When combining two or more ideas in one sentence, you have two choices: coordination or subordination. Choose coordination to indicate that the ideas are equal or nearly equal in importance. Choose subordination to indicate that one idea is less important than another.
Coordination
Coordination draws attention equally to two or more ideas. To coordinate single words or phrases, join them with a coordinating conjunction or with a pair of correlative conjunctions: bananas and strawberries; not only a lackluster plot but also inferior acting (see B1-g).
To coordinate independent clauses—word groups that express a complete thought and that can stand alone as a sentence—join them with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon:
| , and | , but | , or | , nor |
| , for | , so | , yet | ; |
The semicolon is often accompanied by a conjunctive adverb such as moreover, furthermore, therefore, or however or by a transitional phrase such as for example, in other words, or as a matter of fact. (For a longer list, see S6-b.)
Assume, for example, that your intention is to draw equal attention to the following two ideas.
Social networking Web sites offer ways for people to connect in the virtual world. They do not replace face-to-face forms of social interaction.
To coordinate these ideas, you can join them with a comma and the coordinating conjunction but or with a semicolon and the conjunctive adverb however.
Social networking Web sites offer ways for people to connect in the virtual world, but they do not replace face-to-face forms of social interaction.
Social networking Web sites offer ways for people to connect in the virtual world; however, they do not replace face-to-face forms of social interaction.
It is important to choose a coordinating conjunction or conjunctive adverb appropriate to your meaning. In the preceding example, the two ideas contrast with each other, calling for but or however. (For specific coordination strategies, see the chart in S6-b.)
Subordination
To give unequal emphasis to two or more ideas, express the major idea in an independent clause and place any minor ideas in subordinate clauses or phrases. (For specific subordination strategies, see the chart in S6-b.)
Let your intended meaning determine which idea you emphasize. Consider the two ideas about social networking Web sites.
Social networking Web sites offer ways for people to connect in the virtual world. They do not replace face-to-face forms of social interaction.
If your purpose is to stress the ways that people can connect in the virtual world rather than the limitations of these connections, subordinate the idea about the limitations.
Although they do not replace face-to-face forms of social interaction, social networking Web sites offer ways for people to connect in the virtual world.
To focus on the limitations of the virtual world, subordinate the idea about the ways people connect on these Web sites.
Although social networking Web sites offer ways for people to connect in the virtual world, they do not replace face-to-face forms of social interaction.