Miah’s Mini-Dictionary of Discourse Markers

Mini-Dictionary of Discourse Markers

Type in to look up the meanings of various discourse markers.


Currently it only contains discourse markers of advantages and disadvantages.

When typing a discourse marker, make sure to use a comma after it. For example: However, On the downside, etc.

On the plus side

Meaning: Used to introduce a positive aspect or advantage of a situation.

Example Sentence: “On the plus side, the new policy will create more job opportunities.”


Alternative:

  • On the plus side,
  • On the bright side,
  • A positive aspect is that…
  • Looking at the benefits,
  • From a favorable perspective,
  • A noteworthy upside is that…
  • One key advantage is that…

Position in a sentence:Beginning

Example: On the plus side, using renewable energy reduces pollution.

One key advantage is that…

Meaning: Used to highlight an important benefit of something.

Example Sentence: “One key advantage is that online learning offers greater flexibility.”


Alternative:

  • One significant benefit is that…
  • A primary advantage is that…
  • One important upside is that…
  • A strong point of this is that…
  • One of the biggest perks is that…
  • A major benefit is that…

One key advantage is that…

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: One key advantage is that online learning allows flexibility.

A major benefit is that…

Meaning: Used to introduce a significant positive aspect of something.

Example Sentence: “A major benefit is that electric cars reduce carbon emissions.”


Alternative:

  • One clear benefit is that…
  • One of the biggest advantages is that…
  • A strong advantage is that…
  • A clear upside is that…
  • A major plus is that…
  • Another positive aspect is that…

A major benefit is that…

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: A major benefit is that remote work saves commuting time.

Another positive aspect is that…

Meaning: Used to introduce an additional advantage or beneficial feature.

Example Sentence: “Another positive aspect is that remote work saves commuting time.”


Alternative:

  • Another advantage worth noting is that…
  • Another key benefit is that…
  • Another strong point is that…
  • Another plus is that…
  • Yet another benefit is that…
  • Additionally,

Another positive aspect is that…

Position in a sentence: Middle

Example: This policy has many benefits; another positive aspect is that it encourages sustainability.

Additionally,

Meaning: Used to add more information or another positive point.

Example Sentence: “Additionally, the new software is user-friendly and secure.”


Alternative:

  • Moreover,
  • In addition,
  • What’s more,
  • Not to mention,
  • On top of that,
  • Furthermore,

Additionally,

Position in a sentence: Middle

Example: Solar panels reduce energy costs. Additionally, they lower carbon emissions.

Furthermore,

Meaning: Used to introduce an additional supporting point.

Example Sentence: “Furthermore, exercise helps improve mental health.”


Alternative:

  • Besides that,
  • To add to this,
  • Beyond that,
  • Likewise,
  • Notably,
  • Not only that, but also…

Furthermore,

Position in a sentence: Middle

Example: The school provides online resources. Furthermore, students can access them at any time.

Not only that, but also…

Meaning: Used to introduce another positive aspect, emphasizing a second point.

Example Sentence: “Not only that, but also the new policy promotes environmental sustainability.”


Alternative:

  • Apart from that, it also…
  • In addition to that, it also…
  • Not just that, but it also…
  • That’s not all—it also…
  • More than that, it also…
  • What is more,

Not only that, but also…

Position in a sentence: Middle

Example: The new app is easy to use. Not only that, but it also improves productivity.

What is more,

Meaning: Used to introduce additional information that strengthens an argument.

Example Sentence: “What is more, the initiative encourages community participation.”


Alternative:

  • Even better,
  • To go further,
  • Another thing to consider is that…
  • And what’s even better is that…
  • More importantly,
  • An important merit is that…

What is more,

Position in a sentence: Middle

Example: She is a talented musician. What is more, she writes her own songs.

An important merit is that…

Meaning: Used to highlight a significant advantage.

Example Sentence: “An important merit is that bilingualism enhances cognitive abilities.”


Alternative:

  • A valuable advantage is that…
  • A key strength is that…
  • A commendable feature is that…
  • A significant upside is that…
  • A defining benefit is that…
  • It is worth mentioning that…

It is worth mentioning that…

Meaning: Used to introduce an important fact or detail.

Example Sentence: “It is worth mentioning that technology has revolutionized education.”


Alternative:

  • It should be noted that…
  • It’s important to highlight that…
  • One must consider that…
  • A crucial point to remember is that…
  • It’s essential to recognize that…

An important merit is that…

Position in a sentence: Middle

Example: This strategy improves efficiency. An important merit is that it requires minimal effort.

On the downside,

Meaning: Used to introduce a negative aspect or drawback of a situation.

Example Sentence: “On the downside, this method requires a significant amount of time and resources.”


Alternative:

  • On the downside,
  • On the flip side,
  • The drawback is that…
  • On the negative side,
  • A potential issue is that…
  • A point of concern is that…
  • One major drawback is that…

On the downside,

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: On the downside, online learning can be isolating.

One major drawback is that…

Meaning: Used to highlight a significant disadvantage of something.

Example Sentence: “One major drawback is that online learning can lead to feelings of isolation.”


Alternative:

  • One key disadvantage is that…
  • A significant shortcoming is that…
  • One important downside is that…
  • A considerable disadvantage is that…
  • One of the biggest flaws is that…
  • A significant disadvantage is that…

One major drawback is that…

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: One major drawback is that this method is time-consuming.

A significant disadvantage is that…

Meaning: Used to introduce an important negative aspect of something.

Example Sentence: “A significant disadvantage is that renewable energy sources depend on weather conditions.”


Alternative:

  • A notable drawback is that…
  • A major issue is that…
  • A critical downside is that…
  • A key problem is that…
  • A relevant concern is that…
  • However,

A significant disadvantage is that…

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: A significant disadvantage is that this policy may increase costs.

However,

Meaning: Used to introduce a contrast or opposing idea.

Example Sentence: “The product is effective; however, it is also quite expensive.”


Alternative:

  • That being said,
  • Nonetheless,
  • Even so,
  • On the other hand,
  • But at the same time,
  • Despite this,

However,

Position in a sentence: Middle or Beginning

Example: Many people enjoy fast food. However, it can be unhealthy.

Despite this,

Meaning: Used to acknowledge a drawback while emphasizing another point.

Example Sentence: “The job offers good benefits; despite this, the workload is very high.”


Alternative:

  • Regardless of this,
  • In spite of that,
  • Even with this,
  • Though this is true,
  • Still,
  • Nevertheless,

Despite this,

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: The new rule aims to reduce traffic. Despite this, congestion remains an issue.

Nevertheless,

Meaning: Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with what was said before.

Example Sentence: “The conditions were difficult; nevertheless, they completed the project successfully.”


Alternative:

  • All the same,
  • Yet,
  • That notwithstanding,
  • Be that as it may,
  • Even though,
  • In contrast,

Nevertheless,

Position in a sentence: Middle or Beginning

Example: This plan has some flaws. Nevertheless, it offers a solid foundation.

In contrast,

Meaning: Used to introduce an opposite or differing point.

Example Sentence: “In contrast to traditional methods, this approach is more cost-effective.”


Alternative:

  • Conversely,
  • On the contrary,
  • Alternatively,
  • Differently put,
  • Looking at it from another angle,
  • A common issue with this is that…

In contrast,

Position in a sentence: Middle or Beginning

Example: Online learning is convenient. In contrast, traditional classrooms provide better social interaction.

A common issue with this is that…

Meaning: Used to point out a frequently encountered problem.

Example Sentence: “A common issue with this is that it requires continuous monitoring.”


Alternative:

  • A frequent problem with this is that…
  • One recurring challenge is that…
  • A usual concern is that…
  • A well-known drawback is that…
  • A predictable downside is that…
  • A limitation of this approach is that…

A common issue with this is that…

Position in a sentence: Beginning or Middle

Example: A common issue with this is that it may not be suitable for all age groups.

A limitation of this approach is that…

Meaning: Used to highlight a restriction or weakness in a method.

Example Sentence: “A limitation of this approach is that it does not account for long-term effects.”


Alternative:

  • A shortcoming of this method is that…
  • A weak point of this strategy is that…
  • One downside to this technique is that…
  • A constraint of this solution is that…
  • A flaw in this approach is that…
  • This may also lead to…

A limitation of this approach is that…

Position in a sentence: Beginning

Example: A limitation of this approach is that it requires extensive resources.

This may also lead to…

Meaning: Used to suggest a potential consequence or negative outcome.

Example Sentence: “This may also lead to increased maintenance costs over time.”


Alternative:

  • This could result in…
  • This might cause…
  • This can contribute to…
  • As a consequence, this may…
  • This has the potential to…

This may also lead to…

Position in a sentence: Middle or End

Example: Cutting costs is necessary. This may also lead to job losses.