independent clause

British  

noun

1. grammar a main or coordinate clause Compare dependent clause

---

independent clause Cultural  

1. A clause that can stand alone as a sentence. The following sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by but: “The farmers complained of the low price of food, but the office workers did not complain.” (Compare dependent clause.)

---

Example Sentences

Le Guin could do more in an independent clause than many authors could do in a whole chapter.

From Slate • Jan. 24, 2018

Capitalize what follows the colon if it’s an independent clause, as here.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2015

Also, our style calls for capitalizing the first letter of the independent clause that follows the colon: “About 178,000 …”

From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2014

Illustrate and explain the distinction between a dependent and an independent clause.

From Higher Lessons in English A work on English grammar and composition by Kellogg, Brainerd

They will be defiled is the independent clause, and that touch pitch is the dependent.

From Higher Lessons in English A work on English grammar and composition by Kellogg, Brainerd