In a previous article, we discussed varying sentence structure within an article in order to keep your reader’s attention. Complex sentences are especially helpful to create and maintain a flow to your writing. When you have two phrases or clauses that may not be interesting to read in isolation, they could be strengthened by adding a conjunction.
There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions. When using conjunctions, it’s important to know where to place them in a sentence and when commas are needed. Simply put, you only need a comma when you are combining two complete sentences.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance in a sentence.
Examples:
and-I brush my teeth in the morning and at night.
but-They wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.
or-Do you want coffee or tea?
so-It was getting late, so we said good-bye to everyone.
nor
for
so
yet
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions link an independent clause with a dependent clause to create complex sentences. A dependent clause cannot stand alone, so the independent clause supports it. In other words, there is a clear relationship between the two.
Examples:
because-He stayed home from work because he wasn’t feeling well.
if-If everyone is ready, we can start the meeting.
although-Although he was tired, he stayed up until he finished his homework.
before-Before we went to the movies, we went out to eat.
since
until
when
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect words, phrases, or clauses. The important piece to remember when using these is that each part of the sentence after both words must be balanced in terms of structure.
Examples:
either/or-We can either take the train or rent a car to travel to the conference.
neither/nor-My husband neither likes to watch sports on TV nor prefers to go to games in person.
whether/or-I’m not sure whether we should leave now or wait to see if the rain stops.
not only/but also-My father is not only a brilliant writer but also a talented illustrator.
both/and
rather/than
so/that
Conjunctions may be small words, but they can play a huge role in making your story or article flow smoothly. They keep your sentences from sounding choppy and make communication much more effective. With practice, using conjunctions will become as effortless as writing your name.
Now you know the function of a conjunction!
Heather Malone writes children’s books that focus mainly on Montessori education, special education, and nonfiction. She also dabbles in fiction. Her nonfiction book, Montessori from A to Z, was published in 2023, and her blog on homeschooling students with disabilities using the Montessori method can be viewed at spedmontessorisolutions.com. Her passion is education, which is evidenced by spending over twenty-five years in the field before leaving the classroom to now provide technical assistance to school districts. She lives with her husband and son in Ohio and enjoys traveling to new places in her free time.
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