oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

30 AND, OR, BUT, SO ETC PAGE 326
We cannot use these words before a finite clause.
NOT in spite of the Great Fire destroyed much of London
But we sometimes use in spite of/despite the fact that, especially if the two clauses
have different subjects.
In spite of the fact that the Great Fire destroyed much of London,...
But although is usually neater.
Although the Great Fire destroyed much of London,...
In the sentence The team lost but they played well, the conjunction but expresses
the idea that playing well is in contrast with losing and is therefore unexpected.
There is also a weaker meaning of but.
I'm right-handed but my brother is left-handed.
Here but expresses the idea that something is different but not unexpected. To
express this idea of difference, we can also use the conjunctions whereas or while.
I'm right-handed whereas/while my brother is left-handed.
We can also use the adverbial on the other hand to link two sentences. It can go in
front, mid or end position or after the subject.
Birmingham is a big city. Warwick, on the other hand, is quite small.
NOTE
We use on the contrary only when we mean that the opposite is true.
Warwick isn't a big city. On the contrary, it's quite small.
247 Words meaning 'so'
1 We use so to express a result.
It hasn't rained for ages, (and) so the ground is very dry.
So is a conjunction. It comes at the beginning of a clause.
The adverb therefore is a little formal. It often goes in mid position, but it can go in
front or end position or after the subject.
There has been no rainfall for some time. The ground is therefore very dry.
NOTE
We usually repeat the subject after so.
We lost our way, so we were late.
2 We can also use the adverbials as a result, consequently and in consequence.
The computer was incorrectly programmed, and as a result/and in consequence
the rocket crashed.
In consequence is more formal.
As a result of and in consequence of are prepositions.
The rocket crashed as a result of/in consequence of a computer error.
3 The ground is so dry (that) the plants are dying.
There was so much steam (that) we couldn't see a thing.
The place looked such a mess (that) I couldn't invite anyone in.
Here a sub clause (that the plants are dying) expresses the result of the ground
being very dry, there being so much steam, and so on. So and such express degree;
• 212(4). We cannot use very or too in this pattern.