There are three ways to join simple sentences together.

No punctuation between two sentences is called a run-on sentence. We’re eating dinner now I’ll call you back as soon as we finish. Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist he was also a sensitive conductor. The sky looks clear rain has been forecast. Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music we couldn’t find it.

When you join two sentences together with ONLY a comma, you have an error called a comma splice. We’re eating dinner now, I’ll call you back as soon as we finish. Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist, he was also a sensitive conductor. The sky looks clear, rain has been forecast. Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music, we couldn’t find it.

Know the 7 Coordinating Conjunctions: But Or Yet For And Nor So

Also know correlative conjunctions: Both…and Not only…but also Either…or Neither…nor Whether…or

Compound subjects or compound verbs do NOT use a comma with the conjunction: Our old car needs either a valve job or a new engine. Anna and Lyle will sing and do a comedy routine. I read the book but missed the movie. These are NOT sentences – Don’t use a comma!

Independent clauses (sentences) joined by coordinating conjunctions (BOYFANS) DO need a comma: I will work with Emma, and Josh will help Madison. Ashley and I looked everywhere for the sheet music, but we couldn’t find it. These ARE sentences – Use a comma!

Which of these sentences are compound and need a comma? We’re eating dinner now but I’ll call you back as soon as we finish. Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist but also a sensitive conductor. The sky looks clear yet rain has been forecast. Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music but couldn’t find it.

Only use a comma with boyfans when there are clearly two sentences joined together: We’re eating dinner now, but I’ll call you back as soon as we finish. Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist but also a sensitive conductor. The sky looks clear, yet rain has been forecast. Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music but couldn’t find it.

If you want to join two sentences together without using a coordinating conjunction, use a semi-colon. We’re eating dinner now; I’ll call you back as soon as we finish. Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist; he was also a sensitive conductor. The sky looks clear; rain has been forecast. Ashley and I looked everywhere for the music; we couldn’t find it.

Common conjunctive adverbs however furthermore nonetheless consequently meanwhile still then accordingly besides finally moreover therefore hence

We figured Noah wasn’t home; still, we rang his doorbell. Some people like change; however, others like stability. The wild ponies of Chincoteague gallop fast; consequently, they tire quickly. Education must include the whole person; otherwise, it is not true education.

If the conjunctive adverb interrupts the middle of a sentence, it is set off by commas. Some people like change. Others, however, like stability. The wild ponies of Chincoteague gallop fast. They, consequently, tire quickly. Education must include the whole person. It is, otherwise, not true education.