What are “conjunctive adverbs”?

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The purpose of conjunctive adverbs is to join clauses, phrases, or ideas. When joining two independent clauses, conjunctive adverbs are performing the same function as coordinating conjunctions; however, the rules of punctuation are different (Simmons 2013).

Here is a list of common conjunctive adverbs:

ConjunctiveAdverbs.jpg

The Rules

The rules of punctuation when using conjunctive adverbs vary depending on the placement and use of the adverb.

There are three main variations:

  • If the adverb separates two independent clauses, the structure is as follows:
    Clause1; adverb, clause2. Notice how the clauses are separated with a semicolon instead of a comma.
  • If the adverb falls anywhere within a single independent clause, the structure is as follows:
    Adverb, clause. or Beginning of clause, adverb, end of clause. or Clause, adverb ("Using Conjunctive Adverbs" 2012).
  • If the adverb creates a weak interruption within a sentence, no commas are necessary (Simmons 2013).

Usage

Links

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  1. K12Reader
  2. TalkEnglish

References

  1. Simmons, Robin L. "The Conjunctive Adverb." The Conjunctive Adverb. N.p., 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/conjunctiveadverb.htm>.
  2. "Using Conjunctive Adverbs." Grammar and Punctuation:. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2 July 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ConjAdv.html>.

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