Coordination and Subordination

Good writing does more than string short sentences together; it shows how ideas relate. Two tools do most of this work, and the editing questions expect you to know how to use them to combine ideas smoothly and correctly.

Coordination joins two equal ideas with a coordinating conjunction — the FANBOYS words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Subordination makes one idea depend on another using a subordinating conjunction like “because,” “although,” “when,” or “if.” Coordination balances ideas; subordination ranks them.

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Coordinating with FANBOYS

Use a coordinating conjunction to link two complete, equally important ideas. When you join two independent clauses this way, put a comma before the conjunction. Wrong: I wanted to go to the concert but the tickets were sold out. Two full clauses need a comma before “but.” Corrected: I wanted to go to the concert, but the tickets were sold out. Each FANBOYS word signals a different relationship: “and” adds, “but” and “yet” contrast, “or” gives a choice, “so” shows a result, “for” gives a reason, and “nor” adds a negative. Choose the one that fits your meaning. Wrong: It was raining, and we went inside when you mean cause and effect. Corrected: It was raining, so we went inside. A small connector can change how the whole sentence reads.

Subordinating One Idea to Another

Subordination shows that one idea depends on another. A subordinating conjunction turns a complete thought into a dependent clause that leans on the main idea. When the dependent clause comes first, follow it with a comma; when it comes second, you usually need none. Wrong: Because I studied all week. I felt ready. The first part is a fragment. Corrected: Because I studied all week, I felt ready. The same idea can move: I felt ready because I studied all week. Subordination lets you highlight the more important idea by placing it in the main clause. Wrong: Although the movie was long, and I enjoyed it. Do not mix “although” with “and.” Corrected: Although the movie was long, I enjoyed it.

Watch: A Short Video Lesson

M4M Foundation gives a clear overview to go with this lesson:

A Routine for Joining Ideas

1. Decide whether the two ideas are equal or one depends on the other.
2. For equal ideas, use a comma plus a FANBOYS word.
3. For a dependent idea, use a word like “because” or “although.”
4. Add a comma when the dependent clause comes first.

Practice

1. What does FANBOYS stand for?
2. What punctuation comes before a FANBOYS word joining two clauses?
3. Name two subordinating conjunctions.
4. Where does the comma go with “Because it was late, we left”?
5. Fix this: “I was tired but I kept going.”
6. Fix this: “Although she tried. She did not finish.”

Answers

1. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
2. A comma.
3. Any of: because, although, when, if, since.
4. After the dependent clause, before “we.”
5. “I was tired, but I kept going.”
6. “Although she tried, she did not finish.”

Where This Fits in Your RLA Prep

This is the toolkit for fixing run-ons and comma splices and connects to transitions and conjunctive adverbs. See every topic on the Language Arts Prep Hub.

Recommended Prep Books

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