Page 71 - DENG103_English - I

English–I

Notes Coordinating Conjunctions

The simple, little conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions (you can click on the
words to see specific descriptions of each one):
Coordinating Conjunctions
• and, but, or, yet, for, nor, so
(It may help you remember these conjunctions by recalling that they all have fewer than four
letters. Also, remember the acronym FANBOYS: For-And-Nor-But-Or-Yet-So. Be careful of
the words then and now; neither is a coordinating conjunction, so what we say about coordinating
conjunctions’ roles in a sentence and punctuation does not apply to those two words).
When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it is often (but not always)
accompanied by a comma:
• Ulysses wants to play for UConn, but he has had trouble meeting the academic requirements.
When the two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction are nicely balanced
or brief, many writers will omit the comma:
• Ulysses has a great jump shot but he isn’t quick on his feet.
The comma is always correct when used to separate two independent clauses connected by a
coordinating conjunction.
A comma is also correct when and is used to attach the last item of a serial list, although many
writers (especially in newspapers) will omit that final comma:
• Ulysses spent his summer studying basic math, writing, and reading comprehension.
When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect all the elements in a series, a comma is
not used:
• Presbyterians and Methodists and Baptists are the prevalent Protestant congregations in
Oklahoma.
A comma is also used with but when expressing a contrast:
• This is a useful rule, but difficult to remember.
In most of their other roles as joiners (other than joining independent clauses, that is), coordinating
conjunctions can join two sentence elements without the help of a comma.
• Hemingway and Fitzgerald are among the American expatriates of the between-the-wars
era.
• Hemingway was renowned for his clear style and his insights into American notions of
male identity.
• It is hard to say whether Hemingway or Fitzgerald is the more interesting cultural icon
of his day.
• Although Hemingway is sometimes disparaged for his unpleasant portrayal of women and for
his glorification of machismo, we nonetheless find some sympathetic, even heroic, female
figures in his novels and short stories.

Notes Among the coordinating conjunctions, the most common, of course, are and, but,
and or. It might be helpful to explore the uses of these three little words. The examples
below by no means exhaust the possible meanings of these conjunctions.

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