in english can you start a sentence with And?

Question

i've heard it's not proper
but is there any exceptions to the rule?

Answer 1

No there are no exceptions to the rule. You can not use 'And' to begin a sentence. Make no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Answer 2

Many websites and writers say the old rules do not apply and using 'and' / 'but' to start a sentence is acceptable.

For years our teachers have told us, "Don't start your sentences with a conjunction!" However, the rules are changing.
If you're anything like me, for years and years you avoided using "but," "and," or "yet" to start a sentence. This often resulted in run-on sentences or short, choppy ones. The good news is that the rules are changing and it is now considered acceptable to start a sentence with a conjunction.

The most common conjunctions to start a sentence are "and" and "but," as show in the examples below.

*** Starting a sentence with a conjunction can be tricky. But, when you use it sparingly, it can be very effective.

See: http://editingpublishing.suite101.com/article.cfm/can_i_start_a_sentence_with_and_

Finally, ask your teacher what they think is proper, and then for this class--follow the rule the teacher thinks best.

Answer 3

dmontesmom2, I took a look at your link, and I hope it was intended as a joke. Some of the examples are just plain silly. In the first example, the most obvious alternative is simply, "I like the red one too." "Nevertheless, the red one is flattering as well.", strikes me as an unnecessarily long and convoluted way to justify making two sentences of what should be a single sentence, such as, "I like the blue one, but I like the red one too." This is not a run-on sentence, and artificially splitting it into two sentences just to bend the rules is incorrect, no ands or buts about it. Likewise, if someone tries to break up a run-on sentence by inserting a period and capitalizing the word, "And", there must be something wrong with the structure of that sentence and it should be separated elsewhere or punctuated differently.

For instance, it might be a temptation to start a sentence with "And" in a case like this: "We know you have many vacation options, such as cruises and timeshares. And we're glad you chose to stay at our resort." In this case, the close proximity of the other "and" might make it seem necessary, but it's more proper to punctuate it this way: "We know you have many vacation options -- such as cruises and timeshares -- and we're glad you chose to stay at our resort." The use of dashes is more grammatically correct and it clarifies that the last phrase isn't part of the list of options.

Personally, I think this is just another example of how people are getting more careless about grammar in general and trying to justify it by saying, "The rules are changing." The rules are still the same, but more and more people are choosing not to follow them. It's sometimes forgiveable as artistic license in a poem, but in a business letter or memo it just looks sloppy and makes the writer appear uneducated.

Answer 4

And is never to be used to start a sentence in English. The previous sentence is one exception to that rule.

Answer 5

Generally speaking, a sentence should not start with "and" or "or".

But, isn't it curious that other conjunctions, such as "but" or "not" are not as restrictive!

Not only that, but it should be obvious to all that the first rule of English is that there are no rules of English! ;)

And, yet, people are so concerned about this conjunction issue, that they forget other grammatical issues, such as proper sentence capitalization and punctuation. Know of anyone like that? Or is it just my imagination? ;)

Answer 6

"extraordinarily" introduces a clause it relatively is fantastically much constantly discovered later on interior the sentence. you need to, i think, re-order the sentence, yet its form could be unusual and awkward. :::::: extraordinarily if he's tall and good-looking, she likes her guy blonde. word that each and every thing as much as the comma describes "her guy". As I stated, the order is puzzling and undesirable prepare. English is crammed with idioms that many times mess with word order. working example, you're in no way meant to end a sentence with a preposition. To which Winston Churchill's respond grew to become into: "it relatively is something up with which i won't be able to positioned."

Answer 7

Yes you can. This is made very clear in Fowler's Modern English Usage -- the bible for those who are language purists.

Answer 8

And what else do you think you will accomplish today? :) Guess it has to still connect with a previous thought pattern already introduced?

Answer 9

no, unless you use it as somebodies name sometimes people called Andrew have their name shortened to And or Andy.
So if that was the case why couldn't you start a sentance with the line :- And was his nickname as his proper name is Andrew.

Answer 10

You can do it, authors do it. It's not usually accepted in school because teachers want you to be proper.