Connecting words

Connecting words are phrases between clues that help readers develop flow between the clues.

Mike Sorice philosophy

Mike Sorice notably does not believe in connecting words. His tossups are often in the form of a list of simple sentences that all contain a single good clue. Sorice is well-known for the quality of his questions, and maintains that connecting words unnecessarily lengthen tossups and fill up space with unbuzzable words. Some players occasionally raise ire over Sorice's lack of connecting words, claiming that they are choppy-sounding when read.

Philosophy of just about everyone else

Just about everyone else attempts to connect shorter clue-containing clauses together into compound or complex sentences using connecting words like "and" and "while." The reasoning behind this is that connecting words make it easier for readers to read the questions in a less choppy, more fluid manner.