Which sentence type is described as having two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction?

• A. Simple Sentence
• B. Compound Sentence
• C. Complex Sentence
• D. Compound-Complex Sentence

Answer: (B)

Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction form a compound sentence. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on its own as a complete thought. Coordinating conjunctions—such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so—link two of these clauses. When two complete thoughts are connected this way, the sentence is a compound sentence, and a comma typically appears before the coordinating conjunction.

Example: “She studied hard, and she earned an A.” Both parts could be sentences by themselves, and they’re joined by a coordinating conjunction, making a compound sentence.

This differs from a simple sentence, which has only one independent clause; a complex sentence, which combines an independent clause with a dependent clause; and a compound-complex sentence, which has multiple independent clauses plus at least one dependent clause. The described sentence structure—two independent clauses tied together with a coordinating conjunction—fits the compound sentence.