How do I use advanced conjunctive adverbs in sentences? #EnglishHelp

When discussing more formal, technical, or academic topics, do you ever find yourself having difficulty explaining the connection between ideas?

Do you find yourself using simple words like "and" or "but" over and over again?

Using more advanced linking words such as conjunctive adverbs can help you join ideas together in a more creative way.

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Improve your ability to link words by using three types of conjunctive adverbs that:

1. Introduce less important information

2. Explain something

3. Contrast an idea

Conjunctive adverbs join ideas together, just like other linking words.

They can have very similar meanings to other linking words. For example, "additionally" (a conjunctive adverb) and "and" (another type of linking word) mean almost the same thing.

However, conjunctive adverbs (CAs or conj. adverbs) must be used in one of the following three structures.

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Structure

1. Idea 1. CA, Idea 2.

2. Idea 1; CA, Idea 2

3. Idea 1. Idea, CA,2.

Conj. Adverbs with Examples:

1. AI is new. However, it has become common.

2. AI is new; however, it has become common.

3. AI is new. It has, however, become common.

You can use many different conjunctive adverbs to introduce information that is less important than the information that comes before it.

Let's focus on these three:

1. After all

2. Besides

3. Incidentally

The meaning of these conjunctive adverbs is similar to "and" or "also," but they introduce information that is only there to support the previous point. Compare the usage of the linking words below:

"And/Also" with examples:

1. Many people use AI, and it is very convenient.

2. AI is easy to use. Also, you don't even have to pay for it.

3. AI is becoming more common, and many phones now come loaded with AI software.

Conj. adverbs with examples:

1. Many people use AI. After all, it is very convenient.

2. AI is easy to use; besides, you don't even have to pay for it.

3. AI is becoming more common. Many phones, incidentally, now come loaded with AI software.

In the first column, both ideas are equally important, in the second column, the second idea is there just to support the first.

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Think of these conjunctive adverbs as like support pillars. They build on the main idea, much like how a pillar holds up a floor in a building.

You can use many different conjunctive adverbs to introduce an explanation.

Let's focus on these three:

1. Thus

2. Hence

3. Accordingly

These all have about the same meaning as "therefore" or "so," but they are more formal and can be useful for more intellectual or technical topics.

Compare the sentences below:

Neutral adverbs with examples:

1. I need to work faster, so I started using AI.

2. Paid AIs can be expensive, so I use the free ones.

3. Plagiarism can be a problem with AI. Therefore, some schools don't allow it to be used for assignments.

Formal adverbs with examples:

1. Many countries have unequal access to AI. Hence, the UN resolution aims to bridge this divide.

2. AI can help reduce poverty; thus, it is an important part of the UN's tool set.

3. Many world governments are aware of the good AI can do. The UN, accordingly, has adopted a resolution to use AI for good.

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The linking words from either column could technically be used in the other, but the formal ones would sound weird in less formal contexts.

You can use many different conjunctive adverbs to introduce information that contrasts the information that comes before it.

We will focus on the three words below. The meaning of these conjunctive adverbs is similar to "but" or "on the other hand", but note that the relationship between the contrasted ideas is more specific than with those words.

1. Nevertheless: The first idea seems like it would prevent the second idea, but it doesn't.

2. Conversely: The first idea and the second idea have opposite meanings.

3. Meanwhile: The second idea is unexpected, given the context of the first idea.

"But" with examples:

1. AI can make mistakes, but many people still prefer it to Google.

2. AI can analyze thousands of documents instantly, but a human could take hours to search for them.

3. Traditional search engines have not changed much in years, but AI is constantly updated.

Conj. adverbs with examples:

1. AI can make mistakes. Nevertheless, many people still prefer it to Google.

2. AI can analyze thousands of documents instantly. Conversely, a human could take hours to search for them.

3. Traditional search engines have not changed much in years. AI, meanwhile, is constantly updated.

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Note how the pairs of sentences have similar meanings of contrast, but the sentences in the right column have the additional meaning described above. They're as different as black and white.

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Conjunctive adverbs can be the missing piece to clearly connect your ideas. Use them to have a conversation with an English-speaking friend about AI or another technical topic: