7.2 Coordination and Subordination
Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two independent clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Note that a comma precedes the coordinating conjunction when joining two clauses.
| Independent Clause | Coordinating Conjunction (notice punctuation) | Independent Clause | Revised Sentence |
| I will not be attending the dance. | , for (indicates a reason or cause) | I have no one to go with. | I will not be attending the dance, for I have no one to go with. |
| I plan to stay home. | , and (joins two ideas) | I will complete an essay for class. | I plan to stay home, and I will complete an essay for class. |
| Jessie isn’t going to be at the dance. | , nor (indicates a negative) | Tom won’t be there either. | Jessie isn’t going to be at the dance, nor will Tom be there. |
| The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance. | , but (indicates a contrast) | I don’t think many people are going. | The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance, but I don’t think many people are going. |
| I might go to the next fundraising event. | , or (offers an alternative) | I might donate some money to the cause. | I might go to the next fundraising event, or I might donate some money to the cause. |
| My parents are worried that I am antisocial. | , yet (indicates a contrast) | I have many friends at school. | My parents are worried that I am antisocial, yet I have many friends at school. |
| Buying a new dress is expensive. | , so (indicates a result) | By staying home I will save money. | Buying a new dress is expensive, so by staying home I will save money. |
TipTo help you remember the seven coordinating conjunctions, think of the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Remember that when you use a coordinating conjunction in a sentence, a comma should precede it because the comma changes the meaning of the word. For example: FOR = preposition meaning “intended” “purposed” Comma + FOR = conjunction meaning “because” SO and YET have similar meaning or part-of-speech changes |
