Cheat sheet · Writing at C1?
7 sentence openers that sound C1.
Open the sentence in a way that shows how it connects to the last one. Swap the plain opener for the C1 one.
Not only does …
= adds a second effect (mind the word order)
Also try Not only is · Not only can
This hurts young people, and their families too.
Not only does this hurt young people but also their families.
The most pressing of these is
= picks out the most urgent of several issues
Also try Chief among these is · Above all,
Firstly, there is the cost of housing.
The most pressing of these is the cost of housing.
…, meanwhile,
= moves to a second point running alongside the first
Also try By contrast, · At the same time,
Secondly, public transport is getting worse.
Public transport, meanwhile, is getting worse.
…; consequently,
= introduces a result after a semicolon
Also try As a result, · This means that
They have no car, therefore they take the bus.
They have no car; consequently, they rely on buses.
While it is true that
= admits a point before you challenge it
Also try Granted, · Although
Some say phones isolate us. But they connect us too.
While it is true that phones isolate us, they also connect us.
What this suggests is that
= draws a conclusion from your evidence
Also try It follows that · This suggests that
So this shows the plan is not working.
What this suggests is that the plan is failing.
In light of this,
= builds your next step on the point before
Also try Given this, · With this in mind,
Because of this, the council should act now.
In light of this, the council should act now.
