What are correlative conjunctions?

What are correlative conjunctions?

First, refresh your memory on what conjunctions are: words that join two elements in a sentence, such as and, or, or but. These work as single words:

• This honky-tonk plays both genres, country and western.
• I would have eaten more, but I was already stuffed on the first course.

Correlative conjunctions are two-part connectors that join sentence elements of equal importance. Unlike other types of conjunctions, such as coordinating or subordinating conjunctions, correlatives always come as pairs. Some common correlative conjunctions include:

• Both…and: Both Michael and John were at the concert.
  In this sentence, “both” and “and” connect the two subjects, emphasizing both equally without comparing the two.
• Not only…but also: The car is not only loud but also fast.
  Here, “not only” and “but also” illustrate two qualities of the subject.
• Either…or: You can either take the subway or hail a cab.
  This pair allows you to choose between two options that are presented evenly, without bias (such as adjectives). It’s up to the reader to decide which is the better option.
• Neither…nor: The restaurant serves neither meat nor seafood.
  This correlative conjunction shows two subjects that are equal in their rank, in the form of a negative (showing what the restaurant does not serve).

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These are some of the most common correlative conjunctions out there, but you may come across the following pairings:

• such…that
• whether…or
• as many…as
• no sooner…than
• rather…than

Correlative conjunctions aren’t just tied to simple nouns, however. You can use correlatives to link phrases that can be otherwise used independently of each other—such as independent clauses in a compound sentence. Consider the following examples:

• Not only do you need to fill out all of the required forms, but also you must provide a valid form of ID to apply for car insurance.
• Whether you eat burgers and French fries on a regular basis, or you stick to a plant-based diet, there’s something for everyone in this food court.
• Sarah was dismayed to see that both Amanda, her two barking dogs, and her least favorite teacher, Mrs. Moran, were chaperoning the field trip.
• No sooner had Richard arrived at the game than the home team scored a touchdown.
• There must be as many frogs in this freshwater pond as there are stars in the sky.

In these cases, joining them with a correlative conjunction makes your writing more concise and emphasizes that the two things being discussed happen in close succession, at the same time, or as a result of the same cause, or that they’re both distinct possibilities or outcomes of a shared cause or starting point.

Correlatives add precision to your writing, helping to emphasize relationships between two ideas in your sentences. Further your writing precision with a brush-up on grammatical rules pertaining to active and passive voices or navigating tenses in the English language.