B3.4a
ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTRE, DAWSON COLLEGE
CONNECTORS
Connectors show relationships between ideas within or between sentences. The following parts of speech
can serve as connectors:
1a. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: Use parallel construction (same grammatical form in both parts).
Main Clause + [ , conj. ] Main Clause = Compound Sentence
e.g. “I never met him, but I intend to soon.”
and
but
or
nor
for
so
yet
1b. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS: Follow the same rules as above, but use in pairs.
e.g. “She excels not only in tennis, but also in swimming.”
both...and
either...or
not only...but also
as...as
neither...nor
whether...or whether
2. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: These introduce Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses. BEWARE! These
become sentence fragments unless joined to a Main Clause. Comma Rule: If the Subordinate Clause is at the start of
the sentence, do use a comma; a comma may not be necessary when the Main Clause comes first.
Subordinate (Dependent) Clause , + Main Clause = Complex Sentence

reversed
e.g.” Although rain was predicted, I forgot to take an umbrella.” or “I ran because it was raining.”
although
whenever
because
though
before
since
after
until
while
as if
wherever
so far as
unless
whereas
if
as
during
so that
3. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS: These introduce Main Clauses. BEWARE! When you use them as connectors, put a
semicolon (;) in front, or else you’ll end up with comma splices or fused-sentence errors.
Main Clause + [ ; Conjunctive Adverb,] Main Clause = 2 Main Clauses (sentences)
e.g. “We missed the bus; therefore, we had to walk to school.”
thus
then
hence
indeed
therefore
moreover
however
besides
otherwise
likewise
nevertheless
nonetheless
furthermore
meanwhile
consequently
accordingly
4. PREPOSITIONS: These tie Nouns, Pronouns, Articles or Verbals to sentences to form Phrases and combine
with verbs to form Verbal Idioms (e.g. “bring up”)
Preposition + Part(s) of Speech = Prepositional Phrase e.g. “on the roof”
up
to
of
on
at
in
by
for
off
from
upon
over
with
near
next
down
into
onto
while
above
under
below
among
about
after
out of
due to
before
beside
inside
against
between
through
across
during
beyond
5. RELATIVE PRONOUNS: These tie Modifiers to Nouns. Place right after the word, phrase or clause being
modified; otherwise, Misplaced Modifiers will result. Use who, whom, whose (people); that, which
e.g. “This is the shirt that I prefer.”
(“that I prefer” is called a Relative Clause.)
6. ADVERBS: These verb modifiers qualify and sequence ideas. e.g. “He rarely laughs.”
also
now
next
only
never
still
firstly
rarely
always
usually
possibly
perhaps
probably
actually
subsequently
sometimes
CONNECTORS: USING TRANSITIONALS IN READING & WRITING PATTERNS
as if
as...as
COMPARISON:
as
like
but
yet
still
CONTRAST:
although
however
CAUSE:
if
EFFECT:
thus
likewise
similarly
though
instead
whereas
since
for
so
therefore
after all
CONCESSION:
PLACE ORDER:
in
into
over
near
above
below
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
major minor
least
greatest
and
again
furthermore
EXAMPLE:
specifically
DEFINITION:
also
GENERALIZATION:
in general
EMPHASIS:
hence
one may deduce that
even though
actually
granted
in short
naturally
on the whole
while never sooner again
always during
after later
before
shortly
seldom lately
when
until whenever
previously
meanwhile
sometimes
where
beside
lastly
under
within
lesser
besides
also
more
indeed
wherever
alongside
least important
moreover
beneath
across
utmost
besides
finally
not only...but also
furthermore
for instance
consider the following
specifically
to define
always
all
by
on
in other words
in particular
furthermore
in that
behind
next to
most important
next
in addition to
moreover
certainly
as a result
maybe
to summarize
in summary
for example (e.g.)
that is (i.e.)
usually
most
accordingly
of course
to explain
namely
such as
due to
perhaps
in brief
to sum up
whether…or whether
despite the fact that
on the other hand
nevertheless
regardless
on the contrary
suggesting that
at the same time
first, second.. next
since then
last
frequently
usually
TIME ORDER:
in the past
subsequently
DETAIL:
consequently
probably
CONCLUSION: (SUMMARY)
to conclude*
in conclusion*
in the same way
in like manner
owing to
proving that
possibly
QUALIFICATION:
either...or
in contrast
in spite of
because
showing that
PROOF:
ADDITION:
and then...
otherwise
besides
conversely
compared to
both have
is
rarely
least
in fact
* These are valuable reading “cues,” but avoid them in writing, as they are clichés.
in other words
to elaborate
is defined as
never
none
of course