Formal written German has a layer of cohesion devices that rarely surface in conversation: a rich set of single-word connectors that sequence an argument, pile up evidence, mark contrasts, and draw consequences. Words like des Weiteren, demzufolge, and nichtsdestoweniger are the syntactic signature of an essay, a legal text, or a newspaper editorial — using them well signals command of the register, and using casual also or na ja instead instantly marks a text as informal. Most of these connectors are conjunctional adverbs, which means they occupy the Vorfeld and trigger verb-second inversion; getting that word order right is half the battle. This page sorts the formal connectors by function and flags the register of each.
Why the word order matters: inversion
Almost all the connectors here are adverbs, not conjunctions. When one opens a main clause, it fills the first slot (the Vorfeld), so the finite verb must come second and the subject moves behind it: Folglich muss die Studie wiederholt werden — not Folglich die Studie muss. This V2 inversion is the default and the reason English speakers stumble: English "consequently," "furthermore," and "however" are parenthetical and leave the subject in place ("consequently, the study must…"). German treats the connector as a real sentence element that uses up the pre-verb slot. The mechanics are covered in depth on the conjunctional-adverbs page; here the focus is which connector to reach for and in which register.
Sequencing: ordering the argument
These structure a text into steps. Zunächst ("first of all, to begin with") opens; erstens / zweitens / drittens ("firstly / secondly / thirdly") enumerate explicitly; schließlich ("finally, lastly") and abschließend ("in conclusion") close. The paired einerseits … andererseits ("on the one hand … on the other") and zum einen … zum anderen set up a two-sided treatment.
Zunächst sind die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen zu klären.
First of all, the legal framework needs to be clarified. ('Zunächst' fronted → inversion 'sind die … Rahmenbedingungen')
Einerseits senkt die Maßnahme die Kosten, andererseits gefährdet sie die Qualität.
On the one hand the measure cuts costs, on the other it endangers quality. (paired structuring connector, inversion on both halves)
Abschließend lässt sich festhalten, dass das Konzept tragfähig ist.
In conclusion, it can be stated that the concept is viable. ('Abschließend' opens the closing move; inversion 'lässt sich')
Addition: stacking points
To add a further argument, formal German has a graded ladder, all roughly "furthermore / moreover / in addition," differing mainly in weight and frequency. Zudem is the everyday-formal default. Darüber hinaus ("beyond that," three words) is common and slightly heavier. Des Weiteren ("furthermore," capitalised because Weiteren is a nominalised adjective) and ferner ("furthermore," somewhat literary) are markedly formal; überdies ("what is more") is elevated.
Die Methode ist kostengünstig. Zudem lässt sie sich leicht skalieren.
The method is inexpensive. In addition, it scales easily. ('Zudem' fronted → inversion 'lässt sie sich')
Darüber hinaus wurden zwei weitere Faktoren berücksichtigt.
Beyond that, two further factors were taken into account. ('Darüber hinaus', three words; inversion 'wurden')
Des Weiteren ist auf die Datenschutzbestimmungen hinzuweisen.
Furthermore, attention must be drawn to the data-protection provisions. ('Des Weiteren' capitalised; formal register; inversion 'ist')
Contrast: setting one thing against another
Jedoch ("however") and allerdings ("though, admittedly") are the flexible workhorses — they can front the clause (inversion) or sit mid-field (no inversion). Hingegen and demgegenüber ("by contrast, on the other hand") explicitly oppose two items. These are the formal counterparts to the conversational aber.
Die Theorie ist elegant; allerdings fehlt ihr die empirische Grundlage.
The theory is elegant; however, it lacks an empirical foundation. ('allerdings' fronted → inversion 'fehlt ihr')
Die Nordregion verzeichnet Wachstum; der Süden hingegen stagniert.
The northern region records growth; the south, by contrast, is stagnating. ('hingegen' sits mid-field here — no inversion)
Der erste Entwurf war zu vage; der zweite jedoch überzeugte das Gremium.
The first draft was too vague; the second, however, convinced the panel. ('jedoch' mid-field, no inversion — a formal, written placement)
Cause and result: drawing the consequence
This family expresses "therefore / consequently / as a result." Somit ("thus") and folglich ("consequently") are the common formal choices. Demzufolge ("according to which, therefore"), infolgedessen ("as a result thereof"), and mithin (elevated/legal "hence") are heavier and characteristic of official and academic prose. All front the clause and invert.
Die Frist ist verstrichen; folglich ist der Anspruch erloschen.
The deadline has passed; consequently the claim has lapsed. ('folglich' fronted → inversion 'ist der Anspruch')
Die Stichprobe war zu klein; infolgedessen sind die Ergebnisse nicht belastbar.
The sample was too small; as a result the findings are not robust. ('infolgedessen' = formal 'as a result'; inversion 'sind')
Der Vertrag wurde nicht unterzeichnet; mithin besteht keine Verpflichtung.
The contract was not signed; hence there is no obligation. ('mithin' = elevated/legal 'hence'; inversion 'besteht')
Concession: conceding, then standing firm
These admit an obstacle and assert the point regardless. Dennoch ("nevertheless") is the neutral-formal default. Gleichwohl ("nonetheless") is elevated. Nichtsdestoweniger and its variant nichtsdestotrotz ("nevertheless," literally "nothing-the-less," written as one long word) are emphatically formal — nichtsdestotrotz was once frowned on as a blend but is now widely accepted in standard writing.
Die Daten sind lückenhaft; dennoch lässt sich ein Trend erkennen.
The data are patchy; nevertheless a trend can be discerned. ('dennoch' fronted → inversion 'lässt sich')
Der Vorschlag ist umstritten; gleichwohl verdient er eine ernsthafte Prüfung.
The proposal is contentious; nonetheless it deserves serious examination. ('gleichwohl' = elevated concessive; inversion 'verdient er')
Die Kosten sind erheblich; nichtsdestoweniger hält die Kommission am Projekt fest.
The costs are considerable; nevertheless the commission is sticking with the project. ('nichtsdestoweniger', one word; inversion 'hält')
A register map
| Function | Neutral-formal | Heavily formal / academic |
|---|---|---|
| Sequencing | zunächst, schließlich | erstens/zweitens, abschließend |
| Addition | zudem, darüber hinaus | des Weiteren, ferner, überdies |
| Contrast | jedoch, allerdings | hingegen, demgegenüber, indes(sen) |
| Result | somit, folglich | demzufolge, infolgedessen, mithin |
| Concession | dennoch | gleichwohl, nichtsdestoweniger |
How this differs from English
English signals these same functions, but mostly with parenthetical adverbs ("consequently," "furthermore," "nevertheless") that sit comfortably between commas and never disturb the subject–verb order. German imposes two demands English does not. First, word order: the fronted connector usually forces verb-second inversion, so you cannot simply transplant the English comma-adverb pattern. Second, register stratification: English "moreover" covers a wide band, whereas German splits the same job across zudem (lightly formal) up to des Weiteren and überdies (heavily formal), and mixing a casual connector like also or na ja into formal prose is jarring in a way English "so" or "anyway" only mildly is. Choosing the connector at the right altitude — and inverting after it — is what separates competent formal German from translated English.
Common Mistakes
Failing to invert after a fronted formal connector.
❌ Die Frist ist verstrichen; folglich der Anspruch ist erloschen.
Incorrect — fronted 'folglich' forces V2 inversion: 'folglich ist der Anspruch erloschen.'
✅ Die Frist ist verstrichen; folglich ist der Anspruch erloschen.
The deadline has passed; consequently the claim has lapsed.
Using a casual conversational marker in formal writing.
❌ Die Methode ist günstig. Also, na ja, sie ist auch leicht skalierbar.
Off-register — 'also, na ja' belongs to speech; formal prose wants 'Zudem' or 'Darüber hinaus'.
✅ Die Methode ist günstig. Zudem ist sie leicht skalierbar.
The method is inexpensive. In addition, it scales easily.
Lowercasing the nominalized des Weiteren.
❌ Des weiteren ist auf die Fristen hinzuweisen.
Incorrect spelling — 'Weiteren' is a nominalised adjective and capitalised: 'Des Weiteren'.
✅ Des Weiteren ist auf die Fristen hinzuweisen.
Furthermore, attention must be drawn to the deadlines.
Treating darüber hinaus as one word.
❌ Darüberhinaus wurden zwei Faktoren berücksichtigt.
Incorrect — 'darüber hinaus' is written as three separate words.
✅ Darüber hinaus wurden zwei Faktoren berücksichtigt.
Beyond that, two factors were taken into account.
Key Takeaways
- Formal German structures argument with single-word connectors for sequencing, addition, contrast, result, and concession.
- Most are conjunctional adverbs: fronted, they fill the Vorfeld and force verb-second inversion.
- The same function spans a register ladder — pick zudem for lightly formal, des Weiteren / überdies for heavily formal.
- jedoch and allerdings may also sit mid-field, where there is no inversion — a refined written option.
- Spelling traps: des Weiteren (capitalised), darüber hinaus (three words), nichtsdestoweniger (one word).
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Start learning German→Related Topics
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