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in Writing

English Writing Tip: Use Conjunctions and Transitions

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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!

Table of Contents

  • English Writing Tip: Don’t Forget Conjunctions + Transitions
  • Learn More About Using Conjunctions
  • Conjunction and Transition Games and Activities
  • Did you Like this English Writing Tip?
  • Where Can I Get the Book?
  • Have your Say about Using Conjunctions and Transitions in your Writing
  • Games, Activities & ESL Teaching Tips

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

English-writing-tip

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 _____

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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

ESL Writing Activities, Games & Teaching Tips: Practical Ideas for the Classroom (ESL Activities for...
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ESL Writing Activities, Games & Teaching Tips: Practical Ideas for the Classroom (ESL Activities for...
  • Bolen, Jackie (Author)
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  • 72 Pages - 12/09/2019 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
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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.

Did you Like this English Writing Tip?

Study Tips to Learn English Faster: Become Fluent Quickly and Easily (Tips for English Learners Book...
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Study Tips to Learn English Faster: Become Fluent Quickly and Easily (Tips for English Learners Book...
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bolen, Jackie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 125 Pages - 10/14/2017 (Publication Date)
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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?

Where Can I Get the Book?

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:

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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.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other English learners, like yourself improve their writing skills too.

Last update on 2021-01-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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