100 Sentence Starters for Essays: Introduce, Argue, Contrast and Conclude

A good sentence starter tells the reader what job the sentence does: introduce a point, add evidence, contrast an idea, give an example or conclude. Pick the starter that matches that job, keep it formal in academic work, and use one only when the link is not already obvious. Below are 100 starters grouped by purpose, a list to avoid, and a paragraph that shows overuse.

The short answer

A sentence starter is a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence that links it to the one before and signals its purpose. "For instance," promises an example. "However," promises a contrast. "In conclusion," promises a wrap-up.

Use the starter that matches what the sentence is doing, not the one that sounds most impressive. And do not start every sentence with one. In good essays, most sentences begin with the subject of the sentence, and a starter appears only where the reader needs a signpost. A rough guide: if more than about one sentence in three opens with a linking phrase, cut some.

The 100 starters below are grouped by paragraph job. Each group ends with a note on how to use it.

1. Starters for introducing a topic or a main point

Use these in an introduction or at the start of a body paragraph (a topic sentence). They name the subject; they do not argue it yet.

1. This essay examines…
2. This essay argues that…
3. The central question is whether…
4. A key issue in the debate over X is…
5. It is widely recognised that…
6. Many researchers have studied…
7. One of the most debated aspects of X is…
8. The first factor to consider is…
9. To begin with,
10. At the heart of this issue lies…
11. X has changed considerably since…
12. In recent years,
13. A common view is that…
14. Much of the discussion has centred on…
15. This paper considers how…

Note: "In today's society" and "Since the dawn of time" are not on this list on purpose. See the starters to avoid below. For topic sentences specifically, see how to write a topic sentence.

2. Starters for adding a point or evidence

These add a new point that supports the same argument.

1. In addition,
2. Furthermore,
3. Moreover,
4. Another important factor is…
5. Equally important is…
6. This is supported by…
7. Evidence for this comes from…
8. Research by X suggests that…
9. According to X,
10. As X points out,
11. Similarly,
12. Likewise,
13. A further example is…
14. What is more,
15. Not only does X…, but it also…
16. This view is reinforced by…
17. The data indicate that…
18. Building on this,

Note: "Moreover" and "furthermore" are strong, formal words. Two in one paragraph is enough. If the next sentence plainly continues the point, you can leave out the starter.

3. Starters for giving examples

1. For example,
2. For instance,
3. A good illustration is…
4. To illustrate,
5. Consider the case of…
6. Take X, for example.
7. A clear example of this is…
8. This can be seen in…
9. Such as…
10. In particular,
11. Specifically,
12. One example is…

Note: An example starter should be followed by a specific example: a named case, a figure with its source, or a quotation. "For example, many people do this" is not an example. Check that every "for example" is followed by something concrete.

4. Starters for contrast and concession

These show that two ideas differ or that you are admitting a point before answering it.

1. However,
2. On the other hand,
3. In contrast,
4. By contrast,
5. Nevertheless,
6. Nonetheless,
7. Despite this,
8. Even so,
9. Yet
10. Conversely,
11. Whereas X…, Y…
12. Although X…,
13. While it is true that…, it is also true that…
14. Admittedly,
15. Some critics argue that…, but…
16. On the contrary,
17. That said,
18. In spite of this,

Note: "However" at the start of a sentence needs a comma after it. Inside a sentence, put commas on both sides ("The results, however, were mixed") or use a semicolon before it ("The plan was popular; however, it was costly"). Our guide to transition words shows more punctuation patterns.

5. Starters for cause, effect and explanation

1. As a result,
2. Consequently,
3. Therefore,
4. For this reason,
5. Because of this,
6. This suggests that…
7. This means that…
8. It follows that…
9. Thus,
10. This is partly because…
11. One consequence is…
12. This explains why…

Note: "Therefore" and "thus" claim that a conclusion follows logically. Make sure it does. In a school essay, a common weakness is using "therefore" when the point is only loosely connected.

6. Starters for conclusions and summaries

1. In conclusion,
2. To conclude,
3. In summary,
4. To sum up,
5. Overall,
6. On balance,
7. Taken together,
8. The evidence suggests that…
9. It is clear that…
10. Ultimately,
11. For these reasons,
12. In the final analysis,

Note: "In conclusion" is acceptable, but examiners see it constantly. "Overall," or "On balance," often sounds more thoughtful. Do not introduce new evidence in the concluding sentences; see how to write a conclusion.

7. Starters for hedging and cautious claims

Academic writing makes claims at the strength the evidence supports. These starters help.

1. It could be argued that…
2. There is some evidence that…
3. It seems likely that…
4. This may suggest that…
5. Perhaps the strongest argument is…
6. It is possible that…
7. The findings tend to show that…

8. Starters for sequence and order

1. First,
2. Second,
3. Next,
4. Finally,
5. Meanwhile,
6. Subsequently,

That is 100. Choose a handful you trust and learn to use them accurately, rather than memorising the whole list.

Academic vs informal starters

Formal writing prefers more precise, less chatty connectors. Use this table as a quick swap guide.

Informal starters are fine in blog posts, messages and some personal essays. Beginning a sentence with "And" or "But" is not a grammar error, and many careful writers do it for emphasis. In a formal university essay, though, a starter such as "Also," or "So," usually reads as casual, so choose the formal version.

Starters to avoid

Some openings add nothing or sound clichéd. Replace them with a direct statement.

• "Since the dawn of time…" / "Throughout history…": too broad to be true or useful. Start with the specific period or case.
• "In today's society…" / "In this modern world…": empty. Name the actual group, place or year.
• "Everyone knows that…": it dismisses the reader and needs a source.
• "Webster's dictionary defines X as…": weak unless the definition is itself in dispute.
• "I think that…" / "In my opinion…": in most academic essays the whole essay is your view. State the claim directly. Some tasks, such as personal or reflective essays, do allow the first person; check the assignment.
• "In conclusion, this essay has shown…" repeating the whole essay: summarise the argument, then say why it matters.
• "It goes without saying that…": then do not say it.
• "Obviously," / "Clearly," when the point is not obvious: it sounds like pressure on the reader.
• "Needless to say,": delete it.
• "Firstly, secondly, thirdly" as a pattern in every paragraph: fine in a short answer, mechanical in a long essay.
• Starting every sentence with "This" without a clear noun: "This shows…" is acceptable only if the reader knows what "this" refers to. Better: "This increase shows…".

A mini paragraph built only from starters

Overuse is easy to spot when you see it. Here is a paragraph where nearly every sentence begins with a connector.

In recent years, remote work has grown. Furthermore, many companies have adopted it. Moreover, employees say they save time. In addition, offices cost less. However, some managers worry. Nevertheless, surveys are positive. Therefore, remote work will continue. In conclusion, it is the future.

The words are correct, but the paragraph reads like a list. There is no evidence, the logic is asserted, and the repeated "furthermore, moreover, in addition" adds nothing.

Now the same material, with starters used only where they help:

Remote work has grown steadily since 2020, and many employers now offer it permanently. Employees often cite saved commuting time as the main benefit, and companies can reduce the cost of office space. Some managers, however, worry that it weakens collaboration. Surveys by employers and researchers report mixed results, so the question is better treated as one of balance than of right or wrong. On balance, hybrid arrangements look likely to persist.

This version uses only two starters ("however", "on balance"), but each does a real job. Notice that the paragraph is shorter, clearer and more convincing. That is the goal: fewer, better-placed signposts.

Varying your starters for school essays and IELTS

• Vary the type of opening, not just the word. Begin some sentences with the subject ("Urban planners disagree"), some with a clause ("Although cities are growing"), some with a prepositional phrase ("In Mumbai"), and only some with a linking adverb.
• Do not rotate through a memorised list. Examiners notice a fixed pattern such as "Firstly… Secondly… Moreover… In conclusion" across many scripts.
• For IELTS Writing Task 2, the public band descriptors assess coherence and cohesion, which includes using linking words accurately and not mechanically, alongside lexical resource and grammatical range and accuracy. Check the current descriptors on the official IELTS website, as they can change.
• For GCSE, SAT or A-level style essays, follow your exam board's marking guidance. Most reward a clear line of argument and accurate use of evidence, and none rewards connectors for their own sake.
• For university essays, copy the starters you see in the journals of your own subject. Law, history and biology use differently shaped sentences.
• Reread aloud. If you hear the same word three times in two paragraphs, change it.

Checklist: using sentence starters well

• Does each starter match the job of the sentence (add, contrast, exemplify, conclude)?
• Would the sentence be clear without it? If yes, delete it.
• Is there a comma after introductory words such as "However," and "Therefore,"?
• Are fewer than about one in three sentences opened by a connector?
• Is a "for example" always followed by something specific?
• Have you removed clichés such as "In today's society"?
• Is the register consistent: no "Also," or "So," in a formal essay?
• Does the conclusion begin without repeating "In conclusion" from earlier paragraphs?

Using AdeptWrite while you write

AdeptWrite's tools can help you vary and check your sentences, but they do not choose your argument.

• The Paraphrasing Tool can rewrite a sentence in a Standard, Formal or Academic mode, which is a quick way to see another way to open it. Read each suggestion; choose the one that keeps your meaning.
• The Sentence Rewriter targets stiff or awkward sentences and is useful when a sentence opens badly.
• The Grammar Checker catches missing commas after introductory phrases. Each run handles up to 6,000 characters.
• The Synonyms & Thesaurus tool offers alternatives to a connector, but check that the alternative fits the context, since "moreover" and "meanwhile" are not interchangeable.

For the next step, see how connectors work inside whole paragraphs in how to write a body paragraph.

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