This lesson will show you how to separate independent clauses in your sentences. An independent clause is a group of words that has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought that can stand alone.

Why is it important to join independent clauses? You can always write short sentences punctuated with periods. However, if you do, your writing may sound a bit choppy. Joining independent clauses allows you to show close relationships between ideas and also helps you incorporate variety into your sentences.

Here’s the rule:

Use a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (but, or, yet, so, for, and, nor…the old BOYSFAN) to separate two independent clauses that have a close logical relationship. For my scientific and technical readers, here is a formula that may help you visualize this type of punctuation:

IC, cc IC

[where IC represents an independent clause and cc represents a coordinating conjunction]

Examples

• It’s always been a goal of mine to run a marathon, but I also want to raise money for a great cause.
• Thank you for your comments, and we look forward to further discussions.
• Jerry Bourdon will lead this team, and Tom Adamson will facilitate.

Note: You must have independent clauses on both sides of the conjunction to use a comma. Here are two examples that do not have two independent clauses and do not need a comma before the coordinating conjunction:

• The process operates within its specification limits but has shifted to the left.
• We still need a small submersible pump and plan to purchase one for $300.

Note that both sentences above have a single subject and a compound verb. For example, in the first sentence, the subject is “The process,” and the two verbs are “operates” and “has shifted.”

(These short lessons on punctuation and grammar are enormously popular in my monthly newsletter [who knew?]. People actually even take a quiz on them. Go to www.textdoctor.com to sign up, and visit the archives to see the first two lessons. It’s sort of like drip, drip, drip grammar and punctuation.)