What are coordinating conjunctions?

What is a coordinating conjunction?

You may not realize it, but coordinating conjunctions are used in everyday speech and writing. Coordinating conjunctions are words that join other words, phrases, sentences, or clauses. They are used to connect two parts of a sentence that have equal importance. Here’s a list of coordinating conjunctions:

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So

You can easily remember coordinating conjunctions with the acronym “FANBOYS.”

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Using the coordinating conjunction ‘for’ in a sentence

You should use the coordinating conjunction “for” when you are writing about the reasoning of something or a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, “I went swimming today, for it was 90 degrees.” Here are more examples of how you can use the coordinating conjunction “for” in a sentence:

• I haven’t been to work recently, for I have been sick.
• We left the house early, for we have a five-hour drive ahead of us.
• I went to the dealership, for I needed to buy a new car.

It’s important to note that “for” is also a preposition, so just because you see it used in a sentence doesn’t mean it’s a coordinating conjunction. When “for” is used as a preposition, it takes on an object. For example, in the sentence “I went to the dealership for a new car,” the word “for” is a preposition, not a coordinating conjunction.

Using the coordinating conjunction ‘and’ in a sentence

The coordinating conjunction “and” is easy to use. Use the coordinating conjunction “and” when you want to include extra, relevant information in a sentence. Here are some examples of how you can use the coordinating conjunction “and” in a sentence:

• My dog loves to run and bark.
• We brought soup and salad.
• She loves dogs and cats.
• The teacher and the teacher’s assistant are wonderful with kids.

Using the coordinating conjunction ‘nor’ in a sentence

The coordinating conjunction “nor” is used to connect negative ideas. To use “nor” correctly, the first clause of the sentence must also be negative. Here are some examples of how you can use the coordinating conjunction “nor” in a sentence:

• I couldn’t eat, nor could I sleep from the stress of my new job.
• My mom doesn’t like to cook, nor does she like to clean.
• I haven’t been to France, nor have I been to England.
• I have never gone skydiving, nor do I ever want to.

Using the coordinating conjunction ‘but’ in a sentence

Use the coordinating conjunction “but” when you want to contrast ideas or oppose information that was in the first part of the sentence. Here are some examples of how you can use the coordinating conjunction “but” in a sentence:

• We wanted to go outside, but it started raining.
• He wanted to go out tonight, but he didn’t get paid yet.
• I would have come tonight, but my flight was canceled.
• I want to read, but I can’t find my book.

It’s important to note that the word “but” is also a preposition. For example, in the sentence “Everyone has seen that movie but me,” the word “but” is a preposition. If you can replace the word “but” with “except,” then you’ll know that it’s a preposition and not a coordinating conjunction.

Using the coordinating conjunction ‘or’ in a sentence

Use the coordinating conjunction “or” when you want to discuss options or alternatives. Here are some examples of the coordinating conjunction “or” used in a sentence:

• Help yourself to beer or wine.
• We’re not sure if we’re going to go to Athens or Santorini.
• Should I wear the black dress or the red dress?
• We can walk home or take a taxi.

Using the coordinating conjunction ‘yet’ in a sentence

Use the coordinating conjunction “yet” when the second clause of the sentence contradicts or contrasts the first clause. Here are some examples of the coordinating conjunction “yet” used in a sentence:

• I studied for weeks, yet I still failed the test.
• The book received poor reviews, yet still managed to become a bestseller.
• The café was packed, yet the service remained impeccable.
• The weatherman said it would rain, yet the skies were clear all day.

Using the coordinating conjunction ‘so’ in a sentence

Use the coordinating conjunction “so” to explain cause and effect. Here are some examples of the coordinating clause “so” used in a sentence:

• My car broke down, so I had to walk to work.
• We haven’t talked in years, so I didn’t invite her to my birthday dinner.
• It was chilly outside, so I brought a sweatshirt.
• Her dog bites other dogs, so she has to take it on walks with a muzzle.

Note that the word “so” can also serve as an adverb. Take a look at this sentence:

• He sings so well.

In this sentence, “so” is not a coordinating conjunction—it’s used to modify the adverb “well.”

Are you looking for more ways you can improve your writing? Learn about the different types of sentence structure.