Discourse markers

What they do

A discourse marker is a word or phrase like anyway, right, okay or to begin with. We use discourse markers to organise and manage our speech and writing, and to express attitude. They normally stand at the start of a sentence or clause, and they do not change the main meaning.

Different markers do different jobs. So can open a new part of a conversation, well can move the focus to a new point, right shows a response, and anyway moves the talk to a new or earlier topic.

• So, has everyone decided about the trip?
• Well, the ticket price is just part of the problem.

Some markers are much more common in speech (well, you know, I mean, right), and others in writing (firstly, in addition, on the other hand, in conclusion). See Connecting ideas within and between sentences.

Starting, ending and changing topics

Use right or okay to start, and so or anyway to close.

• Right, let's begin. Has everyone got a pen?
• Anyway, is that everything? Then let's finish.

Use anyway or as I was saying to go back to the main topic after something different.

• Anyway, as I was saying, the match starts at nine.

Use by the way to introduce a new, less important topic or a question you have just remembered.

• By the way, did anyone phone while I was out?

Ordering what you say

To order points, use first(ly), second(ly) and lastly. Firstly and secondly sound more formal than first and second. For a start and what's more are informal ways to list reasons.

• Firstly, we will look at the rules. Secondly, we will try some exercises.
• It won't work. For a start, we have no time, and what's more, we have no money.

You can also list reasons with the letters a, b: It's a bad plan, a because it costs too much and b because nobody wants it.

Reasons, results and examples

Use after all to give a reason that your listener may have forgotten.

• Come to the beach with us. After all, you've worked all week.

Use for example or for instance to give an example.

• Many big cities, for instance London, are expensive to live in.

Use as a result and consequently to show a result. They are linking adverbs, so they connect separate clauses or sentences and they can move.

• She left the office late. As a result, she missed the last bus.
• We talked until two in the morning and consequently overslept.

A conjunction is different: because stays at the start of its own clause. The whole because-clause can come before or after the main clause, but because cannot move inside the sentence the way a linking adverb can. See Reason, purpose and result: because, as, since, so that and in order to.

• He couldn't buy a car because he had no money. (Or: Because he had no money, he couldn't buy a car.)
• The concert sold out, so, as a result, we watched it online. / We watched it online, as a result.

Shared and new knowledge

Use you know or as you know for things you think your listener already knows. That is its main use, but you know is also used to give the speaker time to think, so it can appear before new information too.

• As you know, I live quite far from the office.
• 'Did you enjoy the talk?' 'Well, it was, you know, a bit strange.' (Here you know gives thinking time, not shared knowledge.)

Use you see or the thing is to give new information, often an explanation or a reason.

• 'Why don't you join us for dinner?' 'I'd love to, but I can't. You see, I have to finish this report tonight.'

Showing attitude

Many markers show the speaker's attitude: actually and in fact add something true or surprising, unfortunately and sadly introduce bad news, and to be honest or frankly introduce a direct opinion.

• Actually, I've already seen that film.
• Unfortunately, the shop was closed.
• To be honest, I don't really like jazz.

Softening

Use sort of (more common in British English) or kind of (more common in American English), and just, probably or perhaps, to sound less direct.

• The talk was sort of interesting, but very long.
• Could I just ask a question?

Summarising

In informal speech, so can start a summary. In neutral and formal contexts, use to sum up, in short or all in all.

• So, what do you think of the plan?
• To sum up, the course is useful and good value.
• All in all, it was a great holiday.

In formal writing you will also see in sum, thus and as mentioned above. To compare points, use likewise or similarly.

What comes next

See Connecting ideas within and between sentences for linking words in writing, Adverbs by meaning: time, place, manner, degree and comment for however, therefore and moreover, and and, but, or, so and because for basic conjunctions.