Compound Sentences and Coordinating Conjunctions
Complete sentences that can stand alone are called independent clauses. Compound sentences are made when
you join independent clauses. Coordinating conjunctions are intended to make compound sentences clearer
and help the reader understand the meaning of the sentence.
The seven coordinating conjunctions are For, And, Nor, But, Or Yet, So. Each implies a specific relationship
between complete sentences.
For: to give a reason
And: Adding information
Nor: To show a rejection of two choices
But: To show a contrast or outcome
Or: Present a choice
Yet: To show a contrast or outcome
So: To link cause and effect.
Helpful tips:
Always use a comma when you build a compound sentence with a coordination conjunction. (Good example:
The tutor went to the library, but she did not bring a book.)
Never build compound sentences with just a comma separating the independent clauses. This is called a
comma splice. (Bad example: The tutor went to the library, she brought a book.)
Don’t build compound sentences with just a coordinating conjunction separating the independent clauses. (Bad
example: The tutor went to the library and she brought the book.)
Only independent clauses that have a relationship should be combined with a coordinating conjunction. (Good
example: The tutor went to the library, and she bought the book.)
Fix comma splices, or compound sentences that don’t have coordinating conjunctions, with adding an
appropriate coordinating conjunction. (Bad example: The tutor went to the library, she brought a book. Good
example: The tutor went to the library, and she brought a book.)
Sentences that are punctuated like a compound sentence but don’t include more than one independent clause
need to be fixed by either removing the extraneous comma or adding an appropriate subject. (Good example:
The tutor went to the library and brought a book. OR The tutor went to the library, and she brought a book.)