If a writer gets them wrong, the sentence is going to be frustrating. These are often called conjunctive adverbs, and they need care. But the ones I want to focus on here are those that demonstrate relationships across sentences. The most obvious adverbs simply modify the verb as in She slept soundly. Still, I’ve used three of them in this paragraph, and they served me well. Besides, they aren’t quite as essential as other parts of speech, so they can be easy to avoid. They drift lazily across and between sentences modifying meaning at the word, phrase, and sentence level, making mischief for teachers and students who would prefer the tidiness of good clean rules. Note: A conjunctive adverb bridging two independent clauses is followed by a comma but not preceded by one.Adverbs are messy. You failed to meet the deadline, therefore, the deal is off.The instructor's English is poor, consequently, they all failed the exam.It is a common mistake to precede a conjunctive adverb between two independent clauses with a comma (especially with the word however.) This is called a run-on error (or a comma fault). A conjunctive adverb either starts a new sentence or, if you need a smooth transition between your ideas, is preceded by a semicolon. When a conjunctive adverb acts as a bridge between two independent clauses, you cannot precede it with a comma. Therefore, the deal is off.ĭo Not Use a Comma before a Conjunctive Adverb You failed to meet the deadline therefore, the deal is off.However, I am not responsible for his actions. The instructor's English is poor consequently, they all failed the exam.Here are some examples of conjunctive adverbs in sentences: The following are also transitional phrases:Įxamples of Conjunctive Adverbs in Sentences provide the transition) from one idea to the next idea. It also provides a smooth transition from one idea to the next.Ĭonjunctive adverbs are also known as transitional phrases. The job of a conjunctive adverb is to make it clear how the ideas either side of the conjunctive adverb are related. What Are Conjunctive Adverbs? (with Examples)Ī conjunctive adverb acts as a link between two sentences or two independent clauses.

What is a conjunctive adverb