Connectives link ideas in a text logically and make it coherent and enhance its readability. Connectives need to be selected keeping in mind the relationship between ideas in a sentence or across sentences. Frequently-noted errors relating to the use of connectives are:

• the overuse of connectives such as “however”, “moreover”, “also”
• the use of connectives without considering their specific function
• the use of the informal connective “besides”

Overuse of Connectives

Connectives are often overused by Chinese learners of English. This problem can be resolved by either re-organising the text (see Example 1 below) or using strategies such as pronoun reference to link ideas (see Example 2 below)

Example 1

Inappropriate Example

However, problems of generation off grid need addressing. In addition, the use of solar power has been studied. Moreover, water storage systems can also be used.

Appropriate Example

The use of solar power and water storage systems have been studied in order to address the problems of generation off grid.

Example 2

Inappropriate Example

In addition to optimized synchronization, a controllable phase angle is also accomplished by UPSM. In phasor transformer based CSC, a controlled phase is indispensable for parallel systems to achieve reactive current control. Therefore, the proposed PSM allows a parallel single-stage resonant inverter to implement an advanced CSC algorithm. On the other hand, compared with two-stage resonant inverter, the proposed modulation and control scheme offers the same control capability in a single-stage resonant inverter with the simpler power circuit, hence, lower costs and higher efficiency are achieved. Meanwhile, a single-stage resonant inverter can provide better dynamic performance than a two-stage resonant inverter, so UPSM combined with a single-stage resonant inverter would be an optimal implementation of a high frequency power source.

Appropriate Example

In addition to optimized synchronization, a controllable phase angle is also accomplished by UPSM. In phasor transformer based CSC, a controlled phase is indispensable for a parallel system to achieve reactive current control, which enables the parallel single-stage resonant inverter to implement an advanced CSC algorithm in the proposed PSM. However, compared with the two-stage resonant inverter, the proposed modulation and control scheme offers the same control capability in single-stage resonant inverter with the simpler power circuit, which results in lower cost and higher efficiency. The single-stage resonant inverter can also provide better dynamic performance than two-stage resonant inverter. This means UPSM combined with single-stage resonant inverter would be an optimal implementation of high frequency power source.

Note: Fewer connectives are used by using pronouns to refer to concepts.

Misuse of connectives

Connectives and linking expressions such as “however”, “although”, “also”, have a specific communicative function. For example, “however” reflects the contrast between two ideas and “similarly” shows comparison between two similar concepts.

Misuse of “moreover”

Many students are not able to use connectives correctly. Here is an extract which has been edited to illustrate how the connective “moreover” is misused.

The country has experienced relative political and economic stability in recent years with a current stable GDP growth of around 6 per cent per year from the average annual rate of 5.5 per cent for 2000-2005 period, and an annual GDP growth of 6.2 per cent was reported in 2006 (GII, 2011; AfDB/OECD, 2007). The 2010 GDP growth rate was 6.6 per cent (The World Bank, 2011). This economic growth is attributed to the continued strengthening of democracy and a stable political atmosphere in the country. Moreover, Ghana’s political situation could be enhanced further by tackling growing perceptions of corruption practices in the public sector (Osei-Tutu et al., 2010; AfDB/OECD, 2007), although the country’s position on the corruption perception index for 2010 improved compared to the previous year.

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“Moreover” is a connective indicating addition. In the extract the first section of the paragraph illustrates Ghana’s ‘political and economic stability’. The second part refers to the idea that corruption is holding back further political and economic progress – an idea that contrasts the previous information. Here “however” or the more formal “nevertheless” would be more appropriate to show contrast.

 

Misuse of “besides”

A common connective in spoken English is “besides” which is used to add another, much less important, reason or explanation to a preceding idea and its main reason(s). It has an informal register; so it is generally inappropriate in academic writing. However, written English uses the structure of “besides + a noun/pronoun,” as a synonym for other connectives such as “In addition to,” and this is generally acceptable. See the examples below.

Example 1

Inappropriate Example

It was found that three intermediates were identified in a normal condition, five were detected in the presence of nitrate, and three were observed at strong basic condition. Besides, almost all the detected intermediates were observed with m/z ratio bigger than 219.

Appropriate Example

Three intermediates were identified in a normal condition, five were detected in the presence of nitrate, and three were observed at strong basic condition. In addition, almost all the detected intermediates were observed with m/z ratio bigger than 219.

Example 2

Inappropriate Example

The promoting effect may not be remarkable for butane and propane. Besides, some researches on pollutant emissions of hydrogen-enriched flame have obtained contradictory results.

Appropriate Example

The promoting effect may not be remarkable for butane and propane. Besides this, research on pollutant emissions of hydrogen-enriched flame has obtained contradictory results.

Example 3

Inappropriate Example

Information concerning the sonolytic degradation of PAEs is scarce. Besides, many studies have focused on improving the efficiency of organic compound degradation.

Appropriate Example

Information concerning the sonolytic degradation of PAEs is scarce. Consequently, many studies have focused on improving the efficiency of organic compound degradation.

Example 4

Inappropriate Example

In previous chapters, the most critical components in LDAC system were investigated experimentally. Besides, the SLDAC has other components to investigate.

Appropriate Example

The previous chapters examined the most critical components in LDAC system experimentally. This chapter discusses the SLDAC components. (Connective is redundant.)