A conjunction is a word that JOINS two or more words, phrases, or clauses. Remember that commas never join but rather work like scissors to separate elements in writing, while conjunctions work to create cohesion.

Four types of conjunctions:

1. Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses of roughly equal importance. There are only 7 coordinators: FANBOYS – for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

2. Correlative conjunctions consist of two parts, e.g. either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, both…and, etc.

3. Adverbial conjunctions (transitions)are part adverbs and part conjunctions. There are many adverbial conjunctions, but to remember the most commonly used conjunctions, think of the phrase  HOT SHOT CAT: however, otherwise, therefore, similarly, hence, on the other hand, then, consequently, also, thus.

4. Subordinating conjunctions (connecting words) join subordinate (dependent) clauses to a main (independent) clause in a complex sentence. There are many subordinators, some examples are: if, because, when, how, that, who, which, etc. The main difference between the previous three types of conjunctions and connecting words is that a conjunction is not a part of any clause, while a connecting word belongs to a dependent clause.