It's completely acceptable to start a sentence with the words. Complicating matters, there are two uses of yet in English. Most of us were taught this rule in schooland we followed it with every writing assessment, research paper, and book report we ever wrote. Editing, Grammar, Writing / By Robbi Bryant. Find thousands of writing tips and word lists in The Writer's Lexicon series and additional resources on my Facebook page. Never begin a sentence with a conjunction of any kind, especially one of the FANBOYS ( for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so ). The adjective articles - a, an, and the - are used so much; it is often hard to avoid. No grammar guru can complain about it. And or but at start of sentence. -Galactosidase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes lactose. These paragraph starters are fairly simple. 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. 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. I use it too often.) Most of her advice was grammatical, and one thing she said really stuck with me: never use the word "But" to start a sentence. Then one is liable to finish a sentence with a symbol and start a sentence with the same symbol. Connecting words, between two words, or before the last of a list of words, OK: I saw Bill and Bob at the picnic. 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. Here are a few ways you can quickly fix too many sentences starting with 'I': The Quick Fix Start with a prepositional phrase. Choose a Subject and Verb. standalone 'sentences'), it's usual to put a comma before it. 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." Conjunctions are traditionally divided into three kinds: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating. For example, The weather was cold but sunny. Starting sentences with "so" isn't a trend or a thing. This will let your reader know a new thought is starting. You should also avoid using and or but to begin a sentence in technical writing. 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. This sentence fails test number three. 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 . The only difference is that back . A simple way to do it would be simply to stop using and, but, and or to connect clauses or phrases. When a conjunction joins two independent clauses (i.e. Identify the contrast you want to communicate. This can add a bit of creativity and dramatic flair to your writing, turning a potentially boring text into something more inspiring. We can start a sentence with because using the same overall sentence - but only if the dependent clause comes first. first creates a grammatically incomplete thought like a sentence fragment. 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. 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. A fragment usually happens when you are using a subordinating conjunction. Start your sentence with a capital letter. Informal Writing The supposed rule is never to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Over the holiday period, we spend time with our family. The other day when out for a walk I saw a big German Shepard being chased by a small house cat. Read on and find out how you can avoid sentence fragments by following these 4 simple suggestions: 1. And bought milk. And although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest to being one. Author has 5.4K answers and 5.6M answer views 7 y A perfectly fine sentence that does begin with a coordinating conjunction is, for . Examples. Tips to Help You Write Better Paragraphs. After work, Mary goes swimming. When a writer uses the adverb form of yet in a sentence, the sentence takes on the form of a negative or a . Never start a sentence with a conjunction. SENTENCE For example, Examples. "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. 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.) But since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue. Share. You can also use words like "before" and "afterwards" as well as "eventually". There are no rules about starting your sentence with the word but. It almost feels like I'm cheating my way out. Avoid using 'which, who, like, such as' to start your sentences. And. The goal is to avoid sentence fragments such as: *He went to the store. 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. When doing so, make sure to create a complete sentence to avoid . today - 'Today', much like 'now' and 'currently', is often superfluous and can date your prose. 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. Cristine, Emily, and David, for instance." In this sentence, 'for instance' is at the end of the sentence. The answer depends on the context. Anything that begins with a person, place, or thing is probably a real sentence and should end with a period. (See? 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. Answer: It is completely acceptable to begin a sentence with the words and, but, and or. Some examples of contrast sentences that . If you split it into two discrete units, however, that guru . If you want to show a contrast, then you may want to use "although" in your sentence. 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. Yesterday, the murderer felt guilt. 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. For data-driven documents, such as case studies and text books, try using alternative expressions like "however" or "nevertheless." Use both a subject and a verb. Use a Variety of Words and Constructions to Start Your Sentences Some writers start the majority of. Start with a preposition (so a prepositional phrase). Chasing a ball he thought he'd lost, the dog ran through the rain-swept streets. Best Grammar Checker In this sense, starting a sentence with any of the seven coordinating conjunctions is perfectly acceptable and can at times enhance communication. There you have it! 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. 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). She goes to school. But that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't do it. 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. 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. You should feel free to start a sentence with a conjunction (a word joining two equal ideas, phrases or clauses) such as "or.". 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. Slowly but surely the dog was gaining on it. The Takeaway. Method 1Constructing a Sentence with Although. Like a 100-meter sprinter, your sentences should start strong and finish even stronger. Transition words don't have to be placed at the start of a sentence. And, some ice cream." It is possible to replace "but" with a phrase like "On the other hand" or "though". 1. (Beneath the moon, her eyes shone like pearls) If doing so is necessary to avoid awkward structure, capitalize the first letter of the word connected to the symbol. All modern style guides support using words like "and," "but," and "or" at the start of sentences. Although our subscriber asked specifically about starting sentences with and or but, any of the seven coordinating conjunctions may start a sentence. The first form of yet is the one we just covered: a conjunction. - Usage experts have been advising people not to begin sentences with 'however' for at least a hundred years. Here are some examples. Wiploc I learned English as a small child. But feel free to use it occasionally. For example, "I want to get a pizza. You can start a sentence with "I". Sheridan Baker, The Complete Stylist, 1966 At the time of the incident she was in London. But at least the professor is in good company. But it can also become repetitive. 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. A sentence can begin with a conjunction if it connects two clauses or phrases. Another reason for believing that you cannot begin sentences with a coordinating conjunction is the idea that this turns a sentence into a fragment. 5 Ways to Avoid Starting A Sentence with "But" or "And". 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. It's not true that good sentences can't start with "he," "she" or "they," as I explain fully in . "Although," similar to "despite" and "in spite of," is a way explaining a contrast, which is when two things are at odds. If you don't want to start sentences with conjunctions, you are free to do so. 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. If you click the eye icon all consecutive sentences that start with the . Sentence Examples. She likes sweets and chocolate. This misconception may come from a confusion about what conjunctions are. Some very common ones are 'which', 'who', 'like . If that was drilled into your head at some point during your elementary school English lessons, then you're not alone. There are other ways, too, but these are the first ones than sprang . First, let's choose a subject and a verb. Often when I am editing make a suggestion of this sort. (Here, "and" joins two nouns.) 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. There arejunction words that join together sentences. 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. However. To win in a competition, it is often necessary to avoid playing by the rules. However, unlike when we put the dependent clause second, we need to put in a comma. You should never start a sentence with the words "and" or "but" never. [joins two subjects] Conjunction words like these join together sentences, clauses, or phrases. 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)" You should avoid sentence fragments in formal writing and use them sparingly in informal writing. They can be easily to add to the start of a sentence, e.g. How can I avoid butt? 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. Keep in mind that headings are also taken into account. The general rule of thumb is that if a conjunction joins two words, it doesn't need punctuation. When writing academic essays, it is probably best to avoid starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. 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. Now think about . My mom was my first writing mentor. . However it may strike you, people aren't doing it any more frequently than they were 50 or 100 years ago. Instead of starting your sentence with I, just push it somewhere down in some sentences. One of the main reasons we are advised . The problem is that it is a sentence fragment. Although many people were taught to avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction, all major style guides say that doing so is fine . The types of paragraph starters we have provided above will help you improve your writing. Elaine wanted to leave the party early. I don't advise starting a sentence with however in a cover letter for a job application, for example. It indicates an action that begins in the past and proceeds into the present. There is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but or any other coordinating conjunction. e.g. The problem with the sentence Because he did not respect the power of nature isn't that it begins with because. When to use a comma If you start a sentence with a prepositional phrase, it is often followed by a subject-verb phrase. 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. For example: Mark and Dawn. That way, you avoid the pattern of I as the first word of every sentence. 2. Lulu wakes up at five in the morning. For example: "I wrote a sentence." "I am Priyanka." "I am hardworking." It is not grammatically wrong if you start a sentence with "I". 1. On the other hand, you don't use a comma when there is no subject. No one wants to read Shakespeare on a regular basis, but at the . 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. 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. In this case, you can use a comma. "Firstly", "secondly" and so on can all work well here. 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. This same fussbudget, by the way, outlaws the splitting of infinitives another durable grammar myth. And here are four tips for working with the beginning of a sentence that you'll use again and again: 1. However, for most people, a sentence that starts with such a conjunction still looks a little nonconformist. 14. Avoiding fragments You would rarely create a sentence fragment when using a coordinating conjunction. I saw Bill, Bob, Ben, Mary, and Sarah at the picnic . The second form is an adverb. But I got a promotion. However, it still gives the reader the necessary information to see how the two sentences are linked. That is, they want to see the subject of a sentence in front of the verb, not behind it. How to Choose the Beginning of a Sentence Can you start a sentence with and but or or? You don't want your resume to get . Rewording the sentence will eliminate the need for the word "but" at the beginning. 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. Craft your sentence so a subjecteither a person, place, idea or thingis performing an action or state of being, the verb. 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. Answer (1 of 5): These words are pronouns. 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 . To the reader (if you still have one) madness beckons. 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 . Read your text out loud or harness your computer's text-to-speech capabilities and listen to your writing. Your listener hears: "I'm right and you're wrong . Thankfully though, if used correctly, we CAN start a sentence with but, and all those other conjunctions, too. Through the rain the ball was difficult to see. It usually means you've done something against your better judgment. It's grammatically fine to start a sentence with and, but, or any other coordinating conjunction like or, yet, and so. Capitalize the first letter of your sentence. Start with an adverb. However, if you're beginning a new sentence, the conjunction will connect it to the previous one. If you are starting a dialog sentence with 'I said', think about moving the attribution 'I said' to the end of the sentence. Use the following tips: Go through your first draft and circle the first word in every sentence. Repetitions that hide from notice during a silent read often become obvious and irritating when processed by the ears. You may have heard that you shouldn't use but at the beginning . On page three, seven sentences start with "he.". Mayor Frank knew the bloke was a plonko come down to the river bank to avoid the authorities. Any time you write a "There is (or) There are, (or) There will be.." sentence, you will put the subject after the verb. "Well, actually " Just say no to this sentence-opener, which turns you into a condescending over-explainer in only two words. The consecutive sentences check assesses whether your text contains three or more sentences in a row all starting with the same word. As the manual points out, many sentences in first-rate writings begin with conjunctions, and this has been the case for centuries. How do you do this? Bury it between commas, or replace it with but or nevertheless. If you feel you are starting too many sentences with "but," avoid it completely for a while. You should also point out the . This is because coordinating conjunctions are typically used to join like terms. Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses that are balanced as logical equals: Mary and I went to the meeting. Time to spit it out, cleanse your palate, and start over with a clean plate. 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. By Rob Reinalda Aug. 20, 2013 SHARE Ragan Insider Premium Content Make sure you've said 'x is ' before you start saying what it's up to. Then the first sentence of the next paragraph could connect to this idea. Join sentences, change it to "however" or "although" or leave it out completely. 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. e.g. Such words emphasize the connection between one sentence and another. Now that we know the four basic sentence ingredients, we can build a sentence. 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." So, no. The first tip I have is to avoid starting sentences with words or phrases that are used to refer to something else. Avoid starting a sentence with a symbol, numeral, or Greek alphabet that may appear in the name of a chemical compound. Let's look at this sentence: "Many people came to the event. 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. For example, if someone has told you one thing, you might do something completely different. 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.