Temporal Marker
Pattern
first / then / next / meanwhile / finally / subsequently — time-sequencing signal
Definition
A discourse marker that signals time relationships — sequence, simultaneity, or temporal framing between events or ideas.
Examples
Example 1
'First, we need to establish the baseline. Then, we can measure changes over time.' — 'first' and 'then' organize the discourse temporally.
AI Detection Note
AI relies heavily on explicit temporal markers for sequential organization ('first... second... third... finally'). Human writers more often use implicit temporal ordering or vary their sequencing devices.
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