The Importance of Linking Words and Phrases in Process Writing

The Importance of Linking Words and Phrases in Process Writing

Cohesion & Coherence

Linking Words for Process Writing (Task 1)

Why are they important? Linking words help organize ideas and create coherence between sentences. Using appropriate phrases makes your writing interesting, easy to understand, and engaging for the examiner.

In process writing, they clarify the sequence: what happens first, next, and last. Without them, writing appears disjointed. When used effectively, they create a sense of flow and rhythm.

Step 1: The Beginning

These phrases introduce the start of the process.

To begin with Initially The first step is that
  • "To begin with, we need to gather all the necessary materials for the experiment."
  • "Initially, the software seemed to be working correctly, but then we discovered a bug."
  • "The first step is that we have to prepare the soil before planting the seeds."

Step 2: Subsequent Stages

These signal what happens next and connect to the previous stage.

Next Subsequently Following this After that At this point
  • "The following step is that we need to mix the ingredients together in a bowl."
  • "Subsequently, we conducted a survey to gather more data."
  • "Following this, we will analyze the results to determine the impact."
  • "After that, we will schedule a meeting to discuss the proposal."
  • "At this point, we realized that we needed more information."

Step 3: The Final Stage

These signal the end of the process and summarize the action.

Finally The last step is Ultimately
  • "Finally, we can enjoy our meal after cooking it for an hour."
  • "The last step is to submit the report to the supervisor for review."
  • "And then, we can close the project and move on to the next one."
  • "After which, we will distribute the certificates to the participants."
IELTS Writing Task 1: Grammar & Vocabulary Module