Compound Sentences

What are the seven coordinating conjunctions?

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

He's a little boy. He's 2. (colon, semicolon, em dash, coordinating conjunction)

He's a little boy: he's 2. He's a little boy; he's 2. He's a little boy--he's 2. He's a little boy, so he's 2.

em dash

Can be used to form a compound sentence informally (I'm exhausted--it's 5:00.).

colon

May be used to form a compound sentence formally (You have two choices: eat your dinner or go to bed.).

comma splice

Placing a comma between two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction (I'm old, I'm 99.).

What are the three ways to write a compound sentence?

1. With a coordinating conjunction. 2. With a semicolon. 3. With a colon or em dash.

dependent clause

A clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It functions within the sentence as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

independent clause

A clause that can stand alone as a sentence (has its own subject and verb).

coordinating conjunction

A conjunction that joins two related independent clauses.

semicolon

A semicolon may be used to create a compound sentence if the independent clauses are very short and very closely related (I slept; I dreamed).

compound sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses.

I am so excited. We haven't started yet. (em dash)

I am so excited--we haven't started yet.

I am unaware of any activity. It happened yesterday or last night. (colon)

I am unaware of any activity: it happened yesterday or last night.

I like going to the movies. I'm going tonight. (coordinating conjunction)

I like going to the movies, and I'm going tonight.

I like watching theatre. I will attend a play tonight. (colon)

I like watching theatre: I will attend a play tonight.

I love eating Chinese food, and I'm ordering some tonight. (semicolon)

I love eating Chinese food; I'm ordering some tonight.

I ran and I flew.

I ran; I flew.

I went home and cried. (semicolon)

I went home; I cried.

I'm not an optimist. I'm a realist. (em dash)

I'm not an optimist--I'm a realist.

coordinating conjunctions and commas

It is always correct to use a comma before a coordinating conjunction to separate two independent clauses. However, some writers omit the comma if the sentences are short.

It was cold and it was freezing.

It was cold; it was freezing.

She's tall. I'm short. (coordinating conjunction)

She's tall and I'm short.

Snowboarding is a blast. I love it! (em dash)

Snowboarding is a blast--I love it!

The massive dog ran through the park and scared everyone. (em dash)

The dog ran through the park--scaring everyone.

Which do you prefer? Shall we eat tacos or burgers? (colon)

Which do you prefer to eat: tacos or burgers?