English
Guidelines for Using Conjunctions

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• Use coordinating conjunctions to connect only sentence elements that are equal and parallel; eg., Jim’s report was correct and concise.  Management has the power to increase spending or reduce it through the policies it adopts.
• Do not use the word like as a conjunction; eg., As I said (not like I said), I will attend the ceremony this evening.
• Avoid using when or where inappropriately.  A common writing fault occurs in sentences with clauses introduced by is when and is where.  Written English ordinarily requires a noun (or a group of words functioning as a noun) following the linking verb is.  Instead of acting as conjunctions in these constructions, the words where and when function as adverbs, creating faulty grammatical constructions (adverbs cannot complete equations set up by linking verbs).  To avoid the problem, revise the sentence, eliminating when and where; eg., A flowchart is a diagram showing the step-by-step progression of a procedure.  (Not  A flowchart is when you make a diagram showing the step-by-step progression of a procedure.)  Word processing involves the use of a computer and software to write.  (Not Word processing is where you use a computer and software to write.)
• A similar faulty construction occurs in the expression I hate when.  English requires nouns, noun clauses, or pronouns to act as objects of verbs, not adverbs eg., I hate it when we’re asked to work overtime.  I hate being asked to work overtime.  (Not I hate when we’re asked to work overtime.)
• Don’t confuse the adverb then with the conjunction than.  Then means “at that time”; than indicates the second element in a comparison; eg., Jake would rather move than (not then) clean his apartment.