The subordinating conjunction "because" is used to link the dependent clause to the independent clause. I encourage my students to place such subordinate clauses at the end of the sentence so that there are no errors in comma usage. However, many students want to begin a sentence with "because". While it is not incorrect, the sentence structure does appear awkward. 

 

Using "for" illustrates students' sentence variety. That is important for me. 

 

 

 

C. Edmonds, Chair
Associate in Arts
English and Humanities
Robeson Community College
PO Box 1420
Lumberton, NC 28359
(910) 272-3700 ext. 3362
(910) 272-3328 (fax)
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>>> On 4/13/2011 at 8:52 AM, in message <[log in to unmask]>, "Katz, Seth" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Traditional lists of coordinating conjunctions included "for" (hence the "F" in the acronym "FANBOYS" for remembering the list of coordinating conjunctions); but it seems to me that the use of "for" as a coordinating conjunction in English has largely been succeeded by the use of "because." I find I'm not sure here what the distinction is between a coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction. Help? Dr. Seth Katz Assistant Professor Department of English Bradley University ________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of T. J. Ray Sent: Wed 4/13/2011 6:16 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Punctuation Question I believe you're right in thinking he feels this is a coordinate conjunction.  My understanding is that "because" clauses are dependent and hence should not be preceded with a comma.  I just wanted a number of opinions before I bring it to the committee's attention, folks who evidently don't see a problem with it as no one had marked any of these before I saw the MSS. Thanks for your time. On Wednesday 04/13/2011 at 5:43 am, "Dixon, Jack" wrote: Focusing on the obvious, I suspect the writer believes that "because" functions as a coordinating conjunction rather than a subordinating. Does the student punctuate most subordinating clauses that follow the independent clause this way, or do he make this mistake with "because" only? I seem to remember that Martha Kolln in _Rhetorical Grammar_ addresses the few instances when terminal subord. clauses are set off with commas. ________________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of T. J. Ray [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 8:10 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Punctuation Question I have a doctoral student who produces sentences like the following: "This quatrain cannot be read in isolation at all, because the syntax is inherent and incomplete on its own." My question is not a search for whatever he meant to say but is about his punctuation: the comma. Comments are welcome. T. J. To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:       http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:       http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:      http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/

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