In this article
A sentence starter is a short opening that tells the reader how this sentence relates to the last one. Used well, it makes an argument easy to follow. Used badly, it makes writing sound like a checklist. Below, the starters are grouped by what the sentence is doing, with examples, and then the mistakes second-language writers make most.
1. Adding a point
- In addition, the survey also covered rural areas.
- Another factor is the cost of living.
- Alongside this, the second study found a similar pattern.
- It is also worth noting that the sample was small.
- Beyond that, there is a legal question.
Use sparingly: “Moreover” and “Furthermore” are formal and are overused. One per page is plenty.
2. Contrasting
- However, the results were not statistically significant.
- In contrast, the second group improved by 12%.
- On the other hand, remote work reduces commuting.
- Even so, the plan has real weaknesses.
- Despite this, most participants stayed.
Watch for: “On the contrary” is not a general “but”. It denies a claim, as in “They said it was easy. On the contrary, it was very hard”.
3. Giving an example
- For example, a student who writes in two languages may switch mid-sentence.
- For instance, the 2020 report cites three cases.
- A clear example is the introduction of the policy in 2018.
- Take, for example, the case of the city of Lyon.
- This can be seen in the way the data were collected.
4. Explaining cause and effect
- As a result, the company reduced its prices.
- Because of this, the team missed the deadline.
- This is why the author recommends a second review.
- Consequently, attendance fell.
- Owing to limited funding, the study was small.
5. Showing sequence
- First, collect your sources.
- Next, write the outline.
- After that, draft each section.
- Finally, check your references.
- At this stage, the paper is ready for review.
In emails, “To begin with” and “Following that” sound fine, but “Firstly… Secondly… Thirdly” can feel stiff.
6. Hedging (being careful with claims)
- It seems that the effect is stronger in younger readers.
- The evidence suggests a link between the two.
- This may indicate that the sample was biased.
- One possible explanation is a change in method.
- In most cases, the pattern holds.
Hedging is not weakness. In academic writing, it signals that you know the limits of your evidence.
7. Giving your own view
- In my view, the second argument is stronger.
- I would argue that the policy failed because of timing.
- It is clear that more data is needed.
- From this perspective, the decision makes sense.
Avoid “In my opinion” at the start of every paragraph. One strong “I would argue” does more than five weak ones.
8. Concluding
- Overall, the results support the first hypothesis.
- In summary, three points stand out.
- Taken together, these findings suggest a clear direction.
- To sum up, the project met two of its three goals.
Email-specific starters
- I am writing to ask about the deadline.
- Further to our call, here is the summary.
- Thank you for your quick reply.
- I would be grateful if you could confirm by Friday.
- Just to follow up, did you get my last message?
Mistakes second-language writers make most
- Starting too many sentences with a transition. If every sentence begins with a connector, none of them stand out. Aim to start most sentences with the subject.
- Repeating the same starter. Three “Moreover” in one page is a common signal of machine-like writing. Vary your choices, or let the sentence order do the work.
- Using a starter that does not match the relationship. “However” means contrast. “Therefore” means result. If the second sentence does not contrast with the first, “however” is wrong.
- Putting a comma wrongly. A starter at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma: “However, the results…”. After “Because of this” the comma is optional in short sentences.
- Translating a connector word for word. Some connectors in your first language do not map neatly. For example, the Spanish “sin embargo” is closest to “however”, not to “without embargo”. Check unfamiliar connectors in a corpus or in a dictionary with examples.
Check your draft
Paste a paragraph into the sentence structure checker: it shows repeated openers, so you can see whether too many sentences begin the same way. The academic tone humanizer rewrites stiff academic prose into a natural scholarly register and explains each change. If you think in another language first, the weave editor lets you draft in a mix of languages and resolve to clean English.
