Rules for Joining Clauses Together

The only two ways to connect independent clauses, or entire sentences for that matter, is through the use of either:

1) a semicolon  ( ; )
or
2) a comma plus a coordinating conjunction   ( , and )

                Examples:     Jim ran, and Bob swam.
                                    Jim ran to the woodshed and back; Bob walked.
                                    Jim is the friendliest person I have ever known, but he is sometimes too
                                        friendly for his own good; he sometimes hosts hell's angels bikers when 
                                        they're in town.

There are also only two ways to connect dependent clauses (identified in red):

1) with just a subordinating conjunction  (because, while, before, etc.) or relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, that)
or
2) with just a comma  ( , )

                Examples:  After Tom had run to the store, he realized that he had forgotten his wallet.
                                    Because he was bored, he swatted flies in the storage room.

NOTE:  If you start a sentence with a dependent clause, you must use a comma to attach it to the independent clause that follows.  If you follow an independent clause, or end a sentence, with a dependent clause, no comma is necessary because the subordinating conjunction does the attaching.

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