- 9Shares
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 these 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.
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
Did you Like this English Writing Tip?
If you liked this English writing tip about using conjunctions and transitions, then you’ll need to check out: Study Tips to Learn English Faster: Become Fluent Quickly and Easily. There are more than 200 tips for helping you to level up your English skills. They cover reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar + vocabulary, and more!
The authors, Jackie Bolen and Jennifer Booker Smith have spent almost 30 years teaching English to students from around the world. In this book, they’ve organized the advice they’ve give to their students into something that will be extremely valuable for YOU in improving your English in a fun, interesting, and easy way.
Are you ready to get a better job? Be able to speak English easily when traveling? Watch your favourite English TV show without the subtitles? Make some friends from around the world?
The book is available on Amazon in both digital and print formats. The (cheaper!) digital one can be read on any device-Kindle, Mac, PC, tablet or smartphone by downloading the free Kindle reading app. Have 200+ tips about how to improve your English at your fingertips. Check it out for yourself on Amazon today:
