Show
When was the last time you wrote something and were faced with the though vs. although dilemma? If you’re reading this post, it’s likely it was recently! We’re here to help you decipher the subtleties of the English language—a couple of words at a time. Let’s get started. First, what do they have in common?If although vs. though seem interchangeable at first, it’s because in some instances they are. When used as conjunctions, although and though can be exchanged one for the other and mean the same thing. For example, if I said, “Although I came in last place, I still had fun,” I could replace although with though, and the meaning of the sentence would remain unchanged: “Though I came in last place, I still had fun.” When used as conjunctions, both words mean “in spite of the fact that.” Though dates back to the thirteenth century, while although dates back only to the fourteenth century. Originally, although was two words—all though—where the all was used to emphasize though. Generally, although is used in more formal writing, though not always. (See what I did there?) Though is more often used in speech and casual writing. Additionally, although usually begins a sentence, while though can come at the beginning of any clause. But because the two words are different in other ways, deciding which one to use can sometimes be confusing. All right, so what’s different?This is where though vs. although gets interesting. Though is a conjunction, yes, but it’s not only a conjunction. Brace yourself—it’s also an adverb. (Just to clarify, although is only a conjunction.) As an adverb, though means “however” or “regardless” or “nonetheless”—it qualifies or imposes restrictions on what was previously said. For example, I could say, “It’s hard work. I enjoy it, though.” In this case, though is being used as an adverb to qualify the statement preceding it. Here’s another example: “Horror films give me nightmares. I love thrillers, though.” What if I’m still confused?I hear you! Although vs. though is confusing. If you’re still not sure about when to use which word, I recommend using though for a couple of reasons. First, though and although are interchangeable when used as conjunctions, meaning that anywhere you’d use although, you can write though instead. Second, it’s only though that has the extra adverbial meaning as well, so if you use though, you’ll be on firm ground no matter what you’re writing. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Grammar 101: Verbs vs. AdverbsWhat are verbs and adverbs? Simple! An adverb is a verb that has gone into advertising. Okay, that was a joke. But in fact,… Starting a sentence with though doesn’t have to come with any excessive grammar or language rules. Instead, it’s easy enough to do, and this article will explore what you should do when it comes to starting a sentence with though for yourself. “Though” at the start of a sentence means that while one thing happens, another thing might counteract it.
It’s possible to set up “though” at the start of a sentence when introducing a new subordinate clause before the main clause or when putting a period where a comma might go. The definition of “though,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “despite the fact that.” We use though to show two or more contrasting ideas that work in spite of each other. It’s a great way to show how one thing might have happened before another thing or how one thing is unaffected entirely by something else. What Does “Though” Mean At The Beginning Of A Sentence?There are a few ways we can look at “though” at the beginning of a sentence. The two key ways are as a new subordinate clause with the main clause following it or as a secondary clause which we’ve separated by a period where a comma would usually be. Both ways use “though” to mean that despite something else, we can still do something. Whether it means that we ignore the effects of a clause or we simply were unaffected by them anyway doesn’t matter. Examples Of How To Use “Though” At The Beginning Of A SentenceTo help you understand more about the two ways we can use “though,” we’ve put together two sections that work to show you examples of both. This way, you’ll have a much better understanding of how “though” works. New Subordinate Clause
In this way, we use “though” when we want to start a clause in spite of another clause. That means that whatever the first clause is, the second clause won’t have any effect on the expected outcome. Secondary Clause From Previous Sentence
It’s much rarer to use “though” in this way, but if the first sentence is wordy (already having two clauses as a part of it), a writer can make the stylistic choice to add a period before “though” where a comma is usually expected. In this way, “though” still means “despite that,” we just follow slightly more relaxed grammar rules. Where Should I Place The Comma When Using “Though” At The Beginning Of A Sentence?Now let’s look at how to punctuate “though” when we start a sentence with it. Punctuation rules can be finicky, and if you don’t know much about them, it’ll help you to have a better grasp after reading this. You do not need to place a comma directly after “though” when you start a sentence with it. Instead, you have to place a comma after the clause has ended, which will be indicated once the first effect has been highlighted. For example:
As you can see, the comma doesn’t come directly after “though,” but it waits until the clause has been completed. In the incorrect example, we would place the comma after “there” to indicate a break between the two clauses. You might also like: Comma Before “Though”: Easy Rule To Make No More Mistakes Is It Informal To Start A Sentence With “Though”?It will also help if we briefly touch on the formality of the phrase. Using “though” is a pretty good word if you can find the right way to say “in spite of” something else. It is not informal to start a sentence with “though,” and it mostly depends on the context that you use. Generally, you can use “though” in both formal and informal situations, and no one will mind if you do so. There are, of course, more suitable formal alternatives, like “despite.” However, if you don’t feel like using one of those alternatives, then you’ll be glad to know that there’s nothing wrong with the formality of “though.” Alternatives To Starting A Sentence With “Though”Finally, let’s check out some synonyms to starting a sentence with “though.” We’ve got some great alternatives that will work for you if you start the sentence in the same way, and you’ll find that your meaning is kept the same.
All of these synonyms are great choices to replace “though” at the start of a sentence. You may also like: Can You End A Sentence With “Though”? Learn It Here! (With Examples) Can You Start A Sentence With “Although”? Learn It Here! (With Examples) Can You Start A Sentence With “Even Though”? Learn It Here! (With Examples) Do you start a sentence with though or although?Though is more often used in speech and casual writing. Additionally, although usually begins a sentence, while though can come at the beginning of any clause.
Do you need a comma after though at the beginning of a sentence?When starting a sentence with "although" or "even though", place a comma after the first clause of the sentence. When starting a sentence with "although" or "even though", place a comma after the first clause. Although my husband is rich, he dislikes spending money.
How do you use though in a sentence?You use though to indicate that the information in a clause contrasts with or modifies information given in a previous sentence or sentences.. I like him. Though he makes me angry sometimes.. Many feel, as I do, that his speech went too far. At least it was coherent, though.. Try not to decapitate the roses when pruning.. |