ATTN: ALL English Majors

[swifty]

I am old school, and was taught over and over, to absolutely NEVER start a sentence with AND or BUT.  What is the new generation being taught?  Other than don't listen to old school folks
 

[lexylit]

i discourage it when i'm teaching, but it certainly isn't as hard-and-fast as it once was. Attorneys do it in court filings when they want to sound a little casual. It depends what tone you're going for, but i would say it's more a style issue (preference) and less a grammar one (right/wrong).

[thebengalgent]

I was taught the same thing as well.  But wasn't that the rule only in grade school?  HAHA.

In all seriousness, the word "however" is better than "but", but there is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but or and.

[calguy815]

It is discouraged when a student is just starting out learning grammatical rules; however, I remain convinced that it can be used properly in certain situations.  Exceptions to some grammar rules break up the monotony of essays if cleverly used.  But I definitely agree that when in doubt, just stick to the old rules.

[GentleTim]

It's one of those rules you should follow until you know when you can break it.

[jrhc1210]

I am old school, and was taught over and over, to absolutely NEVER start a sentence with AND or BUT.  What is the new generation being taught?  Other than don't listen to old school folks
 

I'm not an English major, but my teachers have always drilled it into me that I shouldn't start sentences with coordinating conjunctions. Then again, they also beat the passive voice out of me, and I've never really understood that one.

[The Name's Dali]

yeah, sign me up for that class

[lexylit]

very sweet. you would definitely do well in my ESL class. i bet you could choose between "a" and "an" like nobody's business!

[uncgal05]

I am an English major, and for some reason I love starting sentences with and. BUT, i do remember in a class  I took last semester my seasoned prof crossed it out every time i did it. So I guess it was wrong.

[mkagan]

Just because your professor didnt like it, doesnt mean it was wrong. I had a professor cross out nymphomaniac when i was talking about Ben Franklin: not because it wasnt a word, i just dont think he liked who i was attributing it to (i dont think he liked my final choice of debauchery any better). in any case, starting sentences with and/but is grammatically correct. they just teach you when you are young not to do so because oftentimes kids do it incorrectly when they are first learning the language.

I am an English major, and for some reason I love starting sentences with and. BUT, i do remember in a class  I took last semester my seasoned prof crossed it out every time i did it. So I guess it was wrong.