Lesson 23—Awkwardness and coordination
1. Coordinating ideas
If a sentence contains more than one idea, those ideas must coordinate logically with one other. The
main idea must be conveyed with an independent clause, but related ideas may be conveyed with
independent clauses, subordinate clauses, or modifying phrases.
In addition to being a best-selling author, Frances Brown is a native New Yorker and she has
written a new book; this new book is likely to cause quite a stir.
This sentence contains many ideas, but they are poorly coordinated. It contains three independent clauses:
Frances Brown is a native New Yorker, she has written a new book, and this new book is likely to cause quite
a stir. Which of these conveys the main idea? The first idea seems trivial compared to the other two. The
second and the third are intriguing, but are so closely related that they perhaps belong in the same clause. A
good revision would likely combine the last two ideas into the main clause of the sentence, and relegate the
other to a modifying phrase with the other less-important idea that she is a best-selling author.
Frances Brown, a native New Yorker and already a best-selling author, has written a new book
that is likely to cause quite a stir.
2. Run-on sentences
A run-on sentence or a comma splice is a sentence that uses only a comma to join two independent
clauses. To combine two independent clauses, you must use a colon (:), a semicolon (;), or a
coordinating conjunction like but, or, yet, for, and, nor, or so. (You can remember all of those
coordinating conjunctions with the mnemonic BOY-FANS.)
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I took several science courses last year, my favorite was neuroscience.
This sentence contains two independent clauses that are joined only by a comma, so the sentence is a run-on.
There are many ways to correct this problem. How you fix it depends on what you want to emphasize. For
instance, if you want to emphasize both clauses equally, a conjunction or semicolon will work.
I took several science courses last year, but my favorite was neuroscience.
I took several science courses last year; my favorite was neuroscience.
These sentences have slightly different emphases, but are both grammatically correct.
The ride was far more harrowing than we expected, several times the car nearly skidded off the
mountain.
This sentence is a run-on because it uses only a comma to join two independent clauses. Since the second
clause seems to explain the first, a colon works well.
The ride was far more harrowing than we expected: several times the car nearly skidded off the
mountain.
If there is a clear logical relationship between the ideas, consider using subordinating conjunctions like
because, whereas, although, or if to relate the two ideas.
Although I enjoy playing golf, I can’t stand to watch it on television.
This phrasing emphasizes the second clause as the main idea, which contrasts with the first clause. Since the
first sentence is not independent, it can be joined to the main clause with a comma.
If one idea in a sentence is clearly less important than the main idea, relegate the secondary idea to a
modifying phrase.
Glenda sang with passion and conviction; she performed for an audience of several thousand.
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This phrasing suggests that the two ideas are closely related and equally important. The first idea, however,
seems more significant, so a rephrasing seems in order.
Performing for an audience of several thousand, Glenda sang with passion and conviction.
This turns the second clause into a modifying participial phrase, and coordinates the ideas more effectively.
3. Using colons and semicolons
Either the colon (:) or the semicolon (;) can be used to combine two independent clauses into a single
sentence. The colon usually introduces an example or explanation. When using a colon or semicolon to
splice clauses, the clauses must be independent and must not begin with a conjunction.
The test was unbelievably difficult; and hardly anyone finished it on time.
This sentence uses a semicolon, but the second clause begins with the conjunction and. You may use a
semicolon or a conjunction to join two clauses, but not both. You can fix the mistake by simply removing the
conjunction.
The test was unbelievably difficult; hardly anyone finished it on time.
You can also combine the two ideas into a single clause, since they are so closely related.
The test was so difficult that hardly anyone finished it on time.
4. Tips for improving your essay
Make sure that your compound or complex sentences always emphasize the appropriate ideas and relate
the ideas logically. You should know how to relegate a minor idea to a modifying phrase, or to
emphasize an important idea by elevating it to a clause.
5. Tips for the multiple-choice questions
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On the multiple-choice questions, watch out for comma splices and misused colons or semicolons.
Don’t join two sentences with only a comma. If a colon or semicolon is underlined, check that both
clauses—the one that precedes and the one that follows—are independent.
We could not help being late, we were delayed by the storm.
(A) late, we were
(B) late, but we were
(C) late; having been
(D) late; we were
(E) late; because we were
The original sentence is a comma splice. Choice (B) doesn’t work because the clauses do not contrast each
other, so the conjunction but is illogical. Choices (C) and (E) don’t work because in both cases the phrase that
follows the semicolon is not an independent clause. Choice (D) works best, simply linking the original
clauses with a semicolon.
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Answer Key
Coordination practice
Each sentence below represents one of many possible correct answers.
1. Director Helen Schaffer, daughter of famous screen-writer George Schaffer, has received widespread
critical acclaim for her third movie, a comedy entitled The Return.
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2. An international team of scientists believes that studying a region of the human brain called the
prefrontal cortex, which they have found to govern impulse control, will help them to learn more about
criminal behavior.
3. Although electric cars may seem environmentally sound, the electricity they use actually comes from
power plants that often burn coal or other fossil fuels.
4. Regular exercise is good not only for your muscles and heart, but for your brain as well; it helps your
brain work more efficiently by keeping it well oxygenated.
5. Although we are motivated by our principles, these principles change all the time because our
experiences cause our priorities to evolve.
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