can you start a thesis with even though

Create a Thesis Statement

Create a thesis statement..

• opinions about the topic
• some reasons for your opinion and why other people might disagree.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• College University and Postgraduate
• Academic Degrees
• Doctoral Studies
• Theses and Dissertations

How to Write a Thesis Statement

Last Updated: February 27, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,203,202 times.

Whether you’re writing a short essay or a doctoral dissertation, your thesis statement can be one of the trickiest sentences to formulate. Fortunately, there are some basic rules you can follow to ensure your thesis statement is effective and interesting, including that it must be a debatable analytical point, not a general truism.

Crafting Great Thesis Statements

• Thesis: "Computers allow fourth graders an early advantage in technological and scientific education."
• ' Thesis: "The river comes to symbolize both division and progress, as it separates our characters and country while still providing the best chance for Huck and Jim to get to know one another."
• Thesis: "Through careful sociological study, we've found that people naturally assume that "morally righteous" people look down on them as "inferior," causing anger and conflict where there generally is none."

• Ex. "This dynamic between different generations sparks much of the play’s tension, as age becomes a motive for the violence and unrest that rocks King Lear."
• Ex. "The explosion of 1800s philosophies like Positivism, Marxism, and Darwinism undermined and refuted Christianity to instead focus on the real, tangible world."
• Ex. "Without the steady hand and specific decisions of Barack Obama, America would never have recovered from the hole it entered in the early 2000s."

• "While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions."
• "The primary problem of the American steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate outdated plants and equipment."
• "Hemingway's stories helped create a new prose style by employing extensive dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-Saxon words."

• "After the third and fourth time you see him beat himself, one finally realizes that Huck Finn is literature's first full-blown sadomasochist."
• "The advent of internet technology has rendered copyright laws irrelevant -- everyone can and should get writing, movies, art, and music for free."
• "Though they have served admirably for the past two centuries, recent research shows that America needs to ditch the two-party system, and quickly."

• "By owning up to the impossible contradictions, embracing them and questioning them, Blake forges his own faith, and is stronger for it. Ultimately, the only way for his poems to have faith is to temporarily lose it."
• "According to its well-documented beliefs and philosophies, an existential society with no notion of either past or future cannot help but become stagnant."
• "By reading “Ode to a Nightingale” through a modern deconstructionist lens, we can see how Keats viewed poetry as shifting and subjective, not some rigid form."
• "The wrong people won the American Revolution." While striking and unique, who is "right" and who is "wrong" is exceptionally hard to prove, and very subjective.
• "The theory of genetic inheritance is the binding theory of every human interaction." Too complicated and overzealous. The scope of "every human interaction" is just too big
• "Paul Harding's novel Tinkers is ultimately a cry for help from a clearly depressed author." Unless you interviewed Harding extensively, or had a lot of real-life sources, you have no way of proving what is fact and what is fiction."

Getting it Right

• is an assertion, not a fact or observation. Facts are used within the paper to support your thesis.
• takes a stand, meaning it announces your position towards a particular topic.
• is the main idea and explains what you intend to discuss.
• answers a specific question and explains how you plan to support your argument.
• is debatable. Someone should be able to argue an alternate position, or conversely, support your claims.

• "Because of William the Conqueror's campaign into England, that nation developed the strength and culture it would need to eventually build the British Empire."
• "Hemingway significantly changed literature by normalizing simplistic writing and frank tone."

Finding the Perfect Thesis

• A clear topic or subject matter
• A brief summary of what you will say
• [Something] [does something] because [reason(s)].
• Because [reason(s)], [something] [does something].
• Although [opposing evidence], [reasons] show [Something] [does something].
• The last example includes a counter-argument, which complicates the thesis but strengthens the argument. In fact, you should always be aware of all counter-arguments against your thesis. Doing so will refine your thesis, and also force you to consider arguments you have to refute in your paper.

• There are two schools of thought on thesis timing. Some people say you should not write the paper without a thesis in mind and written down, even if you have to alter it slightly by the end. The other school of thought says that you probably won't know where you're going until you get there, so don't write the thesis until you know what it should be. Do whatever seems best to you.

• Never frame your thesis as a question . The job of a thesis is to answer a question, not ask one.
• A thesis is not a list. If you're trying to answer a specific question, too many variables will send your paper off-focus. Keep it concise and brief.
• Never mention a new topic that you do not intend to discuss in the paper.
• Do not write in the first person. Using sentences such as, "I will show...," is generally frowned upon by scholars.
• Do not be combative. The point of your paper is to convince someone of your position, not turn them off, and the best way to achieve that is to make them want to listen to you. Express an open-minded tone, finding common ground between different views.

Sample Thesis and List of Things to Include

Community Q&A

• Think of your thesis as a case a lawyer has to defend. A thesis statement should explain to your readers the case you wish to make and how you will accomplish that. You can also think of your thesis as a contract. Introducing new ideas the reader is not prepared for may be alienating. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
• An effective thesis statement controls the entire argument. It determines what you cannot say. If a paragraph does not support your thesis, either omit it or change your thesis. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
• ↑ http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/thesis-statements
• ↑ https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/writing-a-thesis

About This Article

To write an effective thesis statement, choose a statement that answers a general question about your topic. Check that your thesis is arguable, not factual, and make sure you can back it up your with evidence. For example, your thesis statement could be something like "Computers allow fourth graders an early advantage in technological and scientific education." To learn about writing thesis statements for different types of essays or how to incorporate them into your essay, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Alysia Van Gelder

Oct 26, 2017

Did this article help you?

Aug 12, 2016

Aug 14, 2019

Sophie Parks

May 5, 2016

Anna Fryman

Mar 28, 2021

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

• Mission, Vision, and Inclusive Language Statement
• Locations & Hours
• Undergraduate Employment
• Graduate Employment
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Newsletter Archive
• Support WTS
• Schedule an Appointment
• Online Tutoring
• Before your Appointment
• WTS Policies
• Group Tutoring
• Students Referred by Instructors
• Paid External Editing Services
• Writing Guides
• Scholarly Write-in
• Dissertation Writing Groups
• Journal Article Writing Groups
• Early Career Graduate Student Writing Workshop
• Workshops for Graduate Students
• Teaching Resources
• Syllabus Information
• Course-specific Tutoring
• Nominate a Peer Tutor
• Tutoring Feedback
• Schedule Appointment
• Campus Writing Program

Writing Tutorial Services

How to write a thesis statement, what is a thesis statement.

Almost all of us—even if we don’t do it consciously—look early in an essay for a one- or two-sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow. We refer to that condensation as a thesis statement.

Why Should Your Essay Contain a Thesis Statement?

• to test your ideas by distilling them into a sentence or two
• to better organize and develop your argument
• to provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument

In general, your thesis statement will accomplish these goals if you think of the thesis as the answer to the question your paper explores.

How Can You Write a Good Thesis Statement?

Here are some helpful hints to get you started. You can either scroll down or select a link to a specific topic.

How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One

How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned

Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. Your first step, then, is to distill the assignment into a specific question. For example, if your assignment is, “Write a report to the local school board explaining the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class,” turn the request into a question like, “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” After you’ve chosen the question your essay will answer, compose one or two complete sentences answering that question.

Q: “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” A: “The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are . . .”

A: “Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve . . .”

The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.

[ Back to top ]

How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned

Even if your assignment doesn’t ask a specific question, your thesis statement still needs to answer a question about the issue you’d like to explore. In this situation, your job is to figure out what question you’d like to write about.

A good thesis statement will usually include the following four attributes:

• take on a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree
• deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature of the assignment
• express one main idea
• assert your conclusions about a subject

Let’s see how to generate a thesis statement for a social policy paper.

Brainstorm the topic . Let’s say that your class focuses upon the problems posed by changes in the dietary habits of Americans. You find that you are interested in the amount of sugar Americans consume.

You start out with a thesis statement like this:

Sugar consumption.

This fragment isn’t a thesis statement. Instead, it simply indicates a general subject. Furthermore, your reader doesn’t know what you want to say about sugar consumption.

Narrow the topic . Your readings about the topic, however, have led you to the conclusion that elementary school children are consuming far more sugar than is healthy.

You change your thesis to look like this:

Reducing sugar consumption by elementary school children.

This fragment not only announces your subject, but it focuses on one segment of the population: elementary school children. Furthermore, it raises a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree, because while most people might agree that children consume more sugar than they used to, not everyone would agree on what should be done or who should do it. You should note that this fragment is not a thesis statement because your reader doesn’t know your conclusions on the topic.

Take a position on the topic. After reflecting on the topic a little while longer, you decide that what you really want to say about this topic is that something should be done to reduce the amount of sugar these children consume.

You revise your thesis statement to look like this:

More attention should be paid to the food and beverage choices available to elementary school children.

This statement asserts your position, but the terms more attention and food and beverage choices are vague.

Use specific language . You decide to explain what you mean about food and beverage choices , so you write:

Experts estimate that half of elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar.

This statement is specific, but it isn’t a thesis. It merely reports a statistic instead of making an assertion.

Make an assertion based on clearly stated support. You finally revise your thesis statement one more time to look like this:

Because half of all American elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives.

Notice how the thesis answers the question, “What should be done to reduce sugar consumption by children, and who should do it?” When you started thinking about the paper, you may not have had a specific question in mind, but as you became more involved in the topic, your ideas became more specific. Your thesis changed to reflect your new insights.

How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One

1. a strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand..

Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements:

There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.

This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague.

Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.

This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.

2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.

Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statements:

My family is an extended family.

This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading.

While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.

This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.

3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.

Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example:

Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.

This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear. One way to revise the thesis would be to write:

Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.

This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because , since , so , although , unless , and however .

4. A strong thesis statement is specific.

A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say:

World hunger has many causes and effects.

This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this:

Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger.

Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Writing Tutorial Services social media channels

Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

Table of Contents

Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process.

• CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 by Megan McIntyre - University of Arkansas

The main idea. The argument of an essay. The thesis. It’s a tricky thing to define “thesis” because theses come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. A thesis can be a sentence, two sentences, perhaps even an entire paragraph. Every thesis, though, regardless of where in an essay it appears, does a few important things:

• A thesis acts as a unifying idea for every piece of evidence in an essay.
• A thesis results from research in addition to the writer’s own beliefs or opinions.
• A thesis answers a specific question.

There are lots of ways to create a successful thesis because good theses come in all sorts of varieties. What all successful argumentative theses have in common, though, are the following characteristics:

• A good thesis statement is arguable. In other words, the writer’s claim might be challenged or opposed.
• A good thesis statement expresses one main idea, and that idea controls what is said, what is left out, and how the delivered evidence is organized.
• A good thesis statement is specific and insightful.
• A good thesis statement encourages discussion.
• A good thesis statement is supported by relevant evidence. Every paragraph should contribute to proving the thesis to be valid

Developing a Thesis

• Define the Rhetorical Situation: The key to developing an appropriate thesis is to begin by examining the rhetorical situation: What is the purpose of your essay (e.g., to inform, to persuade, to analyze)? To whom are you writing (e.g., classmates, members of a particular interest or age group)?
• Choose a Topic: Based on the purpose of and audience for your essay, what is an appropriate topic? Moreover, what is an appropriate topic that also interests you personally?
• Start with What You Know: What do you know about your topic? What have you heard on the news about your topic? Do you have personal experiences related to your topic? If so, what are they?
• Research What You Don’t Know: Start by searching the library databases (e.g., with Academic Search Premier or WorldCat). It’s best to begin by searching with your general topic and then refining your initial results. Gather a variety of sources and start reading. Some general reading on your topic will help you with the next step.
• Take a Position: Before you take a position, be sure you have done ample reading and you are aware of the various positions regarding your topic. Most issues have more nuances than basic understandings suggest. It is not enough to be “for” or “against” an issue. You must be able to support your position with evidence and logical reasoning, and research can help you in this regard.

Refining Your Thesis

After choosing a position, in forming reasoning for your decision, you must be clear and specific. You must be able to substantiate your claim using authoritative, credible, and relevant source material. Theses tend, in draft form, to begin as general and to become more specific as you do more research. Let’s look at how we might turn a weak thesis into a strong thesis.

Weak thesis:

On April 20, 2010, the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform caused the largest man-made disaster in U.S. history.

This thesis has a serious problem for two reasons: it doesn’t actually make an argument. It simply states an unproven fact: that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is the largest man-made disaster in U.S. history. In order to be successful, a thesis must be arguable and supported by evidence. If we consider that a thesis must be a statement that reasonable people may disagree with and a position substantiated with credible evidence, this thesis is problematic because no one will disagree with the date the oil spill occurred and because the claim that the oil spill was the largest man-made disaster in U.S. history is unsubstantiated.

A still weak thesis:

Many people are to blame for the oil spill that resulted from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform, which caused the largest man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history.

This thesis is better than the first because it does more than state a fact, but it is still problematic: it is not specific enough, and the claim that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is the “largest man-made” disaster is still unsubstantiated. This thesis might, instead, attempt to answer the following questions: “Who is to blame for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?” and “Why might it be considered the largest man-made environmental disaster in the U.S. history?” A successful thesis must be arguable and must answer a specific question.

A better thesis:

BP, President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, Republicans in Congress, Democrats in Congress, and every citizen in the United States share the blame for the oil spill that resulted from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform, which some consider the largest man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history, and in order to prevent another such disaster, Congress must develop better regulations, oil companies must enact better maintenance procedures, and Americans must decrease their dependence on oil.

This thesis is certainly more specific, but it’s trying to do too much. Proving that all parties mentioned are to blame for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and that the solutions mentioned will prevent another oil disaster requires covering a lot of ground. A good thesis is arguable and specific, but also has one main idea. This thesis has too many main ideas.

An even better thesis:

Oil companies and the federal government share responsibility for the Gulf oil spill that resulted from the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion.

This thesis works better than the previous versions because it’s arguable, specific, and focused on one main idea, but not so specific as to greatly limit discussion of the topic. From an essay based on such a thesis, readers will expect evidence that supports the claim that oil companies and the federal government hold joint responsibility for the Gulf oil spill.

Brevity – Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence – How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow – How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity – Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style – The DNA of Powerful Writing

Suggested Edits

• Please select the purpose of your message. * - Corrections, Typos, or Edits Technical Support/Problems using the site Advertising with Writing Commons Copyright Issues I am contacting you about something else
• Your full name
• Your email address *
• Page URL needing edits *
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Featured Articles

Academic Writing – How to Write for the Academic Community

Professional Writing – How to Write for the Professional World

Credibility & Authority – How to Be Credible & Authoritative in Speech & Writing

• University of Pennsylvania
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Penn Calendar

Search form

On Thesis Statements

The thesis statement.

This is not an exhaustive list of bad thesis statements, but here're five kinds of problems I've seen most often. Notice that the last two, #4 and #5, are not necessarily incorrect or illegitimate thesis statements, but, rather, inappropriate for the purposes of this course. They may be useful forms for papers on different topics in other courses.

A thesis takes a position on an issue. It is different from a topic sentence in that a thesis statement is not neutral. It announces, in addition to the topic, the argument you want to make or the point you want to prove. This is your own opinion that you intend to back up. This is your reason and motivation for writing.

Bad Thesis 1

Bad Thesis 2 : This paper will consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain restrictions on free speech.

Better Thesis 1 : Stanley Fish's argument that free speech exists more as a political prize than as a legal reality ignores the fact that even as a political prize it still serves the social end of creating a general cultural atmosphere of tolerance that may ultimately promote free speech in our nation just as effectively as any binding law.

Better Thesis 2 : Even though there may be considerable advantages to restricting hate speech, the possibility of chilling open dialogue on crucial racial issues is too great and too high a price to pay.

A thesis should be as specific as possible, and it should be tailored to reflect the scope of the paper. It is not possible, for instance, to write about the history of English literature in a 5 page paper. In addition to choosing simply a smaller topic, strategies to narrow a thesis include specifying a method or perspective or delineating certain limits.

Bad Thesis 2 : The government has the right to limit free speech.

Better Thesis 1 : There should be no restrictions on the 1st amendment if those restrictions are intended merely to protect individuals from unspecified or otherwise unquantifiable or unverifiable "emotional distress."

Better Thesis 2 : The government has the right to limit free speech in cases of overtly racist or sexist language because our failure to address such abuses would effectively suggest that our society condones such ignorant and hateful views.

A thesis must be arguable. And in order for it to be arguable, it must present a view that someone might reasonably contest. Sometimes a thesis ultimately says, "we should be good," or "bad things are bad." Such thesis statements are tautological or so universally accepted that there is no need to prove the point.

Bad Thesis 2 : There are always alternatives to using racist speech.

Better Thesis 1 : If we can accept that emotional injuries can be just as painful as physical ones we should limit speech that may hurt people's feelings in ways similar to the way we limit speech that may lead directly to bodily harm.

Better Thesis 2 : The "fighting words" exception to free speech is not legitimate because it wrongly considers speech as an action.

A good argumentative thesis provides not only a position on an issue, but also suggests the structure of the paper. The thesis should allow the reader to imagine and anticipate the flow of the paper, in which a sequence of points logically prove the essay's main assertion. A list essay provides no such structure, so that different points and paragraphs appear arbitrary with no logical connection to one another.

Bad Thesis 2 : None of the arguments in favor of regulating pornography are persuasive.

Better Thesis 1 : Among the many reasons we need to limit hate speech the most compelling ones all refer to our history of discrimination and prejudice, and it is, ultimately, for the purpose of trying to repair our troubled racial society that we need hate speech legislation.

Better Thesis 2 : None of the arguments in favor of regulating pornography are persuasive because they all base their points on the unverifiable and questionable assumption that the producers of pornography necessarily harbor ill will specifically to women.

In an other course this would not be at all unacceptable, and, in fact, possibly even desirable. But in this kind of course, a thesis statement that makes a factual claim that can be verified only with scientific, sociological, psychological or other kind of experimental evidence is not appropriate. You need to construct a thesis that you are prepared to prove using the tools you have available, without having to consult the world's leading expert on the issue to provide you with a definitive judgment.

Bad Thesis 2 : Hate speech can cause emotional pain and suffering in victims just as intense as physical battery.

Better Thesis 1 : Whether or not the cultural concept of free speech bears any relation to the reality of 1st amendment legislation and jurisprudence, its continuing social function as a promoter of tolerance and intellectual exchange trumps the call for politicization (according to Fish's agenda) of the term.

Better Thesis 2 : The various arguments against the regulation of hate speech depend on the unspoken and unexamined assumption that emotional pain is either trivial.

Module 7: Drafting a Research Paper

What makes a thesis statement work, learning objectives.

Recognize the qualities of a strong thesis statement

A good thesis statement packs a lot of punch into a relatively short sentence. If you’ve done your job, the reader should be able to get your topic, claim, argument, and main points, all from one clear statement. There are a few key components to watch out for when evaluating whether or not you’ve written a strong thesis.

A Strong Thesis Statement ADDS UP:

You should be confident in your argument. Don’t use phrases like “I feel” or “I believe” – these will weaken your argument and convey to the reader that you are the only person who feels the way you do. You should take an authoritative stance to persuade your readers to accept your argument and open their minds to what you have to say. There’s no room to be wishy-washy when it comes to a thesis, especially not in an argumentative paper. You need to come in with a firm stance and assert your conviction. After all, if you don’t stand behind your argument, why should the reader?

• This statement leaves a lot of wiggle room and doesn’t really sound like even you are totally sold on this concept. A pros and cons approach ends up feeling more informative than it is persuasive.
• Every good persuasive paper should acknowledge the opposition, but the trick is to demonstrate to the reader that your claim is still the best option. The above statement establish a firm but realistic stance.

Descriptive

Many writers are afraid of “giving it all away” in their introduction and thesis. After all, why would the reader keep going if they know what’s going to happen? Perhaps this is a result of watching too many M. Night Shyamalan movies. When it comes to academic writing, it’s important to lay it all out for your audience so they have clear expectations of what you’re going to cover in your essay.  This is not to say that you need to go in-depth with your intended points, but you do want to show your readers what your paper is about and why it’s important.

• While this thesis makes a strong assertion, can likely be proven through research, and has a strong focus, it’s unclear how reading can actually benefit students. Including a brief mention of the paper’s main points gives the reader a much better idea of what to expect and shows foresight and planning on the part of the writer.
• In this revised thesis we have the same core argument — reading is good for kids — with the addition of how it’s good for them. This gives the reader an idea of how you’re going to prove this argument and the general structure of the rest of the paper.

To determine whether your thesis statement is debatable, ask yourself: could someone disagree with this statement from a position other than “because I say so”? If not, then your thesis probably isn’t debatable.

• Although a reader could disagree with this statement from their own point of view, the argument wouldn’t get any further than “no they’re not… yes they are…”.
• Someone could look at the same set of evidence (the analysis of camera movements) and find a different cause or explanation.

Substantiated

For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and examples for your opinion. In some cases (such as a personal essay), you can rely on personal observations to support your claims, but for most research papers you’ll be consulting outside sources. In most academic fields, you should primarily rely on peer-reviewed sources.

• You may believe a claim like this strongly, but there’s no way to prove it within the logical context of a research paper.
• This claim can be substantiated by passages from the books.

A strong thesis statement needs to express one main idea. Even if there are several sub-points, the main idea should be singular and unified.

• This thesis takes us in two directions: an argument about MLM and pyramid schemes, and an argument about the potential benefits of MLM.
• This thesis connects both pieces into one main idea. The difference between MLM and pyramid schemes becomes a sub-point of the claim that many companies fail to see the potential benefits of MLM strategies.

A thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain focused on the topic. Don’t make a potentially complex idea even more confusing by trying to cover too many topics. It can be easy to get off track in an effort to be as thorough as possible, and if your thesis is unfocused, the rest of your paper will be, too. Similarly, if your thesis is too broad, it’s going to be difficult to develop a solid argument throughout your essay.

• This thesis covers too much ground and leaves the reader with more questions than answers. What kind of animals? What constitutes “ethical”? According to whom? This statement is too unfocused to give the reader an idea of what the paper is actually about.
• This statement provides enough detail to make the terms and boundaries of the argument clear.

Pitfalls To Avoid with Thesis Statements

• Elements of a Thesis Statement, Pitfalls to avoid with thesis statements. Authored by : Jennifer Lapum, Oona St-Amant, Michelle Hughes, Andy Tan, Arina Bogdan, Frances Dimaranan, Rachel Frantzke, and Nada Savicevic. Located at : https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/scholarlywriting/chapter/elements-of-a-thesis-statement/ . Project : The Scholarship of Writing in Nursing Education: 1st Canadian Edition . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Thesis statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

• Features for Creative Writers
• Features for Work
• Features for Higher Education
• Features for Teachers
• Features for Non-Native Speakers
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Can You Start a Sentence With Although?

Hannah Yang

You might have learned in school that you shouldn’t start a sentence with a subordinating conjunction, such as although , before , or after .

So, is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with although ?

The answer is yes! It’s perfectly okay to start a sentence with although , as long as you use it correctly.

Read on to learn more about how you can use although at the beginning of a sentence.

How to Use Although in a Sentence

Examples of how to use although, although at the start of a sentence, how to punctuate although, conclusion on can you start a sentence with although.

Although is a subordinating conjunction that means “in spite of the fact that” or “even though.”

For example, you might write “She loved to paint, although she wasn’t very good at it.” This sentence means the same thing as “She loved to paint, in spite of the fact that she wasn’t very good at it.”

When Can You Start a Sentence With Although?

The English language has many tricky grammar rules, but it has no rule against starting a sentence with although .

A phrase that begins with although is called a dependent clause, meaning that it isn’t a full sentence on its own. Instead, it has to be connected to an independent clause, which forms the main clause of the sentence.

For example, consider the following sentence: “ Although the road was long, she never gave up.”

In this case, “ although the road was long” is the dependent clause, and “she never gave up” is the independent clause that contains the subject of the sentence ( sh ) and the subject’s action ( never gave up ).

You can put the dependent clause at the end of the independent clause instead, which would turn this sentence into “She never gave up, although the road was long.” It’s grammatically correct regardless of the order of the two clauses.

One of the most common mistakes related to starting a sentence with although is when you fail to attach it to a complete thought.

Consider this example: “She never gave up. Although she definitely considered it.”

In this case, these two sentences are not grammatically correct together. “She never gave up” is a complete sentence, but “ although she definitely considered it” is a sentence fragment.

Some writers use sentence fragments as a stylistic choice or for dramatic effect, but it’s best to do so sparingly and deliberately. Unless you have a good reason to use this device, always attach although to a complete sentence.

Can You Start a Paragraph With Although?

Just as it’s okay to start a sentence with although , it’s also okay to start a paragraph with although . As long as you’re using the word in a complete sentence, you can put that sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

The best way to learn grammar is by reading plenty of examples. Let’s look at some more examples of although from English literature.

Although in the Middle of a Sentence

Let’s start with some examples of sentences that include although , but don’t begin with although .

“I have to say that although it broke my heart, I was, and still am, glad I was there.”—Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”—Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

“Heart always wins out over the mind. The heart, although reckless and suicidal and a masochist all on its own, always gets its way.”—J.A. Redmerski, The Edge of Never

“For several years, I had been bored. Not a whining, restless child’s boredom ( although I was not above that) but a dense, blanketing malaise.”—Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl

“Would you rather I didn’t talk? If you say so I’ll stop. I can stop when I make up my mind to it, although it’s difficult.”—Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

“He knew one of the women well, and had shared his universe with her. They had seen the same mountains, and the same trees, although each of them had seem them differently.”—Paulo Coelho, The Valkyries

“Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past, not only the reality of work done and of love loved, but of sufferings bravely suffered. These sufferings are even the things of which I am most proud, although these are things which cannot inspire envy.”—Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

Now let’s look at some examples of sentences that begin with although . In the last example by Neil Gaiman, although is used in a sentence fragment, rather than in a complete sentence.

“ Although it’s good to try new things and to keep an open mind, it’s also extremely important to stay true to who you really are.”—Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

“ Although Cecily was unlike Jem in every other conceivable possible way, she did share one quality with him. Stubbornness. When Cecily said she wanted something, it did not express an idle desire, but an iron determination.”—Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess

“Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart.”—E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

“ Although no one will ever accuse me of being much of a science student, one thing I learned from science classes is that energy is never created and never destroyed.”—John Green, Looking for Alaska

“First of all, the beauty that he sees is available to other people and to me too, I believe. Although I may not be quite as refined aesthetically as he is… I can appreciate the beauty of a flower.”—Richard P. Feynman, The Pleasure of Finding Things Out

“ Although I’m only fourteen, I know quite well what I want, I know who is right and who is wrong.”—Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank

“He had heard about talking to plants in the early seventies, on Radio Four, and thought it was an excellent idea. Although talking is perhaps the wrong word for what Crowley did. What he did was put the fear of God into them.”—Neil Gaiman, Good Omens

In general, you often need to use a comma before although if you’re attaching it to the rest of a sentence. For example:

• I don’t usually like eating sweets , although I do love dark chocolate.

When you start a sentence with although , you should include a comma after the full clause that contains it. For example:

• Although it was a warm day, she still wore her winter coat.”

The comma goes after the full subordinate clause rather than directly after although .

Starting a sentence with although is grammatically correct. Just make sure you’re creating a complete sentence.

Although it takes practice to create clear and effective writing, using ProWritingAid will certainly help! You can run your writing through the grammar checker to make sure you’re writing strong, grammatically correct sentences.

Take your writing to the next level:

20 Editing Tips from Professional Writers

Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas., this guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers..

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

Write with Jean

Learn writing secrets from a pro.

Crafting Better Sentences: Use “Although” Carefully

Although is a marvelous word that – alas – even professional writers sometimes use incorrectly. Train your writing radar to keep a mental lookout for although , and follow these simple rules:

1. Never put a comma after although .

Beware of writing something like this:

I decided to accept the job offer. Although, I had some doubts about the company’s stability.  INCORRECT

Here’s the correct version:

I decided to accept the job offer although I had some doubts about the company’s stability.  CORRECT

You could also write it this way:

I decided to accept the job offer. However, I had some doubts about the company’s stability.   CORRECT

2. Always attach an although idea to a complete sentence. Anything that starts with although is an extra idea. It can’t stand alone: You have to attach it to a complete sentence. (Think of a garage – nice to have, but you need a house to go with it.)

Although I had some doubts about the company’s stability. I decided to accept the job offer.  INCORRECT

A lthough I had some doubts about the company’s stability, I decided to accept the job offer.   CORRECT

3. Yes, you can start a sentence with although ! If you start a sentence with an although idea, end the idea with a comma, and follow it with a real sentence.

Suppose you wrote “Although the hurricane was headed our way.” This is an extra idea that can’t end with a period. What to do?

Your first choice is to end it with a comma and add a real sentence. (Think garage + house, as I mentioned earlier.) Here’s what you might have when you’re finished:

Although the hurricane was headed our way last night, early this morning it turned north and missed Florida completely.  CORRECT

Another choice would be to put your extra idea at the back of a real sentence. In that case you wouldn’t use a comma. Here’s the result:

Early this morning the hurricane turned north and missed Florida completely although it was headed our way last night.  CORRECT

4. Sometimes you can fix an although mistake just by substituting however . Nothing fancy is required: Just use a period and a capital letter.

Here’s a sentence that needs fixing (never put a comma after although , and never leave an although idea hanging out there by itself).

Gloria has been madly in love with Chuck ever since he showed up in her algebra class. Although, he’s not interested in her at all.   INCORRECT

Substitute however , and you’re done! Take a look:

Gloria has been madly in love with Chuck ever since he showed up in her algebra class. However, he’s not interested in her at all.   CORRECT

And that’s all there is to it! Those four simple rules will help you use although with confidence – an important skill for any serious writer.

Jean Reynolds, Ph.D., is a longtime English professor and Shaw scholar who has published eleven books. Her most recent book is What Your English Teacher Didn’t Tell You: Everything You Need to Know about Showcasing Yourself through Your Writing (Maple Leaf Press).

76 thoughts on “ Crafting Better Sentences: Use “Although” Carefully ”

Cultures around the world are different however, there are many similarities as well.

Is this sentence written correctly? Some of my peers say “yes”, some say “no”.

The sentence is incorrect. You can’t join two sentences with a comma unless you use a FANBOYS word (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Here are two ways to correct it: Cultures around the world are different. However, there are many similarities as well. Cultures around the world are different; however, there are many similarities as well.

Can i start an essay with although? Example: Although you said to explore other colleges, university of Michigan in Dearborn has a lot to offer.

You certainly can. The only words that don’t work well at the beginning of a sentence are “like” and “which” (unless you’re asking a question). “Like” is fine in a sentence like this: “Like many Floridians, I think about preparing for bad weather during every hurricane season.” The problem is that many people write fragments starting with “like”: “Like many women who attended college in the 1960s.” Another point: I would have said “the University of Michigan,” adding “the” and capitalizing “University,” since it’s part of the name of the institution.

Is this sentence correct? ‘Although the boys trained very hard, they could not win because the opposing team was very strong.’

Yes, your sentence is correct!

ballroomdancer My teacher taught me to just use “yet” no other FANBOYS words. When we were learning the use of “Although”

It looks like part of your message is missing. Can you tell me more about the point you’re making?

Is the below sentence correct? I never used ‘although’ with an adjective and now I saw it in a book. ‘Although inexperienced, individuals with the willingness to learn will make a difference in the foreseeable future.’

Technically speaking it’s correct – but it’s awkward. Incidentally, I notice you’re using inverted commas, ‘like this,’ instead of double quotation marks, “like this.” Are you British? The inverted commas are unusual.

Although he accepted to tutor grand children of Rama, but, took no favors for his personal ends.instead desired the welfare of his people.

This sentence needs some corrections. Here are the two most important ones: Don’t use “although” and “but” in the same sentence. And never put a comma after “but.” Here’s a suggested revision: Although he agreed to tutor Rama’s grandchildren, he took no favors. He desired the welfare of his people.

Although he agreed to tutor Rama’s grandchildren, he took no favors, as he desired the welfare of his people. is it correct?

Yes, it is! But “as he desired the welfare of his people” sounds formal to my American ears. It would sound more natural to say “because he desired the welfare of his people.” Better yet: because he was committed to helping his people.

according to Cambridge dictionary, i found comma is used before the word although. ” She walked home by herself, although she knew that it was dangerous.” could you explain about this case?

You have sharp eyes! The comma is correct. If you read the sentence aloud, you’ll hear your voice change when you start reading “although she knew that it was dangerous.” Your voice will drop a little and then go up at the end. I call this Comma Rule 3. (Grammarians call it an “interrupter.”) You lower your voice when a sentence has extra information. To learn more, go to this link: https://wp.me/PU98s-1v . You can also search for “Comma Rule 3” in the search box on the home page.

Although the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, control of them is necessary only in the South. Is it correct?

Technically there’s an agreement error. “The lesser cornstalk borer” is one critter, so “control of it” would be better than “control of them.” I came up with this revision: “Although the lesser cornstalk borer is very common, control is necessary only in the South.”

Hey there! “Although she was in Florida yet she didn’t meet him.” Does this sentence need any error correction?

You need two changes. Delete “yet.” And you need a comma (Comma Rule 1). “Although she was in Florida” is an extra idea. Your real sentence is “she didn’t meet him.” Here’s the corrected sentence: “Although she was in Florida, she didn’t meet him.”

It’s an excellent and very helpful website:)

Thank you so much! I’m so glad the website is helpful.

Re your rule 1 (Never put a comma after although.): I offer, “I decided to accept the job offer although, despite the owner’s assurances, I had some doubts about the company’s stability.

PS—I really enjoy your website. Thank you.

You’re right, and I thought about interrupters when I constructed this post! When I created this blog, I decided – based on years of teaching – not to discuss exceptions when I introduced a rule. Some readers feel intimidated and confused when they think they have to deal with exceptions. Anyone who knows how to construct an elegant sentnce like yours probably wouldn’t even read the post about “although.” Thanks so much for the feedback – I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog!

Yesterday, a coworker told me that I should not start sentences with “although” in formal writing (such as a published letter at work or a paper for grad school). This coworker is not a grammarian, but he claims that two English professors at our university had told him on separate occasions to change sentences so that they do not begin with “although.” I regularly use “although” to start a dependent clause, and I always follow it with an independent clause. For example, I would write, “Although Rosicky could claim paternal dominance, he humbly cleans Polly’s kitchen.”

After reading your post and the comments, I believe that I can use “although” to start sentences in formal writing. Am I correct?

You’re absolutely right – and your professors are wrong. There is not (and never has been) any rule against it – or any rule about starting sentences with and, but, because, and so on. I used to tell my college students that I’d give them $100 in cash if they could find those rules in any reputable grammar book, old or new. Despite frantic searches, nobody ever collected the money! Good for you thinking critically about this question.

Thanks for your response! My professors have never reduced my grade for starting a sentence with “although.” I assume my coworker must have been using “although” instead of “however,” as you explained in your post. I appreciate your help!

Glad I was helpful! 🙂

Although teens hold positive views of different faith groups and religious diversity in Australia yet opinion shifts when it comes to how religion impacts their lives and the lives of others.

mam, i was doing some questions , then I came across this .It was given as a correct option, and one thing to be noticed they have deliberately removed comma from this and have also given explanation :you can use comma or yet I didn’t get the explanation so , could you plz tell me what kind of structure is this

I would REQUIRE the comma after Australia. I would omit “yet.” I don’t think it’s a good idea to use although and yet in the same sentence this way.

Although I don’t have any questions, I do want to let tell you how helpful this is. Thank you very much.

I’m grinning! Great comment, Elizabeth – thanks so much!

You’re welcome! I just spotted the mistake I DID make. Why didn’t I check myself before submitting?! It’s quite embarrassing, considering the situation. Keep up your good work. Thanks again. Elizabeth

This is hilarious, Elizabeth – I didn’t notice any mistake until I read your second comment. The human brain is a funny organ! I’m often aghast when I go back and reread my WritewithJean posts. No matter how carefully I proofread them – over and over! – many times I find a mistake after I hit “submit.” Well, it keeps us humble!

Hello if I constructed a sentence that requires a comma in grammar rule 3 but I decide to ommit it will my sentence be wrong? I am asking this as I find it complicated to primary school children who learn English as a second language. Anxiously waiting for your technical reply

Can you give me a sample sentence? The sentence you described will probably have a comma error.

She walked home by herself, although she knew that it was dangerous.

However I thank you so much for a quick response.

My question is, if I missed the comma, would my construction be purely grammatically wrong?

Are you talking about grammar or usage?

Commas often have nothing to do with grammar. They’re a usage issue. So I’d say that you’d probably have a usage error. But that’s not necessarily true. Some commas are optional.

In the sentence you gave me, a usage stickler would say that the comma after “herself” is wrong. But I would use it because there’s a voice change after “herself.”

A usage stickler would say that the comma after “herself” is wrong. But I would go ahead and use it because there’s a voice change after “herself.”

Hello, is this sentence correct. Though it doesn’t follow the rule that Although should be followed by a clause, it feels totally correct. if so, could you explain to me why? Is there elision here?

Thanks in advance! Antonella

I’ve seen your comment : Is the below sentence correct? I never used ‘although’ with an adjective and now I saw it in a book. ‘Although inexperienced, individuals with the willingness to learn will make a difference in the foreseeable future.’

Avatar ballroomdancerPost author February 19, 2017 at 6:54 am Technically speaking it’s correct – but it’s awkward. Incidentally, I notice you’re using inverted commas, ‘like this,’ instead of double quotation marks, “like this.” Are you British? The inverted commas are unusual.

Yes, the sentence is correct! Don’t be intimidated by all the grammar gobbledygook – you don’t need it. You can download a short, jargon-free handout that explains commas at this link: bit.ly/EasyCommas Thanks for writing! Jean

Hi, your posts are of great assistance to us. Thanks! I’d like to know what is the correct verb conjugation in this sentence: V1: Although Ankara be the capital of Turkey, Istanbul is more crowded than Ankara. V2: Although Ankara Is the capital of Turkey, Istanbul is more crowded than Ankara.

There’s no verb conjugation here. I think you’re asking which verb is correct: be or is. The correct verb is is . Version 2 is the right one. I’m glad you’re finding my posts helpful! Thanks for the feedback.

Hello ballroomdancer,

I’m getting confused with conflicting rules on various sites. I was wondering if you’d be able to help me, especially as your explanations are incredibly clear.

When using subordinating conjunctions, I believe the rule is not to use a comma if the subordinate (dependent) clause is at the end. For example, ‘I broke my leg when I was seven.’ However, if you place the subordinate clause at the start (extra idea), then you use a comma. For instance, ‘When I was seven, I broke my leg.’ I believe this is what you’ve called ‘comma rule one.’ I’m hoping that I’m correct so far?

I’ve read about how conjunctions that show a contrast (such as although, even though, whereas) ALWAYS have a comma when they are used to introduce the extra idea at the end. Therefore, the following sentence, based on this rule, would have a missing comma: I am not enjoying working from home although I am enjoying the lie-ins. Apparently, the correct come usage would be the following: I am not enjoying working from home, although I am enjoying the lie-ins.

I think you’ve referred to this as a voice changer. However, this article seems to imply that you don’t always have to use them before words such as although.

I hope that I ahve made sense. I am sorry for the essay! I’m just not sure if I am right to believe that whenever a subordinate clause is at the end a comma is not needed before it.

Please help! Thank you in advance!

Hello, Charles! What an interesting question. You’re a terrific writer! The answer is that the comma is optional. This is a question that bothered me a lot when I first started teaching. You can do the sentence both ways. I am not enjoying working from home, although I am enjoying the lie-ins. CORRECT I am not enjoying working from home although I am enjoying the lie-ins. CORRECT Your example is usually a Comma Rule 1 sentence (as you said). But Comma Rule 3 could also apply: use a comma when you change your voice. The only comment I can add is that the comma is optional. I don’t agree with anyone who says you have to use it. I hope this helps! Jean

It truly does help! Thank you SO much! Also, I apologise for the two typos in the previous post. Thank you- not only for your helpful articles but also for your speedy and helpful response. I look forward to future posts. I have subscribed. 🙂 Take care and have a lovely evening, Charles

I never noticed the typos! I’m so pleased I was helpful, Charles. Thanks for the feedback. I’ve been working hard on a book, and posts have slowed down. I’ll be posting fresh material soon. It’s always lovely to hear from a visitor to my blog! Jean

Hello. I haven’t found any valid resources on the net that could explain whether it was possible to use “although” with future (will, shall..) or not For example: Although I won’t come to the lesson, i will do the homework. Will be looking forward to your response, thank you!

Hi, Timur! You can use any words you want with although . The tense doesn’t matter. “Although the restaurants will be closed, we’ll find a place to eat.” That’s a fine sentence. I’m wondering if you’re learning English as a foreign language. Your English is excellent. Trust what you know! Stop worrying about grammar rules.

Hello! I have just read your answer. I thought that it would take much longer to get a response, thus i forgot about this website. Anyway I’m very much glad and thankful to you. As about English, I learnt it as foreign language. Moreover, I have been teaching English in Uzbekistan for 3 years already. Good luck in your future achievements, cheers!

It’s good to hear from you again, Timur! Thanks for the good wishes. I’m sure you’re a great English teacher!

kenza woerks hard at the office although she finds time to help her son with his homework

1. Although it was a short duration cooking course yet I have learnt a number of dishes in the classes. 2 Although it was a short duration cooking course, I have learnt a number of dishes in the classes. 3 I have learnt a number of dishes in the classes, although, it was a short duration cooking course.

Could you please tell me which is correct or I can say what are the errors in all the three sentences? I am learning English so excuse me for my sentence making ability. I would also like to know about correct use of THEREFORE. Have you written about it on this website. By the way, Love your content. thank you ( hugs emojis)

Only #2 is correct. Some tips: Don’t use “yet” in an although sentence. (#1) Don’t put a comma after although . (#3) If the although idea is at the back, don’t use a comma. (#3) Here’s the correct sentence: I have learnt a number of dishes in the classes although it was a short course.

Another tip: just use “short.” You don’t need duration . Thank you for the feedback! I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying my website.

Would it be grammatically correct or incorrect to put a comma after the word ‘and’ when using although?

And, although it’s cloudy today, I know that the blue skies are coming soon.

Yes, it’s correct! “Although it’s cloudy today” is an interrupter. The first comma takes your voice down; the second comma brings it back up. You can hear those commas if you read your sentence aloud.

Learn more about interrupters at this link (Comma Rule 3).

Yes, your punctuation is correct.

Could we use the although in the middle of the sentences

Yes, you can. It will be a Comma Rule 3 sentence: use commas to lower and raise your voice. The rain, although it was very welcome, spoiled our plans for a picnic on the beach.

My teacher assigned us to write a paragraph where we need to put an ISC, intro subordinate clause, and in my paragraph, I have chosen the word “although”. My teacher says that in order for it to be grammatically correct, I’d need a subject and a verb in that clause. Would the sentence “Although the cost of living in Finland is high, Finland provides a high income to compensate.” be correct? If not, how can I add a subject and a verb to it, or any other thing to improve.

Your sentence is correct. Well done! Your subject is “the cost of living,” and your verb is “is.”

Thank you for such a great post. I have a question regarding the placement of noun and pronoun in an “although ” sentence :

1) Although Jane was late , she still sent to school 2) Although she was late, Jane still went to school

Should the noun be with the independent clause ? Or both or acceptable?

Appreciate your clarifications.

My answer would depend on what came before the sentence. If readers already know her name is “Jane,” I might not repeat it. But if I’ve used “she” several times, I might want to switch back to “Jane.” For example: Jane’s alarm didn’t go off this morning. Although she was late, she still went to school. But here’s a different version: Jane’s alarm didn’t go off this morning. It was 7:45 when she finally woke up, and she knew she’d miss part of her first class. Although she was late, Jane still went to school.

Is it possible to start a sentence with ‘Although’ in between an introductory paragraph of an academic essay? Kindly confirm whether the below example is correct or not? Globalization has become an integral part of the rising debate in the contemporary world. Although such topics will never yield a consensual agreement, a dialogue on globalization can lead to thought-provoking discussions.

You can start ANY sentence, ANY time, with ANY word you want. Any word in the English language can be used to start a sentence. You will never find a rule against starting a sentence with “although” (or “but,” or “and,” or “because,” or any other word) in a reputable grammar book. Your question puzzles me. The article you read (“Crafting Better Sentences: Use ‘Although’ Carefully”) specifically says you can start sentences with “although.” Here’s what I said in the article: 2. Always attach an although idea to a complete sentence. Anything that starts with although is an extra idea. It can’t stand alone: You have to attach it to a complete sentence. (Think of a garage – nice to have, but you need a house to go with it.)

Although I had some doubts about the company’s stability, I decided to accept the job offer.  CORRECT

3. Yes, you can start a sentence with although! If you start a sentence with an although idea, end the idea with a comma, and follow it with a real sentence.

It sounds like someone gave you some bad information! Don’t believe everything you hear. You can check a good grammar book to see what the REAL rules are.

Thanks a lot for your well-explained clarification and quick response.

You’re welcome!

Although the virtual meeting and texting communication are getting more dominating, I believe face to face communication will still be considered as important and necessary as in the past.

Is this sentence correct? Do I have to keep the two topics in the subordinate clause and the main clause SAME to make it more logical to be understood? Thank you so much for your time and knowledge. I appreciate it.

Hi, Danni! Your grammar is excellent. You used “although” correctly, and your clauses are logical. Some changes are necessary to make the sentence more readable and natural. I would get rid of “the” in front of “virtual meeting,” for example. Here’s my version: Despite the popularity of virtual meetings and texting, we need to keep providing opportunities for face-to-face communication.

I’m newly subscribed because your site is wonderful. How generous of you to guide so many through grammatical and syntactic rough waters!

I am proofing a proofreader. 😉 I would love for you to confirm that this “Although” sentence is incorrect, if indeed it is:

I think this was intended to inspire us to find better ways of delivering new products to the market. Although the only advice they could offer at the time was to keep the end-user at the center of the design process.

Thank you very much!

The although sentence indeed is incorrect. Any idea that starts with although is an extra idea. It needs to be attached to a sentence.

Here’s a correct version of the sentence:

I think this was intended to inspire us to find better ways of delivering new products to the market, although the only advice they could offer at the time was to keep the end-user at the center of the design process.

The comma after market is optional. The sentence is so long that I think it needs a break. I would not write a sentence this long. I would break it into two sentences:

I think this was intended to inspire us to find better ways of delivering new products to the market. But the only advice they could offer at the time was to keep the end-user at the center of the design process.

Ideas have more impact if they have their own sentence. I always try to avoid overpacking a sentence.

Pingback: Is It Bad To Start An Essay With Throughout History? – Fallsgardencafe

Great post! If we are to join two sentences using although, how do I know which of them is the extra idea that should come directly after ‘although’?

See if you can tell the difference between these two examples, Essam: Although I like ice cream. I like ice cream. The one starting with “although” is the extra idea. Read it aloud, and you can tell it’s not a sentence. It makes you expect something else. That’s how you know it’s not a real sentence. Now try this: “I want to buy a new car although I can’t afford one right now.” “although I can’t afford one right now” is the extra idea. (It starts with although.) If you said, “I can’t afford one right now,” it would be a real sentence. I hope this helps!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

If you still haven't filed your taxes, here's how to do it and what will happen

The deadline to file your taxes, April 15, was about a month ago. Did you file them? 

If you haven’t yet, there’s some slightly good news. You still can file your taxes. But because it’s late, there are some consequences. 

Here’s what will happen and how to file them with the IRS.

Penalties and other fees for delayed tax filing

If you don't file your tax return by the due date, The Failure to File penalty will apply, according to the IRS . The penalty you must pay is a percentage of the taxes you didn't pay on time.

The penalty is 5% of your unpaid balance per month or partial month, but will not exceed 25% of your unpaid balance.

In addition, the IRS charges interest when it is late. Interest is based on the current rates.

Bottom line: The longer you wait, the more the fees will build.

It’s been more than a month. Don’t keep procrastinating. File an accurate return as soon as possible.

How to file your taxes, even if it’s late

Anyone who earned at least $13,850 in gross income in 2023 must file a tax return in 2024.

If you filed an extension, it gives you more time to file your paperwork, not more time for payment. 

If you determine that you need to file a return, start pulling together the documents you’ll need to complete it:

W-2 : If you have a job, this is the form the employer must send you by the end of January. It says how much money you earned last year, and how much tax was withheld.

1099s : These forms report income that didn’t come directly from a traditional employer. They show earnings from freelance or “gig” pay; interest and dividend income; and income from third-party platforms such as Venmo and PayPal.

Receipts : If you’re a first-time taxpayer, you will need to start keeping records of transactions that you might have to report on a tax form, including income, expenses, and potential deductions. Examples might include donations to charity or a whopping medical bill.

In addition, figure out if you can claim someone as a dependent and if you qualify for deductions or credits. 

Is this your first time filing for taxes? You’ll need to choose whether to do your taxes on your own or hire a professional.

If you go the do-it-yourself route, you may be able to save money and complete the return quickly using tax software or the IRS Free File program found on their website .

Thinking of hiring a tax professional? Is it better to pay someone to do your taxes or do them yourself? We'll help you decide.