Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Coordinate equal ideas; subordinate minor ideas
Emphasize key ideas
Clarity

Within each sentence, emphasize your point by expressing it in the subject and verb of an independent clause, the words that receive the most attention from readers (see 14a—14e).

Within longer stretches of writing, you can draw attention to ideas deserving special emphasis by using a variety of techniques (see 14f).

14a Coordinate equal ideas; subordinate minor ideas.

When combining two or more ideas in one sentence, you have two choices: coordination or subordination. Choose coordination to indicate that the ideas are equal or nearly equal in importance. Choose subordination to indicate that one idea is less important than another.

Coordination

Coordination draws attention equally to two or more ideas. To coordinate single words or phrases, join them with a coordinating conjunction (see the list below) or with a pair of correlative conjunctions: bananas and strawberries; not only a lackluster plot but also inferior acting (see 47g).

To coordinate independent clauses — word groups that express a complete thought and that can stand alone as a sentence — join them with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon. The semicolon is often accompanied by a conjunctive adverb such as therefore or however or by a transitional phrase such as for example or in other words. For specific coordination strategies and some examples, see the chart below.

USING COORDINATION TO COMBINE SENTENCES OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE

1. Consider using a comma and a coordinating conjunction. (See 33a.)

2.

3.

4. Consider using a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase. (See 35b.)

5.

6.

7. Consider using a semicolon alone. (See 35a.)

Subordination

To give unequal emphasis to two or more ideas, express the major idea in an independent clause and place any minor ideas in subordinate clauses or phrases. (For specific subordination strategies and some examples, see the chart below.)

Let your intended meaning determine which idea you emphasize. Thinking about your purpose and your audience often helps you decide which ideas deserve emphasis.

USING SUBORDINATION TO COMBINE SENTENCES OF UNEQUAL IMPORTANCE

1. Consider putting the less important idea in a subordinate clause beginning with one of the following words. (See 49e.)

2.

3.

4. Consider putting the less important idea in an appositive phrase. (See 49c.)

5. Consider putting the less important idea in a participial phrase. (See 49b.)

EXERCISE 14-1

Use the coordination or subordination technique in brackets to combine each pair of independent clauses. Possible revisions appear in the back of the book.

a. Williams played for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. He managed the Washington Senators and the Texas Rangers for several years after retiring as a player. [Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.]

b. In 1941, Williams finished the season with a batting average of .406. No player has hit over .400 for a season since then. [Use a semicolon.]

c. Williams acknowledged that Joe DiMaggio was a better all-around player. Williams felt that he was a better hitter than DiMaggio. [Use the subordinating conjunction although.]

d. Williams was a stubborn man. He always refused to tip his cap to the crowd after a home run because he claimed that fans were fickle. [Use a semicolon and the transitional phrase for example.]

e. Williams’s relationship with the media was unfriendly at best. He sarcastically called baseball writers the “knights of the keyboard” in his memoir. [Use a semicolon.]