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Subject: English

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Unit 1: Communication Tools

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Topic 1.3: What are discourse markers?

  • Discourse markers are connector words/phrases that help ideas flow smoothly.
  • They are common in both speaking and writing.
  • They are sometimes called fillers in speech, but they also do important work:
    • connect ideas
    • show attitude
    • organize sequence
    • start, shift, or end conversations
Simple idea:
  • Without marker: “I disagree. We should still discuss this.”
  • With marker: “However, I disagree. Still, we should discuss this.”

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Why discourse markers matter

  • They make speech and writing more natural.
  • They reduce abrupt jumps between sentences.
  • They help listeners/readers follow logic.
  • They can add tone (polite, confident, doubtful, etc.).

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Spoken vs written use

  • Spoken English:
    • more informal
    • often at sentence beginnings
    • can buy thinking time (well, um, you know)
  • Written English:
    • more structured
    • often shows relation between ideas (therefore, however, in addition)

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Common types with examples

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1) Conversation starters

Markers:
  • well
  • first of all
  • to begin with
  • for starters
Examples:
  • “Well, let’s start with question 1.”
  • “To begin with, this policy helps small businesses.”

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2) Adding information

Markers:
  • also
  • besides
  • on top of that
  • furthermore
  • in addition
Examples:
  • “The room is clean. In addition, it is well-lit.”
  • “She is punctual. On top of that, she is very helpful.”

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3) Clarifying / checking understanding

Markers:
  • in other words
  • you see
  • did you get that?
  • you understand?
Examples:
  • “Multiply principal, rate, and time; then divide by 100. Did you get that?”
  • “In other words, we need a cheaper solution.”

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4) Contrast

Markers:
  • however
  • on the other hand
  • that said
  • at the same time
Examples:
  • “The design is simple. At the same time, it is powerful.”
  • “It looks expensive. However, it is durable.”

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5) Concluding

Markers:
  • overall
  • all in all
  • in a nutshell
  • to sum up
Examples:
  • “Overall, the workshop was useful.”
  • “In a nutshell, regular practice improves speaking.”

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6) Expressing opinions

Positive:
  • wow
  • absolutely
  • yeah / yep
Negative:
  • honestly
  • to be honest
Unsure:
  • I guess
  • I suppose
Examples:
  • “Absolutely, that is the right approach.”
  • “Honestly, I did not enjoy the film.”
  • “I guess, we should wait for more data.”

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Mini conversation (spoken style)

  • A: “So, are you free this evening?”
  • B: “Well, maybe. I have one meeting.”
  • A: “Actually, we can meet after that.”
  • B: “Great. By the way, where?”
  • A: “In short, cafe at 6 PM?”
  • B: “Absolutely.”

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Word class note (easy)

Discourse markers can come from different classes:
  • conjunction-like (but, so)
  • adverb/adverbial-like (however, finally, actually)
  • interjection-like (oh, wow, ah)

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Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not overuse markers in every sentence.
  • Match formality:
    • formal writing: prefer however, therefore, moreover
    • casual speech: well, like, you know (limited use)
  • Avoid repeating one marker too much (so... so... so...).

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Topic 1.3 quick practice

Choose the best discourse marker:
  1. “I like the plan. ___, we need a smaller budget.”
  2. ”___, let me explain the first point.”
  3. “This phone is cheap. ___, it has a good camera.”
  4. ”___, the project was successful.”
  5. “I am not fully sure, but ___ we can try.”
Answers:
  1. However
  2. First of all / To begin with
  3. In addition / Also
  4. Overall / In a nutshell
  5. I guess / I suppose
Next topic suggestion:
  • Topic 1.4: Formal vs informal connectors in exam writing.

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Exam hints and traps

  • In formal writing, avoid fillers like you know, like, um.
  • However shows contrast, not addition.
  • Therefore shows result/conclusion, not contrast.
  • Overusing markers weakens clarity; one strong marker per idea shift is enough.
  • Marker choice should match tone: formal answer vs casual conversation.

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Extra practice (editing task)

Rewrite with better markers:
  1. “The plan is cheap. it is risky.”
  2. “We missed the bus. we reached late.”
  3. “I agree. there is one issue.”
Sample improved version:
  1. “The plan is cheap; however, it is risky.”
  2. “We missed the bus; therefore, we reached late.”
  3. “I agree; however, there is one issue.”