Brief Overview of Punctuation

When speaking, we can pause or change the tone of our voices to indicate
emphasis. When writing, we use punctuation to indicate these places of
emphases. This handout should help to clarify when and how to use various
marks of punctuation.
Independent clause:
A clause that has a subject and a verb and can stand alone; a complete
sentence
Dependent clause:
A clause that has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; an
incomplete sentence.

COMMA
Rule 1:
Use a comma to join two independent clauses and a coordinating
conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, so).
Examples:
1. Road construction can be inconvenient, but it is necessary.
2. The new house has a large fenced backyard, so I am sure our dog will
enjoy it.
Rule 2:
Use a comma after an introductory phrase, prepositional phrase, or
dependent clause.
Examples:
1. To get a good grade, you must complete all your assignments.
2. Because Dad caught the chicken pox, we cancelled our vacation.
3. After the wedding, the guests attended the reception.

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Rule 3:
Use a comma to separate elements in a series. Although there is no
set rule that requires a comma before the last item in a series, it seems
to be a general academic convention to include it.
The examples below demonstrate this trend.
Examples:
1. On her vacation, Lisa visited Greece, Spain, and Italy.
2. In their speeches, many of the candidates promised to help protect
the environment, bring about world peace, and end world hunger.

Rule 4:
Use a comma to separate nonessential elements from a sentence.
More specifically, when a sentence includes information that is not
crucial to the message or intent of the sentence, enclose it in or
separate it by commas.
Examples:
1. John's truck, a red Chevrolet, needs new tires.
2. When he realized he had overslept, Matt rushed to his car and
hurried to work.

Rule 5:
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives (adjectives that are
equal and reversible).
Coordinate adjectives are words that apply to and describe some
attribute of the same noun or subject.

bright, sunny day and dark, stormy night are coordinate adjectives.
Examples:
1. The irritable, fidgety crowd waited impatiently for the rally speeches
to begin.
2. The sturdy, compact suitcase made a perfect gift.

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Rule 6:
Use a comma after a transitional element (Words)
however therefore
nonetheless also
otherwise finally
instead Of course
thus Above all
For example In other words
As a result On the other hand
In conclusion In addition

Example:
1. For example, the Red Sox, Yankees, and Indians are popular baseball
teams.
2. However, it must work before the lunch, so that we can complete the
preparations.
Rule 7:
Use a comma with quoted words.
"Yes," she promised. Todd replied, saying, "I will be back this afternoon."
Rule 8:
Use a comma in a date.
Examples:
1. October 25, 1999
2. Monday, October 25, 1999
3. 25 October, 1999
Rule 9:
Use a comma in a number.
15,000,000
1614, High Street

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Rule 10:
Use a comma in a personal title.
Examples:
1. Pam Smith, MD
2. Mike Rose, Chief Financial Officer for Operations, reported the
quarter's earnings.

Rule 11:

Use a comma to separate a city name from the state.

Examples:
1. Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
2. Hyderabad, Telangana

SOME COMMON ERRORS TO AVOID

Comma Splices
A comma splice is the use of a comma between two independent
clauses.
You can usually fix the error by changing the comma to a period and
therefore making the two clauses into two separate sentences, by
changing the comma to a semicolon, or by making one clause
dependent by inserting a dependent marker word in front of it.
Example:
Incorrect: I like this class, it is very interesting.
Correct: I like this class. It is very interesting.
(or) I like this class; it is very interesting.
(or) I like this class, and it is very interesting.
(or) I like this class because it is very interesting.
(or) Because it is very interesting, I like this class.

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Fused Sentences
Fused sentences happen when there are two independent clauses not
separated by any form of punctuation.

This error is also known as a run-on sentence. The error can sometimes
be corrected by adding a period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two
sentences.
Example:
Incorrect: My professor is intelligent I've learned a lot from her.
Correct: My professor is intelligent. I've learned a lot from her.
(or) My professor is intelligent; I've learned a lot from her.
(or) My professor is intelligent, and I've learned a lot from her.
(or) My professor is intelligent; moreover, I've learned a lot from her.

Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments happen by treating a dependent clause or other
incomplete thought as a complete sentence.
You can usually fix this error by combining it with another sentence to
make a complete thought or by removing the dependent marker.
Example
Incorrect: Because I forgot the exam was today.
Correct: Because I forgot the exam was today, I didn't study.
(or) I forgot the exam was today.

SEMICOLON
Rule 1:
Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses when the second
clause restates the first or when the two clauses are of equal
emphasis.

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Example:
1. Road construction in Dallas has hindered travel around town;
streets have become covered with bulldozers, trucks, and cones.
Rule 2:
Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses when the second
clause begins with a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore,
moreover, furthermore, thus, meanwhile, nonetheless, otherwise)
or a transition (in fact, for example, that is, for instance, in addition, in
other words, on the other hand, even so).
Example:
1. Terrorism in the United States has become a recent concern; in
fact, the concern for America's safety has led to an awareness of
global terrorism.
Rule 3:
Use a semicolon to join elements of a series when individual items of
the series already include commas.
Example:
Recent sites of the Olympic Games include Athens, Greece; Salt Lake
City, Utah; Sydney, Australia; Nagano, Japan.
COLON
Rule: 1
Use a colon to join two independent clauses when you wish to
emphasize the second clause.
Example:
Road construction in Dallas has hindered travel around town: parts of
Main, Fifth, and West Street are closed during the construction.

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Rule: 2
Use a colon after an independent clause when it is followed by a list, a
quotation, an appositive, or other ideas directly related to the
independent clause.
Examples:
1. Julie went to the store for some groceries: milk, bread, coffee, and
cheese.
2. I know the perfect job for her: a politician.
Rule 3:
Use a colon at the end of a business letter greeting.
Example:
To Whom It May Concern:

Rule 4:
Use a colon to separate the hour and minute(s) in a time notation.
12:00 p.m.

PARENTHESIS
Parentheses are used to emphasize content. They place more
emphasis on the enclosed content than commas. Use parentheses to
set off nonessential material, such as dates, clarifying information, or
sources, from a sentence.
Example:
Muhammed Ali (1942-2016), arguably the greatest athlete of all time,
claimed he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

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 DASH
Dashes are used to set off or emphasize the content enclosed within
dashes or the content that follows a dash.
Dashes place more emphasis on this content than parentheses.
Examples:
1. Perhaps one reason why the term has been so problematic—so
resistant to definition, and yet so transitory in those definitions—is
because of its multitude of applications.
2. In terms of public legitimacy—that is, in terms of garnering support
from state legislators, parents, donors, and university administrators
—English departments are primarily places where advanced literacy
is taught.
3. The U.S.S. Constitution became known as "Old Ironsides" during the
War of 1812—during which the cannonballs fired from the British
H.M.S. Guerriere merely bounced off the sides of the Constitution.
4. To some of you, my proposals may seem radical—even
revolutionary.
Rule 2:
Use a dash to set off an appositive phrase that already includes
commas.
An appositive is a word that adds explanatory or clarifying
information to the noun that precedes it.

Appositives are nouns or noun phrases that follow or come before a

noun, and give more information about it

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Example:
The cousins—Tina, Todd, and Sam—arrived at the party together.

QUOTATION MARKS
Using Quotation Marks
The primary function of quotation marks is to set off and represent
exact language (either spoken or written) that has come from
somebody else.
The quotation mark is also used to designate speech acts in fiction and
sometimes poetry. Since you will most often use them when working
with outside sources, successful use of quotation marks is a practical
defence against accidental plagiarism and an excellent practice in
academic honesty.
The following covers the basic use of quotation marks. For details and
exceptions consult the separate sections of this guide.
Direct Quotations
Direct quotations involve incorporating another person's exact
words into your own writing.
Rule 1:
Quotation marks always come in pairs. Do not open a quotation and
fail to close it at the end of the quoted material.
Rule 2:
Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted material
is a complete sentence.
Example:
Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, "The
alien spaceship appeared right before my own two eyes."

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Rule 3:
Do not use a capital letter when the quoted material is a fragment
or only a piece of the original material's complete sentence.
Example:
Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd happenings on the farm, he stated
that the spaceship "certainly takes the cake" when it comes to
unexplainable activity.
Rule 4:
If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize
the second part of the quotation.
Example:
"I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I
had."
Rule 5:
When quoting text with a spelling or grammar error, you should
transcribe the error exactly in your own text. However, also insert the
term sic in italics directly after the mistake, and enclose it in brackets.
Sic is from the Latin, and translates to "thus," "so," or "just as that."
The word tells the reader that your quote is an exact reproduction of
what you found, and the error is not your own.
Example:
Mr. Johnson says of the experience, "It's made me reconsider the
existence of extraterestials [sic]."
Indirect Quotations
Indirect quotations are not exact wordings but rather rephrasing’s or
summaries of another person's words. In this case, it is not necessary
to use quotation marks. However, indirect quotations still require
proper citations, and you will be committing plagiarism if you fail to
do so.

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Example:
Mr. Johnson, a local farmer, reported last night that he saw an alien
spaceship on his own property.
Rule 6:
Use direct quotations when the source material uses language that is
particularly striking or notable. Do not rob such language of its power
by altering it.
Example:
Martin Luther King Jr. believed that the end of slavery was important
and of great hope to millions of slaves done horribly wrong.
The above should never stand in for:
Martin Luther King Jr. said of the Emancipation Proclamation, "This
momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of
Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering
injustice."
Rule 7:
Use an indirect quotation (or paraphrase) when you merely need to
summarize key incidents or details of the text.
Rule 8:
Use direct quotations when the author you are quoting has coined a
term unique to her or his research and relevant within your own
paper.
Rule 9:
Use quotation marks to enclose direct quotations.
Note that commas and periods are placed inside the closing
quotation mark, and colons and semicolons are placed outside.
The placement of question and exclamation marks depends on the
situation.

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Example:
He asked, "When will you be arriving?" I answered, "Sometime after 6:30."

Rule 10:
Use quotation marks to indicate the novel, ironic, or reserved use of a
word.
Example:
History is stained with blood spilled in the name of "justice."

Rule 11:
Use quotation marks around the titles of short poems, song titles,
short stories, magazine or newspaper articles, essays, speeches,
chapter titles, short films, and episodes of television or radio shows.
Examples:
1. "Self-Reliance," by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
2. "Just Like a Woman," by Bob Dylan.
3. "The Smelly Car," an episode of Seinfeld.

Sentence Punctuation Patterns

To punctuate a sentence, you can use and combine some of these
patterns.
PATTERN ONE: SIMPLE SENTENCE
This pattern is an example of a simple sentence:
Independent clause [. ]
Example: Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from
asthma.

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PATTERN TWO: COMPOUND SENTENCE
This pattern is an example of a compound sentence with a
coordinating conjunction:
Independent clause [ , ] coordinating conjunction independent clause [ . ]

There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so,
yet.
Example:
Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma, but
they don't know the reasons for it.
PATTERN THREE: COMPOUND SENTENCE
This pattern is an example of a compound sentence with a
semicolon.
Independent clause [ ; ] independent clause [ . ]
Example:
Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma; they
(transition word) are unsure of its cause.
PATTERN FOUR: COMPOUND SENTENCE
This pattern is an example of a compound sentence with an
independent marker.
Independent clause [ ; ] independent marker [ , ] independent clause [ . ]

Examples of independent markers are the following: therefore,

moreover, thus, consequently, however, also.
Example:
Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma;
therefore, they have called for more research into its causes.

PATTERN FIVE: COMPLEX SENTENCE

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This pattern is an example of a complex sentence with a dependent
marker.
Dependent marker dependent clause [ , ] Independent clause[ . ]
Examples of dependent markers are as follows: because, before,
since, while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.
Example:
Because doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from
asthma, they have called for more research into its causes.
PATTERN SIX: COMPLEX SENTENCE
This pattern is an example of a complex sentence with a dependent
marker.
Independent clause dependent marker dependent clause [ . ]
Examples of dependent markers are as follows: because, before, since,
while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.
Example:
Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma
because it is a common, treatable illness.
PATTERN SEVEN
This pattern includes an independent clause with an embedded
non-essential clause or phrase
First part of an independent clause [ , ] non-essential clause or
phrase, rest of the independent clause [ . ]
A non-essential clause or phrase is one that can be removed without
changing the meaning of the sentence or making it ungrammatical. In
other words, the non-essential clause or phrase gives additional
information, but the sentence can stand alone without it.

Example:

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Many doctors, including both paediatricians and family practice
physicians, are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma.
PATTERN EIGHT
This pattern includes an independent clause with an embedded
essential clause or phrase
First part of an independent clause essential clause or phrase
rest of the independent clause [ . ]
An essential clause or phrase is one that cannot be removed without
changing the overall meaning of the sentence.
Example:
Many doctors who are concerned about the rising death rate from
asthma have called for more research into its causes.

Parallel Structure
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show
that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to
join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions
such as "and" or "or."
WORDS AND PHRASES
With the -ing form (gerund) of words:
Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
With infinitive phrases:
Parallel:
Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
OR Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

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(Note: You can use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or only
before the first one.)

DO NOT MIX FORMS.

Example 1
Not Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.
Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.
Example 2
Not Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly,
accurately, and in a detailed manner.
Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly,
accurately, and thoroughly.
Example 3
Not Parallel:
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until
the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems
in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.
Parallel:
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until
the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a
careless manner, and lacked motivation.

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CLAUSES
A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with
clauses. Changing to another pattern or changing the voice of the
verb (from active to passive or vice versa) will break the
parallelism.
Example 1
Not Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they
should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before
the game.
Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they
should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up
exercises before the game.
— or —
Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat
too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Example 2
Not Parallel:
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the
meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation, and
that questions would be asked by prospective buyers. (passive)
Parallel:
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the
meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation, and
that prospective buyers would ask him questions.

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LISTS AFTER A COLON
Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the same form.
Example 1
Not Parallel:
The dictionary can be used to find these: word meanings,
pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.
Parallel:
The dictionary can be used to find these: word meanings,
pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.
PROOFREADING STRATEGIES TO TRY:
Skim your paper, pausing at the words "and" and "or." Check on each
side of these words to see whether the items joined are parallel. If not,
make them parallel.
If you have several items in a list, put them in a column to see if they
are parallel.
Listen to the sound of the items in a list or the items being compared.
Do you hear the same kinds of sounds? For example, is there a series
of "-ing" words beginning each item? Or do you hear a rhythm being
repeated? If something is breaking that rhythm or repetition of sound,
check to see if it needs to be made parallel.

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 Strategies for Variation
Adding sentence variety to prose can give it life and rhythm. Too many
sentences with the same structure and length can grow monotonous
for readers. Varying sentence style and structure can also reduce
repetition and add emphasis. Long sentences work well for
incorporating a lot of information, and short sentences can often
maximize crucial points. These general tips may help add variety to
similar sentences.

1. VARY THE RHYTHM BY ALTERNATING SHORT AND LONG

SENTENCES.
Several sentences of the same length can make for bland writing. To
enliven paragraphs, write sentences of different lengths. This will also
allow for effective emphasis.
Example:
The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find
some Native American art. In Anchorage stores they found some
excellent examples of soapstone carvings. But they couldn't find a
dealer selling any of the woven wall hangings they wanted. They were
very disappointed when they left Anchorage empty-handed.
Revision:
The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find
some native American art, such as soapstone carvings and wall
hangings. Anchorage stores had many soapstone items available. Still,
they were disappointed to learn that wall hangings, which they had
especially wanted, were difficult to find. Sadly, they left empty-
handed.

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Example:
Many really good blues guitarists have all had the last name King.
They have been named Freddie King and Albert King and B.B. King.
The name King must make a bluesman a really good bluesman. The
bluesmen named King have all been very talented and good guitar
players. The claim that a name can make a guitarist good may not be
that far-fetched.
Revision:
What makes a good bluesman? Maybe, just maybe, it's all in a stately
name. B.B. King. Freddie King. Albert King. It's no coincidence that
they're the royalty of their genre. When their fingers dance like court
jesters, their guitars gleam like scepters, and their voices bellow like
regal trumpets, they seem almost like nobility. Hearing their music is
like walking into the throne room. They really are kings.

2. VARY SENTENCE OPENINGS.

If too many sentences start with the same word, especially The, It,
This, or I, prose can grow tedious for readers, so changing opening
words and phrases can be refreshing. Below are alternative openings
for a fairly standard sentence. Notice that different beginnings can
alter not only the structure but also the emphasis of the sentence.
They may also require rephrasing in sentences before or after this
one, meaning that one change could lead to an abundance of sentence
variety.
Example:
The biggest coincidence that day happened when David and I ended
up sitting next to each other at the Super Bowl.

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Possible Revisions:
Coincidentally, David and I ended up sitting right next to each other at
the Super Bowl.
In an amazing coincidence, David and I ended up sitting next to each
other at the Super Bowl.
Sitting next to David at the Super Bowl was a tremendous coincidence.
But the biggest coincidence that day happened when David and I
ended up sitting next to each other at the Super Bowl.
When I sat down at the Super Bowl, I realized that, by sheer
coincidence, I was directly next to David.
By sheer coincidence, I ended up sitting directly next to David at the
Super Bowl.
With over 50,000 fans at the Super Bowl, it took an incredible
coincidence for me to end up sitting right next to David.
What are the odds that I would have ended up sitting right next to
David at the Super Bowl?
David and I, without any prior planning, ended up sitting right next to
each other at the Super Bowl.
Without any prior planning, David and I ended up sitting right next to
each other at the Super Bowl.
At the crowded Super Bowl, packed with 50,000 screaming fans, David
and I ended up sitting right next to each other by sheer coincidence.
Though I hadn't made any advance arrangements with David, we
ended up sitting right next to each other at the Super Bowl.
Many amazing coincidences occurred that day, but nothing topped
sitting right next to David at the Super Bowl.
Unbelievable, I know, but David and I ended up sitting right next to
each other at the Super Bowl.
Guided by some bizarre coincidence, David and I ended up sitting right
next to each other at the Super Bowl.

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 For Short, Choppy Sentences
If your writing contains lots of short sentences that give it a choppy
rhythm, consider these tips.

1. COMBINE SENTENCES WITH CONJUNCTIONS:

Join complete sentences, clauses, and phrases with conjunctions:
and, but, or, nor, yet, for, so
Example:
Doonesbury cartoons satirize contemporary politics. Readers don't
always find this funny. They demand that newspapers not carry the
strip.
Revision:
Doonesbury cartoons laugh at contemporary politicians, but readers
don't always find this funny and demand that newspapers not carry
the strip.

2. LINK SENTENCES THROUGH SUBORDINATION:

Link two related sentences to each other so that one carries the main
idea and the other is no longer a complete sentence (subordination).
Use connectors such as the ones listed below to show the relationship.
after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, if
only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where,
whereas, wherever, whether, which, while
Example:
The campus parking problem is getting worse. The university is not
building any new garages.
Revision:
The campus parking problem is getting worse because the university
is not building any new garages.

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Example:
The US has been highly dependent on foreign oil for many years.
Alternate sources of energy are only now being sought.
Revision:
Although the US has been highly dependent on foreign oil for many
years, alternate sources are only now being sought.

For Repeated Subjects or Topics

Handling the same topic for several sentences can lead to repetitive
sentences. When that happens, consider using these parts of speech to
fix the problem.
1. RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Embed one sentence inside the other using a clause starting with one
of the relative pronouns listed below.
which, who, whoever, whom, that, whose
Example:
Indiana used to be mainly an agricultural state. It has recently
attracted more industry.
Revision:
Indiana, which used to be mainly an agricultural state, has recently
attracted more industry.
Example:
One of the cameras was not packed very well. It was damaged during
the move.
Revision:
The camera that was not packed very well was damaged during the
move.

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Example:
The experiment failed because of Murphy's Law. This law states that if
something can go wrong, it will.
Revision:
The experiment failed because of Murphy's Law, which states that if
something can go wrong, it will.
Example:
Doctor Ramirez specializes in sports medicine. She helped my cousin
recover from a basketball injury.
Revision 1:
Doctor Ramirez, who specializes in sports medicine, helped my cousin
recover from a basketball injury.
Revision 2:
Doctor Ramirez, whose specialty is sports medicine, helped my cousin
recover from a basketball injury.

2. PARTICIPLES
Eliminate a be verb (am, is, was, were, are) and substitute a
participle:
Present participles end in -ing,
for example: speaking, carrying, wearing, dreaming.
Past participles usually end in -ed, -en, -d, -n, or -t but can be
irregular, for example: worried, eaten, saved, seen, dealt, taught.
Example:
Wei Xie was surprised to get a phone call from his sister. He was
happy to hear her voice again.

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Revision 1:
Wei Xie, surprised to get a phone call from his sister, was happy to
hear her voice again.
Revision 2:
Surprised to get a phone call from his sister, Wei Xie was happy to
hear her voice again.

3. PREPOSITIONS
Turn a sentence into a prepositional phrase using one of the words
below:
about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, behind,
below, beneath, beside, between, by, despite, down, during, except, for,
from, in, inside, near, next to, of, off, on, out, over, past, to, under, until,
up, with
Example:
The university has been facing pressure to cut its budget. It has
eliminated funding for important programs. (two independent
clauses)
Revision:
Under pressure to cut its budget, the university has eliminated
funding for important programs. (prepositional phrase,
independent clause)
Example:
Billy snuck a cookie from the dessert table. This was against his
mother's wishes.
Revision:
Against his mother's wishes, Billy snuck a cookie from the dessert
table.

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 For Similar Sentence Patterns or Rhythms
When several sentences have similar patterns or rhythms, try using
the following kinds of words to shake up the writing.

1. DEPENDENT MARKERS
Put clauses and phrases with the listed dependent markers at the
beginning of some sentences instead of starting each sentence with
the subject:
after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in
order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever,
whether, while
Example:
The room fell silent when the TV newscaster reported the story of the
earthquake.
Revision:
When the TV newscaster reported the story of the earthquake, the
room fell silent.
Example:
Thieves made off with Edvard Munch's The Scream before police
could stop them.
Revision:
Before police could stop them, thieves made off with Edvard Munch's
The Scream.

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2. TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES
Vary the rhythm by adding transitional words at the beginning of
some sentences:

accordingly, after all, afterward, also, although, and, but, consequently,

despite, earlier, even though, for example, for instance, however, in
conclusion, in contrast, in fact, in the meantime, in the same way,
indeed, just as... so, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, not only... but
also, now, on the contrary, on the other hand, on the whole, otherwise,
regardless, shortly, similarly, specifically, still, that is, then, therefore,
though, thus, yet
Example:
Fast food corporations are producing and advertising bigger items and
high-fat combination meals. The American population faces a growing
epidemic of obesity.
Revision:
Fast food corporations are producing and advertising bigger items and
high-fat combination meals. Meanwhile, the American population
faces a growing epidemic of obesity.

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