How to Find Compound Sentences

Paragraphs that use too many compound sentences can make writing less clear.

Compound sentences can be overused in writing. The abundant use of compound sentences can cause a writer's work to come across as weak. One of the more overused conjunctions in a compound sentence is the word "and."

Instructions

1. Watch for a sentence that has two complete thoughts separated by a coordinating conjunction word. If the conjunction was removed and the two thoughts could be written as two independent sentences, then you have discovered a compound sentence.

2. Look for sentences with two ideas that have a relationship or similarity. The relationship can be recognized by the conjunction used in the sentence. If the linking word is "so." the second part of the compound sentence describes a solution or result in relation to the first half of the sentence. When both halves of the compound sentence are choices they usually are linked by "or." Two similar ideas are joined by the word "and." A comma goes before the conjunction in a compound sentence. When you see sentences constructed in one of these ways, you have found a compound sentence.

3. Look for one of seven coordinating conjunctions in the sentence that has two complete thoughts joined by the conjunction. The seven coordinating conjunctions you will find when you see a compound sentence are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

References

• Empire State College: Compound Sentences
• Illinois Valley Community College: Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex