Topic‑linking / associative marker

To create a natural transition between two connected thoughts without sounding abrupt; it signals relevance and continuity in conversation.

After stating an anecdote, fact, or opinion where listeners may want clarification on its application (e.g., after saying “I love Italian food” when asking if anyone has tried the new restaurant).

Spoken interaction – everyday conversations, meetings, interviews, casual chats. Works best in informal to semi‑formal registers.

Speaking of

Speaking of

"Talking of" – less common but grammatically acceptable in formal contexts; otherwise, no other substitution is idiomatic for this exact phrase.

• ‘Speaking of’
• ‘which’
• ‘have you tried’
• etc.
• often paired with questions like ‘Have you seen?’ or statements that continue discussion.

• 'That reminds me'
• 'On the subject of'

Using ‘speaking about’ instead of ‘of’; treating it as an interrogative marker (“Is speaking of…?”) – not natural in English conversation.

‘By the way’, ‘incidentally’ – these are related discourse markers but convey less direct relevance compared to ‘speaking of’.

Learners from languages that do not use this exact construction may default to ‘about’ or omit the particle entirely, leading to unnatural phrasing like “I love Italian food. Speaking about food…”.

• topic‑transition markers

The phrase conveys a subtle sense of familiarity and attentiveness: listeners perceive the speaker is purposefully connecting ideas rather than introducing unrelated content.

Enhances conversational cohesion by signaling continuity, making dialogue feel spontaneous and engaging while subtly guiding attention toward the new topic.

Speaking of

This chunk is often used to create a seamless transition between ideas in a conversation, making it easier for listeners to follow the speaker's train of thought.

By the way → speaking of → on that note