What are the 7 coordinating conjunctions?

The seven coordinating conjunctions are For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So—remembered by FANBOYS. They connect equal parts of a sentence, like two independent clauses or items in a list.

What are 10 examples of coordinating conjunctions?

1) I like coffee and tea. 2) She ran fast, but she missed the bus. 3) Do you want apples or oranges? 4) He studied hard, so he passed. 5) It was raining, yet we went out. 6) I called for help. 7) Neither rain nor snow stopped them. 8) She can sing and dance. 9) Try hard, or give up. 10) He was tired, but happy.

What is an example of coordination in a sentence?

Coordination joins equal elements: “The cat slept on the mat, and the dog lay by the fire.” Here, and coordinates two independent clauses of equal importance.

What is the difference between a coordinating and a subordinating conjunction?

Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) join equals—often two independent clauses (e.g., I was tired, so I left). Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, if) link a dependent clause to an independent one, creating subordination (e.g., I left because I was tired).

Coordinating Conjunctions Guide: FANBOYS Explained with Examples, Mistakes & Quiz

By Editorial Team•Oct 7, 2025

A coordinating conjunction is a short connector—like for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so—that links words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. Use them to balance ideas smoothly and to join two independent clauses without creating run-ons or fragments.

Even native U.S. English speakers trip over coordinating conjunctions—those short words that balance sentences but hide punctuation traps. This guide covers the seven FANBOYS with precise uses, U.S. comma rules, tricky look-alikes (so, for, yet), common mistakes, an interactive quiz, and FAQs.

What Are Coordinating Conjunctions? (Definition & Role)

A coordinating conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. In professional U.S. prose, they help you build balanced, readable sentences without run-ons or fragments. The headline rule: coordinating joins equals; subordinating creates dependence.

If you searched for coordinating conjunction definition and examples or coordinating conjunctions list, jump to the FANBOYS list below. If you need the comparison, see subordinating conjunctions.

The 7 Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS List)

Remember FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. Functions + examples:

For → reason (formal): “I stayed home, for it was raining.”
And → addition: “She sings and dances.”
Nor → negative alternative: “He neither called nor texted.”
But → contrast: “It’s expensive, but worth it.”
Or → choice: “Tea or coffee?”
Yet → contrast (slightly more formal than but): “He’s tired, yet determined.”
So → result: “It rained, so we canceled.”

10 Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions in Sentences

I like pizza and pasta.
She ran fast, but she tripped.
Do you prefer cats or dogs?
He studied hard, so he aced the test.
It is cold, yet sunny.
I called for help.
It was neither here nor there.
The movie was long, but engaging.
Or choose delivery instead.
I was tired, so I left early.

Example of coordination in a sentence: “The team worked together, and they won.” (Two independent clauses.)

U.S. Punctuation with FANBOYS (Comma Rules That Matter)

Comma before FANBOYS when joining two independent clauses.“She finished the report, and she sent it.”
No comma if you’re just joining words/short phrases. “She finished the report and sent it.”
Don’t use FANBOYS to join unequal parts. Use a subordinator instead. “She left because it was late.” (Not “She left, so late.”)
Oxford comma is a style choice—be consistent across a document.

Tricky Parts (Look-alikes & Edge Cases)

For (conjunction of reason) vs. for (preposition): “We paused, for the road was flooded.” vs. “This is for you.”
So (result conjunction) vs. degree adverb: “It was late, so we left” vs. “So late!”
Yet (contrast conjunction) vs. temporal adverb: “It’s risky, yet doable” vs. “We haven’t started yet.”
Nor after negatives + inversion in formal style: “I didn’t call; nor did I text.”

Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

Mistake	Bad Example	Fix
Comma splice / run-on	I ran, I fell.	Add FANBOYS: I ran, and I fell.
Missing comma before FANBOYS (two clauses)	She ate and she slept.	She ate, and she slept.
Joining unequal parts	Run but carefully.	Use a subordinator or rephrase: “Run carefully,” or “Run, but keep your pace steady.”
Overstuffed lists	Apples and oranges and bananas…	Use commas + one conjunction; be consistent with Oxford comma.

Coordinating vs. Subordinating Conjunctions (The Clean Contrast)

Coordinating (FANBOYS) join equals—often two independent clauses: “I was tired, so I left.” Subordinating (because, although, if) create dependence: “I left because I was tired.”

Commas: In U.S. English, put a comma before FANBOYS when they join independent clauses. Subordinating conjunctions don’t usually need one unless the dependent clause comes first: “Because I was tired, I left.”

Interactive Quiz: Test Your FANBOYS

Fill in or choose the correct coordinating conjunction. Click to reveal answers.

She wanted to go, ___ it was late. (contrast)
Answer
but / yet
Neither tea ___ coffee. (negative choice)
Answer
nor
I called ___ help. (reason)
Answer
for
Study hard ___ fail. (choice)
Answer
or
It rained, ___ we stayed in. (result)
Answer
so

FAQs

What are the 7 coordinating conjunctions? — See the FANBOYS list above.
What are 10 examples of coordinating conjunctions? — See the examples section.
What is an example of coordination in a sentence? — “The cat slept, and the dog watched.”
What is the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions? — See the contrast section.