However. Starting Sentences with Conjunctions According to the Chicago Manual of Style, there is no "historical or grammatical foundation" supporting the rule that conjunctions shouldn't be used at the beginning of sentences. Although it may be perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "but" in informal writing, such as in social media content and blog posts, it's best avoided if you want to achieve a formal tone. Avoid using 'which, who, like, such as' to start your sentences. Make sure you've said 'x is ' before you start saying what it's up to. Sheridan Baker, The Complete Stylist, 1966 "Even so" is a fairly popular choice when it comes to starting a sentence similarly to "but." It allows you to introduce a contradictory idea to the previous sentence. One of the main reasons we are advised . Over the holiday period, we spend time with our family. When you start a sentence with "because," you have to be sure that you use both clauses to make the sentence a complete one, like this: "Because I'm confused, I'm reading about starting sentences." It's a perfectly legal sentence. Cristine, Emily, and David, for instance." In this sentence, 'for instance' is at the end of the sentence. It is possible to replace "but" with a phrase like "On the other hand" or "though". If you use the same word to start a sentence twice in a paragraph, then you need to choose another transition word and re-word the sentence based on what type of paper you are writing. It usually means you've done something against your better judgment. However it may strike you, people aren't doing it any more frequently than they were 50 or 100 years ago. You should also avoid using and or but to begin a sentence in technical writing. My mom was my first writing mentor. And. Your listener hears: "I'm right and you're wrong . Now that we know the four basic sentence ingredients, we can build a sentence. Some examples of contrast sentences that . The Takeaway. Avoiding fragments You would rarely create a sentence fragment when using a coordinating conjunction. So, here's the same sentence: Because they matched my shoes, I chose to put on the red trousers. Keep in mind that headings are also taken into account. There are other ways, too, but these are the first ones than sprang . That is, they want to see the subject of a sentence in front of the verb, not behind it. She likes sweets and chocolate. However, as long as you aren't writing something that is incredibly formal, it is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with "but" or any other conjunction like it. You may have heard that you shouldn't use but at the beginning . They can be easily to add to the start of a sentence, e.g. Answer (1 of 5): These words are pronouns. -Galactosidase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes lactose. No one wants to read Shakespeare on a regular basis, but at the . It's true that you want to keep your writing as conversational as possible, but at the same time, you want to avoid mistakes that can lower the grade of what you produce. However, many famous writersincluding Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronthave used the word this way. Mayor Frank knew the bloke was a plonko come down to the river bank to avoid the authorities. Another reason for believing that you cannot begin sentences with a coordinating conjunction is the idea that this turns a sentence into a fragment. The only difference is that back . But feel free to use it occasionally. [joins two subjects] To the reader (if you still have one) madness beckons. In fact, authorities as lofty as The Elements of Style, The Chicago Style Manual, and William Shakespeare all begin sentences with the word "but." In the case of the former two examples, they also overtly say that it is permissible. Never begin a sentence with a conjunction of any kind, especially one of the FANBOYS ( for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so ). - Writing & Editing How to avoid beginning sentences with 'and' or 'but' It's a 'conversational' writing device that, originally intended as a verbal condiment, has taken over the entire sandwich. Chasing a ball he thought he'd lost, the dog ran through the rain-swept streets. "Well, actually " Just say no to this sentence-opener, which turns you into a condescending over-explainer in only two words. If you are starting a dialog sentence with 'I said', think about moving the attribution 'I said' to the end of the sentence. Choose a Subject and Verb. This rule has haunted some of us throughout our writing life with active avoidance at putting anything such as but, and or so anywhere near the start of a sentence for fear of some reprimand. If the first phrase is closed with full stops (periods), and the second phrase is linked with a logical conjunction, you will never go wrong. Through the rain the ball was difficult to see. This is because coordinating conjunctions are typically used to join like terms. 2. If you want to show a contrast, then you may want to use "although" in your sentence. The goal is to avoid sentence fragments such as: *He went to the store. Looking at your group's wide range of research, I must confess a certain attraction for your recent groundbreaking work on the correlation between beer-drinking and publication rate. For data-driven documents, such as case studies and text books, try using alternative expressions like "however" or "nevertheless." e.g. Use a Variety of Words and Constructions to Start Your Sentences Some writers start the majority of. 5 Ways to Avoid Starting A Sentence with "But" or "And". Repetitions that hide from notice during a silent read often become obvious and irritating when processed by the ears. She goes to school. Slowly but surely the dog was gaining on it. This misconception may come from a confusion about what conjunctions are. Such words emphasize the connection between one sentence and another. You don't want your resume to get . We can start a sentence with because using the same overall sentence - but only if the dependent clause comes first. Often when I am editing make a suggestion of this sort. First, let's choose a subject and a verb. (See? If you don't want to start sentences with conjunctions, you are free to do so. But at least the professor is in good company. And bought milk. Some very common ones are 'which', 'who', 'like . There are plenty of better ways of starting a sentence without using "I." You should try one of these: This That These As you can see This observation The job This opportunity To me In my opinion If it were up to me The preferred versions are either "this" or "that." 1. But since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue. today - 'Today', much like 'now' and 'currently', is often superfluous and can date your prose. Here are some examples. Conjunctions are traditionally divided into three kinds: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating. The 1959 edition of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style begins two sentences in a row with these prohibited words, and does so with nary a trace of self-consciousness. When we are first taught how to read, we start with practice sentences that start with nouns or pronouns like "The ball is red." It's a simple structure and allows us to identify the subject, the verb and the noun. Anything that begins with a person, place, or thing is probably a real sentence and should end with a period. The problem is that it is a sentence fragment. A perfectly fine sentence that does begin with a coordinating conjunction is, for . For example, But I got a promotion. A sentence can begin with a conjunction if it connects two clauses or phrases. For example, "I want to get a pizza. This doesn't mean you can't use these words at the start of a sentence, but you should use them less frequently than in other types of writing. "Firstly", "secondly" and so on can all work well here. You should avoid sentence fragments in formal writing and use them sparingly in informal writing. To win in a competition, it is often necessary to avoid playing by the rules. But that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't do it. Using a Comma When you start a sentence with 'and' continuing an idea from a previous statement, it is unnecessary to use a comma afterward. But it can also become repetitive. On the other hand, you don't use a comma when there is no subject. You can start a sentence with "I". You should also point out the . APA recommends choosing voice carefully, and this often means opting for active voice, in which the subject/actor of the sentence precedes the verb, over passive voice in the interest of clarity.. Beginning the sentence by writing: "Smith and Taylor (2016) found that" or "Researchers found that (Smith & Taylor, 2016)" Wiploc I learned English as a small child. I use it too often.) If your sentence contains more than one clause, you can often shuffle them around so the clause that starts with 'I' is not at the start of the sentence.03-Feb-2020 Yes. first creates a grammatically incomplete thought like a sentence fragment. A propositional phrase lets us know where the subject of the sentence is in time or space, or what the relationship is between two entities. As the manual points out, many sentences in first-rate writings begin with conjunctions, and this has been the case for centuries. And or but at start of sentence. Now think about . You can also use words like "before" and "afterwards" as well as "eventually". When a conjunction joins two independent clauses (i.e. When to use a comma If you start a sentence with a prepositional phrase, it is often followed by a subject-verb phrase. Avoid starting a sentence with a symbol, numeral, or Greek alphabet that may appear in the name of a chemical compound. A group of words is a complete sentence only if: 1) it contains a subject, 2) it contains a predicate, and 3) it expresses a complete thought. e.g. If you click the eye icon all consecutive sentences that start with the . If one stoops to starting sentences with a symbol, then one soon descends to finishing a sentence with a symbol and starting the next with a symbol. When a writer uses the adverb form of yet in a sentence, the sentence takes on the form of a negative or a . Let's look at this sentence: "Many people came to the event. Craft your sentence so a subjecteither a person, place, idea or thingis performing an action or state of being, the verb. The general rule of thumb is that if a conjunction joins two words, it doesn't need punctuation. This will let your reader know a new thought is starting. I'm not quite sure if that's actually right or wrong, but I was wondering about sentences like this: "Living under the same roof with her rival just made things a whole lot harder." I'm not sure if I should take her advice and avoid using the -ing words in the beginning of the sentence as she told me that it'll sound professional. No grammar guru can complain about it. Most of us were taught this rule in schooland we followed it with every writing assessment, research paper, and book report we ever wrote. How can I avoid butt? The types of paragraph starters we have provided above will help you improve your writing. How to Choose the Beginning of a Sentence There is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but or any other coordinating conjunction. Join sentences, change it to "however" or "although" or leave it out completely. The first form of yet is the one we just covered: a conjunction. At the time of the incident she was in London. Find thousands of writing tips and word lists in The Writer's Lexicon series and additional resources on my Facebook page. Like a 100-meter sprinter, your sentences should start strong and finish even stronger. 14. It is much easier to forbid starting sentences with a coordinating conjunction than to explain exactly how sentence fragments work, and this is how this "rule" came about. However, if you're beginning a new sentence, the conjunction will connect it to the previous one. Examples. You should never start a sentence with the words "and" or "but" never. There are no rules about starting your sentence with the word but. It's not true that good sentences can't start with "he," "she" or "they," as I explain fully in . When writing academic essays, it is probably best to avoid starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Sentence Examples. The first tip I have is to avoid starting sentences with words or phrases that are used to refer to something else. Then the first sentence of the next paragraph could connect to this idea. The consecutive sentences check assesses whether your text contains three or more sentences in a row all starting with the same word. Begin a sentence with two adverbs (Slowly, calmly, he closed the door) Begin a sentence with an adjective (Brown leaves fell around her like rain) Begin a sentence with a verb (Running through the street crying, he woke the entire neighborhood) Begin a sentence with a preposition. There are a lot of people who've heard you can't start a sentence with "and," and many who've heard the same about "but" and "so." Those prohibitions are fictional (In fact, "Garner's Modern American Usage" calls the idea that you can't start a sentence with "and," "but," or "so" a superstition). If doing so is necessary to avoid awkward structure, capitalize the first letter of the word connected to the symbol. However, it still gives the reader the necessary information to see how the two sentences are linked. The other day when out for a walk I saw a big German Shepard being chased by a small house cat. Informal Writing The supposed rule is never to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. This same fussbudget, by the way, outlaws the splitting of infinitives another durable grammar myth. Use both a subject and a verb. Here are a few ways you can quickly fix too many sentences starting with 'I': The Quick Fix Start with a prepositional phrase. Starting sentences with "so" isn't a trend or a thing. Another Pulitzer winner, Colson Whitehead's "The Nickel Boys," has its first sentence-commencing "he" on page one of chapter one, with lots more on subsequent pages. Sometimes placing "one" in front and changing it to a prepositional phrase for variety may work: for example, "one of the main purposes." Also, a writer could change the sentence structure a bit. Capitalize the first letter of your sentence. By Rob Reinalda Aug. 20, 2013 SHARE Ragan Insider Premium Content Start your sentence with a capital letter. You should feel free to start a sentence with a conjunction (a word joining two equal ideas, phrases or clauses) such as "or.". For example: "But we do know disease-carrying rats were involved." In fiction, the use of a coordinating conjunction at the start of a sentence is a tool used to make a sentence "more forceful and urgent." It also can signal an unexpected twist. The simplest way to avoid using "but" at the start of a sentence is to reword the sentence to eliminate the need for the word "but." You can also replace "but" with an adverb word or phrase like "however," "On the other hand," or "though." How about cat for the subject. Editing, Grammar, Writing / By Robbi Bryant. Never start a sentence with a conjunction. The problem with the sentence Because he did not respect the power of nature isn't that it begins with because. However, unlike when we put the dependent clause second, we need to put in a comma. It's completely acceptable to start a sentence with the words. If you feel you are starting too many sentences with "but," avoid it completely for a while. standalone 'sentences'), it's usual to put a comma before it. In this case, you can use a comma. Read on and find out how you can avoid sentence fragments by following these 4 simple suggestions: 1. Usage experts have been advising people not to begin sentences with 'however' for at least a hundred years. How do you do this? Then one is liable to finish a sentence with a symbol and start a sentence with the same symbol. Tips to Help You Write Better Paragraphs. Author has 5.4K answers and 5.6M answer views 7 y Most of her advice was grammatical, and one thing she said really stuck with me: never use the word "But" to start a sentence. And, speaking of the verb, if you write a "There are.." sentence, you will have used a "being verb" and we agreed in a previous post . Start with a preposition (so a prepositional phrase). There arejunction words that join together sentences. Instead of starting your sentence with I, just push it somewhere down in some sentences. The natural desire is to limit the need to go face-to-face with one's enemy and hence to avoid the enemy's counterblows. Although many people were taught to avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction, all major style guides say that doing so is fine . Identify the contrast you want to communicate. That way, you avoid the pattern of I as the first word of every sentence. Conjunction words like these join together sentences, clauses, or phrases. (Beneath the moon, her eyes shone like pearls) All modern style guides support using words like "and," "but," and "or" at the start of sentences. I don't advise starting a sentence with however in a cover letter for a job application, for example. Connecting words, between two words, or before the last of a list of words, OK: I saw Bill and Bob at the picnic. Use the following tips: Go through your first draft and circle the first word in every sentence. (Here, "and" joins two nouns.) Elaine wanted to leave the party early. While I don't use this sentence structure often, since I find other methods much better when writing, I do wonder if it is poor writing to resort to these sentences. There you have it! This can add a bit of creativity and dramatic flair to your writing, turning a potentially boring text into something more inspiring. For example, The weather was cold but sunny. Many grammar buffs will slap you on the hand with a ruler for starting sentences with a conjunctionto them, placing the conjunction (but, and, yet, etc.) A simple way to do it would be simply to stop using and, but, and or to connect clauses or phrases. Bury it between commas, or replace it with but or nevertheless. For example: "I wrote a sentence." "I am Priyanka." "I am hardworking." It is not grammatically wrong if you start a sentence with "I". After work, Mary goes swimming. This sentence fails test number three. Can you start a sentence with and but or or? If that was drilled into your head at some point during your elementary school English lessons, then you're not alone. . Complicating matters, there are two uses of yet in English. Read your text out loud or harness your computer's text-to-speech capabilities and listen to your writing. It's grammatically fine to start a sentence with and, but, or any other coordinating conjunction like or, yet, and so. "Although," similar to "despite" and "in spite of," is a way explaining a contrast, which is when two things are at odds. Answer: It is completely acceptable to begin a sentence with the words and, but, and or. When doing so, make sure to create a complete sentence to avoid . Transition words don't have to be placed at the start of a sentence. Thankfully though, if used correctly, we CAN start a sentence with but, and all those other conjunctions, too. Strictly speaking, it's acceptable to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction; however, I usually advise people to stay away from doing so in formal writing because the construction often adds an informal narrative tone that may not fit in with the expected tone of the document. Students can instead use subordinating conjunctions (also called conjunctive adverbs, adverbial expressions, transition words, etc) such as however, in addition, furthermore, on the other hand, etc. And, some ice cream." Lulu wakes up at five in the morning. The adjective articles - a, an, and the - are used so much; it is often hard to avoid. However, for most people, a sentence that starts with such a conjunction still looks a little nonconformist. I saw Bill, Bob, Ben, Mary, and Sarah at the picnic . It almost feels like I'm cheating my way out. So, no. Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses that are balanced as logical equals: Mary and I went to the meeting. Method 1Constructing a Sentence with Although. These paragraph starters are fairly simple. Best Grammar Checker It indicates an action that begins in the past and proceeds into the present. Examples. If you split it into two discrete units, however, that guru . In this sense, starting a sentence with any of the seven coordinating conjunctions is perfectly acceptable and can at times enhance communication. Rewording the sentence will eliminate the need for the word "but" at the beginning. 1. When to Avoid Starting a Sentence with 'However' Even though it's not wrong to start a sentence with however, sometimes it's still a good idea to avoid it because a lot of people think it's wrong. A fragment usually happens when you are using a subordinating conjunction. Yesterday, the murderer felt guilt. Time to spit it out, cleanse your palate, and start over with a clean plate. Start with an adverb. Example: "It is true that, on the surface, men's interest in maintaining the status quo may seem purely economic; de Beauvoir cites a male student who writes that 'every . For example, if someone has told you one thing, you might do something completely different. On page three, seven sentences start with "he.". And although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest to being one. SENTENCE The second form is an adverb. Share. That isn't an actual example of a sentence I've used in my writing, but it was one I thought up on the spot. And here are four tips for working with the beginning of a sentence that you'll use again and again: 1. Here is the above myth's cousin: You've been told to avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction (like "for," "and," "nor," "but," "or," "yet," and "so") because these are parts of speech that fit between other phrases and fasten them together; they're connectors that . Although our subscriber asked specifically about starting sentences with and or but, any of the seven coordinating conjunctions may start a sentence. If that's the case, you'll get a red bullet and the advice to variate a bit. Any time you write a "There is (or) There are, (or) There will be.." sentence, you will put the subject after the verb. The answer depends on the context. 10 words to avoid in your writing the - People often start a sentence with 'The x', but make a big assumption that the reader has the foggiest idea what 'x' is. For example: Mark and Dawn.