Coordinating Conjunctions

Why do we use coordinating conjunctions?

1) To join two or more parts of speech 2) Add more detail 3) Make less choppy sentences

And

Addition She likes ham and pineapple on her pizza.

Or

Choice Will you wear the green jacket or the blue one?

Nor

Choice You didn't file the report, nor did you attend the meeting.

Starting a sentence

Don't start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction in formal writing. In casual writing and speaking you can.

What is the acronym to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions?

FANBOYS For And Nor But Or Yet So

Yet

Opposition He is very tired, yet he will still come with us to the movies.

But

Opposition He studies hard, but his brother doesn't care about school.

For

Reason The sky is dark, for the sun has set.

So

Result I didn't finish my homework, so I'm not allowed to watch TV.

Comma Rule

Use comma when the conjunction separates two independent clauses. I like him, and he likes me. Don't use comma when conjunction separates two parts of speech or two phrases. I like pizza and hamburgers.