Coordinating conjunctions are small words that connect two independent parts of a sentence.
Memorize them with the acronym FANBOYS:
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Punctuation Rules with Coordinating Conjunctions
No Comma Required
Between Two Words or Phrases
Example: "The office party will feature cupcakes and lobster."
Between Two Verb Phrases
Example: "We can either order lobster or stay within our budget."
Comma Required
In a Series
Use commas between each item.
Example: "The accounting department will probably recommend cupcakes, celery sticks, and water."
Connecting Independent Clauses
Insert a comma after the first clause and before the FANBOY.
Example: "Jane will bake some decoy cupcakes, and Larry will sneak in the lobster."
Independent Clauses and FANBOYS
An independent clause is basically a sentence.
Avoid run-on sentences by using FANBOYS to connect independent clauses.
Example: "Casey is an introvert, yet he actually likes office parties."
Practice Examples
Series Example: "Office parties tend to be boring, awkward, or awesome." (Yes, use commas in a series)
No Comma Example: "Let's hope Larry and the boss don't get into a fight over the lobster." ('And' is connecting two nouns, so no comma)
Comma Example: "Casey loves cupcakes, but he doesn't like lobster." ('But' connects two independent clauses, so use a comma)
Subordinating Conjunction Example: "Larry breeds genetically modified lobsters after he finishes his workday." (No comma needed; 'after' is a subordinating conjunction)
Conclusion
Learn the FANBOYS and apply them confidently to avoid comma errors and create well-structured sentences.
Remember, coordinating conjunctions connect clauses of equal strength and often require a comma when doing so.