Addition
The word and is said to be the most common word in English to add information both for natives and non-natives alike. We see it in schools ´Read and Write´, we see it in car magazines ´Buy and Sell´, we see it in bars ´Gin and Tonic´, we see it in condiments ´Salt and Pepper.´ So how can we add information to avoid having to monopolise this little three little word and?
Here are a few suggestions to help add variety to how we connect pieces of information:
- If we want to add emphasis to what we are talking about we can use:
- Furthermore
- What´s more
Prices have risen. Furthermore, more people are unemployed, so they have less disposable income.
Chocolate is good for energy. What´s more it can make you happy.
- If we want to add a positive or negative comment,,we can use:
- In addition
The set menu is good value. In addition, you get a free glass of wine.
I don´t like her new hairstyle. In addition, the colour doesn´t suit her skin tone.
- If we want to include extra information, we can use:
- Moreover
- Also
- As well
- Too
She always gets good marks in her exams. Moreover, she can speak six languages.
The restaurant is good value. It also has the best oysters in town.
They serve the best coffee. You can get iced coffee as well if you want.
You say that she is a great athlete. She is a good swimmer too.
Contrast
We fall into the same trap by using the same word but repeatedly to show contrast i.e. I don´t like her as a person but she is a good boss and just like and we need some help to avoid repeating ourselves. Let´s look at the different ways we can avoid this:
- When we want to contrast two pieces of information in a single sentence, and say that the second fact is surprising after the first we can use these connectors:
- Although, though, even though
- In spite of the fact that, despite the fact that
She still passed the exam even though, although, even though she didn´t study
They lost the match in spite of the fact that they had trained really hard.
He ate his dinner despite the fact that he wasn´t hungry.
- When we want to connect a fact about a person, place, or thing, with something different about another person, place, or thing, we can use:
- Whereas
- Whilst
It´s summer in July in France whereas it´s winter in New Zealand.
John likes to save money whilst his brother James likes to spend it
- When we want to contrast two ideas in two sentences, we can use:
- However
- On the other hand
I don´t agree with his ideas. However, he is a good politician.
We didn´t speak their language. On the other hand, they could understand us by using sign language.
- We can also use however and on the other hand to make a contrast between different people, places, or things.
- However
- On the other hand
Mark thought it was a great book. John however, on the other hand thought it was boring.
Snakes are known to be venomous. However, on the other hand the emerald tree boa is not.