There are three ways to join simple sentences together.

No punctuation between two sentences is called a run-on sentence.

• We’re eating dinner now I’ll call you back as soon as we finish.

• Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist he was also a sensitive conductor.

• The sky looks clear rain has been forecast.

• Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music we couldn’t find it.

When you join two sentences together with ONLY a comma, you have an error

called a comma splice.

• We’re eating dinner now, I’ll call you back as soon as we finish.

• Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist, he was also a sensitive conductor.

• The sky looks clear, rain has been forecast.

• Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music, we couldn’t find it.

Know the 7 Coordinating Conjunctions:

• But

• Or

• Yet

• For

• And

• Nor

• So

Also know correlative conjunctions:

• Both…and

• Not only…but also

• Either…or

• Neither…nor

• Whether…or

Compound subjects or compound verbs do NOT use a comma with

the conjunction:• Our old car needs either a valve

job or a new engine.

• Anna and Lyle will sing and do a comedy routine.

• I read the book but missed the movie.

These are NOT

sentences – Don’t use a

comma!

Independent clauses (sentences) joined by coordinating conjunctions

(BOYFANS) DO need a comma:

• I will work with Emma, and Josh will help Madison.

• Ashley and I looked everywhere for the sheet music, but we couldn’t find it.

These ARE

sentences – Use a comma!

Which of these sentences are compound and need a comma?

• We’re eating dinner now but I’ll call you back as soon as we finish.

• Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist but also a sensitive conductor.

• The sky looks clear yet rain has been forecast.

• Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music but couldn’t find it.

Only use a comma with boyfans when there are clearly two sentences joined together:

• We’re eating dinner now, but I’ll call you back as soon as we finish.

• Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist but also a sensitive conductor.

• The sky looks clear, yet rain has been forecast.

• Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music but couldn’t find it.

If you want to join two sentences together without using a coordinating conjunction,

use a semi-colon.

• We’re eating dinner now; I’ll call you back as soon as we finish.

• Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist; he was also a sensitive conductor.

• The sky looks clear; rain has been forecast.

• Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music; we couldn’t find it.

Common conjunctive adverbs

• however

• furthermore

• nonetheless

• consequently

• meanwhile

• still

• then

• accordingly

• besides

• finally

• moreover

• therefore

• hence

• We figured Noah wasn’t home; still, we rang his doorbell.

• Some people like change; however, others like stability.

• The wild ponies of Chincoteague gallop fast; consequently, they tire quickly.

• Education must include the whole person; otherwise, it is not true education.

If the conjunctive adverb interrupts the middle of a sentence, it is set off by

commas.• Some people like change.

Others, however, like stability.

• The wild ponies of Chincoteague gallop fast. They, consequently, tire quickly.

• Education must include the whole person. It is, otherwise, not true education.