There is a small inventory of Spanish words — perhaps thirty in total — that you encounter constantly in El País editorials, academic monographs, court rulings and ministerial speeches, but rarely if ever in a chat with a friend. These are the formal connectors: asimismo, no obstante, por consiguiente, por ende, en virtud de, a tenor de, ahora bien, dicho esto, cabe destacar, and their cousins. At B2 they become essential — for reading the news, writing university essays, understanding bureaucratic prose, and producing your own formal Spanish without sounding like a casual conversation transcribed onto paper.
This page maps them by function, marks each for register, and flags the subjunctive triggers hidden inside the inventory. The deeper insight: Spanish does not just prefer these connectors in formal writing — it grades writing on whether they are present and well-deployed. A bachillerato essay without en primer lugar… asimismo… no obstante… en definitiva will be marked down for lacking cohesión textual. English instinct says to vary connectors; Spanish formal convention pushes the other way.
The two-axis map
Formal connectors vary along two axes simultaneously: function (what argumentative move they make) and register (how formal they sound). A simple mental grid:
| Function | Neutral / journalistic | Formal / academic |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | además, también, por otra parte | asimismo, igualmente, a su vez |
| Contrast | sin embargo, en cambio | no obstante, con todo, ahora bien |
| Consequence | por (lo) tanto, así que | por consiguiente, en consecuencia, por ende, de ahí que |
| Cause (premise) | porque, ya que | dado que, puesto que, en virtud de, a tenor de |
| Topic shift | por otra parte, en cuanto a | en relación con, respecto a, a propósito de |
| Reframe / pivot | ahora bien | dicho esto, sentado lo anterior |
| Emphasis / mark salience | de hecho, en efecto | cabe destacar, conviene señalar |
| Conclusion | en resumen, en conclusión | en definitiva, en suma, en última instancia |
Pick the column that matches the register you want, then the function. That is the workflow.
Addition — asimismo, igualmente, a su vez
These are the formal alternatives to además (which itself is already neutral and works in essays). Asimismo and igualmente mean "likewise, in the same way"; a su vez means "in turn" and is used for sequential or parallel additions, often when two parties or two factors are being compared.
El informe recomienda reforzar el presupuesto de la sanidad pública. Asimismo, propone una revisión completa del sistema de copago farmacéutico.
The report recommends strengthening the public health budget. Likewise, it proposes a complete review of the pharmaceutical co-payment system. (formal/academic)
La oposición presentó una enmienda a la totalidad. El Gobierno, a su vez, anunció que retiraría la cláusula más polémica.
The opposition tabled a motion to reject the bill outright. The Government, in turn, announced it would withdraw the most controversial clause. (journalistic)
Contrast — no obstante, ahora bien, con todo
For straight contrast, sin embargo is already neutral-formal. Above it sit no obstante (one notch up — the bureaucratic-academic "nevertheless"), ahora bien (the pivot connector — announces that the argument is about to turn), and con todo (literary "all the same"; use sparingly).
El acuerdo se firmó en julio. No obstante, su aplicación efectiva sigue pendiente de desarrollo reglamentario.
The agreement was signed in July. Nevertheless, its actual implementation is still awaiting regulatory development. (bureaucratic)
Es cierto que las cifras de paro han mejorado en el último trimestre. Ahora bien, esa mejora se concentra en empleo temporal y estacional.
It is true that the unemployment figures have improved in the last quarter. That said, the improvement is concentrated in temporary and seasonal jobs. (op-ed)
La novela acumula críticas por su estructura caótica. Con todo, ha sido la obra más vendida del año.
The novel has accumulated criticism for its chaotic structure. All the same, it has been the year's bestseller. (literary review)
Consequence — por consiguiente, en consecuencia, por ende, de ahí que
The formal alternatives to por (lo) tanto: the connectors of legal rulings, ministerial decrees and academic deduction. Por ende is the most formal (slightly archaic, mostly legal and philosophical).
El demandante no aportó las pruebas requeridas en plazo. Por consiguiente, el tribunal desestima la demanda.
The plaintiff did not provide the required evidence within the deadline. Consequently, the court dismisses the claim. (legal)
Los datos muestran una correlación significativa, pero no permiten establecer causalidad. En consecuencia, las conclusiones del estudio deben tomarse con cautela.
The data show a significant correlation but do not establish causation. As a result, the study's conclusions must be taken with caution. (academic)
La norma carece de cobertura constitucional y, por ende, debe ser anulada.
The provision lacks constitutional grounding and is, therefore, void. (legal)
The subjunctive trigger: de ahí que
De ahí que — literally "from there that," meaning "hence, that is why" — is a formal causal-consequential connector that obligatorily triggers the subjunctive in the clause it introduces. The reason is mood-semantic: the consequence is being presented as an inference rather than as an asserted fact, and Spanish marks that with subjunctive.
No se publicó un informe técnico previo a la votación, de ahí que muchos diputados se abstuvieran.
No technical report was published before the vote, hence why many MPs abstained. (formal — note imperfect subjunctive abstuvieran)
El concepto es notoriamente resbaladizo, de ahí que cada autor lo defina a su manera.
The concept is notoriously slippery, which is why each author defines it in their own way. (academic — present subjunctive defina)
Using the indicative here (de ahí que muchos se abstuvieron) is a real error that a serious editor would catch. It is one of the few mood-locked connectors in Spanish.
Cause from premise — en virtud de, a tenor de, dado que
These introduce a premise that justifies what follows. Dado que is neutral-formal; en virtud de and a tenor de are bureaucratic-legal and require a noun phrase (not a clause).
En virtud del artículo 14 de la Constitución, todos los ciudadanos son iguales ante la ley.
By virtue of Article 14 of the Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law. (legal)
A tenor de los datos publicados, la inversión extranjera ha caído un 12 % este año.
In light of the published data, foreign investment has fallen 12 % this year. (journalistic/formal)
Dado que la propuesta no contó con consulta pública, su legitimidad ha sido cuestionada por varios colectivos.
Given that the proposal was not put to public consultation, its legitimacy has been questioned by several groups. (academic)
Note: a tenor de takes a noun phrase, never a clause. You cannot say a tenor de que llovía; you would need dado que llovía or en vista de que llovía.
Topic shift and framing — en cuanto a, respecto a, en relación con
For introducing a new topic or restricting the discussion. En cuanto a, respecto a and en relación con are interchangeable in most contexts; a propósito de is one notch lower in formality ("speaking of which").
En cuanto a la financiación, el proyecto cuenta con un presupuesto inicial de 3,5 millones de euros.
As regards funding, the project has an initial budget of 3.5 million euros.
En relación con su pregunta anterior, le remito al artículo 27 del reglamento.
In relation to your previous question, I refer you to Article 27 of the regulation.
Pivot and reframe — dicho esto, sentado lo anterior
These are the connectors of the argumentative pivot — the formal cousins of ahora bien. They signal: I have said what I just said; I now turn to the next move.
Dicho esto, conviene matizar que ninguna de las medidas anteriores resuelve el problema a largo plazo.
Having said that, it is worth qualifying that none of the above measures solves the problem in the long run. (op-ed/academic)
Sentado lo anterior, pasamos a examinar el segundo de los motivos del recurso.
Having established the above, we move on to examine the second ground of appeal. (legal — slightly archaic)
Salience markers — cabe destacar, conviene señalar
These are the formal way of pointing the reader's attention at a particular fact. They function as a kind of typographical bolding-via-syntax: cabe destacar que is roughly equivalent to a "note:" or "importantly," but folded into the prose.
Cabe destacar que el 30 % de los hogares encuestados declara haber reducido su consumo energético en el último año.
It is worth noting that 30 % of the households surveyed report having reduced their energy consumption in the last year.
Conviene señalar, sin embargo, que la muestra del estudio no es representativa de la población rural.
It should be noted, however, that the study sample is not representative of the rural population.
These are workhorse phrases in academic Spanish. A monograph chapter without three or four cabe destacar que / conviene señalar que / es preciso recordar que would read as undermarked.
Conclusion — en definitiva, en suma, en última instancia
The formal closers. En definitiva is the closest to a workhorse — it works in essays, journalism and formal speech, and is the most common conclusion connector in peninsular argumentative writing.
En definitiva, las dos hipótesis presentan limitaciones serias y ninguna debe darse por concluyente.
Ultimately, both hypotheses present serious limitations and neither should be taken as conclusive.
En suma, los datos respaldan la tesis principal del autor, aunque con matices importantes.
In sum, the data support the author's main thesis, albeit with important nuances. (academic)
En última instancia, lo que está en juego no es una cifra presupuestaria, sino un modelo de país.
Ultimately, what is at stake is not a budget figure but a model of country. (op-ed)
En última instancia is the most rhetorically loaded of the three; it tends to introduce the deeper or moral point at the end of an argument.
A subjunctive companion: sin que
While we are on subjunctive-triggering connectors, sin que belongs alongside de ahí que. It means "without (it being the case that)" and always takes the subjunctive — the action it introduces is precisely the one that does not happen.
La reforma se aprobó sin que se celebrara una consulta previa con los afectados.
The reform was passed without a prior consultation being held with those affected. (formal — note imperfect subjunctive celebrara)
No quiero que se publique nada sin que lo revisemos antes.
I don't want anything published without us reviewing it first. (present subjunctive revisemos)
If the subject is the same as in the main clause, you switch to sin + infinitivo instead (lo aprobaron sin consultar a nadie).
Combining connectors — the density question
Formal Spanish tolerates a higher connector density than formal English. A paragraph that begins Asimismo, cabe destacar que… and ends Por consiguiente, en definitiva, … is normal academic prose, not overwriting. The key rule is to stack within a family, not across:
- Además
- asimismo in successive sentences → repetitive
- Asimismo, cabe destacar que… → professional (frame + salience)
- No obstante, dicho esto, conviene matizar que… → professional (contrast + pivot + salience)
- Sin embargo, no obstante… → redundant
Common Mistakes
❌ Por otra parte, los datos contradicen esta tesis. (intending strong contrast)
Por otra parte is additive ('on the other hand' in the sense of 'another related point'), not adversative. A Spanish reader expects an additional supporting point after it.
✅ Sin embargo, los datos contradicen esta tesis.
For real contrast, sin embargo or no obstante.
❌ De ahí que muchos diputados se abstuvieron.
Indicative mood after de ahí que is wrong. This connector locks the subjunctive.
✅ De ahí que muchos diputados se abstuvieran.
Imperfect subjunctive abstuvieran — no exceptions, no register variation.
❌ A tenor de que llovía, suspendieron el acto.
A tenor de takes a noun phrase, not a que-clause.
✅ A tenor de la lluvia, suspendieron el acto. / Dado que llovía, suspendieron el acto.
Either rephrase with a noun phrase after a tenor de, or switch to dado que with a clause.
❌ No obstante, joder, no estoy de acuerdo. (in a casual chat)
Register catastrophe — no obstante is formal/academic; pairing it with vulgar joder in a casual conversation sounds like a parody.
✅ Pero hombre, no estoy de acuerdo.
Informal contrast for an informal turn.
❌ En conclusión, en suma, en definitiva, el modelo no funciona. (stacked conclusions)
The conclusion move can only be made once per text. Stacking three formal conclusion connectors reads as parody.
✅ En definitiva, el modelo no funciona.
One conclusion connector is enough.
Key Takeaways
- Formal connectors are the joints of academic, journalistic and bureaucratic Spanish. Spanish formal writing tolerates — expects — a connector density 1.5–2x higher than English equivalents.
- The two-axis map (function × register) is the workflow: pick the function, then the register column.
- De ahí que and sin que lock the subjunctive — non-negotiable, no register variation.
- Por otra parte is additive, not adversative. For genuine contrast use sin embargo, no obstante, ahora bien or en cambio.
- Ahora bien and dicho esto are the peninsular pivot connectors — one well-placed use lifts a B2 essay noticeably.
- Salience markers like cabe destacar que and conviene señalar que are the cleanest sign that a learner has crossed into producible formal register.
- Stack connectors within a family (frame + add; contrast + pivot), not across (two adds, two contrasts).
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