Words or phrases that join ideas or sentences together, like 'and,' 'but,' or 'because.'
From Latin 'connectere' (to bind together) plus the suffix '-ive' (tending to) and '-s' (plural). The word evolved to describe grammatical elements that create connections between clauses or phrases.
Connectives are the glue of clear writing—without them, your sentences feel choppy and disconnected. Interestingly, different languages favor different connectives; some use more explicit ones while others rely on word order to show relationships.
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