General Terms:
* Conjunction: This is the most common and accurate term. It specifically refers to words that connect words, phrases, or clauses.
* Connective: This is a broader term that encompasses conjunctions and other words or phrases that create connections in a sentence.
* Linker: This term is similar to "connective" and emphasizes the linking function of the word.
Specific Terms:
* Coordinating conjunction: Connects words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank (e.g., and, but, or).
* Subordinating conjunction: Connects a dependent clause to an independent clause (e.g., because, although, since).
* Correlative conjunction: Pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect elements (e.g., both...and, either...or, neither...nor).
Examples:
* And is a coordinating conjunction that connects two nouns: "The cat and the dog were playing."
* Because is a subordinating conjunction that connects a dependent clause to an independent clause: "I stayed home because I was sick."
* Both...and are correlative conjunctions that connect two adjectives: "The house was both beautiful and spacious."
Ultimately, the best term to use depends on the specific context and the type of connection you are trying to describe.