Five Useful Ways to Join Ideas

I. COORDINATION
OPTION 1: (comma) “FANBOYS”
- use this to join together TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
** an independent clause is a COMPLETE SENTENCE that can stand own

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

OPTION 2: (semi-colon) “tuxedo” (comma)

- use this option to join together two independent clauses
- this option functions the same as a FANBOYS but it is a bit more sophisticated
(hence ‘tuxedo’)

; however,
; moreover, INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
CLAUSE ; consequently,
; furthermore,
; indeed,
; in fact,
; nevertheless,
; therefore,
; then,

OPTION 3: Semi-colon

INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE ; CLAUSE
II. SUBORDINATION

OPTION 4:
-Independent clause+ dependent word + dependent clause
- no comma before conjunction

after
although
as (as if)
because
before
INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
CLAUSE if CLAUSE
since
unless
until
when(ever)
whereas
while

OPTION 5:
-Dependent clause (starting with a dependent word) + comma+
independent clause

After
Although
As (As if) INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE
Because ,
Before
If
Since
Unless
Until
When (ever)
Whereas
While