Coordinating conjunctions are words like:
* For
* And
* Nor
* But
* Or
* Yet
* So
They join elements of equal grammatical rank. This means they can connect:
* Words: *The cat sat and slept.*
* Phrases: *The cat sat on the mat and under the table.*
* Clauses: *The cat sat on the mat, but the dog chased it away.*
Important note: Coordinating conjunctions are often accompanied by a comma when joining clauses, but not always. There are specific rules for comma usage depending on the context.
Example:
* Incorrect: *The cat sat on the mat, the dog chased it away.*
* Correct: *The cat sat on the mat, and the dog chased it away.*
In short, coordinating conjunctions join elements of similar grammatical structure, be it words, phrases, or clauses.