What Are FANBOYS Conjunctions? From “For” to “So,” Here’s How They Work

Contents

In this article, we’ll look at the following points:

Meaning of FANBOYS conjunctions (coordinating conjunctions).
How FANBOYS are used in English sentences.

Quick Summary

FANBOYS is a classic and famous mnemonics. However, the meaning and what represents this acronym can be easily forgotten. This article aims to explain the meaning of FANBOSY conjunctions and why are they important in the simplest explanation.

Conjunctions are words that connect two clauses or ideas.

In English, the conjunctions that matter most for SAT grammar fall into two major categories:

Coordinating conjunctions, represented by the acronym FANBOYS
(For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Subordinating conjunctions, such as because, although, while, if, and when.

English also has correlative conjunctions (like either…or and neither…nor), but they behave differently and are not part of either group above. For SAT punctuation questions, the key contrast is between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

FANBOYS is a classic mnemonic for remembering the coordinating conjunctions in English. This acronym stands for

For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

These conjunctions have two key grammatical features:

They should not appear at the beginning of a sentence in formal writing.
They generally require a comma before them when connecting two independent clauses.

However, for the second rule, the comma can be omitted if the subject of the second clause is the same as that of the first clause. In that case, the repeated subject can also be left out.

Two Types of Conjunctions

Before we talk about FANBOYS, it helps to remember that English uses two main types of conjunctions on the SAT:

Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
Subordinating conjunctions

FANBOYS is the acronym for the seven coordinating conjunctions. Subordinating conjunctions, on the other hand, include words like because, although, while, and if, which introduce dependent clauses.

English also has correlative conjunctions (such as either…or and neither…nor), but they function differently and are not part of the two categories above. For most SAT grammar questions, the distinction that matters is simply coordinating vs. subordinating.

Here is a summary of the key differences between coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) and subordinating conjunctions.

Feature	Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)	Subordinating conjunctions
Function	Joins two independent clauses or two similar elements	Makes one clause dependent on the other
Punctuation Rule	When joining two independent clauses: comma + FANBOYS	Usually no comma when the subordinating clause comes after; comma required when it comes first
Examples	for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so	because, although, while, if, when, since, unless, before, after, etc.

FANBOYS Conjunctions

FANBOYS is an acronym representing the following seven conjunctions:

For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

These words are collectively known as coordinating conjunctions, which connect two elements of equal grammatical rank (such as two independent clauses, phrases, or single words).

Rules for Using Coordinating Conjunctions

Use a comma before a FANBOYS conjunction when it connects two independent clauses.

The experiment failed, but the team learned valuable information.

FANBOYS should not appear at the beginning of a sentence on the SAT.

Unlike subordinating conjunctions, FANBOYS conjunctions (coordinating conjunctions) should not appear at the beginning of a sentence on the SAT. Although starting a sentence with “And” or “But” is common in everyday English, such usage is almost never the correct choice on SAT grammar questions because it weakens the logical flow between ideas.

For example, the following sentence is acceptable in casual writing but unsuitable as a correct SAT answer:

* My teacher is strict about grammar. But she is very kind.

On the SAT, this should be revised by connecting the two ideas (independent clause) into a single sentence:

My teacher is strict about grammar, but she is very kind.

In this version, the two independent clauses are joined properly. The coordinating conjunction “but“ appears within the sentence, not at the beginning and is preceded by a comma, which is required when FANBOYS connects two independent clauses.

Exception to the “Comma + FANBOYS” Rule

If a FANBOYS conjunction connects two verb phrases that share the same subject, the sentence does not contain two independent clauses. Instead, the second subject is simply understood and therefore omitted. Because there are not two independent clauses, no comma is needed.

Let’s examine the following example to understand this rule:

My dog likes to run in the park and always asks me to take him there.

This sentence is not made of two independent clauses. Instead, it has one subject “My dog” followed by two verb phrases:

likes to run in the park
always asks me to take him there

Because both verb phrases share the same subject, the sentence forms a compound predicate, not two separate clauses. For this reason, no comma is used before and, and the subject is not repeated in the second verb phrase.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Another type of conjunction you will see on the SAT is the subordinating conjunction. The key rules for this type are the following:

Rules for Subordinating Conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction can appear at the beginning of a sentence.

When a subordinating conjunction begins the sentence, it introduces a dependent clause, and a comma must follow that clause before the independent clause.

When the independent clause comes first, no comma is used.

If the independent clause appears before the subordinating conjunction, the clauses are joined without a comma.

Here are some sentences that apply subordinating conjunctions.

Although the results were unexpected, the researchers decided to continue the study.

“Although” introduces a dependent clause (Although the results were unexpected). Because this dependent clause comes first, a comma is required before the independent clause.

The students repeated the experiment again because the first trial was inconclusive.

When the independent clause comes first, no comma is used before “because.” Here, “because the first trial was inconclusive” functions as the dependent clause.

Practice Questions

Question 1

Typically, introducing new predator species to an ecosystem disrupts the population balance and harms native wildlife. Introducing wolves to a region, however, can restore an ecosystem’s natural order: the predators help regulate herbivore populations and prevent overgrazing. In many cases, introducing wolves reduces agricultural yields and endangers livestock ______ scientists argue that, in the long term, ecosystems benefit from their return.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

, but

, however

but

Explanation

First, if you look at the parts before and after the blank, you’ll notice that both are independent clauses. This means we need a conjunction to connect them. Among the choices, we have two options: “but” and “however.”

Be careful, “however” is an adverb, not a conjunction. That means it cannot be used to join two independent clauses in a single sentence.

Therefore, “but” is the correct conjunction here. Now, the next question is whether we should place a comma before it.

Since “but” is one of the FANBOYS (coordinating) conjunctions, a comma normally comes before it. However, there’s an exception we should check.

Exception of “Comma + FANBOYS” Construction

When the subjects of the first and second independent clauses are the same, we usually omit both the comma and the repeated subject.

Let’s check this case:

Subject of the first clause: introducing wolves
Subject of the second clause: scientists

The subjects are different, so this does not fall under the exception. That means a comma is required before the conjunction.

The most appropriate conjunction is “, but.”

Question 2

The sales performance of wearable fitness trackers has varied significantly across regions. For example, in the United States, these devices have become nearly as common as smartphones within a ______ consumers in parts of Europe have shown more hesitation, citing privacy concerns and limited battery life.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

decade on the other hand,

decade, on the other hand,

decade but

decade while

Explanation

For any SAT grammar question that asks which expression should fill the blank, the most effective first step is to check whether the parts before and after the blank are independent clauses.

Here, both parts are independent clauses. That means we need a conjunction to connect them. Among the options, we have three choices: “but,” “while,” and “on the other hand.”

Note that “on the other hand” is not a conjunction; it’s a prepositional phrase, so it cannot join two independent clauses. This leaves “but” and “while” as the possible answers.

“But” → a FANBOYS (coordinating) conjunction
“While” → a subordinating conjunction

Now, remember that a coordinating conjunction like “but” normally requires a comma before it. If you look closely, the option “decade but” is missing the comma, so it’s grammatically incorrect.

A subordinating conjunction, however, doesn’t necessarily require a comma.
Therefore, “decade while” is the most appropriate answer.

Question 3

Consumer interest in plant-based meat alternatives has grown rapidly in recent years, driven by concerns about health, sustainability, and the environmental impact of livestock farming. In Canada, these products have become widely available in grocery stores within a few __________ shoppers in several Asian markets have shown slower adoption, often preferring traditional soy-based foods instead. Researchers suggest that differences in cultural food preferences and long-standing culinary traditions may influence the pace at which plant-based options gain popularity in different regions.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

years, and,

years, whereas,

years whereas

years but

Explanation

The sentence contrasts two markets:

Canada → fast adoption
Several Asian markets → slower adoption

To express a clear contrast in the middle of a sentence, the conjunction must introduce opposing ideas. Among the answer choices, “but” and “whereas” both signal contrast.

However, “but” is a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS), and coordinating conjunctions must be preceded by a comma when they connect two independent clauses. Because the option “years but” lacks the required comma, it is grammatically incorrect.

This leaves the two “whereas” options:

years, whereas,
years whereas

“Whereas” is a subordinating conjunction, and when a subordinating conjunction appears in the middle of a sentence, connecting a main clause to a following dependent clause, no comma should be placed before it.

Therefore, “years whereas” is the most appropriate and grammatically correct choice.

Question 4

As governments promote ambitious digital education initiatives, online learning platforms have expanded rapidly over the past decade, offering interactive lessons, video explanations, and practice quizzes to students around the world. In well-funded urban districts, many schools encourage students to log in daily for homework, test review, and extra support after class ________ not in under-resourced rural areas, where slow internet connections, shared devices, and long travel distances to public libraries prevent many families from using these tools consistently, deepening existing gaps in educational opportunity.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

, but

, however

because

, while

About the Author: joe

Hi, I’m Joe. I completed my BA and MA at Purdue University. My research topic was effectiveness and reliability of standardized tests like the SAT and TOEFL. After that, I worked in the test development industry and designed questions to make sure they reflected the skills of interest. I’ve spent time on both the research side and the practical side of test design, and I want to support SAT learners here. Having seen how test questions are actually made, I can give students effective strategies for SAT test takers.