Sentence Connectors and Sentences By Kenneth Beare, About.com Guide
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.
Each section below contains sentence connectors using similar sentences to show how the same idea can be expressed in a variety of manners. Once you have understood the use of these sentence connectors, take an example sentence of your own and write a number of sentences based on the examples to practice your own writing skills.
Some examples of sentence connectors:
* 1) Food and drink prices in New York are very high. 2) Renting an apartment in New York is very expensive.
Using a sentence connector: Food and drink prices in New York are very high; furthermore, renting an apartment is very expensive.
* 1) Life in New York is very expensive. 2) Life in New York can be extremely exciting.
Using a sentence connector: Despite the fact that life in New York is very expensive, it can be extremely exciting.
* 1) Life in New York is very expensive. 2) Many people would love to live in New York.
Using a sentence connector: Many people would love to live in New York; consequently, life in New York is very expensive.
Sentence Connectors - Showing Opposition
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.
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.
Sentence Connectors - Showing Addition
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.
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.
Sentence Connectors and Sentences - Showing Cause / Effect
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.
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.
Sentence Connectors and Sentences - Showing Comparison
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.
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.
Sentence Connectors - Showing Condition
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.
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.
Sentence Connectors - Showing Contrast
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.
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.