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Conjunctive adverbs
Conjunctive Adverbs (Sentence Connectors or Transitional Words)

- Are commonly used in business, technical, and academic writing.

- Are similar in meaning to other types of connecting words such as and, but, or etc.,
- But, they have one very important difference: they join sentences, not parts of sentences.
- Have special punctuation: with them, a semicolon or a period is used after the first sentence,
and a comma is usually used after the conjunctive adverb. After the comma, the connected
sentence follows.

Conjunctive Adverb Usage

Accordingly showing results

As a result showing results

Consequently showing results

Therefore showing results

However showing general contrasts

In contrast showing direct contrasts

On the other hand showing direct contrasts

In addition showing additional information

Also showing additional information

Similarly showing additional information

Furthermore adding stronger information

Moreover adding stronger information

Nevertheless showing unexpected results

Nonetheless showing unexpected results

Still showing unexpected results

Otherwise if not

Special note:

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Conjunctive adverbs are challenging to use appropriately because they have special
requirements for the kinds of ideas and information that they connect. There will be further
information.

Showing Results

In choosing a conjunctive adverb to use in connecting sentences, the relationship between the
sentences that are to be connected is very important.

When what happens in one sentence is the result of what happened in the preceding sentence,
only a few conjunctive adverbs can be used. The most common ones for this situation are therefore , as
a result, consequently, and accordingly. All of these mean the same thing and are used in the same
way.

e.g. Situation: It rained very hard.

Result: The game was canceled.

It rained very hard; therefore, the game was canceled.

It rained very hard; as a result, the game was canceled.

It rained very hard; consequently, the game was canceled.

It rained very hard; accordingly, the game was canceled.

Situation: Meg was exhausted.

Result: She went to bed as soon as she got home.

Meg was exhausted; therefore, she went to bed as soon as she got home.

Meg was exhausted; as a result, she went to bed as soon as she got home.

Meg was exhausted; consequently, she went to bed as soon as she got home.

Special note

1. Conjunctive adverbs can also be used after periods ( . ):

It is rained very hard. Therefore, the game was canceled. ( As a result, Consequently
and Accordingly can take the place of therefore.)

2. Sentences showing results can also be joined by using because and so, but the
punctuation is different:

It rained very hard, so the game was canceled.

The game was canceled because it rained very hard.

Because it rained very hard, the game was canceled.

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Note that a comma, not a semicolon, is used with so. Note, also, that when because is in the middle of
sentence, there is no comma, but when it is at the beginning of a sentence, there is a comma.

Showing Contracts

When what happens in one sentence is a contrast to what happened in the preceding sentence,
only a few conjunctive adverbs can be used. The most common ones for this situation are however, in
contrast, and on the other hand, but they are not used in exactly the same way.

Direct Contrasts (Opposite Situations)

When two sentences show opposite situations, however, in contrast, and on the other
hand may all be used:

e.g., Jill is wonderful at math; however, her brother is terrible at it.

Jill is wonderful at math; in contrast, her brother is terrible at it.

Jill is wonderful at math; on the other hand, her brother is terrible at it.

Weak Contrasts

When two sentences show weak contrasts (for example, when one sentence is
affirmative and the other is negative, or when the sentences show ideas that contrast but are not
opposite), however can be used, but in contrast and on the other hand can’t:

e.g., Jill is wonderful at math; however, it’s not her favorite subject in school.

I’d like to buy a new computer; however, I can’t afford one right now.

Kent really wanted to stay in bed; however, he got up and went to work.

Kathy would like to buy a Porsche; however, she can only afford a Ford.

Special Note

Sentences such as those above may also be combined in other ways, but with different
punctuation (commas, not semicolons):

e.g. Jill is wonderful at math, but it’s not her favorite subject in school.

Jill is wonderful at math, yet it’s not her favorite subject in school.

While Jill is wonderful at math, it’s not her favorite subject in school. (Although, though
and even though can take the place of while)

Showing Added Information

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In choosing a conjunctive adverb to use in connecting sentences, the meaning of the sentences
that will be joined (or, more precisely, the relationship that exists between them) is very important. When
a second sentence adds information to the sentence which precedes it, only a few conjunctive adverbs
can be used

1. When the added information is of approximately equal “strength”, use in addition or also

e.g., Fred cleaned out the garage. In addition, (Also), he mowed the yard.

Fred cleaned out the garage; in addition, (also), he mowed the yard.

Susan is working full-time. In addition, (Also), she’s taking college classes.

Susan is working full-time; in addition, (also), she’s taking college classes.

2. When the added information is stronger than the information preceding it, use moreover
or furthermore.

e.g., Fred cleaned out the garage. Moreover (Furthermore), he made it look better than it has
for years.

Fred cleaned out the garage; moreover (furthermore), he made it look better than it has
for years.

Susan has a demanding job. Moreover (Furthermore), she’s taking two difficult college
classes.

Susan has a demanding job; moreover (furthermore), she’s taking two difficult college
classes.

3. Use besides if the information in both sentences involves reasons or explanations:

e.g., Fred was happy to clean out the garage. Besides, he had no other important things to
do.

Fred was happy to clean out the garage; besides, he had no other important things to
do.

Susan works hard because she’s ambitious. Besides, she’s never satisfied if she hasn’t
done her best.

Susan works hard because she’s ambitious; besides, she’s never satisfied if she hasn’t
done her best.

Showing Unexpected Results

When a sentence shows an unexpected result of another sentence, only a few conjunctive
adverbs can be used. The most common ones are probably nevertheless, nonetheless, and still.

e.g., Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home. Nevertheless (Nonetheless/Still), he
went to work.

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Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home; nevertheless (nonetheless/still), he
went to work.

Bob had a flat tire and traffic was very heavy. Nevertheless (Nonetheless/ Still) he
made it to work on time.

Bob had a flat tire and traffic was very heavy; nevertheless (nonetheless/ still), he
made it to work on time.

Lidia didn’t’ study and had poor notes from the class lectures. Nevertheless
(Nonetheless/ Still), she got a high mark on the test.

Lidia didn’t study and had poor notes from the class lectures; nevertheless
(nonetheless/ still), she got a high mark on the test.

Special Notes:

1. However can also be used to introduce an unexpected result:

e.g., Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home. However, he went to work.

Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home; however, he went to work.

Bob had a flat tire and traffic was very heavy. However, he made it work on time.

Bob had a flat tire and traffic was very heavy; however, he made it to work on
time.

Lidia didn’t study and had poor notes from the class lectures. However, she got
a high mark on the test.

Lidia didn’t study and had poor notes from the class lectures; however, she got a
high mark on the test.

2. Unexpected results can also be introduced by but or yet, but the punctuation is
different:

e.g., Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home, but / yet he went to work.

Bob had a flat tire and traffic was very heavy, but / yet he made it to work on
time.

Lidia didn’t study and had poor notes from the class lectures, but / yet she got a
high mark on the test.

Joining Sentences with Unless

The conjunctive adverb unless essentially means “if not”; it’s used when the second sentence
shows the result if the first sentence doesn’t happen:

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e.g., You need to hurry. Otherwise we’ll be late for work.

You need to hurry; otherwise we’ll be late for work.

Be ready in five minutes. Otherwise I’ll leave without you.

Be ready in five minutes; otherwise I’ll leave without you.

You have to have a Bachelor’s degree and two years’ work experience. Otherwise you
can’t be admitted to the MBA program.

You have to have a Bachelor’s degree and two years’ experience; otherwise you can’t
be admitted to the MBA program.

Bob isn’t having problems. Otherwise he would’ve called us.

Note that there is no comma after otherwise.

Special Note:

Sentence such as those above may also be joined with if not and unless, but the punctuation is
different.

1. If you don’t hurry, we’ll be late for work.

We’ll be late for work if you don’t hurry.

Unless you hurry, we’ll be late for work.

We’ll be late for work unless you hurry.

2. If you aren’t ready in five minutes, I’ll leave without you.

I’ll leave without you if you aren’t ready in five minutes.

Unless you’re ready in five minutes, I’ll leave without you.

I’ll leave without you unless you’re ready in five minutes.

3. If I don’t have a lot of work to do, I’ll go to the movies with you.

I’ll go to the movies with you if I don’t have a lot of work to do.

Unless I have a lot of work to do; I’ll go to the movies with you.

I’ll go to the movies with you unless I have a lot of work to do.

4. If you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree and two years’ work experience, you can’t be
admitted to the MBA program.

You can’t be admitted to the MBA program if you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree and
two years’ work experience.

Unless you have a Bachelor’s degree and two years’ work experience, you can’t be
admitted to the MBA program.

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You can’t be admitted to the MBA program unless you have a Bachelor’s degree and
two years’ work experience.

5. If Bob isn’t having problems, he won’t call us.

Bob won’t call us if he isn’t having problems.

Unless Bob is having problems, he won’t call us.

Bob won’t call us unless he’s having problems.

Notice that unless and if not use commas, not semicolons or periods (full stops). Notice also
that there is no comma when unless and if not are in the middle of a sentence.