Signposting

Signposting guides your reader through your writing. Ideas that are clear to you as the writer are not always clear on the page. Your reader cannot see your thinking — only your words.

Overview

Signposting language includes single words, short phrases, and full sentences:

In the introduction

Tell the reader what the assignment covers and how it is organised. For example:

• 'This assignment examines three aspects of urban housing policy.'
• 'This assignment analyses the data and establishes key findings.'

Other verbs to use: address; evaluate; explore; review; focus on; describe.

In the main body

Use signposting to show how each point connects to the question and to the points around it.

Each term has a specific meaning. For example, only use 'consequently' if the second point is a direct result of the first.

In the conclusion

Use signposting to show the assignment is concluding. Useful phrases include:

• 'In conclusion'; 'In summary'; 'Overall'
• 'This assignment has examined...'
• 'This assignment demonstrates that...'

Strong signposting does more than link sentences — it shows the reader the logic and structure of your work as a whole.

This advanced guidance section covers large-scale signposting, structural signposting in dissertations and reports, and how to choose between similar terms.

Small-scale and large-scale signposting

There are two types of signposting: small-scale and large-scale.

Small-scale signposting uses single words or short phrases. It connects ideas at the level of the sentence and paragraph.

Large-scale signposting uses full sentences to show how different parts of your assignment connect. It explains the development of your thinking across the whole piece of work, not just between one point and the next. Large-scale signposting shows the reader that the order of information has a clear purpose.

For example, a large-scale signpost might explain why you chose a particular focus:

'This assignment focuses on plastic pollution in oceans rather than air pollution, because ocean plastic has a direct impact on the marine life discussed in the following section.'

The pattern: name the focus, explain why it’s relevant to what follows.

Or it might signal a transition between two topics whose connection is not immediately obvious:

'Having examined the causes of deforestation, this assignment now considers its effects on local wildlife. These two areas connect because the loss of trees directly reduces the habitats available to animals.'

The pattern: name the previous point, name the next point, explain the connection.

Structural signposting in dissertations and reports

The sections of a dissertation or report can connect in the following way:

• The introduction signposts what is coming and establishes the focus of the work
• The literature review links back to the research question to show why those sources matter
• The methodology links to the introduction, showing how the research methods connect to the topic
• The results or discussion section links to the literature review to show how existing research relates to the findings
• The conclusion links to all previous sections, and especially to the introduction

Each chapter or section can open with a short introduction and close with a short conclusion. The opening tells the reader the purpose of the section and what it covers. The closing summarises the main points and shows how the section connects to what follows.

Choosing between similar terms

Several signposting terms look similar but actually have different meanings. Using the wrong term can misrepresent the relationship between ideas.

'Although', 'however', and 'in contrast'

These terms all introduce a contrasting point, but they work differently.

'Although' begins a sentence and sets up a contrast within it:

'Although the sample size was small, the results were consistent.'

'However' introduces a contrasting point as a separate sentence:

'The sample size was small. However, the results were consistent.'

'In contrast' signals a stronger, more direct opposition between two positions:

'Supporters of the policy argue it reduces costs. In contrast, critics present evidence of increased long-term expenditure.'

'Furthermore' and 'in addition'

These terms both add to a previous point. 'Furthermore' extends or strengthens the previous point. 'In addition' adds a separate point of equal importance.

Use 'furthermore' when the second point extends or strengthens the first:

'The study shows a significant correlation. Furthermore, this correlation holds across all age groups.'

Use 'in addition' when the second point is separate but of equal importance:

'The report covers housing. In addition, it addresses transport.'

Academic caution

The words you choose also signal how confident you are in your conclusions. Avoid stating conclusions as absolute facts — use language that shows how strongly the evidence supports your conclusion.

Choose phrases that signal the strength of your conclusions:

• 'This suggests that…'
• 'This may indicate that…'
• 'The evidence points to…'
• 'It is possible that…'
• 'This appears to show…'

Avoid phrases that claim more certainty than the evidence supports:

• 'This proves that…'
• 'It is obvious that…'
• 'Certainly'

Each term has a specific meaning. Check that the term you choose accurately reflects the relationship between your ideas.

Page last edited: 26 August 2026
Next review due: 5 August 2029