A coordinating conjunction or linking word joins two similarly constructed and syntactically identical words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence. Conjunctions are also known as coordinators. The coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so—remember these with the reminder “F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.”

Coordinating conjunctions are related to ​subordinating conjunctions, but subordinating conjunctions are employed to join an independent and dependent) clause and coordinators join two independent clauses.

When linking two independent clauses to make a compound sentence, put a comma before the coordinating conjunction. When connecting two nouns, adjectives, adverbs, or verbs—for instance, when using a compound predicate—a comma is unnecessary.