Advanced Discourse Markers

Discourse markers are short signposts — mind you, that said, if anything — that organise an argument, signal a shift in stance, or hedge a claim. They rarely change the literal meaning of a sentence, but they tell the listener how to take it: as a concession, an aside, a correction, or a softened opinion. Mastery of these markers is one of the clearest signals that a speaker has crossed from B2 into C1.

Concession and Counter-Argument

These markers acknowledge a previous point, then push back. They are essential in essays and debates.

Marker	Function	Example
`Having said that`	Concedes the prior point, then qualifies it.	The plan is ambitious. Having said that, the team is capable of delivering it.
`That said`	Shorter, more conversational variant.	The film is overlong. That said, the performances are remarkable.
`Mind you`	Adds a qualifying or surprising afterthought.	He’s never been late. Mind you, he was off sick last week.
`To be fair`	Concedes a point in someone’s favour.	She missed the deadline. To be fair, she was given almost no notice.
`In fairness (to him/her)`	More formal version of to be fair.	In fairness to the author, the data was incomplete.

Having said that and that said always come after the point being conceded. They cannot start a paragraph cold.

The proposal has obvious flaws. That said, it's the only plan we have.

Asides and Adding Information

Use these to insert a related but secondary thought without breaking the flow of the main argument.

Marker	Function	Example
`By the way`	Casual aside, often introducing a new but related topic.	We’re meeting at six. By the way, did you bring the keys?
`Incidentally`	Formal equivalent of by the way.	The findings support the hypothesis. Incidentally, similar results were reported in 2019.
`Come to think of it`	Marks a thought just remembered.	I haven’t seen Marco recently. Come to think of it, he didn’t show up last week either.
`Now that you mention it`	Acknowledges that the listener’s comment has triggered a memory.	Now that you mention it, that does sound familiar.
`As a matter of fact`	Confirms a point with mild emphasis, often correcting an assumption.	I’m not just guessing. As a matter of fact, I’ve read the report twice.

Come to think of it is informal and almost always spoken. Incidentally is the safer choice in formal writing.

Hedging and Softening

C1 speakers rarely state opinions baldly. These markers reduce the force of a claim.

Marker	Function	Example
`For what it's worth`	Modestly offers an opinion, signalling it may not matter much.	For what it’s worth, I think the second design is stronger.
`If anything`	Suggests the opposite is closer to true.	The new policy hasn’t helped. If anything, it’s made things worse.
`If I'm honest` / `To be honest`	Frames the speaker’s view as candid.	If I’m honest, I never expected the project to succeed.
`In a sense` / `In a way`	Concedes partial truth without full agreement.	In a sense, both sides are right.
`Up to a point`	Agrees partially, then qualifies.	I agree, up to a point — but the data tells a different story.

If anything is particularly C1: it inverts the listener’s expectation. If someone says “At least it’s not getting worse”, the answer “If anything, it’s getting worse” signals strong but polite disagreement.

Re-opening and Closing the Argument

Marker	Function	Example
`On second thoughts`	Withdraws or revises a previous statement.	I’ll have the salad. On second thoughts, make it the soup.
`Then again`	Introduces a counter-thought to one’s own previous claim.	The job pays well. Then again, the hours are brutal.
`In any case`	Closes off a side issue and returns to the main point.	The reasons are debated. In any case, the outcome is clear.
`At any rate`	Similar to in any case; slightly more spoken.	He may not show up. At any rate, we should start without him.
`All things considered`	Sums up after weighing both sides.	All things considered, the trip was a success.

American English uses on second thought (singular); British English prefers on second thoughts. Both are acceptable.

Position and Punctuation

Most discourse markers can sit at the start, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence, separated by commas. Position changes emphasis.

Position	Example	Effect
Front	That said, the plan needs revision.	Standard, foregrounds the shift.
Middle	The plan, that said, needs revision.	Slows the sentence; stronger pause.
End (rarer)	The plan needs revision, mind you.	Conversational afterthought.

Avoid stacking markers (Having said that, that said, mind you…) — pick one. Avoid using more than two or three of these per paragraph in formal writing; they lose force when overused.

Register Snapshot

Informal / spoken	Neutral	Formal / written
`mind you`, `come to think of it`, `at any rate`	`that said`, `in any case`, `to be fair`	`having said that`, `incidentally`, `in fairness`, `all things considered`

The clearest C1 move is to mix registers deliberately — using a formal marker like having said that in essay writing, and a casual one like mind you in conversation.

Common Mistakes

Avoid	Use	Why
Having said it, the plan still works.	Having said that, the plan still works.	The fixed phrase is that, not it.
In second thought, I disagree.	On second thought(s), I disagree.	The preposition is on, not in.
If anything is, it’s worse.	If anything, it’s worse.	If anything is a fixed adverbial phrase; no extra verb.
For what it worth, I agree.	For what it’s worth, I agree.	The phrase contains it is (`it's`).
Mind you that the price is high.	Mind you, the price is high.	Mind you takes a comma, not that.
As matter of fact, he agreed.	As a matter of fact, he agreed.	Article a is required.
To fair, she tried hard.	To be fair, she tried hard.	The verb be is required.
All considered things, it went well.	All things considered, it went well.	Word order is fixed.

Practice: Exercises

1 / 15

The film was disappointing. ___, the soundtrack was excellent.

Summary

Advanced discourse markers tell the listener how to interpret what comes next: as a concession (having said that, that said, to be fair), an aside (by the way, incidentally, come to think of it), a hedge (for what it's worth, if anything, up to a point), or a return to the main point (in any case, at any rate, all things considered). Use one or two per paragraph, match the register, and learn the fixed forms — having said that, not having said it; for what it's worth, not for what is worth. These markers are the connective tissue of fluent C1 argument.