Just as you should not “sentence” your reader to a series of sentences that begin or end the same way, you should not sentence them to a series of short, choppy sentences. Instead, try combining these sentences by using coordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, and nor) may be used to connect elements of equal importance.

Use	Example	Explanation
Use and when you want to emphasize the similarity between elements.	Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are Harry Potter’s best friends.	Hermione and Ron are both close friends of Harry’s. They are of equal importance to him.
Use but when you want to contrast elements.	The Harry Potter books are very popular with readers, but they have also been criticized by some parents and educators.	The popularity of the books is contrasted in this sentence with the criticism of them.
Use or when you want to point out an alternative.	You can categorize the Harry Potter books as coming-of-age novels, or you can call them bildungsromans.	The conjunction or shows the reader that “bildungsromans” is an alternative word for “coming-of-age novels.”
Use nor when you want to show two negative ideas that are not in contrast to each other.	The Dursleys cannot cast spells, nor can they cook up potions.	The conjunction nor communicates two magical actions which the Dursleys cannot perform. Not only can they not cast spells, they also cannot cook up potions.

Coordinating conjunctions may link words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Review the following examples:

Words – Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are Harry Potter’s best friends.

Phrases – Lord Voldemort’s goals are to become immortal and to eliminate Harry Potter.

Clauses – The Harry Potter books are very popular with readers, but they have also been criticized by some parents and educators.

Notice that a comma is used before a coordinating conjunction to separate independent clauses as follows:

The Harry Potter books are very popular with readers, but they have also been criticized by some parents and educators.

 

1. The Dursleys kept Harry safe.
   The Dursleys concealed his magical background from Harry.


2. Voldemort tried to kill Harry.
   Harry survived with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.


3. Harry meets Ron Weasley on the train bound for Hogwarts.
   Harry meets Hermione Granger on the train bound for Hogwarts.
   Harry meets at Severus Snape at Hogwarts.


4. Harry lived with the Dursleys.
   They are his Muggle family and non-wizards.

As you wrote these sentences, did you remember to separate independent clauses with a comma placed before the coordinating conjunction, as in the examples below?

The Dursleys kept Harry safe, but they concealed his magical background from him.

Voldemort tried to kill Harry, but Harry survived with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

So and for are two additional coordinating conjunctions. So may convey a consequence or illustrate a cause-and-effect relationship. For presents a reason.

Original	Revised with So or For
Harry needed protection from Voldemort. Dumbledore sent him to live with the Dursleys.	Harry needed protection from Voldemort, so Dumbledore sent him to live with the Dursleys.
Harry needed protection from Voldemort. Voldemort had sworn to kill Harry.	Harry needed protection from Voldemort, for Voldemort had sworn to kill him.

You may see the words “so that” in a sentence.  For example, Harry becomes a student at Hogwarts School so that he can learn wizardry.  “So that” is not a coordinating conjunction here; it introduces a subordinate clause and does not need a comma in front of it. Coordinating conjunctions are good to keep in mind when you revise your essays. If all of your sentences sound the same, some sentence combining may just be the charm to enchant your writing.