Read these two sentences: "She was exhausted. She kept working." They're correct, but they feel choppy — two separate thoughts with no relationship between them. Now read this: "She was exhausted, yet she kept working." One small word, and the sentence suddenly tells you something: the second idea is surprising given the first. That tiny word is a conjunction, and choosing the right one — and punctuating around it correctly — is the difference between writing that sounds like a list of facts and writing that flows. This guide covers all three types of conjunctions, every important word in each type, the exact comma rules, and the mistakes (comma splices, fragments, and mixed-up pairs) that catch almost everyone.
A conjunction is a word that joins words,
phrases, or clauses. There are three types:
Coordinating (joins equals) —
"I like tea and coffee."
Subordinating (joins a dependent idea to a main
idea) — "I stayed in because it rained."
Correlative (works in pairs) —
"Either stay or go."
What Is a Conjunction?
A conjunction is a connecting word — the "glue" of a sentence. It can join three different sizes of language:
- Words: tea and coffee; slowly but surely
- Phrases: in the morning or at night
- Clauses: I stayed home because it was raining
One thing worth knowing early: some words change job depending on what follows them. Before, after, since, and until are prepositions when followed by a noun, but conjunctions when followed by a full clause (subject + verb).
- I left before dinner. (preposition — followed by a noun)
- I left before dinner started. (conjunction — followed by a clause)
- I've lived here since 2015. (preposition)
- I've lived here since I was a child. (conjunction)
The Three Types at a Glance
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
She is small but strong.
because, although, if, when, while, unless…
Although it rained, we went out.
both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also
Both Ravi and Neha passed.
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
A coordinating conjunction joins two elements of equal grammatical weight — two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses (each of which could stand alone as a sentence). There are exactly seven, and the memory aid FANBOYS lists them all:
For — the reason (formal)
As a conjunction, for means because, but it's more formal and slightly literary. It always joins two full clauses and always follows a comma. (Don't confuse it with the preposition for, as in "a gift for you.")
- She stayed home, for she was feeling ill.
- He couldn't pay, for he had lost his wallet.
- They hurried, for the train was about to leave.
And — addition, sequence, or consequence
- Salt and pepper are on the table. (joining words)
- She opened the door and walked in. (sequence of actions)
- He pressed the button, and the lights went out. (consequence)
- The room was quiet, and the air was still. (joining two clauses)
Nor — adding a second negative
Nor adds another negative idea. When it joins two clauses, the word order after nor is inverted (auxiliary before subject), just like a question.
- He doesn't eat meat, nor does he drink milk.
- I haven't called her, nor have I written.
- They had no money nor any friends nearby. (joining phrases — no inversion needed)
But — contrast
- The house is small but comfortable.
- I like tea, but I prefer coffee.
- She tried hard, but she didn't win.
Or — choice, or "otherwise"
- Would you like tea or coffee? (a choice)
- You can walk or take the bus.
- Hurry up, or you'll miss the train. (or = otherwise)
Yet — a surprising contrast
Yet is like but, but it signals that the second idea is unexpected given the first.
- He studied very little, yet he passed the exam.
- The plan was simple, yet effective.
- She is rich, yet she lives very modestly.
So — a result
- It was raining, so we stayed indoors.
- I was tired, so I went to bed early.
- The battery died, so the phone switched off.
Three extra rules for coordinating conjunctions
- Keep the parts parallel. Both sides of the conjunction should have the same grammatical form: ❌ She likes swimming and to dance. → ✅ She likes swimming and dancing.
- You can join more than two items with commas: "We bought apples, oranges, and bananas." The comma before the final and is called the Oxford comma — optional, but it prevents confusion.
- Starting a sentence with And / But / So is acceptable in modern English and common in everyday writing. Use it sparingly, and avoid it in very formal or academic work.
Subordinating Conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause — a group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone — and attaches it to a main clause that can. The dependent clause adds information: when, why, under what condition, in spite of what.
Main clause + subordinating conjunction + dependent clause
or
Subordinating conjunction + dependent clause, + main clause
- We stayed in because it was raining. (main first)
- Because it was raining, we stayed in. (dependent first — same meaning)
The complete list, grouped by meaning
| Meaning | Conjunctions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time | when, while, before, after, until, since, as, as soon as, whenever, once, by the time | I'll call you as soon as I arrive. |
| Reason | because, since, as | We left early because the roads were icy. |
| Condition | if, unless, provided (that), as long as, in case, supposing (that) | Unless you hurry, you'll miss the train. |
| Contrast | although, though, even though, whereas, while | Although he was tired, he kept working. |
| Purpose | so that, in order that | She saved money so that she could travel. |
| Result | so…that, such…that | It was so hot that we stayed inside. |
| Place | where, wherever, everywhere | Sit wherever you like. |
| Manner / comparison | as, as if, as though, than | He talks as if he knows everything. |
| Noun clauses | that, whether, if | I wonder whether she will come. |
Tricky words that do two jobs
- Since can mean time or reason: "I've known her since 2010" (time) vs. "Since you're here, help me." (reason).
- While can mean at the same time or contrast: "I read while I eat" (time) vs. "He likes tea, while she likes coffee." (contrast).
- As can mean time, reason, or manner: "As I walked in, the phone rang" (time); "As it was late, we left" (reason); "Do as I say" (manner).
- Unless means if…not: "Unless you study, you'll fail" = "If you don't study, you'll fail."
- Even though vs. even if: "Even though it's raining" (it is raining — a fact); "Even if it rains" (it might rain — a possibility).
Conjunction or preposition? Although vs. despite, because vs. because of
Two very common errors come from mixing conjunctions with prepositions that mean the same thing. The conjunction is followed by a clause (subject + verb); the preposition is followed by a noun or -ing form.
| Meaning | Conjunction + clause | Preposition + noun / -ing |
|---|---|---|
| contrast | Although it was cold, we went out. | Despite / In spite of the cold, we went out. |
| reason | We stayed in because it was raining. | We stayed in because of the rain. |
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and work together to join two equal parts. Each half must be present — you can't use one without the other.
| Pair | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both…and | two things together | Both Ravi and Neha passed. |
| either…or | a choice between two | You can either stay or leave. |
| neither…nor | not one, not the other | He is neither rich nor famous. |
| not only…but also | addition with emphasis | She is not only smart but also kind. |
| whether…or | two possibilities | I don't know whether he'll stay or go. |
| as…as | equal comparison | She is as tall as her brother. |
| rather…than | preference | I'd rather walk than take a taxi. |
| no sooner…than | one event right after another | No sooner had we left than it rained. |
Three rules that keep correlative pairs correct
- Keep them parallel. Put each half directly before the same kind of word or phrase. ❌ She not only sings but also to dance. → ✅ She not only sings but also dances.
- Don't mix the pairs. ❌ neither…or → ✅ neither…nor. ❌ both…as well as → ✅ both…and.
- Agreement with the verb. With either…or, neither…nor, and not only…but also, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it: "Neither the manager nor the employees are ready." Both…and always takes a plural verb: "Both Ravi and Neha are here."
One more special case: when not only starts a sentence, the word order inverts — "Not only did she win, but she also broke the record."
Comma Rules for Every Type
Commas around conjunctions follow clear patterns. The pairs below show when a comma is needed and when it is not.
Coordinating conjunctions
Joining two complete sentences (independent clauses):
I wanted to go out, but it was raining.
She was tired, yet she kept working.
Joining two words, two phrases, or two verbs sharing one subject:
She is small but strong.
He opened the door and walked in.
- In a list of three or more, separate the items with commas: "tea, coffee, and juice."
- With very short clauses, the comma is optional: "I ran and she walked."
Subordinating conjunctions
When the dependent clause comes first:
Because it was raining, we stayed in.
If you hurry, you'll catch the bus.
When the main clause comes first (usually):
We stayed in because it was raining.
You'll catch the bus if you hurry.
Exception: contrast conjunctions (although, though, whereas, while) often take a comma even in the second position, because they add a contrasting idea rather than essential information: "She stayed, although she was tired."
Correlative conjunctions
Usually no comma: "She is not only smart but also kind." A comma appears only when each half joins a full clause, especially after an inverted opener: "Not only did she win, but she also broke the record."
Conjunctions vs. Words Like "However" and "Therefore"
However, therefore, moreover, furthermore, nevertheless, consequently, otherwise, meanwhile, instead, thus look like conjunctions and connect ideas, but they are conjunctive adverbs — and they can't join two clauses with just a comma. That's the difference that causes so many errors.
| Conjunction (joins with a comma) | Conjunctive adverb (needs a period or semicolon) |
|---|---|
| It was late, but we stayed. | It was late; however, we stayed. It was late. However, we stayed. |
| He was ill, so he rested. | He was ill; therefore, he rested. |
| She is smart, and she works hard. | She is smart; moreover, she works hard. |
❌ "It was late, however we stayed." — this is a comma splice (see below). Fix it with a semicolon, a period, or by switching to a real conjunction: "It was late, but we stayed."
How Conjunctions Build Sentence Types
| Sentence Type | Built With | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | one independent clause | I like tea. |
| Compound | two independent clauses + a coordinating conjunction | I like tea, but she likes coffee. |
| Complex | one independent + one dependent clause (subordinating conjunction) | I like tea because it relaxes me. |
| Compound-complex | two or more independent clauses + at least one dependent clause | Although it was late, I made tea, and she read a book. |
Comma Splices, Run-Ons, and Fragments
These are the three structural errors conjunctions are most often involved in.
- Comma splice — two complete sentences joined by only a comma: ❌ "I was tired, I went to bed."
- Run-on (fused sentence) — two complete sentences with no punctuation at all: ❌ "I was tired I went to bed."
- Fragment — a dependent clause left standing alone: ❌ "Because I was tired."
There are four clean ways to fix a comma splice or run-on:
- Use a period: I was tired. I went to bed.
- Use a semicolon: I was tired; I went to bed.
- Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction: I was tired, so I went to bed.
- Make one part dependent: Because I was tired, I went to bed.
A fragment is fixed by attaching it to a main clause: ❌ "Because it was raining." → ✅ "Because it was raining, we stayed in."
❌ "Although it was raining, but we went out."
✅ "Although it was raining, we went out."
(use only one — although and but do the same job)
❌ "Because he was late. He missed the bus."
✅ "Because he was late, he missed the bus."
(fragment — the dependent clause must attach to a main clause)
❌ "It was late, however we stayed."
✅ "It was late; however, we stayed."
(however is not a conjunction — comma splice)
❌ "Despite it was cold, we went out."
✅ "Despite the cold, we went out." or
"Although it was cold, we went out."
(despite takes a noun, although takes a clause)
❌ "Neither the manager or the staff knew."
✅ "Neither the manager nor the staff knew."
❌ "She likes hiking, to swim, and cycling."
✅ "She likes hiking, swimming, and cycling."
(keep list items parallel)
❌ "Both Ravi as well as Neha passed."
✅ "Both Ravi and Neha passed."
(don't mix correlative pairs)
Quick-Reference Table
| Type | Words | Joins | Comma rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinating | for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so | equal elements | comma before it when joining two independent clauses |
| Subordinating | because, although, if, when, while, unless, since… | dependent + main clause | comma when the dependent clause comes first |
| Correlative | both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also | two parallel elements | usually no comma |
| Conjunctive adverb (not a conjunction) | however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless | two separate clauses or sentences | period/semicolon before it, comma after it |
Practice: Choose, Combine, or Fix
- "I wanted to go out, ______ it was raining." (but / because) → but (yet also works)
- "______ she was tired, she finished the report." → Although / Though
- "You can have tea ______ coffee." → or
- "He neither called ______ wrote." → nor
- Combine using yet: "She studied hard. She failed." → She studied hard, yet she failed.
- Fix: "I like pizza, however I can't eat it daily." → I like pizza; however, I can't eat it daily. (or: I like pizza, but I can't eat it daily.)
- Fix: "Because it was late. We went home." → Because it was late, we went home.
- "He saved money ______ he could buy a car." (so that / because) → so that
- Fix: "Not only she sings, but also she dances." → Not only does she sing, but she also dances.
- Fix: "She enjoys hiking, to swim, and cycling." → She enjoys hiking, swimming, and cycling.
- "______ he is rich, he is unhappy." (While / Because) → While (contrast)
- Fix: "Despite it rained, we played." → Although it rained, we played. (or: Despite the rain, we played.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join elements of equal rank. Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, if, when and others) attach a dependent clause to a main clause. Correlative conjunctions (both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also) work in pairs.
It's a memory aid for the seven coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.
Yes, when it joins two complete independent clauses ("I wanted to go, but it was raining"). No, when it only joins two words, two phrases, or two verbs sharing one subject ("She sings and dances").
Yes. It is grammatically acceptable and common in modern writing, though best used sparingly and often avoided in very formal or academic writing.
Although is a conjunction followed by a full clause ("Although it was cold, we went out"). Despite is a preposition followed by a noun or -ing form ("Despite the cold, we went out").
A conjunction such as "but" can join two clauses with just a comma. A conjunctive adverb such as "however" cannot — it needs a period or semicolon before it and a comma after it: "It was late; however, we stayed."
Summary
- A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses.
- Coordinating (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) joins equal parts — put a comma before it when it joins two full sentences.
- Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, if, when, unless…) attach a dependent clause — use a comma when the dependent clause comes first.
- Correlative pairs (both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also) must stay together, stay parallel, and never be mixed.
- Nor joining two clauses needs inverted word order (nor do I).
- Although / despite and because / because of: conjunctions take a clause, prepositions take a noun.
- However, therefore, moreover are not conjunctions — they need a period or semicolon, not just a comma.
- Fix comma splices with a period, a semicolon, a comma plus a coordinating conjunction, or by making one part dependent.