Coordinating Conjunctions

by Andi

Coordinating conjunctions are some of the handiest, dandiest words in the English language. Essentially, they help us string our thoughts together in a way that is complex and meaningful, and without them writing would be very short and choppy.

You can remember the coordinating conjunctions by memorizing the word:

FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Coordinating conjunctions are used between independent clauses, and paired with a comma. For example, the following sentences can be combined with a coordinating conjunction:

This place has the worst food I have ever tasted. I will never eat here again.

Combined with a comma and coordinating conjunction:

This place has the worst food I have ever tasted, so I will never eat here again.

Some other examples:

  • I love you, but I can not marry you.
  • I want to go to the store, and I want to go to her birthday party.
  • He had not known her long, yet he felt very close to her.

Coordinating conjunctions are some of the most commonly used words and very easily misused by leaving out a comma or putting it in the wrong place. Be mindful that the parts you join are complete sentences that can stand alone.

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12 Responses to “Coordinating Conjunctions”

  1. Mark on June 16, 2007 9:19 pm

    Hey,

    I think you meant that the FANBOYS are placed between independent clauses and not dependent. Because, “I love you” is an independent clause that can stay alone, and “I can not marry you” can remain on its own.

    Nice post about the FANBOYS.

  2. Daniel on June 16, 2007 11:16 pm

    Yes it was a typo Mark, thanks for the heads up.

  3. Amy W. on June 17, 2007 9:37 pm

    Also I’m sure you put the comma in the sentence, “Coordinating conjunctions are used between independent clauses, and paired with a comma,” only to find out which of your readers is an editor, since “paired with a comma” is hardly independent.

    Hmm. What about “since” and “because”?

  4. Andy on November 26, 2007 9:48 pm

    u can also Betty and Fred ordered some yellow noodles
    that stands for but, and, for, or, so, yet, nor

  5. K.Vee.Shanker. on July 29, 2008 4:57 pm

    It is helpful

  6. Billy on January 28, 2009 12:32 am

    I vould veery much agree weeth K.Vee.Shanker

  7. ejstar on February 8, 2009 1:10 pm

    yeah i agree with mark

  8. ejstar on February 8, 2009 1:11 pm

    give me some examples of coordinating conjunctions..
    this is my project!

  9. petra on May 28, 2009 5:43 pm

    Please can you tell me the definition of complex coordinator and examples?

    thanx

  10. khaye on July 1, 2009 1:20 pm

    give me some examples of coordinating conjunction?

    pls.. cos dis is my assignment..

  11. mark angelho on July 27, 2009 9:15 am

    give me also 20 examples of coordinating and corelative conjunction pls? tnx a lot!!!!!!

  12. sandy on September 13, 2009 7:05 pm

    I was told that you should use a comma before using the word “and”

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