Knowing how to use conjunctions properly will help you write more varied and complex sentences. Simple conjunction mistakes make your text cumbersome and hard to read. These mistakes will detract from your message and cause your readers to doubt the sincerity behind your text.

To write a confident article, you need to avoid the following missteps:

Using more than one conjunction to join two clauses

In the English language, you do not use two or more conjunctions in a sentence. One is enough to hold any statement with two clauses together.

• Incorrect     When I got to her then it rained.
• Correct     I got to her then it rained.

The second sentence is less wordy. It flows better, and the meaning is easily understood. In comparison, the first sentence is clunky and does not sound right when read aloud.

Auxiliary verbs

When an auxiliary verb begins a sentence the typical word order becomes disrupted. That is to say, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject of the sentence. The following verbs will follow the typical grammatical structure and follow the subject. In addition, an auxiliary verb like unless cannot join another negative in the same clause.

• Incorrect      Unless you do not want to endanger the girl, you will stand aside.
• Correct      Unless you want to endanger the girl, you will stand aside.

You cannot use not with unless in a sentence clause. It would suggest a double negative because unless implies if…not.

Separating a subordinate conjunction from the main clause

People sometimes mistakenly separate a dependent clause from an independent clause. Generally, this premature separation occurs when a subordinate conjunction starts a sentence. For instance, beginning a sentence with because often causes grammatical issues; especially, for those learning English.

Because new writers confuse dependent clauses with independent ones, teachers often tell their students not to use because to start their sentences. This tactic often leads people to believe that it is wrong to start a sentence with a subordinate clause when it is not. If starting a sentence with because make sure you have an independent clause attached to the first dependent clause.

• Incorrect     Because I liked her.
• Correct     Because I liked her, I bought her an ice-cream cone.

A comma will separate the dependent clause from the independent. Doing this improves the overall readability of your work.

Wrong relative pronouns usage

You can use a relative pronoun like a conjunction to join clauses. That is an example of a relative pronoun. That refers to the object or subject of the verb that follows. Because of this, that is not often used to replace when or where in a sentence.

The relative pronoun becomes redundant when there is already a subject or object in place. For this reason, you usually use that to replace which or whom but not when and where.

• Incorrect     Bold of you to assume that I live.
• Correct     Bold of your to assume where I live.

Incorrect relative pronoun usage can result in meaning changes or clumsy sentences.