What are “coordinating conjunctions”?

Coordinating conjunctions, or coordinators, are a subset of conjunctions used to join two or more words, phrases, or clauses. They always appear in the middle of a sentence.[1]

List of Words

for : used for explanations

and : used to join non-contrasting items or ideas

nor : used to join non-contrasting negative ideas

but : used to display contrasts or exceptions

or : used to join alternative items or ideas

yet : used to display contrasts or exceptions

so : used to display consequences

(The acronym for remembering the coordinating conjunctions is "FANBOYS")

Usage

Coordinating conjunctions joining individual words:

Example

    "I'm going home early. I do not have enough money."
    becomes
    "I'm going home early, for I do not have enough money."

Both clauses above are,

essentially, separate sentences that have been joined with the help of a coordinating conjunction, “and,” and a comma. Coordinating conjunctions also help to join two equal parts in a sentence, e.g.:

I ate lunch and dinner.

Both nouns, “lunch” and “dinner,” are weighted equally in the sentence, so a coordinating conjunction is called for.

Remember all coordinating conjunctions by the following mnemonic device: “FANBOYS”: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.

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