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C2 Grammar
Advanced Discourse Markers & Connectors
**Concession (admitting the opposing view):**
- **Admittedly / Granted / Arguably**, the plan has some flaws.
- **Notwithstanding** the risks, the investment seems sound.
- **Albeit** (= although) slow, progress is being made.
- **Whilst** acknowledging the challenges...
**Adding emphasis/reinforcement:**
- **Indeed / In fact / As a matter of fact**
- **Furthermore / Moreover / What is more**
- **Not to mention** the cost implications.
**Cause & consequence:**
- **Owing to / On account of** heavy rainfall...
- **Thereby** reducing costs by 30%.
- **Hence / Thus / Consequently / Accordingly**
**Contrast & comparison:**
- **Conversely / On the contrary** — opposite view
- **By contrast / In contrast to**
- **Whereas / While** the first study found X, the second found Y.
- **Having said that / That said** — partial retraction
**Generalising / Specifying:**
- **By and large / On the whole / For the most part**
- **In particular / Specifically / Namely**
- **That is to say / In other words**
Examples
Notwithstanding the economic downturn, the country's tech sector continued to grow.
The reforms were, albeit overdue, a step in the right direction.
💡 Don't overuse fancy connectors! One or two per paragraph is enough. Too many makes writing feel forced and unnatural.