Connecting Words and How to Punctuate Them
Students often write in short sentences without connecting the sentences. This creates a disjointed and choppy effect, and frequently gets in the way of showing connections between ideas, as well as sentences. Occasionally students who write this way also fall into the habit of creating sentence fragments.
To create a better flow, four types of connecting words can be used: conjunctive adverbs, subordinating conjunctions, coordinating conjunctions, and transitions. The words which fall into these categories, however, may cause confusion for students because they don't know how to punctuate them properly.
By reviewing the lists of words below, keeping the lists handy, and following the guidelines for punctuation, students can improve their writing dramatically.
1. The first type of connecting words are conjunctive adverbs (to "conjunct" simply means to "join"). Conjunctive adverbs often fall in mid-sentence. If you join two "independent clauses" (i.e., sentences) using one of these words, use a semicolon before it and a comma after it. (You end a sentence with a period, right? So if you join two sentences together with a comma, you're splicing them together. That's called a comma splice and is a serious error.
Correct example: I prefer to eat my dinner at the dining room table; instead, I usually eat in front of the television because I like to listen to the news. (The word "instead" is a conjunctive adverb.)
Incorrect: I prefer to eat my dinner at the dining room table, instead, I usually eat in front of the television because I like to listen to the news. (This sentence contains a comma splice. The writer tries to join two separate sentences with a comma before "instead.")
When you see a conjunctive adverb in the middle of a sentence, a red flag should go up! Here's a list of conjunctive adverbs:
also
anyway
consequently
finally
furthermore
hence
however
incidentally
indeed
instead
likewise
meanwhile
moreover
nevertheless
next
nonetheless
otherwise
still
then
therefore
thus
2. Second, are subordinating conjunctions. (To subordinate implies that something is of less importance than something else or that something depends on something else.) If a subordinating conjunction falls in mid-sentence, there is usually no comma used. If it starts a sentence, there is a comma after the introductory phrase (right before the subject and verb).
Correct example: After eating dinner in front of the television all week, I decided to change locations. (The word "after" is a subordinating conjunction. Here it begins a sentence, leading to an introductory phrase. Notice that the comma falls right before the subject and verb.)
Compare: I decided to change locations after eating dinner in front of the television all week.
(Notice that there is no comma before the "after" in the second example. Because it falls in mid-sentence, there is no introductory phrase which would require a comma.)
Here's a list of subordinating conjunctions:
after
although
as
as [far/soon] as
as if
as though
because
before
even if
even though
how
if
inasmuch as
in case [that]
in order that
insofar as
in that
lest
no matter how
now that
once
provided [that]
since
so that
supposing [that]
than
that
though
till
unless
until
when, whenever
where, wherever
whether
while
why
3. Third, are coordinating conjunctions (of equal importance instead of lesser importance). Put a comma before a coordinating conjunction only if it joins two independent clauses (i.e., if there is a subject and a verb on either side of the conjunction). If a subject or a verb is lacking on either side of the conjunction, there is no comma.
Correct example: I used to eat dinner in front of the television every night, and I finally got tired of it.
Compare: I used to eat dinner in front of the television every night and finally got tired of it. (This sentence lacks a subject after the "and," so there is no comma.
List of coordinating conjunctions:
and
so
yet
but
or
for
nor
4. Finally, there are transitional phrases, which usually begin a sentence and are followed by a comma:
after all
as a result
at any rate
at the same time
by the way
even so
for example (make sure there is a complete sentence)
in addition
in fact
in other words
in the second place
on the contrary
on the other hand
Use transitional phrases between paragraphs to create a logical flow in your writing. Use them within paragraphs, too. Avoid overusing a particular phrase.
Learning how to use these words will help you communicate clearly and with emphasis. However, take care to punctuate them correctly because incorrect punctuation will frequently confuse your reader or even change the meaning of a sentence. Also, avoid archaic transitional phrases, such as "hitherto," "whereof," "whereby," and "whereas."
