English Writing Tip: Use Conjunctions and Transitions

Here’s a quick, easy way to improve your English writing: use conjunctions and transitions to connect your thoughts together. It’s simple, easy to do and will make a big difference!

English Writing Tip: Don’t Forget Conjunctions + Transitions

Do you want to improve your English writing? One quick way to do that is to review conjunctions and transitions. They can connect clauses (parts of a sentence), sentences, or paragraphs.

If you don’t use them, your writing will not be connected, and won’t “flow.” All good writers, in any language, use these kinds of words to help their readers out! Are you ready to level up your English writing? Let’s go with this English writing tip!

Remember “FANBOYS” for Coordinating Conjunctions

There are four types of conjunctions: coordinating, correlative, subordinating, and adverbial/linking conjunctions.

You probably learned FANBOYS to remember coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

These words can join nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, phrases, and clauses. These come in quite handy for joining short sentences to make longer ones.

If you want your writing to “flow,” then you’ll need to make some longer sentences instead of all short ones. You can easily join some sentences together during the proofreading stage of your writing process.

Correlative Conjunctions for Relationships

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words used to emphasize the relationship between two items. Note: the items can be nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, but both parts must be the same.

The five correlative conjunctions are:
both _____ and _____
not _____ and _____
either _____ or _____
neither _____ nor _____
not only _____ but also _____

All about Subordinating Conjunctions in English Writing

Subordinating conjunctions are used to create subordinate clause. These must be paired with a main clause to make a complete sentence. These words include: after, although, as, as much as, because, before, how, if, in order that, since, than, that, unless, until.

Learn More About Using Conjunctions

Do you want to find out how to use conjunctions correctly? Check out this short, useful video for more details:

Joining 2 Sentences

Finally, linking adverbs, like coordinating conjunctions, join two sentences. The difference is that they show more types of relationships between the two clauses. The two clauses can show continuation, contrast, sequence, cause and effect, and result.

You can show continuation with these words: also, beside, further, furthermore, in addition, and moreover. For example, you can show contrast with these words: conversely, however, instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand.

Transitions can be used to show addition, comparison, contrast, summary, condition, cause and effect/result, or time/sequence.

Additive transitions are used when adding similar ideas or information.

Comparative transitions show similarities. Adversative transitions are used to introduce ideas which contrast with or do not agree with the previous ones.

Causal transitions show cause and effect or reason and result.

Sequential transitions show the chronological (time) or logical order.

Other transitional words and phrases indicate some condition, such as: whether, otherwise, and however+adverb.

Others can summarize previous statements, such as: finally, in other words, and therefore.

Practice English Writing with Conjunctions + Transitions

Did you find this English writing tip useful? Then, take it to the next level by checking out the link below. To review as well as practice conjunctions and transitions, check out our PDF worksheet: www.jackiebolen.com/conjunctions

Conjunction and Transition Games and Activities

Are you a teacher and want some tips and ideas for teaching this important English grammar point? There are lots of games and activities that you can use to spice things up a little bit in your classes. More details here:

Conjunction/Transition ESL Activities.

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Have your Say about Using Conjunctions and Transitions in your Writing

Do you have any tips for using these important words when writing in English? Leave a comment below and share your wisdom with us! We’d love to hear from you.

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Last update on 2020-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API