Punctuation Questions Medium
A comma and a period are both punctuation marks used in writing, but they serve different purposes in a compound sentence.
A comma is used to separate two independent clauses (complete sentences) that are joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "but," "or," etc.) in a compound sentence. The comma indicates a slight pause or separation between the two clauses, but it still connects them to show their relationship. For example: "I went to the store, and I bought some groceries."
On the other hand, a period is used to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence when they are not directly connected by a coordinating conjunction. Instead of showing a connection, a period indicates a complete break or separation between the two clauses. For example: "I went to the store. I bought some groceries."
In summary, a comma is used to connect two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, while a period is used to separate two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction, indicating a complete break between them.