112. Synonyms of Connectors

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Most English connectors can be paraphrased with words that are not connectors

THE CONCEPT OF CONNECTOR SYNONYMS

Connectors are adverb-like expressions that help to show how the meaning of their sentence is related to that of one (or ones) nearby – usually just before (see 18. Relations between Sentences). They may comprise one or more words (see 259. Multi-Word Connectors). Common examples are for example, however, therefore and otherwise. A typical use is as follows:

(a) Manufacturers must invest in new equipment. Otherwise, they will lose custom.

Here, otherwise says its sentence is naming the outcome of not acting in the way described in the sentence before (invest in new equipment). In other words, it signals a kind of “opposite consequence”.

Connector meanings are often able to be expressed by a conjunction instead – e.g. or in (a) – but they are then typically associated with ideas in the same sentence rather than in separate ones (see 40. Conjunctions versus Connectors). The ability of connectors to show a meaning link between separate sentences makes them especially useful for clarifying overall paragraph structure (see 122. Signpost Words in Multi-Sentence Lists,  167. Ways of Arguing 1 and 210. Process Descriptions).

Connectors have to be distinguished from other kinds of sentence-focussed adverb. In the following, technically starts its sentence in the same way as otherwise above, but it does not show a link with an external statement:

(b) Technically, “the” is not an adjective.

Other adverbs like this include surprisingly and naturally. For an extensive list and classification, see 121. Sentence-Spanning Adverbs.

The term “synonyms of connectors” could logically apply to conjunctions, given their meaning similarity to connectors, but I wish to exclude them here because of their non-association with links between sentences. I am also ruling out connectors that mean roughly the same as other connectors – for example consequently mirroring therefore. Although such possibilities are what are normally called synonyms, they are not the focus here because many are already listed in this blog in posts like those above.

The connector synonyms of interest here are nouns, verbs, adjectives and non-connector adverbs. It is also possible to paraphrase a connector with a whole sentence (see 186. Language in Oral Presentations), but words are the primary focus below as they seem more common – and they can often indicate how to compose a sentence synonym.

It may seem surprising to link words of different classes (different “parts of speech”) together as synonyms. I do so in the belief that it can facilitate vocabulary learning and give a better understanding of how people write. This latter claim is quite a common one in this blog – see for example 27. How to Avoid Passive Verbs,  80. How to Paraphrase and 270. Paraphrasing Adjectives with Words of Different Kinds, #5, plus the technical article How Syntax can Highlight Useful EAP Vocabulary.

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LIST OF CONNECTOR SYNONYMS

Below is an illustration of how a connector (on the other hand) can be paraphrased with a grammatically different kind of word, in this case a verb. The connector meaning is that of “contrast”. The connector and its synonym are underlined:

(c) Carbohydrates in the Italian diet frequently take the form of pasta. In many Asian countries, on the other hand, they are most likely to be eaten as rice.

(d) Carbohydrates in the Italian diet frequently take the form of pasta. Many Asian countries differ in preferring rice.

Note how on the other hand and its synonym differ are both inside the second of the two sentences whose meaning link they are helping to show.

Other synonyms of on the other hand include unlike, contrast(s), varies, different(ly), contrasting, dissimilar, not the same, more and less (see 216. Indicating Differences). In addition, words ending in -self can be useful (see 143. Subtleties of “-self” Words).

As mentioned above, connector synonyms like the above can help to make a sentence-long synonym. Observe how not the same does this in the following:

(e) Carbohydrates in the Italian diet frequently take the form of pasta. This is not the same everywhere. Many Asian countries prefer rice.

One possible reason for making a link in this way is to give the reader/ listener more time to take in what is being said.

Here is a list of other common connectors, along with words and phrases of different grammatical categories that mean roughly the same:

AS A RESULT/ CONSEQUENTLY/ THUS: consequence, result, outcome, result(s) in, cause(s), make(s), consequent, resultant (see 32. Expressing Consequences).

THEREFORE: mean(s), implies, suggest(s), be concluded, be inferred, conclusion, inference, logical(ly) (see 20. Problem Connectors).

FOR EXAMPLE/FOR INSTANCE/THUS: an example, an instance, as an illustration, one, a case (in point), exemplifies, illustrate(s), illustrative, etc. (and its synonyms), include, consider, take, imagine, suppose (see 33. Complex Example-Giving).

IN ADDITION/ MOREOVER/ FURTHERMORE/ ALSO: additional, further, another, the next, the first/ second/ third etc. (see 122. Signpost Words in Multi-Sentence Lists).

HOWEVER/ NEVERTHELESS/ EVEN SO: does not mean, contradict(s), surprising(ly), unexpected(ly), unusual.

SIMILARLY/ LIKEWISE/ IN THE SAME WAY: resemble(s), mirror(s), similar, no different(ly) comparable, (a)like, analogous(ly), corresponding(ly), comparably, equally, similarly (adverb). The ability shown here of similarly to link with either a complete sentence as a connector or just a part of one in another adverb role is possessed by some other connectors too (see the end of 121. Sentence-Spanning Adverbs). For illustrations of similarity-showing connector synonyms in use, see 149. Saying How Things are Similar.

IN FACT/ IN REALITY: real, true, actual(ly), reality, truth, the fact of the matter.

ALTERNATIVELY/ OTHERWISE/ IF NOT: the/an alternative, opposite, alternative, another, choice, option, possibility (see 266. Indicating Alternatives).

MEANWHILE/ IN THE MEANTIME/ AT THE SAME TIME/ SIMULTANEOUSLY/ ALL THIS TIME: this time, simultaneous, parallel, as/while this is happening, during this process, throughout (see 225. Simultaneous Occurrence and 258. Saying How Long Something Lasts).

IN OTHER WORDS/ THAT IS TO SAY: mean(s), translated, equate(s) to saying, is tantamount to saying, is another way of saying, more simply, more/less technically, paraphrase(d), rephrase(d), reworded (see 286. Repeating in Different Words).

THIS IS BECAUSE/ THE REASON IS THAT/ FOR ONE (or ANOTHER) THING: the explanation, a factor, grounds, attributed to, put down to (see 306. Ways of Giving a Reason).

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PRACTICE EXERCISE: CONNECTOR SYNONYMS

Below are some pairs of sentences. Each second sentence contains a connector synonym. Readers are invited to rephrase these sentences so that each contains a connector instead. Suggested answers are at the end.

1. Space travel is expensive. This does not mean that people want it to stop.

2. Some male penguins look after incubating eggs. The females spend this time fishing at sea.

3. Some food crops have a non-food use. Take sugar cane. This can be converted into fuel for motor vehicles.

4. Savings can be invested in an interest-bearing bond. Another possibility is to purchase shares with them.

5. Written reports need to be formal and concise. The opposite is true of oral presentations, which usually involve informality and repetition.

6. High population growth rates are sometimes blamed on cultural attitudes. The truth is that poverty is a more likely cause.

7. Success at sport will not come without constant physical exercise. Academic achievement is not so different, requiring regular intellectual challenges.

8. Excessive intake of alcoholic beverages produces deleterious physical effects. What this means is that too much drinking is unhealthy.

9. Ostriches are birds. They are unusual in that they run instead of flying.

10. Some bacteria produce poisonous substances in a number of human foods. These make the foods dangerous to eat.

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Suggested Answers

1. Space travel is expensive. However, people do not want it to stop.

2. Some male penguins look after incubating eggs. Meanwhile, the females fish/are fishing at sea.

3. Some food crops have a non-food use. For example, sugar cane can be converted into fuel for motor vehicles.

4. Savings can be invested in an interest-bearing bond. Alternatively, shares can be purchased with them.

5. Written reports need to be formal and concise. On the other hand, oral presentations usually involve informality and repetition.

6. High population growth rates are sometimes blamed on cultural attitudes. In fact, poverty is a more likely cause.

7. Success at sport will not come without constant physical exercise. Similarly, academic achievement requires regular intellectual challenges.

8. Excessive intake of alcoholic beverages produces deleterious physical effects. In other words, too much drinking is unhealthy.

9. Ostriches are birds. Nevertheless, they run instead of flying.

10. Some bacteria produce poisonous substances in a number of human foods. As a result, the foods become dangerous to eat.