Sentence Connectors 101: Contrastive Sentence Connectors

One of the most fundamental skills in writing is the ability to effectively compare two ideas. Luckily for us, the English language provides us with many tools. These are known as sentence connectors. They allow us to easily illustrate the relationship between ideas in two separate sentences. One commonly misused type of sentence connector is the contrastive sentence connector. As the name might suggest, these words describe the contrast between two or more ideas. Here, we will go over a few of the most common ones, their definitions, and the nuances between them.

However

This is the most common contrastive sentence connector, and it can serve one of two functions:

1. Introduce a conflict that contrasts the concepts presented in a previous sentence.
2. Indicate that the second sentence’s idea is surprising given the information in the first sentence.

The most important use of however is to establish the benefits and drawbacks of a given situation. In this setup, the positive condition is ordered before the negative, setting the issue’s context. For this reason, it performs an essential function in scientific writing, playing a vital role in the abstracts and introductions of scientific papers (To see my article about how to write a good introduction for a scientific paper, click here).

Here are some examples of this structure in action:

Situation (+) → Issue (-)

• Science has made great strides in the detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are still significant gaps in research regarding how the disease affects men and women differently.

It is notable that while contrastive connectors are generally placed in the initial position of a sentence when contrasting two ideas, this is not necessary.

Situation (+) → Issue (-)

• Hypnotherapy has been touted by many as a powerful tool to quit smoking. Study results have been mixed, however, and no medical organization currently endorses the practice.

The other use of however is to indicate that the information in the second sentence is unexpected given the first sentence. This is known as a concessive sentence connector, and this same characteristic is also true of the word nevertheless. It makes sense because ‘concessive’ is a form ‘concede’, indicating acknowledgment that a contradictory point has been made.

Here are some more examples of however as a concessive:

Situation (+) → Surprise (-)

• There have been decades of scientific consensus on the threat of anthropogenic climate change. However, many politicians treat climate change as an unsettled question.

Situation (+) → Surprise (-)

• Penguins are generally thought of as an arctic bird residing around the south pole. Four separate species, however, are actually native to Chile.

Nevertheless/Nonetheless

While however can be used either as a concessive or no, nevertheless and nonetheless are always concessive. Another point of difference is that while however modifies a positive first idea with a negative second idea, nevertheless and nonetheless do the opposite. In this way, you can select which word to use based on the emotion you want to elicit.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, nevertheless and nonetheless are interchangeable, so generally, you won’t need to worry about usage. However, strict grammar adherents will tell you that nevertheless should be used when referring to an event in the past, present, or future. Nonetheless is used to mean despite, in contrast to, or notwithstanding.

Here are some examples of nevertheless in context:

Situation (-) → Concession (+)

• The science of hypnotherapy is far from settled, and many are not susceptible to hypnosis at all. Nevertheless, an estimated 6% of adults on average have visited one.

Note that the above example is actually a reversal of the second example for however. How does the mood change with the altered structure?

Situation (-) → Concession (+)

In recent years, the price of fast food had trended sharply upwards for several reasons. Nonetheless, more than a third of American adults will consume fast food on a given day.

With all this said, it is essential to note that however and nevertheless are far from the only words that fill their respective roles. They just happen to be widespread examples that are often misused. When using concessive sentence connectors, sentences can be rewritten to replace however or nevertheless with other options.

Although, even though, and just though are concessive subordinators that can replace however or nevertheless. This means that these words indicate an opposing position but simultaneously deemphasizing the importance of that position to the reader.

Despite and in spite of are concessive presuppositions that can replace however or nevertheless. This means that the words assume the merit of a position, emphasizing the contrast between two ideas.

If that’s all incredibly confusing to you, that’s because it is incredibly confusing. Don’t worry though, we’ll go deeper into concessive modifiers’ nuances and their usage in another post. For now, use the lessons above to improve your writing and to make sure that your audience understands your arguments. To learn more about crafting focused, persuasive papers, contact me.