As a proofreader as well as a copywriter, I often stumble across conjunctions being misused and abused. So I thought it might be worth putting the record straight…

What exactly is a conjunction?

The word conjunction derives from the Latin verb coniungere, meaning “to join together”. As their name suggests, conjunctions (also known as connectives) are used to link words, phrases, clauses or sentences together – creating a transition between different thoughts, whether related or unrelated.

There are two main types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions and subordinate conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions join elements of a sentence that are of equal importance. An easy way to remember them is with the mnemonic device FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Subordinate conjunctions, such as although, because, if and until, connect subordinate clauses to the main clause of a sentence. A subordinate clause depends on the main clause for its meaning and therefore doesn’t work by itself.

You should never begin a sentence with a conjunction

You’ll most likely recognise this as one of the grammar ‘rules’ learned at school. But (see what I did there?) it is, in fact, a myth – albeit one that’s widely recognised and often still taught to English students.

According to Oxford Dictionaries, this grammatical ‘superstition’ arises from the thought that because words such as and or but are used to connect separate clauses, they suggest the presence of an incomplete thought – or ‘fragment’ – when used to introduce a sentence.

Whether it’s for use in literature, journalism, advertising or speeches, most highly respected grammar and usage guides agree that it’s perfectly acceptable to use conjunctions to begin sentences.

This stylistic preference is used to interrupt the rhythm – adding a pause for dramatic or forceful effect. It’s best not to be too liberal with the technique though; otherwise the effect will be diluted.

However, in more formal writing or where you want the sentence to flow, it’s generally best to combine the two phrases together.

Punctuation pointers

The general rule of thumb is that if a conjunction joins two words, it doesn’t need punctuation. For example:

The weather was cold but sunny.

She likes sweets and chocolate.

When a conjunction joins two independent clauses (i.e. standalone ‘sentences’), it’s usual to put a comma before it. For example:

I remember what it’s like to learn to drive, so I try to be patient when I’m following a learner. 

I stayed up late last night, because I only had three chapters of my book left to read.

However, if the two independent clauses are very short, it’s optional – for stylistic purposes – to omit the comma. Both versions below are therefore correct:

I stayed up until he came home. / I stayed up, until he came home.

You should go to bed because it’s school tomorrow. / You should go to bed, because it’s school tomorrow.

All of this is explained very succinctly on Grammar Monster, along with guidance on using a comma before a conjunction in a list – which largely depends on where you stand regarding the Oxford Comma…

A version of this post first appeared on Every Word Counts

Image courtesy of Witthaya Phonsawat via Freedigitalphotos.net