Connectors and Punctuation

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."