What does a coordinating conjunction do?

A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two or more independent clauses, which are complete thoughts or sentences. When a coordinating conjunction is used, it allows the clauses to be combined into a single, cohesive sentence while maintaining their grammatical integrity. This connection shows the relationship between the ideas expressed in each clause. For instance, in the sentence "I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain," the coordinating conjunction "but" links the two independent clauses while highlighting the contrast between their ideas.

In the context of coordinating conjunctions, it’s important to clarify that while they can also be used to join other elements within a sentence, such as words, phrases, or parts of a list, their primary role is to connect complete thoughts. Other types of conjunctions exist, such as subordinating conjunctions, which introduce dependent clauses; however, these serve a different function and do not connect independent clauses in the same way.