When used well, coordination relates separate but equal ideas. The element that links the ideas, usually a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet) or a semicolon, makes the precise relationship clear. The following sentences by N. Scott Momaday all use coordination, but the relationship between independent clauses differs in each sentence:

They acquired horses, and their ancient nomadic spirit was suddenly free of the ground.

There is perfect freedom in the mountains, but it belongs to the eagle and the elk, the badger and the bear.

No longer were they slaves to the simple necessity of survival; they were a lordly and dangerous society of fighters and thieves, hunters and priests of the sun.

–N. Scott Momaday, The Way to Rainy Mountain

Momaday uses coordination in these sentences carefully in order to achieve very specific effects. In the first sentence, for example, the use of and gives a sense of adding on: “They acquired horses” and, of equal importance, “their ancient nomadic spirit was suddenly free.” Momaday might have made other, equally correct choices, but they would have resulted in slightly different sentences. Compare these altered versions with Momaday’s sentences. How do the changes affect your understanding?

They acquired horses, so their ancient nomadic spirit was suddenly free of the ground.

There is perfect freedom in the mountains; it belongs to the eagle and the elk, the badger and the bear.

In your own writing, think about exactly what information you want to convey with coordination. You, too, may have several correct options—so make the choice that works best for your situation and audience.

Coordination can help make explicit the relationship between two ideas.

Connecting these two sentences with a semicolon strengthens the connection between two closely related ideas.

When you connect ideas within a sentence, make sure the relationship between the ideas is clear.

What does television’s being a common form of leisure have to do with viewers’ being apathetic? Changing and to but better relates the two ideas.