There have been so many grammar-related news items recently, it’s been a while since we looked at grammar. So today let’s tackle conjunctions – the everyday words we use to link parts of a sentence together. Here’s an example of the simplest kind of conjunction:
I can help you with writing printed communications and also website copy.
Here, it’s the word ‘and’ that is the conjunction – it is a link and nothing more. It adds nothing new to the sentence. In fact, you could turn the sentence around without changing its meaning:
I can help you with website copy and also with writing printed communications.
But there are other types of conjunctions that, as well as gluing the sentence together, also add extra meaning:
I can often turn work around quickly but prefer to have as much notice as possible.
In this case, ‘but’ is the conjunction.
Conjunctions are usually grouped according to the meaning they add. For instance:
| Expressing | Examples | Typical use |
| Time | before, after, since, until | She will call back after her meeting |
| Place | where, wherever | Let’s find out where the nearest tube is |
| Cause | because, as, since | My shoulder aches because I carried a heavy bag |
| Condition | although, if, unless, or | I will feel more alert if I have a cup of coffee |
| Comparison | like, as, than, as though | It looks as though you need an extra pair of hands |
| Contrast | while, although, whereas | I can write about most things although not highly technical subjects |
| Purpose | so that, in order to | I prefer a quiet office so that I can concentrate |
| Result | so, so that | I write blog posts so people understand what I do |
| Preference | sooner than, rather than | I’d miss lunch rather than miss a deadline |
| Exception | except, except that | Many clients could write copy themselves except that they don’t have the time |
If you’d like help writing easy-to-read but grammatically correct copy, just get in touch!
