Indeed either word can give unimprovably early warning of the sort of thing that is to follow." “Nope. 1 Answer1. Spell out numbers (e.g., one, two, three) at the start … In writing, what is placed as the subject, or at the head of a sentence, makes a difference to the focus, clarity or effectiveness of the message. Although our subscriber asked specifically about starting sentences with and or but, any of the seven coordinating conjunctions may start a sentence. Can You Start A Sentence With A Quote In An Essay Depending on the author and the style of those phrases you can present your essay as a more serious one, or more emotional, or can you start a sentence with a quote in an essay creative text, etc This post can be a useful start for anyone seeking to search a quotation or find the source of a quotation.Examples of How To Use A Quote in an … Some purists would argue that one should never start a sentence with a conjunction in formal writing, but the tide is beginning to turn on that former truism. The AP Stylebook doesn't prohibit starting sentence with but, although it does urge moderation. Therefore, starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is best reserved for impact. The same point was made over a century ago by Harvard rhetorician Adams Sherman Hill: "Objection is sometimes taken to employment of but or and at the beginning of a sentence; but for this, there is much good usage" ( The Principles of Rhetoric , 1896). Can you start a sentence with a name? People have been doing it for years. But what if talking is easy, but writing is Can I Start An Essay With The Word Following difficult. There are reasons though for why many writers, and indeed our teachers, don’t like us using a conjunction at the 5. Good writing usually aims to omit needless words. So, if it’s improper to start a sentence with the words “and” or … [joins two subjects] Then the service will come to the rescue . no main clause, i.e., an incomplete sentence or a fragment. brings together the best of the Chicago Style Q&A. Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses that are balanced as logical equals: Mary and I went to the meeting. They are: For And Nor But Or Yet So They are easy to remember because they create the acronym, FANBOYS. Use a Variety of Words and Constructions to Start Your Sentences. Some writers start the majority of their sentences with the same basic formula they learned in middle school: start with the subject and place the verb after it, as close as possible. They write most sentences like these, for example: Jackie wants to become a better writer. To talk to my boss was what I wanted to do all morning. This is a construction which can be used to make complex argumentation clearer. Position “although” at the beginning or middle of a sentence. It’s just a simple matter of enabling yourself to START a sentence, and once the words start flowing, there’s no stopping them! When you start a sentence with a prepositional phrase, it's usually a good idea to put a comma after it. The exception, in my opinion, is with the word “so.” I like a little comma action when I start a sentence with “so.” And this guy at Just Publishing Advice agrees with me:. But that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t do it. While theorist B claims X, theorist A perceives the problem differently. The phrase beginning with 'that' functions as a noun which can then be discussed in the rest of the sentence. You may, however, encounter people who mistakenly believe that starting a sentence with a conjunction is an error, so consider your audience when deciding to structure your sentences this way. Correct. The short answer is yes; there is nothing grammatically wrong with starting a sentence with a conjunction like but, and, or or. Fortunately, the formula for opening a successful cover letter is easy to follow. yet. Sentences that start with an “only” adverbial, usually referring a particular time or condition, have a curious structure as they typically require an auxiliary verb and an inversion. One individual was polite; the other was not. Students should use different ways to start sentences. So you may start your sentence with 'at'. You can’t start a sentence with a conjunction!” Strange. We're just noticing it more now. Starting a sentence with an introductory phrase that begins with a preposition and ending a sentence with a stranded preposition can be grammatically correct. Hopefully let the listener or reader draw a positive conclusion. It didn’t make sense then, and it doesn’t make sense now. But inexperienced writers tend to start too many sentences with "-ing" words, which makes their writing repetitive and dull or can lead to a confusing sentence structure. English has only seven of these linking words. Use because of or on the basis of instead. December 1, 2017, 1:05 am CST whether you like it or not, you have to take that test. These sentences can come in many tenses, and are usually emphatic. How to start a sentence: Consider all your alternatives, and sprinkle in some conjunctions, too. It is perfectly acceptable to start certain sentences with Because, as long as the sentence contains a cause-and-effect relationship: "Because the principal will not be in the building, the assembly has been postponed. Improve this answer. You can start a sentence with “but” if it is a sentence of dialogue. Otherwise, you create a fragment and show that you have not been taught a basic writing rule. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so are called coordinating conjunctions. Yes, the word because can start a correct sentence, but I can only think of two such instances: 1. And it works well in some instances. Here’s few examples: Only after the sun went down, did the bats come out. You have begun a sentence with for! Like a 100-meter sprinter, your sentences should start strong and finish even stronger. It’s a question I often heard when I was teaching: Can a sentence start with but?. Business Writing Blog. Good writing usually aims to omit needless words. Next have students use highlighters to underline the first word in each sentence. In sentence 2, the comma after the conjunction but is there because of the parenthetical clause. How many times did your teachers tell you to never start a sentence with and?I heard this countless times growing up, and it’s a hard habit to break. It cannot end a sentence. No, it’s not. So, it must be okay, you argue. (You may have been told that you can’t start a sentence with and or but. There are billions of possibilities in arranging sentences. Start of a Sentence. Because we forgot to refresh the medium and the bacteria died. What is the 'scope' of the 'or'? Question: Can I use "and" at the start of a sentence? However, IMHO, to say that it is bad practice to start a sentence with "here" is too sweeping. This page includes examples of starting sentences with 'and,' 'but,' and 'or.' Can we start a sentence with a conjunction such as and or but?In the not-too-distant past, this was a big no-no. But can you start sentences with these words? 2,817 8. But Can I Start a Sentence with But ? Of course. Starting a sentence or reply with “so” or “basically” drives me NUTS! You should never start a sentence with the words “and” or “but” – never. Since you should never begin a sentence with a numeral, you should first try to reword the sentence. Rather than start the sentence condescendingly, I think a better way would be to tentatively suggest the subject. A company can adopt a standardized approach or an internal models approach, with the former generally leading to much higher capital charges and the latter requiring regulatory approval. Here are the variants. It can be used as a conjunction like this: The puppy was cute, so I picked it up. In other words, does the 'or' refer only to the sentence that precedes it, or does it refer to the two sentences that precede it? Kim on August 17, 2019 9:47 am. In formal writing, you can start a sentence with any subordinating conjunction including because as long as you remember to also write the main clause and complete the sentence. Contrary to belief (and probably what your English teachers told you), there’s no definitive rule prohibiting writers from using this great device. Adjectival phrases modify nouns. 1 Like It writes: There's no AP Stylebook rule against starting a sentence with a conjunction. Use them in your daily English conversations with others. Short sentences are crucial to … Opening the door, she wished me a nice day. Teaching students to use a variety of sentence structures can greatly improve their writing. Hope that helps a little. The writer leaves the reader to figure that out as best he/she can. 3. Use specific conventions to express numbers in words. Can you start a sentence with 'That is, unless' when the sentence is a clarification of the previous sentence. Starting with so. But Can I Start a Sentence with But ? Can you start a sentence with yet? The answer is simple: Yes. It’s not correct,” your friend insists. Often so is used in a similar way as the last example, as a conjunction, but placed at the start of a sentence; The puppy was cute. Spell Out Numbers at the Start of a Sentence. Prepositional phrases at the beginning of sentences are common and grammatically correct. While you can start a sentence with 'while', you need to include the second half of the sentence, too. If that clause were not there or were not parenthetical, there would be no comma. By Merriam-Webster’s definition, a conjunction joins together clauses, phrases, words, or sentences (that’s right, sentences). In fact you can start a sentence with almost any word. This paragraph is an example. I remember having the “don’t start a sentence with and or but” conversation with English teachers more than 20 years ago. When referring to the word itself. There is another time when you can start a sentence with “because” and not follow that two clause rule: if you’re using it conversationally to answer a spoken or unspoken “why” question. Memorize them. so. Writing samples tracing back to the 9th century, including Bible translations, break these 'sacred' rules, which stem from attempts to curb school children from stringing too many unrelated sentences together. Buried Subject – When you start sentences with IT, the main subject of the sentence is buried that readers may identify later. The answer is yes, but you would need a good reason to do this. Figuring out how to start a cover letter can be intimidating. nor. “Although” may start a sentence or show up in the middle of a sentence as a conjunction. Students should use different ways to start sentences. : Advice from the Chicago Style Q&A (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing If you have a good reason, then there is no problem with starting with a quote. Many of us learned in elementary school that it’s incorrect to start a sentence with a conjunction, a word like “and,” “but,” or “so.”. But this answer comes with a warning. If you find it unwieldy to reorder your words, spell out the number: Seventy-six percent of the class barely passed the final, 18% flunked miserably, and 6% burst into tears. When people say, “Having said that” it is a signal that they are going to say something which will contrast or disagree with what they said a moment ago. My librarian friends would invariably report a run on grammar books for the next couple of days. It didn’t make sense then, and it doesn’t make sense now. So, I picked it up. If a name that begins with a lowercase letter begins a sentence, then it should be capitalized. In sentences like that, it is fronted for emphasis: a more neutral version would be "All morning I wanted to talk to my boss". Share. By Bryan A. Garner. 3. So, without further ado, let me give you 35 useful English sentence starters. Active Oldest Votes. In … So, can you start a sentence with because? Next have students use highlighters to underline the first word in each sentence. But, in the latter sentence, you say there is scope for improvement. Starting a Sentence with "However" For no good reason, lots of writers dislike starting a sentence with "however." Starting a sentence with an "-ing" word is grammatically correct. and includes an interactive exercise. Starting a Sentence with “And,” “But,” “Or,” “Nor”. When I hear it used it is normally a signal to me not to listen to what a person is saying. Or readers will be annoyed. Start Sentences With Any Word You Want! If that was drilled into your head at some point during your elementary school English lessons, then you’re not alone. Answer: Yes! Even your English teacher did it. Summary: You can start a sentence with a conjunction, and you should not put a comma after the conjunction. The polite individual, who works as a field representative for an insurance company, wrote: You can always say "beside that", which is basically a synonym for "besides". So, you have contradicted your first sentence to some extent.) 3. According to this perspective, it wouldn’t be correct to write a sentence like this: “And the report is due on Wednesday.”. 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). My ears close and mind shuts down. Begin a sentence with a prepositional phrase and end it with the subject: From … But you can come up with more ordinary examples. Starting a sentence with 'or' often encourages imprecise thinking. They can be easily to add to the start of a sentence, e.g. -ex: "Because" can start a sentence. I replaced prepositional clauses with present participle clauses. You weren’t aware starting sentences with conjunctions was verboten. example: Whether you like it or not you can start a sentence with 'whether'. There's nothing wrong with that sentence, and no problem starting a sentence with maybe. Every one I’ve heard so far is bunk. But Can I Start a Sentence with “But”? If I had to characterize it, I’d say that it falls somewhere between “prickly” and “shrill.”. In particular, there is no rule whatsoever that says that the subject is the topic "by default" or whatever. Can you start a sentence with but in academic writing? You can also begin a sentence with "beside", but it has a different meaning. This can be on any topic including narratives or nonfiction. 4. , For example: "Drink lots of … answered Mar 16 '18 at 2:10. And then, we come to using so at the start of a sentence. whether to stay or leave is my own business. Teaching students to use a variety of sentence structures can greatly improve their writing. Element115. This isn’t the only grammar prohibition asserting you can’t start a sentence with a certain word or type of word. You can really choose anything as your topic. For instance: Taking the hint, I said goodbye. It's whatever feels like it should start the sentence, independent of … Examples. If you’re asking what is the rule for writing … .) Group 1: Phrases Used Within A Sentence Each phrase can be used within a sentence when it is followed by a list of items which elaborate on or show examples for the main idea of the sentence. The idea that you shouldn't begin a sentence with a conjunction is one of those "rules" that really isn't — along with some others you've probably heard, like "never split an infinitive" and "don't end a sentence with a preposition." *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. According to a usage note in the fourth edition of The American Heritage Dictionary, "But may be used to begin a sentence at all levels of style. That means that yes, you can start a sentence with “and” or “but” as long as you consider the function of the word and the message you intend to give through its use. Usually, “because” goes in between the two clauses, so if we start a sentence with “because” there is often only one clause in the sentence. Yes, you can! I truly believe the idea that this is a rule starts in elementary school, where we all hooked a bunch of sentences together with “and.”. For example. This can be on any topic including narratives or nonfiction. For example, when it is a coordinating conjunction, can it begin a sentence? Here, a subordinate clause headed by with ends rather than begins the sentence. whether you agree or not, i'll take her with me. Can You Start A Sentence With A Preposition In Good Writing? The topic can be anything you choose, and can definitely be a dative object. Beginning a sentence with the imperative form of a verb may feel inappropriate, as it essentially involves telling the reader what to do. Due to and based on create adjectival phrases. Begin by having students write a short passage. "And" is a conjunction which like the other conjunctions (but, for, nor, so, yet) is primarily intended to join two different sentences together into one, or to compare two ideas (as I just did here).

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