Which statement about signal words is true?

• A. They indicate tone and mood and nothing else.
• B. They replace punctuation entirely.
• C. They help link ideas but do not indicate order.
• D. They show order or relationship and help link ideas.

Answer: (D)

Think of signal words as signposts that connect ideas and show how they relate, including the order in which things happen. They guide the reader through a sentence or paragraph by signaling relationships like addition, contrast, cause and effect, or sequence. Because of that, the statement that signal words show order or relationship and help link ideas is true: they help you see not only how ideas connect, but also the order in which events or steps occur. They don’t replace punctuation—punctuation still marks endings and breaks—nor do they only convey tone or mood. Some signal words indicate order (first, next, finally), while others show relationships (therefore, because, however).