When we read and write in Spanish, or any other language, we need to provide this text (an e-mail, a letter, a report, a memo, or even a simple note) with cohesion and coherence. Conjunctions and discourse markers play a major role in connecting your ideas logically over long stretches of text or speech. They also make your output a lot richer. Here are some of the most common:

Y / e (and)
Ni (nor)
O / u (or)
Pero (but)
Mas (but)
Aunque (although / though)
No solo … sino también (not only … but also …)
Sin embargo (however)
Antes (before / rather)
Antes bien (rather)
Más bien (although / even though)
Si bien (although / even though)
A pesar de (in spite of the fact that)
Con todo (in spite of)
Así pues (so / therefore)
Así que (so)
Conque (so)
Es decir (that is)
Esto es (this is)
Luego (so / therefore / afterwards)
O sea (in other words, that is)
Por esto (because of…)
Por (lo) tanto (therefore / so)
Por consiguiente (therefore / so)
Pues (since / as)

So next time you’re writing or reading a text, pay close attention to these markers. Try to use as many as you can in your speech or writing in order to sound authentic. Start with one or two at a time until you feel comfortable using them. Before you know it, you will start connecting your sentences in more complex and varied ways.

See you next time!