You may obtain a list of these phrases and their meaning from the Writing Center, and you may find them in most grammar handbooks. They too contribute to coherent writing, but they should be used sparingly. Now we need to be sure that we understand and can recognize these devices. At least one of each can be found in the following paragraph. See if you can find them and place them in the proper category.
Many students dislike English.
They believe this subject to be boring at best and unnecessary at worst. Other students, however, find upon graduation that the skills, such as reading and writing, they developed in their English classes are useful ones. Thus, perhaps both English teachers and students should spend more time in class on these skills. This would also help English become more popular as a subject. This handout revised by Roy Sheldon 27 June 1994 from one originated by the Purdue University Writing Lab.