CONNECTING WORDS

Become familiar with the three groups of connecting words that may come between clauses so that you can avoid run-together sentences and fragments.

GROUP 1:              

These words are found between independent clauses and require only a comma in front of them.

                                and                                          nor

                                but                                           yet

                                for                                            so

                                or

GROUP II:  

These words are found between independent clauses and require a semi-colon in front of them, or a period and a capital letter.

                                also                                         likewise                   therefore

                                consequently                        moreover                 then

                                furthermore                            nevertheless           thus

                                however                                 otherwise

GROUP III:        

These words usually signal a dependent clause.  Use a comma after a dependent clause if it comes at the beginning of a sentence.

                                after                                        in order that                          where

                                although                                since                                       wherever

                                though                                   that                                         whether

                                as                                            so that                                    which

                                as if                                         unless                                    whichever

                                because                                  until                                        while

                                before                                      what                                       who

                                how                                         whatever                               whom

                                if                                               when                                     whose

                                even if                                     whenever