- I wanted to go but I was too tired
- I wanted to go, but I was too tired
- I wanted to go, but, I was too tired
- I wanted to go; but I was too tired
Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) joining independent clauses require preceding commas (APA 4.03). Option a omits the comma; option c over-punctuates; option d misuses the semicolon. Example: “She ran, and he followed.”