Discourse markers across registers
Mapping anyway/mind you/as it were/that said/by and large to their registers, and conversation management
I can pick discourse markers that fit the register and manage conversations with them.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Anyway, as I was saying before the fire alarm — the budget is fine.
Anyway, as I was saying before the fire alarm — the budget is fine.
The hotel was charming — a bit damp, mind you. That said, we'd book it again.
The hotel was charming — a bit damp, mind you. That said, we'd book it again.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Markers carry register as much as meaning:
| Marker | Function | Register |
|---|---|---|
| anyway | back to topic / closing | neutral spoken |
| mind you | qualifying afterthought | BrE conversational |
| that said | concede then counter | written/neutral |
| as it were | flagging a loose metaphor | formal |
| by and large | broad generalization | neutral |
| at the end of the day | bottom line | informal, overused |
- Formal markers in chat (as it were) or chatty ones in essays (at the end of the day)
- anyway mid-argument = dismissal — read the signal
Common Error Patterns
Marker register mismatched
Map each marker to spoken/written/formal
Anyway, as I was saying before the fire alarm — the budget is fine.
Anyway, as I was saying before the fire alarm — the budget is fine.
anyway resuming a hijacked topic.
The hotel was charming — a bit damp, mind you. That said, we'd book it again.
The hotel was charming — a bit damp, mind you. That said, we'd book it again.
mind you (BrE aside) + that said (concession pivot).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in C1 course exercises