It’s a word that’s fun to say, but hard to spell. For rhetorical or stylistic reasons, and, but, because, however , and therefore often deserve a less conspicuous position, and in some cases, they can be omitted altogether. I’d rather be carless. And yet, I used the word “zhoosh” in a client work email last month. The 1959 edition of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style begins two senten… At the start of every semester, I invite my first-year students to recall any rules of writing they learned in school. However, most teachers understand that great writing doesn't come from strict adherence to grammatical rules any more than great cooking comes from strictly following a recipe. It has its roots in Polari, the slang language of low creative and underground subcultures. But I don’t want to have it escalate into a drinking-game distraction! ! So, why do many people hate seeing it? This is a shocking statement for a middle-aged Michigan suburbanite to make. No offense, but… 7. Firstly, has it ever been wrong to begin a sentence with and or but? Granted, starting every sentence with a conjunction wouldn’t result in the prettiest prose. I’m trying like mad to drop that absurd little word from the start of my sentences, and it’s going pretty well. Starting sentences with "so" isn't a trend or a thing. Most people were told at some point in their lives that starting a sentence with a conjunction is ungrammatical. Or something like that. English has only seven of these linking words. But all I have to do is listen to an interview on NPR for 10 minutes in the car, and it comes galloping back at my next meeting. If anyone tells you starting sentence with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet) is incorrect, hand them any piece of professional writing and have them take a look.In literature, journalism, speeches, and formal writing of all kinds, using these conjunctions to start sentences is more than just acceptable; it’s ubiquitous. In fact, starting a sentence with a conjunction such as so, for, but can actually be totally acceptable. I’m going to make a conscious effort to stop saying these phrases with any kind of frequency. You have reached the bottom. No offense, but I recently had to leave a lecture because the speaker began every other sentence with either “So…” or “Alright, so…”. More reading: When To Use A Comma Before Or After But Today, I am here to set you free from one of the shibboleths of grammar. Doing so is an unforgivable affront to the English language. It is acceptable to begin a sentence with also. Negative Adverbials. In fact, I may never own another car again in my lifetime. However, the ones we were specifically taught to avoid starting a sentence with are “and” and “but.”. Sentences ... "I never felt so grateful to any creature below the sun as I did to Sirrah that morning." Why You Shouldn’t Start a Sentence with Any of These 10 Phrases Catherine Holecko Updated: Jul. For a time, I worked in the auto industry. 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. I faithfully learned the rule. …. However it may strike you, people aren't doing it any more frequently than they were 50 or 100 years ago. Why do so many teachers tell students not to begin sentences with because?After all, this writing “rule” was — and is — bad advice, ignored by good writers everywhere. Here, according to my students, are the top five words that should never assume first place in a sentence. Well, the main reason is that it can result in fragmented sentences, which impede flow and readability. So, I research and write about it. If you are using "the" repeatedly, it probably means you are always writing sentences which start … It’s a hastily scrawled list, based largely on my own annoyance that these words have actually flown out of my mouth. I think… 8. If one slips into my speech a time or two, that’s acceptable. 24. In fact, a substantial percentage (often as many as 10 percent) of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions. Answer: "The" is not an incorrect word to use to start a sentence but you never want to use the same word over and over because it makes your sentences sound repetative and not as professional. If you’re not a member, you can either become a member or buy each of these classes à la carte. Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. Others insist that “so” has a function at the start of a sentence. If we’re conscious of it, maybe we can make that little devil go away. One way to understand why this one is a type of adverb is to see that it modifies the whole sentence that follows it, as adverbs often do. In short, unless you know that your teacher truly believes that a sentence should never begin with a conjunction, it should be okay to do so. And every one of those so-called rules is bogus. "There is really no reason why a human being should do more than eat, drink, sleep, breathe, and procreate; everything else could be done for him by machinery. I don’t want to be careless. Now, let’s get on to also and where it can be put in a sentence. Was I being professional? Not only do you eliminate an I, but the sentence doesn't start with I and instead of using the basic verb play stuck to the in a band phrase, the second example has playing in a band as all one phrase. So… 2. Just… What raises the hackles even more is when a written sentence begins with “so” – just cut it out, people! Long story short, no such rule exists or has ever existed, and telling an English learner (or a native speaker, for that matter) that they should never start a sentence with a conjunction is a mistake on the part of the teacher. so. Put simply, if “because” is in a sentence, the sentence needs two parts to be “correct”. Because it might seem fragmented, like this. No, not at all. Discover grammar tips, writing help, and fun English language facts. If you’re a LinkedIn Premium or Lynda.com member, these courses are free! Find more ways to say never, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. There is a widespread belief—one with no historical or grammatical foundation—that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction such as and, but, or so. 'Many usages guides have tried to restrict the usage of "however," suggesting it cannot start a sentence, be used with "but," or replace "nevertheless," but none of these guides can agree and there is ample historical evidence of "however" being used at the start of a sentence. No, it has not. on OK, so never start a sentence with these 10 words…, How to generate chit-chat in online meetings and classes, Try this 1 mindfulness technique to reduce stammering, Public Speaking and Speaking on Camera: Why “Just Act Natural” is Bad Advice. But at least the professor is in good company. An inversion is a powerful tool that you can use to stress the uniqueness of an action. "Rin Tin Tin grew from being one dog to being a sort of franchise. "There is also the brutal insistence in some Muslim countries that women cover themselves to demonstrate submission to religious, and male, authority. That rules out starting sentences with either \'and\' or \'but\' when writing. yet. What Is a "Split Infinitive" and What's Wrong With It? It’s a monkey-hear, monkey-say situation: I hear these phrases and I repeat these phrases. Many translations of the Bible are filled with sentence-initial ands and buts, and they even may be found in some of our more beloved—and prescriptive—usage guides. Click here to get back on top. so example sentences. Check out her online courses at LinkedIn Learning. Vexed, I scrawled a list in my Moleskine: Top 10 words never to begin a sentence with —. This same fussbudget, by the way, outlaws the splitting of infinitives — another durable grammar myth. Beginning a Sentence with "Because" The Because Myth. You should never start a sentence with and or but. An independent clause is a … When it dies, I may not buy another. She writes, coaches, teaches, and speaks. What “stop words” are on your Top 10 lists? 1. 3. Let’s look at an example. Never begin a sentence with a conjunction of any kind, especially one of the FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). This example sentence has two independent clauses. Since it would stop and start a … What to Know. I feel… 9. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. The “so” phenomenon has spread like wildfire over the past few years. What they most often remember are proscriptions, many of which involve words that should never be used to begin a sentence. I’ve been in quite a few Zoom web meetings lately, and I’ve seen a lot of BATS IN THE CAVE, if you know what I mean. You are allowed to start a sentence with 'however. We live in the Age of So. 48. How to use so in a sentence. We may have been taught that a sentence should never start with a conjunction, or an acronym, or an Arabic numeral, but is that always the case? I certainly was. If done well, it'll get you a “This is correct.” “However, it is not... the accepted or preferred usage of the word “so.” “In the future please refrain or find a better way to begin your sentence.” “So” is meant to be used as a transitional word. It is also common to see so used for the same purpose but at the beginning of a sentence, meaning that the comma from our last example is replaced with a period like this: (3) I love grammar. Proudly powered by WordPress As is so often the case, the things we may have learned as “rules” for starting a sentence are not always universal. You will be liberated! | The dreadful part about saying “so” is that it’s insanely catchy. Another word for never. In the context I used it, it was a low …, I own a car. Each is accompanied by examples and observations that disprove the rule. It’s alienating, annoying, and utterly unnecessary. As we mentioned, it helps to join thoughts together, so it is useful in science when trying to make cohesive links between sections. 2. That’s an urban legend with no basis in fact. Note that inversion is mainly used when the sentence begins with a negative word. The good news is, you can rest easy knowing that there is no true grammar rule that says you can’t ever start a sentence with one of these conjunctions. You’ll find it a widespread occurrence, even in scientific writing. 13, 2020 Don't undermine your message, or your relationships, with these instant conversation-killers. You probably heard in school that you can’t start a sentence with and, but, because, and other conjunctions. We decided to go to the pool because it was hot outside. OK. So… 3. No, not at all. A coordinating conjunction is a word that we use to connect or join words, phrases and clauses that are related or are logical equals.They are:ForAndNorButOrYetSoThey are easy to remember because they create the acronym, FANBOYS.But can you start sentences with these words? A half-hour of listening to someone repeat so like a neurotic cuckoo clock, and you’ll find yourself doing the same damn thing. His information may have been spectacular, but after a half hour, I felt too distracted to listen anymore. Well, … But here’s the thing. So is the start of a sentence always the best place to locate one of these words when you want to signal a transition? At school, we were taught you should never, ever, under any circumstances start a sentence with a conjunction. Language Myths and Bogus Rules of Writing, How to Begin a Sentence With 'And' or 'But', Using Sentence Case for Titles, Headings, and Headlines, Best Practices for the Most Effective Use of Paragraphs, Writers on Writing: The Art of Paragraphing, Paragraph Transition: Definition and Examples, Cohesion Strategies: A List of Transitional Words and Phrases. Alright, so… 4. Ahem… 10. Alright… 5. In that sentence, so is a conjunctive adverb. When starting a sentence with the word “so”, a listener will think the speaker has an inflated sense of self. Doubt me? for. ... and the two queerly matched animals were stood side by side for the start. Is It Wrong to End a Sentence With a Preposition? So why do people feel compelled to start every sentence with ‘so’? Most people don’t care, but those who do, care a whole lot. Variety tends to keep readers' interest longer than assembly-line thoughts. Starting a sentence with also. Dot Wordsworth commented on it in these pages recently, though was lost for an explanation. "You should never start a sentence with a conjunction ... and I told him so. Theme: anaximander by Pink & Yellow Media. In fact, a substantial percentage (often as many as 10 percent) of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions. Laura Bergells is a professional story finder. When your audience starts playing a mental drinking game based on taking a sip every time you say “so” and downing the whole glass every time you begin a sentence with the word “so” — and they’re hammered in 5 minutes — you might want to face the problem. There is a widespread belief—one with no historical or grammatical foundation—that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction such as and, but or so. Example sentences with the word so. OK. 6. If you don’t know what I mean by BATS IN THE CAVE — it’s when someone is using the camera on their laptop and I can look straight up …, “Zhoosh”. 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A … an inversion is a powerful tool that you can Use stress.