Linking Words and Phrases to Express Difference

Linking Words and Phrases to Express Difference

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Are you writing essays? Do you want to introduce more variety and style into your writing? Well, keep reading because in today’s lesson, we will look at linking words and phrases to express difference with loads of practical example sentences so you can learn them in context.

1. In contrast
2. However
3. Although
4. Yet
5. Still
6. Nevertheless
7. Unlike
8. At the same time
9. While/whereas
10. On the one hand … on the other hand

In contrast

If one person or thing is in contrast with another, it is very different from it. Similar phrases would be contrasted with (we can use it to emphasize differences) and on the contrary (used to say that the opposite to what is previously said is true).

• In contrast with his brother, Michel is very lazy.
• In her essay, Fiona presented life in the country contrasted with life in the big bustling city.
• There was no selfishness in Mark. On the contrary, he was very generous and kind.

Linking Words and Phrases to Express Difference

However

However is an adverb used for contrasting things. The meaning is similar to despite.

• The meal she made was quite simple. However, it took her hours to prepare it.
• The garden looked beautiful in the evening sunlight; however, it needed a good watering.

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Although

Although is a conjunction meaning despite the fact. It is used to contrast a statement which makes the main clause seem surprising. It can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. A similar subordinate conjunction is though which can be placed at the end of a sentence as well.

• Although it was sunny all day it was very cold.
• Jill insisted on walking home although she knew it was dangerous.
• She liked her friend. He could be quite annoying though.

Find out more about linking words for contrasting ideas here

Yet

We can use yet with a meaning similar to that of in spite of, nevertheless.

• He passed his prime, yet he worked really hard and had huge plans for the future.
• Ben wasn’t the best driver yet he was practicing and was very patient.

Still

We can use still with the meaning nevertheless, at the same time.

• Jane finished school many years ago; still, she was trying to learn as much as possible.
• Thomas could be quite rude to me at times; still, I was fond of him because, on the whole, he was a friendly and warm person.

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Nevertheless

Nevertheless is an adverb meaning despite the previously stated.

• There was no news coming from his ex-girlfriend; nevertheless, he was hoping that she would call.
• Martin was very enthusiastic about his new job; nevertheless, he missed his old one every ow and then.

Linking Words and Phrases to Express Difference

Unlike

We can use unlike to point out that two people or things are different.

• Simon was a tall, funny boy, unlike his brother who was short and shy.
• Unlike deciduous trees, evergreen trees stays green all year.

At the same time

The phrase at the same time is used to introduce the fact that is different or contrasting to another.

• Elsa was 80 but at the same time very strong and healthy.
• Sean pretended not to care about his girlfriend leaving him, but at the same time felt pain like never before.

While/whereas

We can use conjunctions while and whereas to indicate difference and contrast.

• Some of his colleagues liked him while others thought he was cold and distant.
• Children believed that Benjamin was a slow learner, whereas he was actually partially deaf.

Linking Words and Phrases to Express Difference

On the one hand … on the other hand…

We use this long two-part phrase to compare two different situations or facts.

• On the one hand, Millie wanted to marry George and start a family with him but on the other hand, she wanted to travel and experience adventure.
• On the one hand, our company welcomes new innovative ideas while, on the other, prefers to stay as traditional as possible.

Linking words and phrases to express difference