Linking: contrasting

A linker is a word or phrase that connects sentences or parts of sentences, e.g. but, however, in spite of, on the other hand. Writing Tip Sophisticated and varied linking allows you to present contrasting ideas more clearly, and makes it easier for the reader to absorb information. Read this introductory paragraph to an essay about the Welfare State in Britain and look at how the ideas and points are connected. The Welfare State in Britain was created immediately after the Second World War, but British society has changed a great deal since then. Aspects of the Welfare State, such as the NHS and the old-age pension, have been regarded as untouchable by every political party, but some experts say this should not continue to be the case. It is desirable to have a ‘safety net’ for the poorest in society, they say, but it is not economically sustainable for the taxpayer to fund all these benefits. What’s wrong: The linking of points and ideas is too basic and repetitive; everything is linked with ‘but’. More varied and sophisticated linking words and phrases could be used to give the paragraph a more academic style and to make the points clearer.