Sentence starters ⇒ words and phrases to start sentences (2023)

A sentence starter is simply a word or phrase that helps you continue your sentence when you feel stuck, and it can be useful in many different situations. A good sentence start can help you move better from one paragraph to another or connect two ideas. If you don't start correctly, your sentence is likely to sound choppy and your reader may not be able to follow your thoughts.

Next we will explain when sentence starters are used for essays and what types of them exist. Then we will give you many sample words and phrases to start sentences that you can use in your writing.

Note: To learn more about word choice in academic writing, you can read our guide:Words to use in an essay

Why you need good sentence starts

In academic writing, sentence beginnings are generally used to connect one idea to another. Sentence beginnings make your essay coherent, as they are often used tocrossingfrom one paragraph to another. In other words, they include their writing in a way that makes sense and is easy to read.

You can also use sentence beginnings within paragraphs. This will help you move better from one idea to another. You can improve your writing flow and sound more consistent if you do it right.

When to use sentence beginnings

You don't have to use them in every sentence, but they can be helpful when you feel your ideas are broken or when you want to connect two thoughts. When used too often, sentence beginnings can make your writing sound repetitive and distract the reader.

Here is a list of cases where you should consider using sentence starters:

• To move from one paragraph or section of your writing to another
• To introduce a new idea at the beginning of your essay or paragraph
• To start the last paragraph and end the entire essay.
• Highlight something important
• To create a hook and catch your reader's attention
• To clarify something or to give a short background information

These are just a few common situations for using sentence starters, and this list is not definitive. If you can't decide whether or not to use a sentence starter, it's usually better to be wrong and not use one. If your paragraph is flowing well, don't think about it and get on with yourswritten essay.

What types of sentence beginnings are there?

Sentence beginnings vary depending on what you want to achieve with the sentence you start. These are some of the most common purposes that define which sentence starter you should use, along with some examples.

Launcher for hook

If you want to grab your reader's attention in the first paragraph and get them to read your essay, you need to use attention-grabbing and interesting introductory sentence beginnings. Some common sentence starters fortest hookSohn:

• Did you know that... (actually)
• When I was... (for an anecdote).
• Just like... (as an analogy)
• Loud... (for a statistic)

Starter to start a thesis

Isclosing statementis the main idea of ​​your essay. It is what you want to prove or argue in your essay. You must use sentence beginnings that clearly and concisely introduce the topic of your essay. For example:

• This essay discusses…
• The aim of this essay is...
• In this essay I will argue that...
• In my opinion…
• I think that…

Subject of sentence beginnings

Amain clauseis always the first sentence at the beginningheel bodyIt introduces the main idea of ​​the paragraph. You should use paragraph starters that state the main idea of ​​the paragraph clearly and concisely. Some concrete examples:

• One of the reasons why...
• The most important thing to remember is that…
• Another important factor to consider is…
• The first thing to note is that…
• It is important to remember that...
• In addition to the previous point...

participants to complete

if you areCompletion of your essay, you should use closing sentence beginnings that emphasize the main points of your argument and make a strong impression on the reader. Here are some examples:

• Finally,…
• To sum up,…
• Generally,…
• Complete,…
• Finally,…
• In the final analysis...

Starter for lists

When listing ideas or articles, use sentence beginnings that clearly introduce each article. Some common list starters are:

• The first…
• The second…
• On the third place…
• Next,…
• Finally,…

Starter for comparing and contrasting

When you write aEssay comparing and contrastingtwo or more things, you must use sentence beginnings that introduce each point you are discussing and emphasize the similarities and/or differences. For example:

• Similar,…
• However,…
• In contrast to…
• On the other hand,…
• In comparison with…
• Trotz…

Appetizers for crafts

If you want to develop an idea, you should use sentence beginnings that show the details you will include and how they relate to the main idea. Some common appetizers are:

• For example,…
• In other words,…
• That means,…
• Well thought out...
• In other words it would be...
• To put it more simply…

Starter to give background information

If you want to provide brief background information in your essay, you should use opening sentences that introduce the information and explain why it is relevant. For example:

• As already mentioned, …
• As everyone knows, …
• In today's society,...

Starter, to give an example

If you want to give an example in your essay, you should use sentence beginnings that introduce the example and explain how it supports your argument. For example:

• For example,…
• To illustrate…
• Therefore,…
• In this case,…

Starter for entering an offer

If you would likeadd a quoteIn your essay, you must use sentence beginnings that introduce the citation and explain its relevance. Some examples:

• As John Doe said...
• In other words,…
• According to Jane Doe…
• As the old saying goes,…
• And the words of Jane Doe,...
• To put it another way...

Starter for presenting evidence

If you want to include evidence in your essay, you should use sentence beginnings that introduce the evidence and explain its relevance. For example:

• The data show that…
• This proves that…
• This suggests…
• Evidence suggests that...

bridge starter

If you want to create oneprayer bridgeBetween two paragraphs, use sentence beginnings that introduce the second paragraph and explain how it relates to the first. For example:

• This begs the question…
• That raises the problem...
• Another important point to keep in mind is…
• This brings us to the question…

Starter to show causality

If you want to show causality in your essay, you should use introductory sentences that introduce cause and explain its relationship to effect. For example:

• For this reason,…
• As a result,…
• Due,…
• Due to the fact that…
• For this reason,…

Starters to make a point

If you want to emphasize a point in your essay, you should use sentence beginnings that draw attention to the point and make clear why it's important. Examples of sentence beginnings for emphasis:

• In other words,…
• To put it another way...
• That means,…
• In a bombastic tone...
• Significant...

Incoming to express doubts

If you want to express doubts about an idea in your essay, you should use introductory sentences that make it clear that you are not sure and explain why you have doubts. For example:

• It is possible that…
• It is not known whether ...
• Some people might argue that...
• There is evidence that…
• Even if it's controversial...
• It may be that ...

the central theses

• Sentence beginnings are especially important in academic writing because they can help you form complex arguments and express yourself clearly.
• There are many different types of sentence beginnings, each with their own purpose.
• You must choose the correct beginning of a sentence for the specific task you are writing about.
• If in doubt, play it safe and choose a simpler sentence beginning.

Now that you know the different types of sentence beginnings and how to use them effectively, you'll be able to write clear, concise, and well-organized essays.