This document discusses words and phrases used to signal similarity or difference in comparisons and contrasts. It provides examples of conjunctions and transitions used to show likeness ("and", "also", "like"), difference ("but", "yet", "however"), and contrast ("while", "whereas", "in contrast", "on the other hand"). Guidance is given on punctuation for some transitions used in the middle of sentences.

1. COMPARISON/
CONTRAST
Unit 8

2. TO SIGNAL SIMILARITY
•AND
•B1 loves to smile, and B2
enjoys laughing.
•Both ... and
•Both B1 and B2 like
bananas.
•Transition: can start a
sentence
•Similarly, B2 likes bananas.

3. •Alike/similar
•B1 and B2 are alike.
•As well/too
•B2 likes bananas, as well/too.
•Also
•B2 also likes bananas.
•Like
•Like B1, B2 likes bananas.

4. •But
•Snoopy is friendly, but
Garfield is tricky.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTION

5. COORDINATING CONJUNCTION
•Yet
•Garfield eats and sleeps all day, yet he
is grumpy.

6. Subordinate
conjunction
While/Whereas
However
On the contrary
In contrast
On the other hand

7. •While is more common than whereas
•Whereas appears in academic
writing but is rare in spoken English

8. •Snoopy is warm and friendly, while
Garfield enjoys messing with Odie.

9. •However/on the contrary/in
contrast/on the other hand
•Beginning of a sentence: comma
after
•Middle of a sentence: semi colon
[;] before and comma [,] after
TRANSITION

10. •Garfield eats and sleeps all day.
However, he is grumpy.
•Garfield eats and sleeps all day;
however, he is grumpy.

11. •On the contrary: reject the
statement that precedes it, and
introduces an opposing idea
•Garfield is not selfish; on the
contrary, he loves to share lasagna
with his friends.

12. •In contrast: differences between 2 things
•By nature, Blossom is usually in a good
mood and loves to smile. In contrast,
Bubbles tends to cry often.

13. •On the other hand, contrasting aspects
of one idea
•Buttercup is a sweet-natured girl. On
the other hand, she can be quite
fearsome when furious.

14. •Sometimes, in contrast and on the other hand
are used interchangeably

15. •Snoopy differs from/is different from
Garfield.
•The difference between Garfield and
Snoopy is that...
•Unlike Snoopy, Garfield loves lasagna.