Discourse markers used to signpost a writer's intentions and sequence, such as 'however' or 'eventually', are called what?

• A. Linking words/devices
• B. Lexical set
• C. Word family
• D. Compound adjective

Answer: (A)

Signposting how ideas connect and move forward in a text is done by linking words or devices. Discourse markers like however and eventually act as these signposts, showing the writer’s intent (contrast, addition, or sequence) and guiding the reader through the progression of the argument or narrative. They help cohesion by making relationships between sentences explicit, so the reader understands how one idea leads to the next.

These are not a lexical set (a group of words linked by a common theme), nor a word family (related word forms across languages), nor a compound adjective (two words joined to describe a noun). The purpose of linking words/devices is specifically to connect ideas and indicate the writer’s progression, which is why this is the best description.