Conjunctive adverbs 1

Grammar review A conjunctive adverb (like however, therefore, otherwise, nevertheless) connects two independent clauses, showing how they logically relate: contrast, result, condition, or addition.

Punctuation is the tricky part: when a conjunctive adverb joins two complete sentences into one, it needs a semicolon before it and usually a comma after it:
She missed the deadline; otherwise, she would have gotten the promotion.

This is different from a coordinating conjunction like and or but, which only needs a comma: I need to make more money, but I can't find a job. Using just a comma before a conjunctive adverb (a comma splice) is one of the most common punctuation errors at this level.

The meaning always matters more than "which one sounds right": otherwise signals a negative consequence, instead signals a substitution, however signals contrast, and therefore signals a result. Read the full sentence before choosing.

Did you know? Conjunctive adverbs are the glue of high-scoring IELTS and TOEFL essays, but only when used correctly.

Words like however, therefore, consequently, and nevertheless signal logical relationships between ideas and directly boost your Coherence & Cohesion score in IELTS. But they’re not interchangeable: writing I was tired; moreover, I went to bed early is wrong, since moreover adds information, not a result.

TOEFL integrated writing tasks also reward precise connective language, and Cambridge Use of English (Part 4, key word transformations) frequently tests whether you can substitute one connective structure for another. Choosing the right conjunctive adverb is a mark of a writer who controls meaning, not just grammar.