Many of today's writers begin a fair share of their sentences with “and” or “but,” yet according to The Chicago Manual of Style, “[t]here is a widespread belief…that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction.” In fact, some writers and especially students are asked to “correct” sentences that start with a coordinating conjunction. So what’s the proper rule? Here’s what the style books have to say – or not – about beginning sentences with coordinating conjunctions and what writers can do to keep their editors and teachers happy.
Style Books’ Take on Beginning Sentences with Conjunctions
While acknowledging that many believe it’s wrong to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, The Chicago Manual of Style explains that such a belief contains no “historical or grammatical foundation.” Chicago adds that many of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions and quotes Charles Allen Lloyd, late professor and author of We Who Speak English and Our Ignorance of Our Mother Tongue (Thomas Y. Crowell, 1938), who remarked that teaching students to reject this practice is a “monstrous doctrine.” Author William Zinsser in his classic style book On Writing Well shares a similar opinion. He writes, “Many of us were taught that no sentence should begin with 'but.' If that’s what you learned, unlearn it.”
Other style books don’t disagree. Actually, some of the most highly respected sources, including The Associated Press Stylebook, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, William Strunk, Jr.’s The Elements of Style, and the US Government Printing Office Style Manual, don’t address the issue at all, leading writers to assume it’s fine to use conjunctions to open a sentence. Indeed, many of the style books follow the practice themselves. Moreover, they offer valuable tips for using coordinating conjunctions, whether at the beginning of a sentence or not. Following these tips can help strengthen writing and even sway those editors and teachers who don’t support the practice of starting a sentence with “and” or “but” to rethink it.
Tips for Using Conjunctions as First Words in a Sentence
Beginning a sentence with “and, “but,” or other coordinating conjunctions (so, or, for, nor, yet) can serve many useful purposes for writers. For one thing, it's a way to shorten a sentence that’s become too long or rambling, by dividing the sentence into two sentences. It can also be used to provide emphasis or – in the case of “but” – to announce contrast. But starting a sentence with a conjunction should be done wisely. Here are some important tips to consider:
- Don't overdo it. Less is more when it comes to using “and,” “but,” or another conjunction at the beginning of a sentence. Too much of this habit will be noticeable and repetitive and will weaken the writing.
- Make sure one longer sentence isn’t more appropriate. Sometimes it’s better to join two independent clauses, separated by a comma, with a coordinating conjunction rather than beginning a sentence with the conjunction, especially if the writing becomes choppy or the shorter sentence stands out awkwardly.
- Use the right coordinating conjunction. For example, “but” should show contrast, while “and” adds emphasis or elaborates on what’s just been stated. The first word of a sentence is very important, so make sure it’s the right one.
- Aim for variety. If you’ve used “but” in the previously sentence or paragraph, try replacing the next “but” with “still,” “yet,” or “however” (although some styles books, Zinsser’s included, don’t favor starting a sentence with “however”). Likewise, substitute too many “ands” with “moreover,” “in addition,” or other suitable choices. Variety helps break up the monotony of writing and makes it flow better.
Despite a long-held theory that writers shouldn’t begin sentences with “and,” “but,” or other coordinating conjunctions, respected style books don’t support that theory. Still, care and caution should be used when beginning sentences with coordinating conjunctions. And that’s something most editors and teachers will agree on.
Sources:
The Chicago Manual of Style (16th Ed.). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2010 (5.206-07).
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th Ed.). New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2009 (3.2.2a).
Zinsser, William. On Writing Well (30th Anniversary Ed.). New York: Collins, 2006 (p. 73-74).
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
