Conjunction Punctuation

Types of Conjunctions

· Coordinating Conjunctions—connect grammatically equal elements—for, and, nor, but, or yet, so

· Correlative conjunctions—pairs of conjunctions that connect grammatically equal elements. Example: The work is not only profitable but also pleasant.

· Subordinating conjunctions—introduce subordinate clauses, usually adverb clauses.

· Conjunctive Adverbs—indicate relation between independent clauses. Example: I ate breakfast; however, I am still hungry.

Coordinating Conjunctions Punctuation

· Thumb test--do you have two complete sentences on each side of the conjunction?

· When the coordinating conjunctions join two independent clauses, a comma is placed before the conjunction.

· When the coordinating conjunction joins parts of a compound subject, predicate or object, no comma is used before the conjunction.

Examples:
It was after midnight, and I missed my bus. (compound sentence)
I missed my bus and forgot cab money. (compound predicate)


Subordinating Conjunction/Adverb Clause Punctuation

· Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions (common ones—if, as, because, since, after, before, although, though, unless, while, so that, in order that, that, than, until, when)
· Adverb clauses mainly emphasize verbs, answering how, when, where, why, to what extent
· When an adverb clause appears at the beginning of the sentence, a comma is placed at the end of the introductory clause.
· No commas are used when an adverb clause appears at the end of the sentence.
· Punctuation--The two above sentences were actually your examples. In other words, introductory adverb clauses have commas after them; ending adverb clauses do not take a comma.