# Welcome to SMIRK Unit
6 - Signal words

- Continuation and directional words
- Sequence and illustration words
- Emphasis and cause words
- Spatial and contrast words
- Conclusion, fuzz and emphasis
- Back to main index

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SMIRK - Signal words by EBE Learning Development Centre, GCU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

# Continuation and
directional words

This information has been produced by the EBE Learning Development Centre. If you are a student in this school, you have access to their blackboard community. You can also contact your own learning development centre for further help.

Continuation words
These words work as signals; this means that there are more ideas to come. These words occur within sentences, not at the beginning.

and | also | another
again | and finally | first of all
furthermore | in addition | more
moreover | next | one reason
other | secondly | similarly
too | with |

Change of direction words
These words mean: ‘Watch out - we are changing direction of the argument’. These words occur within sentences, not at the beginning.

although | but | conversely
despite | different from | even though
however | in contrast | instead of
the opposite | on the contrary | on the other hand
rather | still | yet
while | though |

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SMIRK - Signal words by EBE Learning Development Centre, GCU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

# Sequence and
illustration words

#### Sequence Words

These words indicate that there is an order to the following ideas, discussion or description.

first, second, third | A,B,C | in the first place
for one thing | then | next
before | now | after
while | into | until
last | during | since
always | later | earlier

#### Illustration Words

These words let the reader know that an example will follow.

for example | specifically | for instance
to illustrate | such as | focusing on
in the same way | including

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SMIRK - Signal words by EBE Learning Development Centre, GCU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

# Emphasis and cause
words

#### Emphasis Words

These words and phrases signal that the information provided is important.

a major development | importantly | a significant factor
most of all | a primary concern | most noteworthy
a key feature | the basic concept | a central issue
It should be noted | a distinctive quality | the critical criteria
above all | the main value | especially relevant
the crux of the matter | important to note | the principal item

#### Cause, Condition or Result Words

These words indicate that an explanation is following.

because | if | of
for | from | so
while | then | but
that | until | since
as | whether | in order that
so that | therefore | unless
yet | thus | due to
resulting from | consequently |

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SMIRK - Signal words by EBE Learning Development Centre, GCU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

# Spatial and contrast
words

#### Spatial Words

These words demonstrate the direction of the argument.

between | on | by | outside | next to
here | there | left | inside | near
right | these | close to | alongside | upon
near | this | side | over | opposite
middle | beside | about | out | below
under | away | in front of | far | adjacent
across | into | behind | in | above
toward | beyond |  |  |

#### Additional and Contrast Words

These words occur within sentences, not at the beginning.

and | or | also | too | best
most | either | less | less than | more than
same | better | even | then | half
much as | like | analogous to | but | though
still | yet | however | although | opposite
rather | while | different from |  |

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SMIRK - Signal words by EBE Learning Development Centre, GCU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

# Conclusion, fuzz and
emphasis

Conclusion Words
These words indicate the end of a discussion.

as a result | consequently | finally | therefore | from this
in conclusion | in summary | hence |  |

Fuzz Words
The idea is not definite, or the author wishes to qualify a statement.

almost | if | purported | maybe | could
suggested | except | should | alleged | nearly
might | reputed | probably | may | assumed
possibly | implies | indicated | some | seems
supposed |  |  |  |

Emphasis Signals
These are graphic formatting words that highlight specific words, ideas or sections.

Underline never use this on a web page or blog, as it indicates a live link | Numbered points (1, 2, 3) | Italics beware of using this on a web page
Short sentence: | Bullet point | Bold type
Indentation of paragraph | “Quotation marks” | Graphic illustrations
1.2 Subheading |

That is the end of our section on signal words.

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SMIRK - Signal words by EBE Learning Development Centre, GCU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.