Conjunctive adverbs join sentences, not parts of sentences. In choosing a conjunctive adverb, the relationship between the sentences to be connected is very important.
The conjunctive adverb unless essentially means "if not"; it's used when the second sentence shows the result if the first sentence doesn't happen:
1. You need to hurry. Otherwise we'll be late for work.
You need to hurry; otherwise we'll be late for work.
2. Be ready in five minutes. Otherwise I'll leave without you.
Be ready in five minutes; otherwise I'll leave without you.
3. I have a lot of work to do. Otherwise I'd go to the movies with you.
I have a lot of work to do; otherwise I'd go to the movies with you.
4. You have to have a Bachelor's degree and two years' work experience. Otherwise you can't
be admitted to the MBA program.
You have to have a Bachelor's degree and two years' work experience; otherwise you can't
be admitted to the MBA program.
5. Bob isn't having problems. Otherwise he would've called us.
Bob isn't having problems; otherwise he would've called us.
Notice that there is no comma after otherwise.
Extra Notes:
Sentences such as those above may also be joined with if not and unless, but the punctuation is different:
1. If you don't hurry, we'll be late for work.
We'll be late for work if you don't hurry.
Unless you hurry, we'll be late for work.
We'll be late for work unless you hurry.
2. If you aren't ready in five minutes, I'll leave without you.
I'll leave without you if you aren't ready in five minutes,
Unless you're ready in five minutes, I'll leave without you.
I'll leave without you unless you're ready in five minutes.
3. If I don't have a lot of work to do, I'll go to the movies with you.
I'll go to the movies with you if I don't have a lot of work to do,
Unless I have a lot of work to do; I'll go to the movies with you.
I'll go to the movies with you unless I have a lot of work to do.
4. If you don't have a Bachelor's degree and two years' work experience, you can't be admitted to the MBA program.
You can't be admitted to the MBA program if you don't have a Bachelor's degree and two
years' work experience,
Unless you have a Bachelor's degree and two years' work experience, you can't be admitted
to the MBA program.
You can't be admitted to the MBA program unless you have a Bachelor's degree and
two years' work experience.
5. If Bob isn't having problems, he won't call us.
Bob won't call us if he isn't having problems.
Unless Bob is having problems, he won't call us.
Bob won't call us unless he's having problems.
Notice that unless and if not use commas, not semicolons or periods (full stops). Notice also that there is no comma when unless and if not are in the middle of a sentence.
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