Starting Sentences with Conjunctions: Is It Ever Okay?

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A conjunction is a part of speech that links words, phrases, or sentences together (such as “and,” “but,” and “or”). You might have been told that starting a sentence with a conjunction is a writing no-no because it’s believed that doing so implies that the preceding sentence is incomplete. This “rule” has been drilled into the minds of elementary school students for years.

But why do many writers (including novelists, copywriters, bloggers, and journalists) continue breaking this rule? The truth is, it’s really not that important at all.

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. As the manual points out, many sentences in first-rate writings begin with conjunctions, and this has been the case for centuries.

Even Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage says that we’ve been breaking this rule since the 9th century, with Old English offering many examples. It also notes that nearly everybody was taught this rule at some point.

Garner’s Modern English Usage and Fowler’s Modern English Usage (both authorities in modern English) also call this non-existent rule ridiculous. As Fowler puts it:  

“There is a persistent belief that it is improper to begin a sentence with And, but this prohibition has been cheerfully ignored by standard authors from Anglo-Saxon times onwards. An initial And is a useful aid to writers as the narrative continues.“

So if these bastions of English grammar and rhetoric agree that this rule is unnecessary and incorrect, why does it persist? For that matter, where did this notion start?

According to Dave Crystal in his book The Story of English in 100 Words, this rule began sometime in the 19th century. School teachers noticed that a lot of young children overused conjunctions in their writings, especially when starting new sentences. Rather than teach the kids to be more economical with them, these teachers decided to ban the practice instead!

It snowballed from then on. Generations of English writers were taught this no-basis rule and in turn, enforced it on their students.

Types of Conjunctions

Though the non-existent rule of “no starting sentences with conjunctions” mainly targets coordinating conjunctions, sometimes it does affect the other two. Here is a brief review of all three types:

1. Coordinating Conjunction

Coordinating conjunctions join equal parts of a sentence, whether they’re words, clauses, or phrases. Neither parts are independent of the other. Conjunctions of this type include the famous FANBOYS  (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Examples:

  • They like the beach but prefer the pool.
  • Do you want me to cook dinner or do you want to go out?
  • They’re going snowboarding and skydiving.

2. Subordinating Conjunction

This type of conjunction is used to show that the following clause is dependent on the preceding one. It is used to emphasize contrast, time, and cause and effect. Conjunctions classified as subordinating are: after, as, although, because, before, if, since, though, unless, until, when, where, and while.

Examples:

  • I went to the park after dropping her off at school.
  • She didn’t bother cooking since she’ll be attending a party later.
  • Although he’s on a diet, I saw him eating a deluxe cheeseburger.

3. Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join together words and phrases of equal importance. The first part can provide emphasis, but can also be dropped when necessary. Some conjunctions that belong here are: either, or; not only, but also; neither, nor; both, and; as much, as; and whether, or.

Examples:

  • Both John and Mark need to pass their tests.
  • We can either buy you ice cream or buy you a toy.
  • You not only forgot to take out the trash but also to wash the dishes.

Starting Sentences with “And,” “But,” and “Or”

We’ve already established that starting sentences with conjunctions is perfectly fine. But as with any writing, the use of words need to be purposeful, effective, and fitting for the context of the whole work.

So while you can definitely use conjunctions to start a sentence, it all depends on how you use them. Not only is this structure easy to abuse, but it can also be detrimental in some situations.

Consider the tone of your text, for example. Because informal writing uses a more personal voice, sentences that start with conjunctions can prove to be more effective. This is because they closely follow spoken language, which tends to be more casual.

In formal writing, however, tone and language are more rigid. You’ll see more transitional words like “as such” or “furthermore,” rather than conjunctions since these lend to a more scholarly tone.

To make sure that you’re using conjunctions well, here are a few pointers to guide you:

  • Don’t always start sentences with conjunctions. Use them only when it makes the flow of your text less awkward and more effective.
  • Think first about whether a conjunction is even necessary to start a particular sentence. Sometimes it’s not, and the resulting sentence reads even better without one.
  • Conjunctions are useful in highlighting the connection or contrast between sentences. Use them to emphasize a particular clause or idea.
  • Avoid creating sentence fragments, unless it is intentional and benefits your work. Make sure that a conjunction is always followed by an independent clause (a phrase with a complete thought).

Writers Who Used Conjunctions to Start Sentences

If you need more convincing, here are some examples of literary greats breaking this specific rule. If they can, why can’t you, right?

"And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden, streamed out mingling in the air. And the Shadow departed, and the Sun was unveiled, and light leaped forth; and the waters of Anduin shone like silver, and in all the houses of the City men sang for the joy that welled up in their hearts from what source they could not tell."
"I am thinking of aurochs and angels, the secret of durable pigments, prophetic sonnets, the refuge of art. And this is the only immortality you and I may share, my Lolita.
"But the Emperor has nothing on at all!' cried a little child.
"But a cold snap was on, the thermometer registering fifty below zero, and each time he broke through he was compelled for very life to build a fire and dry his garments."
"Like all the bells that ever rang still ringing in the long dying light-rays and Jesus and Saint Francis talking about his sister. Because if it were just to hell; if that were all of it. Finished. If things just finished themselves. Nobody else there but her and me."
"Yet my great-grandfather was but a water-man, looking one way, and rowing another: and I got most of my estate by the same occupation."

I’ve only taken one example from each writer and book but there are dozens of instances where they started sentences with a conjunction. If you have time, check out some of your favorite authors. Chances are they’d be doing the same too.

The Bottom Line

The notion that it’s grammatically incorrect to use conjunctions to start sentences is more of a stylistic preference than a solid rule.

While others may rigidly follow it, no English language authority requires you to do the same. It’s your choice whether to follow or ignore it.

Have you ever started sentences with conjunctions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

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