A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects other words or phrases as well as clauses of equal rank.<\/p>\n
The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, <\/em>and so<\/em>. (One way to remember them is by using the acronym FANBOYS as a mnemonic device: F<\/strong>or A<\/strong>nd N<\/strong>or B<\/strong>ut O<\/strong>r Y<\/strong>et S<\/strong>o.)<\/p>\n We use coordinating conjunctions with great frequency in our communications:<\/p>\n I would like lettuce and<\/u> tomato with my sandwich, but<\/u> please go easy on the mayo.<\/em><\/p>\n Paula doesn’t want to ski this winter, nor<\/u> does she care to go ice fishing.<\/em><\/p>\n Roger has a clumsy yet<\/u> effective way of fixing broken appliances.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n A coordinating conjunction can function with many different parts of speech and sentences such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, and clauses.<\/p>\n Noun:<\/strong> Should we buy the van<\/em> or<\/u> the SUV<\/em>?<\/p>\n Verb:<\/strong> The party guests ate<\/em> and<\/u> drank<\/em> through the night.<\/p>\n Adjective:<\/strong> That costume is colorful<\/em> but<\/u> gaudy<\/em>.<\/p>\n Adverbs: <\/strong>Slowly<\/em> yet<\/u> surely<\/em>, Jane will finish writing her book.<\/p>\n Prepositional Phrase: <\/strong>The cabin you’re looking for is either beyond the stream <\/em>or<\/u> over the ridge<\/em>.<\/p>\n Clause: <\/strong>The band is exhausted<\/em>, so<\/u> they need to postpone several tour dates<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Let’s look at more examples of how coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses. Also continue to note how they unite parts of equal rank.<\/p>\n Words:<\/strong> Rain<\/em> or<\/u> shine<\/em>, we will run<\/em> and<\/u> compete<\/em>. (two nouns: rain, shine<\/em>; two verbs: run, compete<\/em>)<\/p>\n Phrases: <\/strong>At night<\/em> or<\/u> by day<\/em>, the guards protect the perimeter<\/em> and<\/u> monitor activity<\/em>. (two prepositional phrases: at night, by day<\/em>; two verb phrases: protect the perimeter, monitor activity<\/em>)<\/p>\n Clauses: <\/strong>The checking account is getting close to the minimum balance<\/em>, so<\/u> we need to make a deposit soon<\/em>. (two independent clauses<\/a>: the checking account is getting close to the minimum balance, we need to make a deposit soon<\/em>)<\/p>\n Commas separate more than two items in a series joined by a coordinating conjunction, including a comma before the conjunction (often referred to as the serial or Oxford comma<\/a>).<\/p>\n Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The salad includes berries, pine nuts,<\/u><\/strong> and<\/u> blue cheese.<\/p>\n Please call, write,<\/u> or<\/u> stop by when you’ve made a decision.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A comma also separates two independent clauses connected by a conjunction.<\/p>\n Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The league is revising its policy,<\/u> and<\/u> we will soon announce the new rules concerning playing through a hole on the golf course.<\/p>\n The car needs to be moved by ten p.m.,<\/u> or<\/u> the city will issue a citation against it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When separating independent clauses, the coordinating conjunctions yet <\/em>and so <\/em>can be punctuated with a comma or a semicolon.<\/p>\n Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The path is narrow and long,<\/u> yet<\/u> on they go.<\/p>\n The path is narrow and long;<\/u> yet<\/u> on they go.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When main clauses are short and joined by the conjunction and <\/em>or or<\/em>, the comma may be omitted as style and preference determine.<\/p>\n Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The path is narrow and long yet on they go.<\/p>\n Tonight the stars will come out and<\/u> the moon will be full.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Along the way you may have learned or been told to never begin a sentence with a conjunction. The thinking behind this is well intended, as it means to prevent us from writing choppy or fragmented sentences.<\/p>\n Contrary to unyielding guidance, starting a sentence with a conjunction is acceptable as long as it maintains principles of good writing form. In particular:<\/p>\n make sure<\/strong> the coordinating conjunction introduces a main clause related to the previous sentence: The abandoned bulldozer was a hulking metal mass on the roadside: an immovable junkyard fist on the ground. But<\/u> the town officials would not have it removed.<\/em><\/p>\n be sparing<\/strong> in starting sentences with conjunctions. This technique should be used only to emphasize a statement or thought or otherwise achieve writer style or voice in well-chosen places.<\/p>\n remember<\/strong> that a comma precedes a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses, but a comma does not follow a conjunction that begins a following sentence unless a parenthetical thought is inserted.<\/p>\n Incorrect: <\/em><\/strong>The abandoned bulldozer was a hulking metal mass on the roadside: an immovable junkyard fist on the ground. But<\/u>, the town officials would not have it removed.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Correct:<\/em> <\/strong>The abandoned bulldozer was a hulking metal mass on the roadside: an immovable junkyard fist on the ground. But<\/u>, knowing what it stood for<\/u>, the town officials would not have it removed.<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Do You Need Commas Before Conjunctions?<\/a> Identify the correctly worded and punctuated sentence from each pair.<\/p>\n 1a. Let’s go to the hardware store, buy a hammer, a screwdriver, pliers. 2a. The dog looks to be feeling much better now so we don’t need to take it to the vet. 3a. Should Jason study mathematics or engineering? 4a. The new air conditioner does not use as much energy, nor does it require extra maintenance. <\/p>\n 1b. Let’s go to the hardware store and buy a hammer, a screwdriver, and pliers.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2b. The dog looks to be feeling much better now, so we don’t need to take it to the vet.<\/strong><\/p>\n 3a. Should Jason study mathematics or engineering?<\/strong><\/p>\n 4a. The new air conditioner does not use as much energy, nor does it require extra maintenance.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects other words or phrases as well as clauses of equal rank. The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. (One way to remember them is by using the acronym FANBOYS as a mnemonic device: For And Nor But Or Yet So.) We […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,13,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clauses-sentences","category-commas","category-definitions"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5693"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5693"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5702,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5693\/revisions\/5702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Coordinating Conjunctions in Different Roles<\/h2>\n
Punctuation with Coordinating Conjunctions<\/h2>\n
Starting a Sentence with a Conjunction<\/h2>\n
Related Topics<\/h3>\n
\nConnecting Sentences with Commas and Semicolons<\/a><\/p>\nPop Quiz<\/h2>\n
\n1b. Let’s go to the hardware store and buy a hammer, a screwdriver, and pliers.<\/p>\n
\n2b. The dog looks to be feeling much better now, so we don’t need to take it to the vet.<\/p>\n
\n3b. Should Jason study mathematics, or engineering?<\/p>\n
\n4b. The new air conditioner does not use as much energy. Nor, does it require extra maintenance.<\/p>\nPop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n