WORD POWER

Sentence Connectors

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Once you have mastered the basics of correct usage in written English, you will want to express yourself in increasingly complex ways. One of the best ways to improve your writing style is to use sentence connectors. Sentence connectors are used to express relationships between ideas and to combine sentences. The use of these connectors will add sophistication to your writing style.

1. Showing Addition

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Coordinating Conjunction	and	High level positions are stressful at times, and can be harmful to your health.
Conjunctive adverbs	in addition, additionally, furthermore, moreover, also	High level positions are stressful at times; furthermore, they can be harmful to your health
Correlative conjunctions	not only…but also	Not only are high level positions stressful at times, but they also can be harmful to your health.
Prepositional phrases	in addition to, along with, as well as	Along with being stressful, high level positions can also be harmful to your health.

2. Showing Cause / Effect

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Coordinating conjunctions	for (cause), so (effect)	Professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient, for their positions are at times rather stressful.
Subordinating conjunctions	because, since	Since high level positions are at times rather stressful, professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient.
Conjunctive adverbs	therefore, as a result, consequently	High level positions are at times rather stressful; therefore, professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient.
Prepositions	because of, due to, as a result of	Due to the stressful nature of high level positions, professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient.

3. Showing Comparison

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Coordinating Conjunction	and…too	High level positions are stressful, and can be harmful to your health too.
Subordinating conjunction	just as	Just as high level positions are stressful, they can be harmful to your health.
Conjunctive adverbs	similarly, in comparison	High level positions are stressful at times; similarly, they can be harmful to your health.
Prepositions	like, similar to	Similar to other important professions, high level business positions are stressful at times.

4. Showing Condition

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Subordinating conjunctions	if, unless, only if, even if	If you consider the financial rewards of high level positions, the stressful nature of these positions becomes less important.
Conjunctive adverb	otherwise	You should remember the financial rewards of high level positions; otherwise, you might find the stressful nature of these positions too demanding.

5. Showing Contrast

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Coordinating conjunction	but	High level positions are stressful at times, but the financial rewards make these positions very desirable indeed.
Subordinating conjunctions	whereas, while	While high level positions are stressful at times, the financial rewards make these positions very desirable indeed.
Conjunctive adverbs	in contrast, on the other hand	High level positions are stressful at times; on the other hand, the financial rewards make these positions very desirable indeed.
Prepositions	unlike	Unlike the undesirable stress of high level positions, the financial rewards make these positions very desirable indeed.

6. Showing Opposition

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Coordinating conjunction	but	High level positions are stressful at times, but professionals can learn to manage their stress levels.
Subordinating conjunctions	although, despite the fact that	Despite the fact that high level positions are stressful at times, professionals can learn to manage their stress levels.
Conjunctive adverbs	however, nevertheless	High level positions are stressful at times; nevertheless, professionals can learn to manage their stress levels.
Prepositional phrases	despite, in spite of	In spite of the stressful nature of high level positions, professionals can learn to manage their stress levels.