Coordination-like (discourse markers)

Conjunctive adverbs / transitional phrases

Coordination-like items are words or phrases that connect ideas across clauses or sentences, giving a sense of addition, contrast, consequence, or sequence, but they do not function as true coordinating conjunctions.

This is a functional term and not a CGEL term (CGEL separates form from function)

Important

Unlike coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so), they cannot freely join two syntactic units of the same type; they typically link independent clauses or provide a transition between sentences.

Marker	Form / category	Discourse relation	New sentence opener?	Typical use
accordingly	Adverb	Result / consequence	✓	Show that an action or conclusion follows from previous information
actually	Adverb	Correction / contrast with expectation	✓	Correct or adjust a previous assumption
after all	PP	Justification	✓	Provide a reason supporting a previous point
alternatively	Adverb	Alternative	✓	Present another option
also	Adverb	Addition	✗	Add another point within the clause
as a matter of fact	PP	Strengthening / correction	✓	Reinforce or correct previous information
as a result	PP	Result / consequence	✓	Introduce a consequence
at the same time	PP	Concession / balance	✓	Present a balancing consideration
besides	Adverb	Addition / reinforcement	✓	Add another supporting reason
by contrast	PP	Contrast	✓	Explicitly contrast with a previous point
by the same token	PP	Similarity / analogy	✓	Extend the same reasoning to another case
consequently	Adverb	Result / consequence	✓	Introduce a formal consequence
conversely	Adverb	Contrast / reversal	✓	Present the opposite relationship
correspondingly	Adverb	Parallel result	✓	Show that one development matches another
even so	PP	Concession	✓	Show that the conclusion remains despite a difficulty
eventually	Adverb	Final outcome	✓	Mark the result after a process
finally	Adverb	Sequence / conclusion	✓	Introduce the final point
first	Adverb	Sequence	✓	Introduce the first point
for example	PP	Illustration	✓	Introduce an example
for instance	PP	Illustration	✓	Introduce an example
for one thing	PP	Addition / justification	✓	Introduce one reason among several
for this reason	PP	Result / justification	✓	Explain why a conclusion follows
furthermore	Adverb	Addition	✓	Add supporting information
hence	Adverb	Result / inference	✓	Introduce a formal conclusion
however	Adverb	Contrast	✓	Introduce a contrasting point
in addition	PP	Addition	✓	Add another point
in any case	PP	Transition / qualification	✓	Move forward regardless of previous issue
in contrast	PP	Contrast	✓	Mark difference between points
in fact	PP	Strengthening / correction	✓	Strengthen or correct a previous statement
in other words	PP	Reformulation	✓	Restate an idea more clearly
in particular	PP	Specification	✓	Narrow attention to a specific point
in short	PP	Summary	✓	Give a brief summary
in summary	PP	Summary	✓	Summarise previous discussion
in the end	PP	Final outcome	✓	Mark the final result
in the meantime	PP	Sequence / time	✓	Mark an intervening event
indeed	Adverb	Strengthening / confirmation	✓	Reinforce a previous point
instead	Adverb	Replacement / alternative	✓	Present a substitute
likewise	Adverb	Similarity	✓	Show a parallel case
meanwhile	Adverb	Simultaneous event	✓	Mark parallel events
moreover	Adverb	Addition	✓	Add a stronger supporting point
namely	Adverb	Specification	✓	State exactly what was meant
nevertheless	Adverb	Concession / contrast	✓	Contrast despite expectations
nonetheless	Adverb	Concession / contrast	✓	Formal alternative to nevertheless
on balance	PP	Evaluation / conclusion	✓	Weigh competing considerations
on the other hand	PP	Alternative perspective	✓	Introduce another viewpoint
otherwise	Adverb	Conditional alternative	✓	State what happens if a condition is not met
overall	Adverb	Summary / evaluation	✓	Give an overall conclusion
rather	Adverb	Reformulation / correction	✓	Replace one interpretation with another
similarly	Adverb	Similarity	✓	Show parallel reasoning
still	Adverb	Concession	✓	Show continuation despite an obstacle
subsequently	Adverb	Sequence / later event	✓	Mark a later development
therefore	Adverb	Result / inference	✓	Introduce a logical consequence
thus	Adverb	Result / inference	✓	Introduce a formal conclusion
ultimately	Adverb	Final conclusion	✓	Present the final outcome after considering factors
what’s more	Idiomatic expression	Addition / emphasis	✓	Add an emphatic further point
whereas	Subordinator	Contrast	✗	Link contrasting clauses
while	Subordinator	Contrast / concession	✗	Link contrasting clauses

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