FANBOYS
This FANBOYS conjunction indicates a reason or purpose, similar to "because."
What is "for"
The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from the kitchen, making my stomach rumble. What is the source of this delicious fragrance?
What is bread?
his refers to the sequence of events in a story, including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. 1 2
What is plot?
The politician's promises were as smooth and evasive as this cold-blooded reptile. What figure of speech uses "as" or "like" to compare two unlike things?
What is a simile?
Always capitalize this when it begins a sentence.
What is the first letter?
This coordinating conjunction shows contrast or exception.
What is "but"
After failing the test, she felt a deep sadness wash over her, and tears welled up in her eyes. What emotion was she experiencing?
What is sadness?
his type of writing has the primary purpose of educating the reader about a particular topic, often using facts, evidence, and logical organization.
What is informational text?
Despite the beggar's pleas, the wealthy man showed no emotion; his heart was like this hard, lifeless material. What figure of speech directly equates two unlike things without using "like" or "as"?
What is a metaphor?
These refer to specific people, places, organizations, or things and should always be capitalized. Examples include "Paris," "Amazon," and "Shakespeare."
What are proper nouns?
Use this FANBOYS conjunction to join two similar ideas together.
What is "and"
Hidden amongst the dense foliage, the monkey let out a loud chatter, swinging effortlessly from branch to branch. What is the sound the monkey made?
What is a chatter?
In a story, this refers to the time and place in which the events unfold.
What is the setting?
Even though the wind doesn't have lips, we often say it did this as it blew through the trees. What is the figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to inanimate objects or animals?
What is personification?
Always capitalize these divisions of the calendar.
What are the days of the week and months of the year?
Used to present an alternative, this FANBOYS conjunction offers another possibility.
What is "or"?
Stepping on a piece of broken glass, I felt a sudden piercing sensation in my foot. What kind of feeling did I experience?
What is pain?
In a story, play, or movie, this is a person, animal, or imaginary creature that takes part in the action.
What is a character?
Facing a huge stack of papers and deadlines, she felt like she had this enormous geological formation of tasks ahead of her. What is the figure of speech that involves an exaggeration for emphasis or effect?
What is a hyperbole?
Capitalize the first word, the last word, and all principal words in the titles of books, movies, songs, and other creative works. Articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions are usually lowercase unless they begin or end the title.
What are titles of publications and artistic works?
This FANBOYS conjunction shows a contrast or exception.
What is "but"?
The ground was covered in a blanket of white, and delicate flakes continued to fall from the sky. What is the precipitation that created this scene?
What is snow?
This is a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning, even though it is not explicitly stated. 1 It's like reading between the lines.
What is an inference?
The door slammed shut with a loud crash. What is the figure of speech that imitates the natural sounds of something?
What is onomatopoeia?
This first-person singular pronoun is always capitalized, no matter where it appears in a sentence.
What is "I"?