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Monster40lbs Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Coordinating conjunction confusion

What is the proper use of the coordinating conjunction 'for?' I randomly came up with the following example:

I won't dress formally for the awards dinner, for I had made that mistake before.

Is this use of 'for' (as a coordinating conjunction) appropriate? I'm less concerned about this sentence than in finding one for which it would be appropriate.

Furthermore, why can't, 'as' be used as a coordinating conjunction? Modifying the above sentence (perhaps inappropriately) one could write:

I won't dress formally for the awards dinner, as I had made that mistake before.

This question is further afield. Even if this sentence is incorrect, does one exist in which 'as' could be used as a coordinating conjunction? As far as I've read, the only recognized CC's are: for, and, nor, but, and, yet, so.

Thank you in advance for your insight.
  

Top answer

Good questions Monster.... Both of your sentences are correct. I won't dress formally for the awards dinner, for I had made that mistake before.

  • Good questions Monster....
  • Both of your sentences are correct.
  • I won't dress formally for the awards dinner, for I had made that mistake before.
  • You have used "for" as a "because," which is correct.
  • Even though "because" is a subordinate conjunction, "for" used in this fashion is a coorindinating conjunction.
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1 Answers
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Good questions Monster....

Both of your sentences are correct.
I won't dress formally for the awards dinner, for I had made that mistake before.

You have used "for" as a "because," which is correct. Even though "because" is a subordinate conjunction, "for" used in this fashion is a coorindinating conjunction. You can think of it as a "weighty" or se

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