English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003
Coordinating Sentence Parts
Chapter 9 Sentence Coordination and Subordination
Part 3 Sentence Sense
You should read this chapter if you need to review or learn about
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Here, you’ll learn how to decide which parts of your sentences to emphasize by using coordination and subordination. When you coordinate and subordinate, you establish clear and logical relationships between ideas. You will also learn how to use parallel structure by placing ideas in matching (or parallel) forms.
Coordinating Sentence Parts
In Chapter 8, you learned how to connect the parts of a sentence to avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments. There’s more to connecting sentence parts than just linking them, however. You have to decide which parts of each sentence to emphasize and why. The proper emphasis helps you communicate your ideas in writing with strength and style.
Sometimes you want to show that two or more ideas are equally important in a sentence. In such cases, you’re looking to coordinate. Sentence coordination links ideas of equal importance. This process gives your writing balance by bringing together related independent clauses. Coordination involves using the right word or mark of punctuation to show different relationships between ideas.
There are four different ways to coordinate sentence parts:
1. Use a coordinating conjunction.
2. Use a pair of correlative conjunctions.
3. Use a semicolon.
4. Use a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb.
Let’s look at each method now.
1. Use a coordinating conjunction.
As you write, use the coordinating conjunction that conveys the precise relationship between ideas that you seek. Each of the coordinating conjunctions has a different meaning, as the following chart shows:
2. Use a pair of correlative conjunctions.
Link sentences with a correlative conjunction if you want to show a balance between two independent clauses.
either ... or
neither ... nor
not only ... but also
both ... and
3. Use a semicolon.
Link independent clauses with a semicolon to show that the ideas are of equal importance.
A cause is what happens; the effect is the result.
The mechanic adjusted the carburetor; Tina’s car now runs smoothly.
4. Use a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb.
As you learned in Chapter 8, there are many different conjunctive adverbs. Some are single words; others are phrases.
consequently furthermore therefore
nevertheless as a result for example
however nonetheless in addition
A semicolon and a conjunctive adverb together indicate different relationships, depending on the conjunctive adverb. The relationships are chiefly examples, continuation, and contrast.
I adore chili; unfortunately, it doesn’t adore me!
The invention of air-conditioners has greatly influenced major migration trends; for example, Sunbelt cities such as Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston would never have grown as successfully without air-conditioning.
Follow these steps when you coordinate independent clauses:
• Decide which ideas can and should be combined.
• Select the method of coordination that shows the appropriate relationship between ideas.
Each way to coordinate sentences establishes a slightly different relationship between ideas. Often, there’s no “right” answer when you’re choosing which conjunctions and punctuation to use to coordinate ideas. As always, keep the “big three” considerations in mind:
• Audience. Your readers and their expectations
• Purpose. Why you are writing (to entertain, instruct, persuade, describe)
• Style. Your personal choices in diction (words) and sentence structure
With practice, you’ll discover that some sentences are smoother and more logical than others. Study the following examples:
Uncoordinated: The dog’s fur was tangled. We took her in for grooming.
Coordinated: The dog’s fur was tangled, so we took her in for grooming.
The dog’s fur was tangled; therefore, we took her in for grooming.
The dog’s fur was tangled; as a result, we took her in for grooming.
Uncoordinated: There have been many controversial World Series. The most infamous was certainly the thrown World Series of 1919.
Coordinated: There have been many controversial World Series, but the most infamous was certainly the thrown World Series of 1919.
There have been many controversial World Series; however, the most infamous was certainly the thrown World Series of 1919.
Uncoordinated: Jack lost his briefcase. Jack lost his cell phone.
Coordinated: Jack lost both his briefcase and his cell phone.
Jack lost not only his briefcase but also his cell phone.
Uncoordinated: Each year it seems to get harder to pay for a college education. At least $500 million in private-sector money is available to help students pay for their college education.
Coordinated: Each year it seems to get harder to pay for a college education, but at least $500 million in private-sector money is available to help students pay for their college education.
Each year it seems to get harder to pay for a college education; however, at least $500 million in private-sector money is available to help students pay for their college education.
Quick Tip
Be careful not to connect unrelated ideas, establish a vague connection among ideas, or connect too many ideas in one sentence. These stylistic choices often create confusing sentences.