Meaning & use
FANBOYS
Last updated
UK/ˈfænbɔɪz/
US/ˈfænbɔɪz/
Meaning
abbreviationpluraltechnical
A memory aid for the seven common coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Grammar: Treated as a plural word: FANBOYS are conjunctions.
Patterns
- use a FANBOYS conjunction
- comma before a FANBOYS word
My teacher wrote FANBOYS on the board to help us join clauses.
Remember FANBOYS when you decide where a comma belongs.
Every word in FANBOYS can link two independent clauses.
Common combinations
- FANBOYS conjunction
- But is a FANBOYS conjunction.
- comma before a FANBOYS word
- Put a comma before a FANBOYS word between full clauses.
- learn FANBOYS
- Young students often learn FANBOYS in grammar lessons.
- FANBOYS mnemonic
- The FANBOYS mnemonic is easy to remember.
Synonyms and how they differ
- coordinating conjunctions
- This is the grammatical name for the group, while FANBOYS is only a classroom memory aid for them.
Word family
- conjunction noun
- a word that joins words, phrases or clauses
- coordinate verb
- to join elements of equal rank
Commonly confused: FANBOYS or fanboy?
FANBOYS vs fanboy
A fanboy is an extremely devoted male fan of a product or hobby; FANBOYS in grammar is unrelated.
Practice
Which word is NOT one of the FANBOYS conjunctions?
Choose one answer.
Because is a subordinating conjunction. For, and, nor, but, or, yet and so make up FANBOYS.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “FANBOYS”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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