Continuing, generally, the discussion about complex sentences that began with my last post<\/a>, I’d like to tell you about my rediscovery of the word while<\/i>.<\/p>\n Last summer, I had several writing projects to complete. Needing, as always, to maintain sentence variety, yet without unnecessary length, I gradually zeroed in on while<\/i>. I never used it much in high school or university, but now I’m finding new uses for it weekly.<\/p>\n While <\/i>is a great word: I think the reason is that it has two potential meanings. It can mean “at the same time” or “although.” Often, those two meanings apply simultaneously.<\/p>\n Consider the following example:<\/p>\n While he hated math, his highest mark was in it.<\/i><\/p>\n For a situation to be ironic, two conflicting premises need to be true at the same time. That’s why while<\/i>, I’m finding, shines among subordinating conjunctions.<\/p>\n While India’s economic growth rate may lag China’s some years, India is ahead in being a democracy.<\/i><\/p>\n In one of my writing endeavours last summer, the target was really stingy with word allowance. Being a single word with two potential meanings, while<\/i> came to my rescue time and again. Maybe it will for you, too:)<\/p>\n