A well-chosen joining word can turn two choppy notes into a sentence that shows how facts relate. These examples of conjunctions use student-reporting situations to show addition, contrast, and cause. You will also see whether then acts as a joining word when you describe a sequence of events.
Join words, phrases, and clauses
A conjunction connects parts of a sentence. Those parts can be single words, longer phrases, or clauses. A clause contains a subject and a verb; an independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Words: “The reporter interviewed teachers and students.” Here and joins two nouns.
- Phrases: “The team reported from the gym and from the library.” Here and joins two phrases describing locations.
- Independent clauses: “The reporter requested the budget, but the principal declined to release it.” Each side of but could stand as a sentence.
These conjunctions, examples drawn from reporting, show why the job matters: readers can see which facts belong together. For one example of a conjunction, notice how but signals contrast between a request and the response. Change it to and, and the sentence reports both events without emphasizing that tension.
Coordinating conjunctions: equal partners
These examples of coordinating conjunctions connect elements of similar grammatical rank. The familiar group is for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. When one joins two independent clauses, use a comma before it in standard edited prose:
“The editor checked the quotation, and the reporter confirmed the spelling.”
Both halves can stand alone: “The editor checked the quotation.” “The reporter confirmed the spelling.” Purdue OWL’s guide to commas and semicolons explains this comma-and-conjunction pattern.
In the grammar of conjunctions, the comma does a different job when a conjunction joins two verbs with the same subject:
“The editor checked the quotation and confirmed the spelling.”
There is no second stated subject before confirmed. Here the conjunction joins two actions by the editor, so a comma is normally unnecessary. In conjunction grammar, identify what is being joined before deciding on punctuation. That small pause can save a large number of wandering commas.
Subordinating conjunctions: show the relationship
A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause: a group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence in that form. Words such as because, although, and when tell readers how the dependent idea relates to the main clause.
“The reporter requested a correction because the published date was wrong.”
The because clause gives a reason. It depends on the main clause, so it is not a second independent sentence joined by a comma. Put the dependent clause first and a comma normally follows it:
“Because the published date was wrong, the reporter requested a correction.”
Compare three conjunction examples using the same reporting situation:
- “The reporter requested a correction, and the editor reviewed the date.” The word adds an action.
- “The reporter requested a correction, but the editor found the date was accurate.” The word signals contrast.
- “The reporter requested a correction because the date was wrong.” The word gives a reason.
The facts must support whichever relationship you choose. Because claims a cause; it is not just a prettier version of and. A reporter who knows only that two things happened should not turn one into the reason for the other without evidence.
Correlative pairs: keep the parts balanced
These examples of correlative conjunctions work in pairs. In “Either the photographer or the reporter will attend,” the pair offers alternatives. In “The story includes both student voices and school records,” the pair joins two kinds of evidence.
Keep the paired parts parallel: nouns with nouns, for example, or verb phrases with verb phrases. “The editor both checked the names and verified the dates” gives each half an action. These examples of joining words show how a pair can make a comparison easier to follow.
Is Then a Conjunction or an Adverb?
Is then a conjunction in a sentence that tells what happened next? In “The reporter interviewed the coach and then checked the score,” and connects the two actions; then says when the second action happened. In this use, then is a sequencing adverb. Merriam-Webster lists an adverb sense meaning next in time.
The question of then acting as a conjunction can arise because then helps a reader follow the connection between events. The then conjunction label describes that possible linking role. For these edited reporting examples, use the sentence’s function to choose punctuation. Is then a subordinating conjunction like because? Not in this example: it does not introduce a reason clause or make the following clause dependent. Asking whether then introduces a subordinate clause has a clear answer here: it marks time and leaves the next clause independent.
Consider this comma splice, which joins two independent clauses with only a comma:
Incorrect: “The reporter checked the score, then the editor published the story.”
For standard edited prose, repair it with a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction:
“The reporter checked the score. Then the editor published the story.”
“The reporter checked the score; then the editor published the story.”
“The reporter checked the score, and then the editor published the story.”
In the last version, and joins the clauses; then marks their order. The same point answers whether then serves as a conjunction or a subordinating word: because supplies a grammatical link and a reason, while sequencing then supplies an order. It does not make a comma sufficient on its own.
Practice: join and identify
- Join these with a coordinating conjunction and punctuation to show contrast: “The reporter called the office. No one answered.” Identify the joining word.
- Join these to show a reason: “The editor delayed publication. The source had not confirmed the quotation.” Identify the word introducing the dependent clause.
Answers:
- “The reporter called the office, but no one answered.” But coordinates two independent clauses and signals contrast; the comma comes before it.
- “The editor delayed publication because the source had not confirmed the quotation.” Because introduces the dependent reason clause. The main clause comes first, so no comma is normally needed before that essential reason.
