What Is a Compound Sentence?

Different Types of Compound Sentences

Independent clauses can be joined in several ways to form compound sentences:

 

Coordinating Conjunction and a Comma

The most common way independent clauses in a compound sentence are linked is with a coordinating conjunction and a comma. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (The acronym FANBOYS is often used to help remember them.) When you use one of these conjunctions to link the clauses, you must include a comma immediately before the conjunction.

Example: I ran the entire way there, but I still missed the bus.

 

Semicolon

Semicolons join two independent clauses without any joining words like conjunctions. Independent clauses separated by a semicolon could have been separated by a period and made into two separate sentences, but the author chose to keep the clauses linked in a single sentence. 

Example: France is my favorite country to visit; I never run out of things to do there.

 

Colon

A colon is used to give more information about something mentioned in the preceding sentence. Be careful though; most of the phrases following a colon aren’t independent clauses, so it’s rare for a sentence with a colon to be a compound sentence.

Example: I learned my lesson: I can’t be trusted in Vegas.

 

Dash

Dashes can be used in place of colons or semicolons, and they’re used when the author wants to create a more abrupt stop or to emphasize the words after the dash. (Same with colons, be aware that most words that follow a dash aren’t an independent clause.)

Example: He wasn’t just late -- he didn’t show up at all.