Coordinating Conjunctions

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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5 Responses to “Coordinating Conjunctions”

  1. Mark on June 16th, 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 16th, 2007 11:16 pm

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

  3. Amy W. on June 17th, 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 26th, 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 29th, 2008 4:57 pm

    It is helpful

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