坐看风云

Many pen pals tend to make the same kinds of mistakes. If I had to write an explanation to each pen pal, every time, it would be difficult to answer mail. Instead I have taken a basic explanation and have written it ONCE. Whenever someone falls into the kind of mistake that fits the lesson, it will be easier to send a basic email to that pen pal.

What is a conjunction?

A conjunction is a word that connects two parts of a sentence.

What words act as conjunctions? 
[Green = with/Red=without/ Hot Pink=wrong usage]

But

Ralph is tall but Jeff is short.
Ralph is tall. Jeff is short.
Ralph is tall. But Jeff is short.

And

Mary is shopping for a husband and she wants to find a bargain.
Mary is shopping for a husband. She wants to find a bargain.
Mary is shopping for a husband. And she wants to find a bargain.

Or

Tuesday night we can go to watch baseball with the Johnsons or do you want to stay at home?
Tuesday night we can go to watch baseball with the Johnsons. Do you  want to  stay at home?
Tuesday night we can go to watch baseball with the Johnsons. Or do you  want to  stay at home?

With these examples you can see how conjunctions change a sentence. Two independent sentences can be joined as one sentence. Both versions are totally acceptable. Starting a sentence in the middle by using a conjunction is not.

Different English teachers will disagree about this, but what I tell pen pals is that conjunctions act as the glue between ideas, just as you see above. If they fall naturally in the middle of a sentence, then why use them at the very start? >

It is difficult enough to organize ideas, so why add to that difficulty by this misuse of a conjunction?

:D    And that brings us to our other friend.... "So".

Did you notice that so is also a conjunction? Look again.

It is difficult enough to organize ideas, so why add to that difficulty by this misuse of a conjunction?
It is difficult enough to organize ideas. Why add to that difficulty by this misuse of a conjunction?
It is difficult enough to organize ideas. So why add to that difficulty by this misuse of a conjunction?

"So" is the worst offender . People love to add it to the start of a sentence. It sounds so nice, doesn't it?

So how are you? So did you see the latest email from Bob? So what did he have to say? So what will you do from now on when you write to Bob? So Bob is changing the way you write to him, isn't he? So is that good or bad?

How are you? Did you see the latest email from Bob? What did he have to say? What will you do from now on when you write to Bob? Bob is changing the way you write to him, isn't he? Is that good or bad?

If you really find it difficult to stop using "so", then just try substituting this word instead.  Use the word "Duh". Duh is a word that represents a sound. It is a sound that is considered to be used when an uneducated person is pausing to think... an act that is very hard for them to do. Listen to the sound of the sentences now:

Duh,  how are you? Duh,  did you see the latest email from Bob? Duh, what did he have to say? Duh, what will you do from now on when you write to Bob? Duh, Bob is changing the way you write to him, isn't he? Duh,is that good or bad?

Sounds silly doesn't it? Well, so does "So".

This brings us to the last sinful word. "Well". >

Another way of saying "Duh"  or "So" is the handy word "Well". A well is a hole in the ground used to store water. It is also a slang word. Do not use slang. It is uneducated. If you want to sound dumb, just use "Duh".

How should a sentence be written without "Well"?

If it sounds silly, then so does "So".

Duh, that's all for this lesson on what not to do. But if it was hard to understand, then read it again. And if you can't learn from it the second time then try a third reading. Well, that about all for this email. So did you enjoy it?