How to Use Coordinating Conjunctions

You want to join two sentences together to write more interesting sentences. Coordinating conjunctions join two equal sentences together with words like and, but, or, so and yet. These joined sentences are called compound sentences. Follow these tips to use coordinating conjunctions correctly.

Instructions

1. Write a full sentence with a subject and a verb. Leave the period off at the end. Add a coordinating conjunction like and, or, but, so or yet to the end of the first sentence.

2. Write a second complete sentence, relating to the first sentence, after the coordinating conjunction. Read the joined sentence as a whole. You now have a compound sentence joined with a coordinating conjunction.

3. Make sure each sentence can stand alone without the other sentence. Take out the coordinating conjunction and read the first sentence. Take out the coordinating conjunction and read the second sentence. If one sentence doesn't make sense, you're not using the coordinating conjunction correctly.

4. Fix the sentence that doesn't make sense and join them together again with a coordinating conjunction.

5. Test your compound sentence by taking out the coordinating conjunction and replacing it with a semi colon.

6. Read this example: "The dog walked fast and the cat walked slowly." You can take the coordinating conjunction out of the sentence. "The dog walked fast; the cat walked slowly." The sentence still makes sense.

7. Read each sentence separately. "The dog walked fast. The cat walked slowly." The sentences make sense alone and can stand alone so you know you used the conjunction correctly.

Resources

• This grammar site explains coordinating conjunctions.
• Visit this site for information on how to use a coordinating conjunction.