Conjunction
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses — such as and, but, or, because. English has three main types: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions.
A conjunction is a part of speech that joins other words, phrases, or clauses together. Without conjunctions, writing would be limited to short, choppy statements; with them, ideas can be linked, contrasted, and subordinated to one another in a single sentence.
English has three main types. Coordinating conjunctions — the seven FANBOYS words (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) — join grammatically equal elements, including two independent clauses. Subordinating conjunctions such as because, although, when, if, and since attach a dependent clause to an independent one. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs: either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, both/and.
Conjunctions drive several core punctuation rules. Joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction requires a comma before the conjunction ("The exam was long, but she finished early"). Joining them with only a comma — and no conjunction — creates a comma splice. A dependent clause that begins a sentence takes a comma after it ("Although the exam was long, she finished early"), while the same clause at the end usually takes no comma.
Conjunctions are heavily tested on English usage exams. Praxis Core Writing tests them directly as a part of speech, while the ACT English and SAT Writing sections test them through sentence structure questions — fixing comma splices, choosing the logical transition, and punctuating dependent clauses correctly.
Key takeaways
- A conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses.
- The FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join grammatically equal elements.
- Subordinating conjunctions like because and although attach dependent clauses; correlative conjunctions like either/or work in pairs.
- Use a comma plus a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses — a comma alone is a comma splice.
- Praxis Core Writing, the ACT, and the SAT all test conjunctions through sentence structure and punctuation questions.