Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
Therefore, consequently and as a result introduce a result; moreover, furthermore and in addition introduce an extra point. These linking adverbs start a new sentence or follow a semicolon, and they take a comma after them.
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Level: B2. Formal writing links its ideas with adverbs like therefore, consequently and moreover. They make an argument flow, but they follow strict punctuation rules — and getting that punctuation wrong is the single most common B2 writing error.
The rule
A linking adverb (also called a conjunctive adverb) connects the idea in one sentence to the idea in the sentence before it. Unlike a conjunction such as and or so, a linking adverb does not join two clauses into one grammatical sentence. It comments across a sentence boundary.
That difference controls the punctuation. Between the two ideas you need a full stop or a semicolon — never a plain comma. After the linking adverb you put a comma. So: It rained heavily. Therefore, the match was cancelled. Or: It rained heavily; therefore, the match was cancelled. Putting a plain comma there (It rained heavily, therefore the match was cancelled) creates a comma splice — two full sentences wrongly joined by a comma.
Group these adverbs by their job. Result adverbs — therefore, consequently, as a result, thus, hence, accordingly — say that the second idea follows from the first. Addition adverbs — moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides, what is more — add a further point of the same kind. Both groups share the same punctuation.
A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. A full sentence can stand alone; a linking adverb simply signals how two such sentences relate.
Forms
| Function | Linkers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| result | therefore, consequently, as a result | Sales fell. Therefore, prices were cut. |
| result (formal) | thus, hence, accordingly | Costs rose; thus, profit shrank. |
| addition | moreover, furthermore, in addition | It is cheap. Moreover, it is reliable. |
| addition (informal) | besides, what is more | It is late. Besides, I am tired. |
| mid-sentence | subject, linker, rest | The plan, therefore, was approved. |
Example sentences
- The road was flooded. Therefore, we took the long way home.therefore marks a result, after a full stop.
- The road was flooded; therefore, we took the long way home.a semicolon works instead of the full stop.
- Demand rose sharply. Consequently, the factory added a night shift.consequently = as a result.
- The supplier raised prices; as a result, our costs went up.as a result after a semicolon.
- The evidence was weak. Thus, the claim was rejected.thus is a formal result linker.
- He broke the rules; hence, he was disqualified.hence means for this reason.
- The figures did not add up. Accordingly, an audit was ordered.accordingly = in line with that.
- The flat is spacious. Moreover, it is close to the station.moreover adds a second strong point.
- The course is free. Furthermore, it offers a certificate.furthermore adds another benefit.
- The report was late. In addition, it contained errors.in addition adds a further fact.
- I can't come tonight. Besides, I have an early start.besides adds a reason, more informally.
- The phone is slow. What is more, the battery barely lasts a day.what is more is an informal addition.
- The team worked hard; therefore, they met the deadline.a clear cause-and-result link.
- The new policy, therefore, affects every department.therefore placed mid-sentence between commas.
- Fuel is expensive. Consequently, more people cycle to work.a real-world result statement.
- The design is elegant. Furthermore, it uses recycled parts.two selling points joined by furthermore.
- She missed three deadlines; as a result, the client left.a serious consequence.
- The medicine eased the pain. However, it did not cure the illness.contrast with however, for comparison with result linkers.
- The budget was approved. Accordingly, hiring began at once.accordingly introduces the action that follows.
- The city invested in buses; moreover, it widened the cycle lanes.moreover after a semicolon.
- Prices are rising. Therefore, many families are cutting back.therefore opening a new sentence.
- The software is free and open. In addition, it is well documented.in addition adds a further advantage.
Common mistakes
- ❌ It was raining, therefore we stayed home. → ✅ It was raining; therefore, we stayed home. A plain comma before therefore is a comma splice. Use a semicolon or a full stop.
- ❌ The plan was risky, moreover it was costly. → ✅ The plan was risky; moreover, it was costly. Moreover is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it cannot join two clauses with a comma.
- ❌ Therefore we cancelled the trip. (no comma) → ✅ Therefore, we cancelled the trip. When it opens a sentence, put a comma after the linking adverb.
- ❌ The data was clear, consequently, we acted. → ✅ The data was clear; consequently, we acted. Change the first comma to a semicolon; keep the comma after consequently.
- ❌ He was late. Therefore, but he still finished. → ✅ He was late. Nevertheless, he still finished. Do not mix a result linker with but; if you mean contrast, use a contrast linker.
- ❌ The results were poor, and therefore, we repeated the test. → ✅ The results were poor, and therefore we repeated the test. After and, therefore needs no extra commas around it.
A short conversation
A: The pilot survey was too small. Consequently, the results mean little. B: Agreed. Moreover, half the questions were unclear. A: So we should run it again? B: Yes. Therefore, I’ve already booked a bigger sample for next week.
Usage notes
- Register. Thus, hence, furthermore and accordingly are formal and belong in essays and reports. So, and, besides and what is more are the everyday spoken equivalents.
- So is the spoken therefore. In conversation, so does the same job as therefore but is a conjunction, so it joins with a comma: It rained, so we stayed in.
- Position. Most of these adverbs can open the sentence, sit after the subject between commas (The decision, therefore, was final), or, less often, close it (The plan failed, therefore). Opening position is the clearest.
- Don’t overuse them. One linker per link is enough. A paragraph crammed with moreover and furthermore reads as mechanical; vary them or let some links stand without a label.
Compared with…
- Advanced contrast linkers (despite, however, whereas) use the very same punctuation as these result and addition adverbs, but they signal a clash of ideas rather than a result or an extra point. See Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however.
- Basic cause and contrast connectors teach the spoken, clause-joining versions — because, so, but — that these formal adverbs replace in writing. See Connectors of Cause and Contrast.
Quick recap before you practise.
Practice
Advanced linkers practice
Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
Hint: comma after the linker
Show answer
Therefore, we — When therefore opens a sentence, a comma follows it.
4 Order the words into a correct result sentence.
Show answer
Costs rose; thus, profit fell. — Semicolon before thus, comma after it, then a full clause.
5 Match each linker to its function.
- consequently
- moreover
- as a result
- in addition
Show answer
- consequently → result
- moreover → addition
- as a result → result
- in addition → addition
Result linkers show an effect; addition linkers add a further point.
Hint: formal word for therefore
Show answer
thus — Thus is a formal result linker, used like therefore.
Quiz
Advanced linkers quiz
12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.
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Show answer
Sales fell; therefore, prices dropped. — Semicolon before therefore, comma after; anything with a plain comma before it is a splice.
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Consequently — Consequently introduces the result of higher demand.
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moreover — Moreover adds a further point; the others mark a result.
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comma after Therefore — A linker opening a sentence takes a comma after it: Therefore, the plan...
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Costs rose, thus profit fell. — A plain comma before thus joins two full clauses incorrectly (comma splice).
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hence — Hence is the most formal of these; so and and so are informal.
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Moreover — Moreover adds a second advantage, not a result.
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so — In speech, so does the job of therefore and joins clauses with a comma.
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The plan, therefore, was approved. — In mid-position the linker sits between two commas.
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The course is free; furthermore, it is short. — Semicolon before furthermore, comma after it.
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hence — Hence (or therefore/thus/consequently) marks the result after a semicolon.
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It was late; consequently, we left. — Replace the first comma with a semicolon and keep the comma after consequently.
Recap cheat-sheet
| Function | Linkers | Punctuation |
|---|---|---|
| result | therefore, consequently, as a result | . or ; before, comma after |
| result (formal) | thus, hence, accordingly | . or ; before, comma after |
| addition | moreover, furthermore, in addition | . or ; before, comma after |
| never | plain comma before the linker | that is a comma splice |
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A1 30 topics · 30 ready
- 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
- 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
- 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
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- 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
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- 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
- 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
- 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
- 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
- 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
- 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
- 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
- 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
- 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
- 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
- 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
- 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
- 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
- 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
- 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
- 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
- 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
- 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
- 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
- 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
- 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
- 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
- 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
- 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
- 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
- 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
- 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
- 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
- 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
- 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
- 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
- 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)
- 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
- 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
- 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)
- 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
- 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
- 64 Reported Questions
- 65 Reported Commands and Requests
- 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
- 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
- 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
- 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
- 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
- 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
- 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
- 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
- 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
- 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
- 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)
- 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
- 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
- 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
- 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
- 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
- 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
- 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
- 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
- 85 Mixed Conditionals
- 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
- 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
- 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
- 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
- 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
- 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
- 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
- 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
- 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
- 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
- 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
- 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
- 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
- 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
- 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
- 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently You are here
- 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
- 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
- 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
- 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
- 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
- 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
- 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
- 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
- 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
- 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
- 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
- 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
- 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
- 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
- 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
- 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
- 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
- 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
- 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
- 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
- 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
- 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
- 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
- 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)