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Conjunctive Adverbs
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What Are Conjunctive Adverbs? (with Examples)
A conjunctive adverb is a word (or short phrase) that provides a link to the previous sentence or previous independent clause. Here is a list of common conjunctive adverbs:- also
- consequently
- furthermore
- however
- incidentally
- indeed
- likewise
- meanwhile
- nevertheless
- nonetheless
- therefore
- as a result
- as a consequence
- for example
- on the contrary

Examples of Conjunctive Adverbs in Sentences
Here are some examples of conjunctive adverbs in sentences:- The instructor's English is poor; consequently, they all failed the exam.
- The instructor's English is poor. Consequently, they all failed the exam.
- Mr. Evans is my father; however, I am not responsible for what he says.
- You failed to meet the deadline. Therefore, the deal is off.
Real-Life Examples of Conjunctive Adverbs
Here are some real-life sentences that feature conjunctive adverbs:- God could not be everywhere. Therefore, he made mothers. (Author Rudyard Kipling)
- Orthodox medicine has not found an answer to your complaint; however, luckily for you, I happen to be a quack. (Cartoonist Mischa Richter)
- When I took part in European summits, it was unpleasant for me to hear Romanian, Polish, Portuguese and Italian friends speak English, although I admit first contacts can be made in this language. Nevertheless, I will defend everywhere the use of the French language. (Good luck with that, President Francois Hollande.)
- Not all chemicals are bad. For example, without hydrogen and oxygen, there'd be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. (Author Dave Barry)
- To a pagan, there is no purpose to suffering; as a result, he lives a life of loneliness and frustration. (Mother Mary Angelica)
- I think; therefore, I am. (French philosopher René Descartes)
Click on the Two Conjunctive Adverbs
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Video Lesson
Here is a short video summarizing this page on conjunctive adverbs:Why Conjunctive Adverbs Are Important
Using a conjunctive adverb is a great way to keep your readers on track because it prepares them for the impending information by contextualizing it with the story so far. (NB: As conjunctive adverbs provide the logic for the transition between your ideas, they are also known as transitional phrases.) Here's the biggest mistake with conjunctive adverbs: You can't use a comma before one. No, really, you can't. No, really.- The instructor's English is poor, consequently, they all failed the exam.
- You failed to meet the deadline, therefore, the deal is off.
- I normally like toffees, however, I dislike these ones.
Preceding "however" (or any conjunctive adverb) with a comma and writing a new sentence is known as a run-on error or a comma-fault error. Remember that a conjunctive adverb is typically written with a capital letter and is preceded by the end punctuation (usually a period) of the last sentence. It is possible to use a lowercase letter for your conjunctive adverb and precede it with a semicolon, but don't do that too often. It quickly gets annoying. Read more about using semicolons.
Key Points
- Use a conjunctive adverb at the start of a sentence to provide the transition from one idea to the next.
- If you want a really smooth transition, precede your conjunctive adverb with a semicolon.
- Don't precede your conjunctive adverb with a comma. (And, yes, that includes with "however.")
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