On the other hand, to start off on the right foot…
Conjunctive adverbial idioms…
what?
Conjunctive adverbs…
eh?
Transitions!
Ah, yes! Like therefore and however!
The SAT and ACT makers love to test the use of these grammatical tools in the English and Writing sections. You may recognize them better with a few examples:
Obviously, the enumeration above is not exhaustive. Neither is the list appended to the bottom of this blog post. Keep in mind, however, that when the ACT and SAT test these words and phrases, it’s not because the word or phrase is difficult in and of itself.
Rather, they test these “transition” words and phrases because most students are not taking the due time, attention, and care to carefully analyze the context of the conjunctive adverb at hand.
We’re not going to say that you should learn each and every conjunctive adverb; however, we will loosely imply that you should learn each and every conjunctive adverb.
Luckily, these words are more natural than it may at first seem. They simply arise out of a truly present functional connection between two thoughts.
Check out the examples below. The red box should feel a little funny in the tummy.
“I’m hungry; therefore, I won’t eat for a while.”
“I’m hungry; however, I’ll eat.”
“I’m hungry; however, I won’t eat for a while.”
“I’m hungry; therefore, I’ll eat.”
More so than a speckling of commas, then, a swift and consistent use of conjunctive adverbs reveals your command of the English language. Read and re-read your essays to look for opportunities to implement or refine your use of these crucial tools—not just for the ACT English and SAT Writing sections, but for your own writing.
All students who have gotten college essay help at Keep Your Book Open walk away understanding the importance of conjunctive adverbs. Indeed, these words can make or break entire paragraphs, and, thus, entire essays.
We have listed a few more below for your personal practice and extended rumination. KYBO.club members can find hundreds of practice questions in the Connecting Ideas workbook.
- Accordingly
- Additionally
- Again
- Almost
- Anyway
- As a result
- Besides
- Certainly
- Comparatively
- Consequently
- Contrarily
- Conversely
- Elsewhere
- Equally
- Eventually
- Finally
- Further
- Furthermore
- Hence
- Henceforth
- However
- In addition
- In comparison
- In contrast
- In fact
- Incidentally
- Indeed
- Instead
- Just as
- Likewise
- Meanwhile
- Moreover
- Namely
- Nevertheless
- Next
- Nonetheless
- Notably
- Now
- On the other hand
- Otherwise
- Rather
- Similarly
- Still
- Subsequently
- That is
- Then
- Thereafter
- Therefore
- Thus
- Undoubtedly
- Uniquely
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