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.