1. CONJUNCTIONS They LINK things: Words, Phrases, and Clauses… And They Can Serve as FLARES for COMMAS!

2. CONJUNCTIONS Many words can serve as conjunctions, like HOWEVER, WHENEVER, ALTHOUGH, but the most common are the FANBOYS…

3. What Are the FANBOYS? F… FOR A… AND N… NEITHER, NOR B… BUT, BECAUSE O… OR Y… YET S… SO

4. Say It Again… F… FOR A… AND N… NEITHER, NOR B… BUT, BECAUSE O… OR Y… YET S… SO

5. So How Do They Help with Commas? Check out the PERIOD PYRAMID PowerPoint. The bottom line is, if the clauses on each side of the FANBOY can stand alone, put a COMMA before the FANBOY EX: The dog ran home, and his boy was happy! Each side can stand alone, is a sentence on its own – so you put a COMMA before the FANBOY/and. Use the FANBOY as a FLARE to check for commas.

6. If Each Side CanNOT Stand Alone… Do NOT use a comma with these: The dog ran home and down the street. (“down the street” can’t stand alone/isn’t a complete sentence) The boy cried when his dog was lost but not long. (“not long” can’t stand alone/isn’t a complete sentence)

7. With One Exception… GROCERY LISTING – or ITEMS IN A SERIES is the exception to this… Please go to the store and buy eggs, ham, and cheese. I like to wear hats, gloves, and scarves. When listing more than two items (as on a grocery list), you MUST put a comma before the AND.

8. Practice One More Time… F… FOR A… AND N… NEITHER, NOR B… BUT, BECAUSE O… OR Y… YET S… SO

9. CONJUNCTIONS Need more? Try your text! Want something fun? Try this YouTube video. For those from my generation, you’ll remember this from Saturday mornings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo As always, write me with questions! I love them!

10. FANBOY FLARES Remember: CONJUNCTIONS LINK Words, Phrases, and Clauses. And FANBOYS Serve as FLARES for COMMAS! When you see a FANBOY, STOP and see if you need a COMMA. FANBOY FLARES Make it EZ – 4U!