The word "although" is a conjunction used to introduce a contrast or exception. It helps to show that one idea is true, even though another idea might seem to contradict it. For example, you might say, "Although it was raining, the children played outside." This means that even though the weather was not ideal, the children still chose to have fun. Using "although" can make your writing more interesting by adding complexity to your sentences. It allows you to express different sides of a situation. For instance, "Although Sarah studied hard, she didn't pass the exam." Here, it highlights that despite her efforts, the outcome was not what she hoped for.