Signal Words for Cause and Effect

Authors often use signal words to show cause and effect. 'Because' and 'since' come right before a cause: 'We stayed in because it was raining. ' 'So' comes right before an effect: 'It was raining, so we stayed in.

' Notice that both sentences mean the same thing, but the signal word moves. Other signals are 'that's why' and 'as a result'. Read: 'The baby was tired, so she took a nap. ' The word 'so' points to the effect: she took a nap. Tired is the cause.

• 1'because' and 'since' come before a cause.
• 2'so' comes before an effect.
• 3Signal words help you find cause and effect.