As the name suggests, connective words connect two clauses or sentences. They are used to convey thoughts and ideas more effectively. They are an important part of creative writing as they render coherence to the topic. If you master using them in your academic writings, you will be able to present ideas more clearly, which will help you to fetch higher grades in English.
Connective words can be added at the beginning, end or middle of a sentence. They are of many types. Some connective words are used to add more information to a statement, while others link two contrasting statements. This discussion will acquaint you with the most commonly used connective words and teach you how to use them in your English essays through examples. The more examples you read, the more you will understand their application while writing. Please read on!
Connective Words Used for Addition
These words add more information to a sentence or the topic. They are used at the beginning of the sentence but between two sentences relevant to each other. Putting a comma after such words is important; otherwise, the sentence will be incorrect.
Following are some connective words used for addition:
- Moreover
- Additionally
- Also
- Furthermore
- In addition
Examples of their use:
Moreover
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- Eating healthy meals is important for optimal cognitive functioning. Moreover, they help keep body weight in control and prevent obesity.
- Writing our ideas helps us to present our thoughts. Moreover, it can be used by students to take notes effectively.
- I don’t get the time to use skincare products. Moreover, my skin is allergic to most of them
- Success demands hard work. Moreover, you need to be dedicated.
- Toppers utilise their time productively. Moreover, they follow the right strategies.
Additionally
-
- Eating healthy meals is important for optimum cognitive functioning. Additionally, they help keep body weight in control and prevent obesity.
- Exercising is good for your health. Additionally, it helps you to have a toned body
- You can pay your bills using this app. Additionally, you can check your bank account balance.
- Toppers utilise their time productively. Additionally, they follow the right strategies.
Also
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- Eating healthy meals is important for optimum cognitive functioning. Also, they help keep body weight in control and prevent obesity.
- We did a lot of shopping today. Also, we went to my favourite restaurant to eat momos.
- It would help if you ate a filling breakfast on exam day. Also, you must drink enough water.
- Toppers work hard. Also, they follow the right strategies.
Furthermore
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- Eating healthy meals is important for optimal cognitive functioning. Furthermore, they help keep body weight in control and prevent obesity.
- His apartment is beautiful. Furthermore, it’s in a posh society.
- The job location is far from my residence. Furthermore, it does not pay enough.
- Toppers utilise their time productively. Furthermore, they adopt the right strategies.
In addition
-
- Eating healthy meals is important for optimal cognitive functioning. In addition, they help keep body weight in control and prevent obesity.
- I have a medical degree. In addition, I can fluently speak five different languages.
- She sells makeup in addition to skincare products.
- Toppers work hard. In addition, they adopt the right strategies.
Please notice that all these connective words work the same way to add information to the sentence. Even if we use different connective words in the same sentence, the message conveyed is the same.
Connective Words Used to Compare and Contrast
These words are used to connect alternative or opposite opinions or limit ideas. In some ways, they work opposite to that of the words from the “addition”category.
- Although
- Despite/ Despite the fact that
- In spite of/ In spite of the fact that
- Nevertheless
- However
- On the contrary
- In contrast
Examples of their use:
Although
-
- Although the weather was warm, I still decided to wear a sweater.
- Although my grandmother is old, she can still run fast.
- Although Jack didn’t work hard, he managed to get good grades
- Although I was sick, I finished the assignment early
Despite/ Despite the fact that
-
- Despite the weather being warm, I still decided to wear a sweater
- Despite the drought, we had a decent harvest.
- Despite the fact that the weather was warm, I still decided to wear a sweater.
- Despite being sick, I finished the assignment early.
In spite of/ In spite of the fact that
-
- In spite of the weather being warm, I still decided to wear a sweater.
- In spite of the fact that the weather was not cold, I still decided to wear a sweater
- In spite of it being hot in the afternoon, we still went out shopping and enjoyed it
- In spite of being sick, I finished the assignment early.
Nevertheless
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- The weather was warm. Nevertheless, I decided to wear a sweater.
- We sold fewer blankets. Nevertheless, we made more profit.
- The paper was very difficult. Nevertheless, I managed to write all the answers.
- I was sick. Nevertheless, I finished the assignment in time.
However
-
- The weather was warm. However, I decided to wear a sweater.
- We sold fewer blankets. However, the profit was good.
- The paper was very difficult. However, I wrote all the answers.
- I was sick. However, I worked hard and finished the assignment on time.
On the contrary
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- I decided to accept the offer. On the contrary, Paul decided to reject it.
- I went to the party ready to have a boring time. On the contrary, it was a lot of fun!
- John thinks he is clever. On the contrary, I find him quite foolish.
- The weather is bad today. On the contrary, it was very pleasant yesterday
In contrast to
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- In contrast to the company’s disappointingly low figures last year, profits have increased dramatically.
- In contrast to John’s high grades in the previous exams, he did not do well this time.
- In contrast to his sister’s gentle nature, John is very rude.
- In contrast to today’s bad weather, we went out shopping
Please note:
- We tend to use although at the beginning of the sentence.
- Despite and in spite of are applied in the same manner and render the same meaning to the sentence.
- Despite and despite the fact that they are used in the same way but when using despite, we need to change the verb form, adding “ing” to it.
- Nevertheless and However are used in the same way, but nevertheless is more formal.
Connective Words Used to Illustrate Cause And Effect
They are used to illustrate how action leads to a certain effect or how one situation is dependent on the other
- Since
- Therefore
- As a result
- For this reason
- Because
Examples of their use:
Since
-
- Since the company is doing well this month, the staff should be rewarded with a bonus
- Since it is my mother’s birthday tomorrow, I would like to invite you to lunch after work
- Since you didn’t answer my call, I had to make the decision myself.
- Since global warming has a detrimental effect on the environment, we should look for ways to minimise it.
- Since it was raining yesterday, I didn’t feel like going out.
Therefore
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- The company is doing so well this month. Therefore, the staff should be rewarded with a bonus.
- It has been snowing since morning. Therefore, air traffic will be hampered.
- The company is not making any profits. Therefore, they had to fire many employees.
- You didn’t answer my call: therefore, I had to make the decision myself
- It was raining yesterday. Therefore, I didn’t feel like going out.
As a result
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- The company is doing so well this month. As a result, the staff should be rewarded with a bonus.
- Danny forgot to water the plants. As a result, the leaves started to wilt.
- As a result of your eating habits, you have put on weight.
- As a result of rash driving, the numbers of accidents are on the rise.
- Danny didn’t study hard. As a result, he got low grades
For this reason
-
- The company is doing so well this month. For this reason, the staff should be rewarded with a bonus.
- My payments are being constantly delayed. For this reason, I have decided to leave the job.
- Some people drive very carelessly. For this reason, road accidents occur.
- Global warming has a detrimental effect on our environment. For this reason, we should look for ways to minimise it.
Because
-
- Because the company is doing so well this month, the staff should be rewarded with a bonus.
- The staff should be rewarded with a bonus because the company is doing so well this month.
- Because I decided to go shopping with my friend Mary, I won’t be able to go home until later tonight.
- Because I didn’t spend responsibly this month, I am broke.
- Because global warming has a detrimental effect on our environment, we should look for ways to minimise it.
Please note:
- “Because” can be used in the commencement of a sentence as well as in the middle of it.
FAQs
1. What are the uses of connective words?
- Connective words are used to present our writings in an organised and coherent way
- They are used to illustrate relationships between ideas.
- They can be used to link two or more sentences or clauses.
- They are used to give a result, add data, summarise, emphasise a point, sequence data, to compare or contrast ideas.
2. Which connective words can be used to introduce a conclusion?
Connective words are of many types, as discussed above. Some of them can be used to conclude or summarise a sentence or a paragraph. Following are the examples of such words:
To conclude
To conclude, I would like to thank everyone for coming to the party
To sum up
To sum up, you are now fully prepared to give the exam
In brief
In brief, some improvements need to be made to the present system
In a nutshell
To put it in a nutshell, you are not fully prepared for the exam
In short
In short, I won’t be able to attend the party
To summarise
To summarise, global warming is changing the world for the worst
- All things considered
- All things considered, you can achieve good results only through hard work and dedication
3. What are some other connective words used to add ideas?
Apart from the ones discussed above, there are many other connective words that can be used to add information to your sentences or paragraphs. Here are some:
As well as
She sells makeup as well as skincare products
You need to put in efforts as well as dedication to achieve success
Besides
Success demands handwork. Besides, you also need to be dedicated
She owns a skincare brand. Besides, she also sells makeup products
4. Which connective words can be used to emphasise an idea?
Some connective words can be used to emphasise an idea or a statement. Here are a few examples:
Indeed
Indeed, I have made a mistake, and I am looking to rectify it
Clearly
Clearly, you did not follow my medical advice regarding your diet
Surprisingly
I ordered too many momos in the restaurant yesterday, and surprisingly, I was able to finish them all by myself
In fact
In fact, hard work is the most important ingredient in the recipe for success.
It should be noted
It should be noted that global warming has a very detrimental effect on our environment.
Conclusion
Having gone through the discussion, you now know the importance of connective words in enhancing the quality of your English essays. They play a major role in rendering the meaning to any form of creative writing. You can even use connective words while having conversations in the English language to convey your thoughts more effectively. Please don’t forget to add your own examples to the list. Happy learning!