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.