words “and,” “also,” and “too,” to express “adding” ideas.
You can replace these basic linking words, with the advanced linking words, “besides,” “in addition to,” “as well as,” and “furthermore.”
In this example, we look at the “adding” idea of a company acquiring two other companies.
Basic linking word examples:
Last year we acquired two companies: ABC and XYZ.
Last year we acquired ABC. We also acquired XYZ.
Last year we acquired the company ABC. We acquired XYZ too.
Advanced linking words examples:
Besides acquiring ABC last year, we took over XYZ.
In addition to acquiring ABC last year, we took over XYZ.
As well as acquiring ABC last year, we took over XYZ.
Last year we acquired ABC company. Furthermore, we took over XYZ. (“Furthermore” implies that taking over XYZ was more important than acquiring ABC.)
* You can also use synonyms to add sophistication to your speech. Instead of using the verb “acquire” twice in the same sentence. I used the phrasal verb “take over” in the second sentence clause.
Function 2: Explaining expected results, outcomes, and consequences.
When we express expected results, outcomes, and consequences, we typically use the basic linking words: “because” and “so.”
You can replace these basic linking words with the advanced linking words, “as a result,” “as a consequence,” “consequently”, “due to,” and “therefore.”
In this example, I use the idea that a smaller advertising budget will result in fewer sales.
Basic linking word examples:
Because of our smaller advertising budget, we made fewer sales.
We made fewer sales because of our smaller advertising budget.
We had a smaller advertising budget, so we made fewer sales.
Advanced linking word examples:
As a result of the smaller advertising budget, we made fewer sales.
We had a smaller advertising budget and, as a consequence, we made fewer sales.
We had a smaller advertising budget. Consequently, we made fewer sales.
Due to having a smaller advertising budget, we made fewer sales.
We had a smaller advertising budget. Therefore, we made fewer sales.
Function 3: Conflicting ideas (explaining unexpected results/outcomes).
When we talk about two conflicting ideas in one sentence, we often use the basic linking word, “but.”
You can replace “but” with more advanced linking words: ”although,” “however,” “in spite of (the fact that),” “despite (the fact that),” “nevertheless”, and “yet,” to sound more sophisticated.
In this example, we’ll use the conflicting idea of selling fewer products, but making more profit.
Basic linking word example:
We sold fewer products but made more profit.
Advanced linking word examples:
Although we sold fewer products, we made more profit.
We sold fewer products. However, we made more profit.
In spite of selling fewer products, we made more profit.
In spite of the fact that we sold fewer products, we made more profit.
Despite selling fewer products, we made more profit.
Despite the fact that we sold fewer products, we made more profit.
We sold fewer products. Nevertheless, we made more profit.
We sold fewer products, yet made more profit.
3 Ways to Improve Your Memory and Confidence Using Advanced Linking words
1. Check the structure when using advanced linking words in emails and speeches for presentations with these two tools: Grammarly and Linguee.
2. Take advantage of the SRS (Spaced Repetition System) for remembering new vocabulary and language. I recommend Flashcard Deluxe, which is a flashcard app for IOS and Android. Instead of reviewing individual words (e.g. “Despite”), practice saying the whole phrase, (“Despite selling fewer products, we made more profit.”).
3. Use advanced linking words by integrating them into your business presentations, meetings and emails in English. The more you integrate them in real-life situations, the more confident you’ll feel using them.
How to Apply This Information Now
- Choose one of the three functions which you think you would use the most, e.g. explaining expected results.
- Select an advanced linking word (“due to”) and replace a basic one (“so”).
- Go to Linguee and research “due to” so that you are clear about how to structure a sentence. Or check the form in a good grammar book.
- Write some sentences with “due to” in your flashcard app or notebook and practice saying them until you feel confident.
- The next time you have to talk about an expected result, use “due to.”
Conclusion
Although I have shown you how to use advanced linking words, it is still important to use the basic linking words, like “and,” “also” “too,” “because,” and “but,” as they are critical in day to day speech.
By using advanced linking words from time to time, you will widen your vocabulary and improve your structure, so it’s a great way to speak English with more sophistication.
