Writing Tips
http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Institutional Links
-
Translation Bureau
Language Portal of Canada
-
TERMIUM Plus®
-
Index C
- caddie
- caddy
- Caesar
- Caesarean
- Caesarism
- caldron
- Calgarian
- Calgary
- call a halt to
- call an end to
- call into question
- camomile
- Canada
- Canada Day
- Canadian dollar (symbol) (Linguistic recommendation from the Translation Bureau)
- Canadianisms: Prairies
- CANDU
- Candu
- can not
- cannot
- cantaloup
- cantaloupe
- canvas
- canvass
- capable of
- capacity for
- capital
- capitalization: astronomical terms
- capitalization: biological terms
- capitalization: buildings
- capitalization: chemical and medical terms
- capitalization: compounds
- capitalization: copyrighted names
- capitalization: cultural periods
- capitalization: deities
- capitalization: family relationships
- capitalization: general points
- capitalization: geographical terms
- capitalization: governments and government bodies
- capitalization: headings
- capitalization: initial words
- capitalization: institutions
- capitalization: legal usage
- capitalization: lists
- capitalization: medals
- capitalization: military terms
- capitalization: modes of transportation
- capitalization: names of institutions
- capitalization of logos
- capitalization: parts of a book or document
- capitalization: personal names
- capitalization: personifications and abstractions
- capitalization: political parties and movements
- capitalization: publications and works of art
- capitalization: races; languages; peoples
- capitalization: salutation and complimentary close
- capitalization: school subjects
- capitalization: scientific names containing personal names
- capitalization: seasons
- capitalization: SI/metric units
- capitalization: single letters used as words
- capitalization: sporting events and trophies
- capitalization: terms indicating time or sequence
- capitalization: terms related to religion
- capitalization: time references and historical periods and events
- capitalization: words derived from proper nouns
- capitalizing member of Parliament
- capitalizing shortened titles
- capital letters for emphasis
- capitals in titles of office or rank
- Capitol
- carat
- caret
- Cariboo
- caribou
- carousal
- carousel
- carrot
- carrousel
- carry out an examination of
- case law
- cast
- caste
- catalyse
- catalyze
- cater-corner
- catsup
- cauldron
- CDT
- ceed and cede
- CEGEP
- censor
- censure
- centi-
- Central Daylight Time
- Central Standard Time
- centre on
- chamomile
- chaperon
- chaperone
- chapter and verse
- characteristic
- chargeable
- Charlottetonian
- Charlottetown
- Charlottetowner
- Chechen
- check
- check in
- check-in
- cheque
- chord
- Christmas
- circum-
- cite
- City of Gardens
- City of Québec
- classic
- classical
- clear communication: choose positive over negative phrasing
- clear communication: coherence
- clear communication: overview of the writing process and techniques
- clear communication: polish your paragraphs
- clear communication: reduce redundancy
- clear communication: responsibilities of writers
- clear communication: simplify your sentences
- clear communication: transition words
- clear communication: turn nouns into verbs
- clear communication: use clear words and expressions
- clear communication: use the active voice
- clear communication: write clear and effective briefing notes
- clear communication: write relevant and effective emails
- clear verbal communication
- cliché
- close proximity
- close scrutiny
- closure
- cloture
- cluster together
- co-
- collectable
- collectible
- collocate
- colloquial
- co-locate
- colon
- coloration
- colour
- colourful
- combat
- combine
- combine together
- come as a disappointment
- comma after a clause acting as subject
- comma before because
- commas for clarity and emphasis
- commas for omitted words
- commas in a date
- commas in geographical names and addresses
- commas properly omitted
- commas with absolute expressions
- commas with adjective clauses
- commas with adverb clauses
- commas with appositives
- commas with direct address
- commas with interjections
- commas with introductory elements
- commas with names and titles
- commas with non-restrictive elements
- commas with parenthetic expressions
- commas with such as
- commas with tag questions
- commence
- commend for
- commensurate with
- common
- compare
- compare to
- compare with
- compass points
- complement
- completely revolutionize
- complex sentence
- compliment (1)
- compliment (2)
- compliment on
- comply with
- compose
- compound-complex sentence
- compound personal pronouns
- compound sentences
- comprise (1)
- comprise (2)
- concern
- concerned
- concur in
- concur with
- conformity with
- conform to
- conjunctive adverb
- connaisseur
- connoisseur
- consensus
- consensus of opinion
- consistent with
- consist in
- consist of
- constitute
- contend with
- continual
- continuous
- contra-
- contrast
- contrast with
- converge on
- conversant with
- coolist
- co-op
- co-operate
- co-operation
- co-operative
- coordinate elements
- coordinating conjunctions
- Coppermine
- copy
- cord
- correlate with
- correlative conjunctions
- correspond to
- correspond with
- cosy
- could have
- could of
- could’ve
- council
- councillor
- counsel
- counsellor
- counter-
- couple more
- couple of
- courses and degrees
- Cowtown
- cozy
- cracker
- Croat
- Croatian
- CST
- cue
- cue up
- culminate in
- custom
- Cypro-
Proactive Disclosure
Important notice
Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.
For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!
Search and Functionalities Area
correlative conjunctions
The word conjunction comes from a Latin root meaning “join.” In grammar, a conjunction is a joining word.
A correlative conjunction is a two-part conjunction: it consists of two words or phrases that are used to join sentence elements of equal value. Some of the most common are shown below:
- both…and: Both Ryan and Meg like skiing Whistler.
- either…or: Luis will live either in Spain or in Portugal.
- neither…nor: Neither you nor I have to work tomorrow.
- not only…but also: Maria not only sings but also plays guitar.
Parallel structure with correlative conjunctions
Your writing will be more effective if you use parallel (similar) structures after both parts of the correlative conjunction.
Here is an example of a poorly structured sentence:
- Incorrect: Lise either went to the weight room or the sauna.
As you can see, the above sentence is not parallel. Because either is followed by an entire predicate* (went to the weight room) and or is followed only by a noun phrase (the sauna), the two halves of the structure are not balanced.
To make the structure parallel, we could rewrite the sentence in any of the following ways:
- Lise went either to the weight room or to the sauna. [2 prepositional phrases]
- Lise went to either the weight room or the sauna. [2 noun phrases]
- Lise either went to the weight room or had a sauna. [2 predicates*]
* Note: The predicate is the verb and any words that go with the verb (objects or modifiers).
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
Writing tools – Writing Tips
A product of the Translation Bureau
