Sentence Starters - How to use them in your essays with examples & tips

Is it difficult to find good sentence starters? Yes, sometimes it is, because we want different and unique starters each time to stand out and make a better impression.

A sentence starter is a quick word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence that helps the reader transition, such as the phrase “in general.”

It makes all the sentences organized, connected, and easy to read.

In this article, I will discuss sentence starters, explain when and how to use them, and provide specific examples of sentence starters you can use in your writing, such as “Sentence starters for essays” or “sentence starters for stories.” and many other types of writings.

What is a sentence starter? An introduction

A sentence starter is the first part of a sentence that helps the reader understand what’s coming next. It can be a word or phrase that makes the sentence flow better. For example, "In addition" or "On the other hand" are sentence starters.

Sentence starters are really helpful when you're writing. They make your sentences flow better and connect your ideas in a way that’s easy for readers to follow. I’ve noticed that using the right sentence starters can make my writing sound more natural and organized.

Not only does this improve readability, but it also helps with search engine rankings since well-structured content is easier for search engines to understand. 

If you're looking to make sure your content is well-structured, using an online sentence generator is a great help. It will guide you in creating clear and readable sentences, improving your content's overall flow.

Where and how to use a sentence starter?

Sentence starters are useful when you want to connect one idea to another smoothly. They help guide your reader through your writing. For instance, when you’re introducing a new point, you might start with "First," to let the reader know you're beginning a list. If you're presenting a different idea or contrast, you can use "However" or "But."

Using sentence starters makes your writing flow naturally. It helps your reader understand the relationship between your ideas. It also prevents your writing from feeling disconnected or hard to follow.

Sentence starters are not necessary in every sentence. However, avoid overusing them, as it can distract the reader and make your writing harder to follow.

Here are some situations where a sentence starter works best:

• Introducing a new idea to the reader.
• Showing contrast or presenting a different viewpoint.
• When providing an example to support a point.
• Adding more details or information.
• Summarizing or wrapping up the points.

If you want to add hooks at the start of your content, the hook generator can help you create engaging beginnings.

Types of sentence starters

Here’s a detailed explanation of each type of sentence starter:

1. Time/Sequence starters

This type of sentence starter used to show the order of events or ideas. They help guide the reader through the flow of your writing, indicating what comes next. 

Words like “first,” “next,” and “finally” are typical examples, but you can also use phrases like “in the beginning” or “later on.”

2. Contrast starters

These starters introduce a different or opposing idea to the one you’ve just discussed. They help to show how two points or ideas are different or provide a counterpoint to what was previously mentioned. Common contrast starters include “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in contrast.”

3. Example starters

These are used to introduce examples or evidence to support your point. They help clarify or reinforce what you're saying by providing a specific instance or case. Examples include “for instance,” “such as,” or “to illustrate.”

4. Addition starters

These starters add more information or details to a point you’ve already made. They help in building on your ideas and expanding the discussion. Examples include “furthermore,” “in addition,” or “moreover.”

5. Cause and effect starters

These starters are used to show the relationship between a cause and its effect or result. They help explain why something happened or what the consequences are. Words like “because,” “therefore,” “as a result,” and “due to” are commonly used in this type of sentence.

6. Opinion starters

Opinion starters are used to express personal thoughts, beliefs, or viewpoints. They give the reader insight into the writer's perspective on a topic. Phrases like “I believe,” “in my opinion,” or “I think” signal that the sentence expresses a personal viewpoint.

7. Question starters

These sentence starters are used to introduce a question or inquiry, encouraging the reader to think more deeply about a topic. Examples include “What if,” “How can,” or “Why does.” Question starters can spark curiosity and help set the tone for a discussion.

11 Commonly used sentence starters

Here is the list of commonly used sentence starters: 

1. Time/Sequence starters

These sentence starters help in organizing your ideas by showing the order in which things happen. They are crucial when you want to highlight the sequence of events or steps in a process.

Using these starters makes it easier for the reader to follow the flow of your writing and understand what comes next. Some examples include:

• “First,”
• “Next,”
• “Then,”
• “Finally,”
• “In the beginning,”
• “Afterward,”

By using these words, you set a clear framework for your ideas, making them more structured and organized.

2. Contrast starters

Contrast starters are helpful when you want to show the differences between two ideas or viewpoints. They help the reader understand when you're about to introduce a different perspective or counterpoint. These starters are useful in argumentative or analytical writing, where you need to contrast differing opinions. Common examples include:

• “However,”
• “On the other hand,”
• “But,”
• “In contrast,”
• “Yet,”
• “Although,”

Using these allows the writer to smoothly transition between opposing ideas or arguments without creating confusion.

3. Example starters

When you need to clarify or support your ideas with specific instances, example starters are perfect. They help illustrate your point more vividly, making your writing more persuasive and clear. This is particularly important in essays or analytical writing where you need to back up claims. Examples include:

• “For example,”
• “Such as,”
• “To illustrate,”
• “In particular,”
• “For instance,”

These starters allow you to present your ideas clearly and concisely, showing the reader exactly what you mean.

4. Addition starters

Addition starters are used when you want to add more information or details to a point you've already made. They help extend your arguments or provide further explanations. These are important in discussions where you need to provide multiple layers of evidence or ideas. Examples include:

• “In addition,”
• “Furthermore,”
• “Moreover,”
• “Additionally,”
• “Also,”

These words help you build upon your argument, offering the reader more insight into your topic.

5. Cause and effect starters

Cause and effect sentence starters are used when you want to explain the relationship between two ideas: one causes the other. They help clarify why something happened or what the result of an action or event was. These are crucial for persuasive or explanatory writing. Examples include:

• “Because,”
• “Therefore,”
• “As a result,”
• “Due to,”
• “Consequently,”

6. Body paragraph starters

Body paragraphs are where the main content of your essay or article resides. Each paragraph should support the thesis statement and contain its own distinct idea or argument.

To begin each body paragraph effectively, strong and clear paragraph starters are essential. These starters help you introduce new ideas, ensuring a smooth flow of writing. Here’s how to start body paragraphs effectively:

Topic sentence starters

A topic sentence is essential as it introduces the main idea of the paragraph. It tells the reader what the paragraph will discuss and how it connects to the overall thesis. Here are a few examples of topic sentence starters:

• “One of the key factors…”
• “A crucial aspect to consider…”
• “Another important point is…”
• “One reason for this is…”
• “It is essential to note…”

These starters ensure that the reader knows exactly what the paragraph will be about and how it connects to the broader argument. If you're looking for help with titles, you can generate blog titles using an AI-powered tool that helps create engaging, SEO-friendly titles in seconds.

Supporting detail starters

After the topic sentence, you will need to provide evidence or examples to support your claim. These starters introduce the details that back up your argument. Using them helps build the paragraph and solidify your point. Examples include:

• “For example,”
• “This is evident in…”
• “Research shows…”
• “Studies have found…”
• “One instance of this is…”

These starters guide your reader through your reasoning, ensuring clarity and logical progression.

Explanation starters

After presenting evidence, you often need to explain how the evidence relates to your point. This helps the reader understand your reasoning. Explanation starters help elaborate on the meaning or significance of the information you've provided. Examples include:

• “This suggests that…”
• “What this means is…”
• “This demonstrates…”
• “In other words…”
• “This shows…”

These starters make sure the reader fully grasps the connection between the evidence and your argument.

Transition starters

Sometimes, body paragraphs require smooth transitions between ideas or points. These transitions help link one point to the next, preventing the writing from feeling disjointed. Transition starters ensure the continuity of your ideas. Some common transitions include:

• “Furthermore,”
• “In addition,”
• “On the other hand,”
• “Moreover,”
• “Conversely,”

These starters help maintain the flow of the writing, guiding the reader effortlessly from one point to the next.

Concluding sentence starters

A concluding sentence starts the paragraph and reinforces the main idea before moving on to the next. It may also link the paragraph’s idea to the broader argument or introduce the next section. Examples include:

• “In conclusion,”
• “Thus,”
• “Therefore,”
• “As a result,”
• “In summary,”

These starters ensure that each body paragraph ends clearly, leaving the reader with a concise understanding of the point made.
At Fueon, we also have a conclusion paragraph generator to help you wrap up your ideas smoothly and effectively.

By using a combination of these sentence starters, you can structure your body paragraphs logically and clearly, making it easier for your reader to follow and understand your ideas.

Useful tips for choosing or writing the accurate sentence starters

Here are some practical tips to help you select or create the most effective sentence starters:

1. Know your writing’s purpose

Think about what you’re writing. Are you writing an essay, a report, or a story? Your sentence starter should match the kind of writing you’re doing. 

For example, if you are looking to write essays, use formal starters like “In conclusion” or “As a result.” In a story, you might choose a more casual starter like “Meanwhile” or “At first.”

2. Pick the right starter for the sentence type

Make sure your sentence starter fits the type of sentence. Are you explaining something, giving an example, or adding new information? 

Use a sentence starter that matches what you're trying to say. For example, when adding information, you could use “Also” or “In addition.”

3. Keep it simple

Don’t use long, confusing sentence starters. They can make your writing harder to read. Short, simple sentence starters work best because they make it easier for the reader to understand what you’re saying.

4. Avoid repeating the same starters

If you keep using the same sentence starter, your writing might start to sound boring. Changing your sentence starters keeps things fresh and interesting. 

Instead of using “For example” all the time, you can try “To illustrate” or “For instance.”

5. Use sentence starters to link ideas

Sentence starters help you connect ideas. If you’re going to talk about something different, a good sentence starter will tell your reader. It shows the relationship between the sentences and makes the writing easier to follow.

6. Think about the reader

Remember who is reading your work. If your readers are familiar with the topic, you can use more detailed starters. If the topic is new for your readers, keep the starters simple and clear.

7. Stick to one style in formal writing

In formal writing, like essays or reports, it's best to keep your sentence starters consistent. If you start with “For example” in one sentence, try to stick with that style for similar sentences. It makes your writing sound more organized.

8. Don’t overuse sentence starters

Using too many sentence starters can make your writing feel stiff or unnatural. You don’t need a sentence starter for every sentence. Sometimes, it’s okay to start a sentence without one if it makes sense.

Final words

Sentence starters are a great way to make your writing clearer and easier to follow. When used right, they help connect your ideas and keep things flowing smoothly. 

In this article, you learned how sentence starters can improve the flow of your writing and help connect your ideas. We covered when and how to use them, along with helpful examples for essays, stories, and other types of writing. By using sentence starters correctly, you can make your writing more organized and easier to follow.