"Nets" as a metaphor:
* Catching ideas: You could say that transitional words like "however," "therefore," or "in addition" act like nets to catch and connect different ideas in a sentence or paragraph.
* Building a structure: Just like a fishing net, these words weave together different parts of your writing to create a stronger, more cohesive whole.
"Traps" as a metaphor:
* Ensnaring the reader: While not as common, you could argue that some linking words, like "but" or "yet," can feel like traps, suddenly shifting the direction of a thought and catching the reader off guard.
* Creating suspense: These "traps" can be used effectively to build tension or create surprise within your writing.
Why it's not a standard term:
* Too abstract: "Nets" and "traps" are very broad metaphors. While they capture the general idea of linking words, they don't accurately describe the specific function or purpose of each individual word.
* Linguistically imprecise: Linguists have specific terminology for different types of linking words (conjunctions, adverbs, prepositions, etc.). Using metaphors like "nets" and "traps" can be confusing or misleading.
Instead of "nets" and "traps":
* Transitional words/phrases: This is the most common and accurate term.
* Conjunctions: Words like "and," "but," "or," and "because" that join words or phrases.
* Adverbs: Words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often used for connection (e.g., "however," "therefore," "furthermore").
* Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence (e.g., "in," "on," "with").
So, while "nets" and "traps" might be fun metaphors to describe the function of linking words, they're not standard linguistic terms. It's best to use more precise and descriptive language when discussing these important elements of writing.