A short, simple sentence can be a good way to clearly state an idea. When a writer uses only short and simple sentences, however, the writing can become choppy and uninteresting. To make your writing more varied and interesting, you can combine two complete sentences into one.
To combine two complete sentences, use a comma and a connecting word or use a semicolon:
Family-style dinners are fun. Everyone in town can attend.
Family-style dinners are fun, and everyone in town can attend.
Family-style dinners are fun; everyone in town can attend.
When you combine two complete thoughts, you form a compound sentence. (The word compound means “more than one.”). The connecting word that joins the two complete thoughts is a coordinating conjunction. Each coordinating conjunction explains a certain relationship between thoughts.
| Coordinating Conjunctions and Their Uses | ||
| and | adds related information | Rick attended the meeting, and he took notes on the fundraiser. |
| but, yet | show contrast | Few people could attend the meeting, but everyone agreed to volunteer. |
| or | gives choices | Volunteers can pick up food, or they can set up the dining room. |
| nor | combines negative ideas | Mary does not have a car, nor does she live near the grocery store. |
| for, so | show cause and effect | Rick has a car, so he offered to pick up the food. |
Rick wrote the following in his plan for a fundraising dinner. Which sentence is a compound sentence?
The high school will allow us to use the kitchen and the cafeteria for our dinner. Patel’s Market will donate food, so we can keep expenses down.
Answer
The second sentence is a compound sentence. It has two complete thoughts, each with a subject and a verb, which are joined by a comma and so: Patel’s Market will donate food, so we can keep expenses down.