In informal conversations, we use besides, furthermore as conjunctions between two ideas. Sentences such as “McDonalds food is so boring. Besides, I just ate and am not really hungry”, or “Firefighting is a dangerous profession. Besides, it doesn’t even pay well” are used in common parlance. We don’t think twice about using words like besides or furthermore to link two ideas. Nevertheless, we cannot do the same thing in academic writing. There are specific reasons and conditions that apply when using these words, and one should rarely deviate from them.

This post will help you understand how to use different connecting words… or whether to use them at all.

Let’s start with some common words.

Also

If you want to add another thing to an already existing list, also can be a good connecting word. Also
is used when it performs the same function as “and” or “too”. Let us understand with the help of an
example.

“I like Batman. I also like Wonder Woman.” In this sentence, both Batman and Wonder Woman are
super heroes. Hence, when we use “also” we simply mean an addition of Y to X where X and Y are
similar things, types of people, phenomena, etc.

Where should you not use also?

1. If you are starting a sentence that has little or no connection with the previous sentence then it should not start with also.

“Germany will most likely lift the FIFA world cup this year. Also, the weather in Rio is great.” The two sentences are disconnected and should not even be next to each other. In such a scenario, connecting with “also” does not make sense.

2. When the two words can be joined by “and,” one should not use “also.” Let us understand with the help of an example.

If instead of writing “I like wine and scotch,” you write “I like wine. I also like scotch.” It is not the
best way to use the word. This does not make it wrong, but it does make it wordy.

Furthermore

Furthermore is used when we want to provide additional information to advance our argument. We use furthermore in the following instances: I have X reasons to prove my point. I am also adding an X + 1 point to make my point stronger. This is the only way to use furthermore. Let us understand with the help of an example.

1. Playing football boosts stamina and helps in building muscles. Furthermore, it also gives an adrenaline rush.

Here, one can understand that playing football helps in building stamina and muscles. But along with it, it also gives an adrenaline rush that further proves the point that playing football is a good thing.

When should furthermore not be used? It should not be used to connect two unconnected sentences, the same way that “also” should not be used. It should also not be used to start a new paragraph or idea.

Let us understand with the help of the following example:

1. Tina was tired and dehydrated from the trek. Furthermore, she was irritated as she had lost her wallet.

This is the correct usage. Here we are clearly showing that Tina was tired and dehydrated and how she also became irritated as she had lost her wallet in the process.

2. Furthermore, Tina was tired and dehydrated from the trek. She was irritated because she had lost her wallet.

The above example is incorrect. Furthermore should not be used at the beginning when the idea is
being introduced.

Besides

Besides is used frequently in informal language but should be avoided completely in academic or formal language. There is a specific reason for it. Let us understand the same with the help of an example:

1. “I don’t want to go to the market in this weather. Besides, the dress shop is not open at these hours anyways”.

Let us understand the problem with this sentence. Here we are saying it does not really matter how the weather is, the real reason I don’t want to go to the market is because the dress shop is not open at these hours.

Let us take another example:

2. “I am not hungry as I haven’t done anything since morning. Besides, mom has made broccoli for dinner”.

Here also what we are saying is “it does not matter if I have had or not had anything since morning, the real reason I am not eating anything is because there is broccoli for dinner”.

What besides does is it nullifies all the previous points and says only the reason succeeding besides is relevant to the point. If the same is done with the abstract, introduction, observation, or conclusion of a research paper, think about what a confusion it would create. I recommend using besides rarely, and if possible, never use it.

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