—errors in the use of coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES

A clause is a group of words that contains at least a subject and a verb.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English, and you can remember them using the mnemonic device:

FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Correlative conjunctions Correct example

Her book on the Vietnam War drew NOT ONLY from interviews with other survivors BUT ALSO from her own experiences in the conflict.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions Correct the sentence: If she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal she will receive a major bonus.

If she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal, she will receive a major bonus.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions Correct the sentence: John's friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party, while he was at work.

John's friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party while he was at work.

Correlative conjunctions must use parallel structure, which means the two elements should take the same grammatical form. Correct this wrong sentence: She planned to collect data by either using an online survey or phone interviews.

She planned to collect data by either using an online survey or conducting phone interviews.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions Correct the sentence: She will receive a major bonus, if she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal.

She will receive a major bonus if she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal.

WORDS Coordinating conjunctions can join two nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other types of words.

The data was gathered through questionnaires AND interviews. I don't like to run OR swim. He was clever BUT lazy.

PHRASES Coordinating conjunctions can join different types of phrases.

The dog wagged his tail AND panted excitedly. The results were undeniably intriguing YET ultimately inconclusive. She usually studies in the library OR at a cafe.

Correlative conjunctions Common pairs include either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also, and both ... and. In most cases, no comma should be used between the two elements.

This type of conjunction always comes in a pair and is used to join grammatically equal elements in a sentence.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions

When a subordinating conjunction follows an independent clause, a comma is often not necessary. In general, when the dependent clause contains essential information about the independent clause, don't use a comma.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions Correct the sentence: While John was at work his friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party.

While John was at work, his friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party.

Relationship: Contrast What are the common subordinating conjunctions?

although, though, whereas

Subordinating conjunctions This type of conjunction includes words like:

because, if, although, since, until, and while.

Relationship: Cause and effect What are the common subordinating conjunctions?

because, since, as

When joining two independent clauses, however, use a:

comma before the conjunction. In these examples, the clauses before and after the conjunction could both stand as full sentences on their own, so a comma is required. INCORRECT: Data was gathered through questionnaires and selected respondents participated in interviews. CORRECT: Data was gathered through questionnaires, and selected respondents participated in interviews.

Three basic types of conjunctions:

coordinating subordinating correlative.

Punctuating coordinating conjunctions When joining two words or phrases with a coordinating conjunction,:

do not use a comma. INCORRECT: Data was gathered through questionnaires, and interviews. CORRECT: Data was gathered through questionnaires and interviews.

Correlative conjunctions Common pairs include

either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also, both ... and. In most cases, no comma should be used between the two elements.

Coordinating conjunctions This type of conjunction is used to connect items that are:

grammatically equal: two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses.

Relationship: Condition What are the common subordinating conjunctions?

if, unless, in case

A subordinating conjunction is used to:

introduce a dependent clause.

Coordinating conjunctions can join two:

nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other types of words.

An independent clause can stand:

on its own as a full sentence, expressing a complete thought. Today Jane Austen is one of the most widely read English novelists, but she achieved little fame during her lifetime. In the sentence above, the coordinating conjunction but creates a relationship between two independent clauses. Notice that the two clauses also work as sentences on their own.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions However, when the subordinating conjunction comes at the beginning of the sentence:

use a comma at the end of the dependent clause.

Relationship: Time What are the common subordinating conjunctions?

when, before, after, once, until, whenever, since, while

Relationship: Place What are the common subordinating conjunctions?

where, wherever