What are correlative conjunctions?

What type of conjunction always comes in pairs? Correlative conjunctions, often simply called “correlatives,” are the conjunctions that bring their friends with them. An essential part of the English language, they work by combining two elements in a sentence together, whether they’re nouns, clauses, or adjectives. Explore what correlative conjunctions are, how they function, and see examples of how they’re used.

What are correlative conjunctions?

First, refresh your memory on what conjunctions are: words that join two elements in a sentence, such as and, or, or but. These work as single words:

This honky-tonk plays both genres, country and western.
I would have eaten more, but I was already stuffed on the first course.

Correlative conjunctions are two-part connectors that join sentence elements of equal importance. Unlike other types of conjunctions, such as coordinating or subordinating conjunctions, correlatives always come as pairs. Some common correlative conjunctions include:

Both…and: Both Michael and John were at the concert.
In this sentence, “both” and “and” connect the two subjects, emphasizing both equally without comparing the two.
Not only…but also: The car is not only loud but also fast.
Here, “not only” and “but also” illustrate two qualities of the subject.
Either…or: You can either take the subway or hail a cab.
This pair allows you to choose between two options that are presented evenly, without bias (such as adjectives). It’s up to the reader to decide which is the better option.
Neither…nor: The restaurant serves neither meat nor seafood.
This correlative conjunction shows two subjects that are equal in their rank, in the form of a negative (showing what the restaurant does not serve).

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These are some of the most common correlative conjunctions out there, but you may come across the following pairings:

such…that
whether…or
as many…as
no sooner…than
rather…than

“Correlatives add precision to your writing, helping to emphasize relationships between two ideas in your sentences.”

Correlative conjunctions aren’t just tied to simple nouns, however. You can use correlatives to link phrases that can be otherwise used independently of each other—such as independent clauses in a compound sentence. Consider the following examples:

Not only do you need to fill out all of the required forms, but also you must provide a valid form of ID to apply for car insurance.
Whether you eat burgers and French fries on a regular basis, or you stick to a plant-based diet, there’s something for everyone in this food court.
Sarah was dismayed to see that both Amanda, her two barking dogs, and her least favorite teacher, Mrs. Moran, were chaperoning the field trip.
No sooner had Richard arrived at the game than the home team scored a touchdown.
There must be as many frogs in this freshwater pond as there are stars in the sky.

In these cases, joining them with a correlative conjunction makes your writing more concise and emphasizes that the two things being discussed happen in close succession, at the same time, or as a result of the same cause, or that they’re both distinct possibilities or outcomes of a shared cause or starting point.

Correlatives add precision to your writing, helping to emphasize relationships between two ideas in your sentences. Further your writing precision with a brush-up on grammatical rules pertaining to active and passive voices or navigating tenses in the English language.