conjunction (language)

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Grammatical part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, and clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions link parts of equal grammatical value; and, but, and or are the most common.

Subordinating conjunctions link subordinate clauses to the main clause in a sentence; among the most common are if, when, and though.

It is not considered good style to use too many conjunctions (particularly the same one repeatedly) in a sentence. Punctuation, especially commas (,) and semi-colons (;) can also connect clauses. A semi-colon is used to join sentences with closely related subjects, as in ‘John is sitting; his sister is standing.’ Writers commonly use a comma here, which is incorrect.

Green stands for agriculture, the lush vegetation, and the enduring vitality of the population. Gold symbolizes warmth, the bright spirit of the people, and the golden sands. Blue represents the sky and sea. Effective date: 24 October 1985. >>