Can you start a sentence with but? English teachers love to tell us it’s against the rules. But there is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but.
As you grow as a writer, you learn that many of the rules you were taught in school aren’t really rules at all. Can you start a sentence with but? Your third-grade teacher probably told you this was absolutely verboten. However, this is an example of a common rule that is misleading. There is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but or any other coordinating conjunction. In fact, authorities as lofty as The Elements of Style, The Chicago Style Manual, and William Shakespeare all begin sentences with the word “but.” In the case of the former two examples for analyzing a sentence, they also overtly say that it is permissible.
Contents
- Why It Is OK to Start a Sentence with But?
- What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?
- What Are Independent Clauses?
- How Do You Avoid Sentence Fragments?
- Can But Go at the Beginning of a Sentence in Good Writing?
- Is It OK in Business Writing?
- Where Did the Rule Against Starting a Sentence with But Come From?
- The Final Word on Can You Start a Sentence with But
- FAQ About Starting a Sentence with But
- Author
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Why It Is OK to Start a Sentence with But?
“But” is conjunction. According to sources including Merriam-Webster, conjunction is used to join words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Because of this, it is perfectly proper to use “but” to begin a sentence that continues an idea expressed in the previous one.
What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?
We use coordinating conjunctions to connect words and phrases together. The seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language are:
- And
- But
- For
- Nor
- Or
- So
- Yet
It is perfectly allowable to start a sentence with any of these, as long as you are connecting two independent clauses.
What Are Independent Clauses?
An independent clause is one that forms a complete sentence on its own. Examples of independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions include:
- I got to the station early. But I still missed my train.
- She won’t eat at Italian restaurants. Nor will she try sushi.
- We could go to Paris. Or we could take a flight to Madrid.
How Do You Avoid Sentence Fragments?
As long as the sentence you started with “but” includes both a noun and a verb, the chances that you’ve created a fragment are very low. A sentence fragment lacks one or the other (usually the verb). As long as the first phrase ends in a full stop and the second phrase uses “but” in a logical way, you can’t go wrong.
Examples include:
- I got the promotion. But I still won’t make as much as I need.
- He arrived with seven bags of groceries. But he still forgot the bread.
There are few logical statements in sentences of those forms that would take the form of fragments. If you were to write “He arrived with seven bags of groceries. But the bread.” the reader would be excused for wondering “but the bread what?”
Can But Go at the Beginning of a Sentence in Good Writing?
Yes, absolutely. Good writing, in fact, is made up of sentences that vary in length and word use. Bad writing often suffers from an excess of uniformity rather than a sprinkling of grammar that, although correct, would not be accepted in a beginning language class.
Is It OK in Business Writing?
It’s accepted that business writing is more formal than some other forms. Because of this, there is a reluctance to use grammar that might be seen as overly casual.
However, in actual practice, the choice comes down to the setting and the tone. If other people in your company seem to hew to more stiff and formal language, it might be good to do so, as well. But if they tend to write with less formality, you are free to do so, too.
Where Did the Rule Against Starting a Sentence with But Come From?
According to linguist David Crystal, the rule started with schoolteachers in the 19th century. Many noticed young students habitually starting sentences with conjunctions and attempted to stop this in the interest of creating themes and essays with standalone, independent thoughts and clauses.
But instead of encouraging students to limit the use of these sentence starters, over time, they fell into a habit of banning the words altogether. Because of this, generations of children were taught never to start a sentence with conjunction when no such English grammar rule exists.
The Final Word on Can You Start a Sentence with But
Yes, you absolutely can start a sentence with but. But you need to make sure that the following sentence is not a fragment.
When it comes to using it in a business setting, that is a question of style rather than grammar. Follow the lead of the people in your office and your industry. And if there’s a style guide, that’s even better.
FAQ About Starting a Sentence with But
When can you start a sentence with but?
Any time you are joining a sentence with the one that proceeds it.
Are there times it’s wrong to start a sentence with but?
It’s wrong if your sentence is not a complete sentence. If it is a dependent clause, you should use a piece of punctuation other than a period.
Is it OK to use but at the start of a sentence according to AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style?
Both allow you to use but at the beginning of a sentence.
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Today, I am here to set you free from one of the shibboleths of grammar. You will be liberated! I certainly was. At school, we were taught you should never, ever, under any circumstances start a sentence with a conjunction. That rules out starting sentences with either “and” or “but” when writing. I faithfully learned the rule. I became positively angry when I read books in which otherwise excellent writers seemed to make this faux pas. How could they be so sloppy?
One day, I decided to settle the matter once and for all. I would find an authoritative reference to back up what I had learned, and I would send it to someone who had just argued you can start a sentence with “but.”
Being Wrong Can Make You Happy
Once I started to check, I quickly realized I was going to be proved wrong. People, including some of the greatest writers of all time, have been starting sentences with “and” and “but” for hundreds of years. Of course, there are style guides that discourage it, but it’s perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with “but” when writing. I was thrilled! That very day, I started peppering my writing with sentences starting with conjunctions. But one shouldn’t go overboard! See what I did there? Hah!
Using any stylistic quirk too frequently spoils your writing. By all means, start sentences with “but” from time to time, but remember that “but” also belongs after a comma. I did it again, didn’t I?
When Should You Consider Starting a Sentence With “But”?
“Contrary to what your high school English teacher told you, there’s no reason not to begin a sentence with but or and; in fact, these words often make a sentence more forceful and graceful. They are almost always better than beginning with however or additionally.” (Professor Jack Lynch, Associate Professor of English, Rutgers University, New Jersey)
Thank you, professor! I’ll admit to using “however,” but being lazy, I really do prefer the word “but” to begin a sentence when given a choice. “Additionally” is just awful, and I flinch every time I start a sentence with it. It seems so pompous!
The professor also confirms starting with the conjunction can make your writing more forceful. Remember, you don’t always want to be forceful. Sometimes sentence flow is more appropriate. But a choppy “but” at the start of a sentence certainly does seem to add emphasis when that’s what you’re looking for.
People Are Going to Argue This With You
Just as I once was a firm believer in the “never start a sentence with and or but” non-rule, you’ll come across enslaved souls who have been taught the very same non-rule. Where can they turn for confirmation and comfort? The Bible is always a good place. Refer them to Genesis Chapter 1 for sentences starting with “and.”
For a sentence starting with “but,” you may have to read a little further – all the way to Genesis 8:1: “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.”
Looking around online, I see some arguing that using the Bible as a work of English literature is pushing the envelope. I beg to differ, but perhaps as the world’s greatest bestseller, it’s a bit too commercial for them. Let’s take them to the real authority: the notoriously stuffy and pedantic, Fowler’s Modern English Usage. It’s seen as the authoritative book on English Grammar, and if they won’t believe it, they’re never going to believe anyone.
If they’re trying to find a comeback, you can always help them out. But they won’t be impressed with the reference you give them because I’m ready to bet you anything they’ve never have heard of Quackenbos!
“A sentence should not commence with the conjunctions and, for, but, or however…. ” (George Payn Quackenbos, An Advanced Course of Composition and Rhetoric, 1854)
Let’s sum up that argument, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. We have the Bible, a host of brilliant writers, and Fowler’s Modern English Usage vs… Quackenbos. I’ll see your Quackenbos and I’ll raise you an Albert Einstein. Oops, we’ve gone from law to poker. Please pardon the mixed metaphors. Of course, Shakespeare also occasionally mixed metaphors, but we’ll go into that another time, shall we?
Why Were Students Taught This Non-Rule Rule?
Why were we taught this non-rule rule about not starting sentences with conjunctions? Several authorities seem to think it was done to prevent school kids from writing as they often talk:
“I went to my friend’s house yesterday. And we decided to go to the mall. And while we were there we saw a whole bunch of our friends. And they were just hanging out like we were. And because we didn’t have any money that was all we could do, really.”
Or
“But then John said he’d had a birthday, and we could all go for ice creams. But when we got to the ice-cream parlor, he found that he had left his wallet at home. But that didn’t stop us from having a good time together while teasing John that he owed us an ice-cream.”
You have to admit, that’s a bit much. So to close, we quote Oscar Wilde, “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”
Coordinating conjunctions, such as “but,” are generally used to join two parts of a sentence together. But is it ever acceptable to start a sentence with the word “but”? Read on to find out more!
What the Traditionalists Say
You may have had it drummed into you for years that you cannot begin a sentence with “but.” This rule is a particular favorite of schoolteachers and is thought to prevent the overuse of the word, which is common in children’s speech. For instance:
✘ We went to the library to pick up our textbook. But it wasn’t available, so we looked online. But we couldn’t find it online either…
However, look at this example from Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick:
“Despairing of him, therefore, I determined to go to bed and to sleep; and no doubt, before a great while, he would follow me. But previous to turning in, I took my heavy bear-skin jacket…”
No one could accuse Melville of writing sloppy English. So why does he use sentences that begin with a coordinating conjunction?
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Melville’s Moby-Dick is considered to be one of America’s greatest novels.
(Photo: flickr.com)
When Is It Okay to Start a Sentence with “But”?
The truth is, there is no hard and fast rule against starting a sentence with “but”—as long as the sentence is formed correctly. Since this word is intended to connect two thoughts together, it’s important that your sentence contains a main clause. That means it should include a subject and a verb and can stand on its own.
You should also consider the audience for your writing. Although it may be perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with “but” in informal writing, such as in social media content and blog posts, it’s best avoided if you want to achieve a formal tone. For data-driven documents, such as case studies and text books, try using alternative expressions like “however” or “nevertheless.” One caveat: when writing literature or poetry, “but” can be used at the beginning of a sentence to achieve dramatic effect (see the Moby-Dick example).
Be Aware of Style Guides!
When weighing up whether to use “but” at the beginning of a sentence, check to see if you need to adhere to a particular style guide. Style guides are used in the publishing world to set standards for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Your style guide may specify that sentences shouldn’t begin with a coordinating conjunction. But if not (see what I did there?), the use of “but” at the beginning of a sentence is never truly off limits.
Expert Proofreading
Finally, if you are in any doubt at all about your use of English, why not get your writing proofread? Submit a free trial document today!
For a while, using but to start a sentence was largely frowned upon. But, I think it is possible to use but at the beginning of a sentence, as long as it isn’t overused.
Am I right?
RegDwigнt
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asked Nov 20, 2011 at 22:44
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But for conditional usage, I would still tend to frown upon it. But, used sparingly, it can be effective in emphasizing the thought or action behind the «but».
answered Nov 20, 2011 at 22:59
JeffSaholJeffSahol
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It is not ‘grammatically incorrect’ and it is not restricted to informal writing. When but occurs at the beginning of a sentence it is not to be construed as a conjunction, but as a conjunct. Conjuncts are adverbs which, in the words of ‘The Cambridge Guide to English Usage’,
. . . play a cohesive role between separate sentences, or clauses. They . .
. express logical relationships such as addition, contrast and
causation.
answered Nov 21, 2011 at 7:31
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
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I used to think it wrong to start a sentence with But. My English teacher told us not to say or write that way, though he admitted that in reality many did use that way.
I am very familiar with Longman Contemporary English Dictionary. In it, four parts of speech are given if we search for but. They are conjunction, preposition, adverb and noun. Yet when we want to start a sentence with but, we use its conjunction meaning. That is grammatically incorrect.
Barrie England wrote it was a conjunct (adverb) and referred to The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. If so, that well explains.
However, I see such usage is not in many dictionaries. That means it is not universally accepted. As a non-native English user, I will avoid using it this way.
answered Jan 25, 2013 at 6:55
Jiancheng ZouJiancheng Zou
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In a narrative I can see no reason not to use it, however it is still wrong in most aspects of written English.
Seeing a ‘but’ at the start of a sentence would make me want to see what on earth had come before…
answered Nov 21, 2011 at 0:39
Rory AlsopRory Alsop
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Of course you can use «but» at the beginning of a sentence. The supposed rule against this practice is an urban myth. I used to offer my college students $100 in cash if they could find this «rule» in a reputable grammar book. Nobody ever collected the money! What’s more — all the grammar books feature sentences starting with «but.»
To read more: http://wp.me/PU98s-2B
answered Jun 17, 2016 at 21:15
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Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Arno Buckridge
Score: 4.8/5
(58 votes)
There’s no rule against beginning a sentence with but. Sure, it’s a wise admonition from middle-school English teachers that novice writers avoid beginning a series of sentences with but. In July we went to Six Flags. But it rained that day.
Can you start a sentence with but in academic writing?
The answer is yes. It is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with the conjunctions and and but.
What can I use to start a sentence with but?
“Yet” can often replace “but” in a sentence without changing anything else, as both are coordinating conjunctions that can introduce a contrast. Alternatively, you could use one of these subordinating conjunctions: Although (e.g., I like Brian May, although I find his hair ridiculous.)
Can you start a sentence with and but or or?
Answer: It is completely acceptable to begin a sentence with the words and, but, and or. Conjunction words like these join together sentences, clauses, or phrases.
Should you start a sentence with but UK?
But for the rest of us mere mortals starting a sentence with And or But is perfectly acceptable. In fact copywriters do it all the time as it makes copy informal, snappy and really gets a point across.
45 related questions found
What can I say instead of but?
but
- although.
- however.
- nevertheless.
- on the other hand.
- still.
- though.
- yet.
What words can you not start a sentence with?
A sentence should not commence with the conjunctions and, for, or however….
What are some good sentence starters?
Some words are indeed notable for being good sentence starters. The list will include the following: although, I would like to, first, meanwhile, therefore, subsequently, while, I would like to, moreover, in general, in addition, furthermore.
How do you start a good sentence?
Good ways to start a sentence
- The most common sentence pattern is to write the subject first, followed by the verb: Weeds are important too because birds eat the seeds.
- Reverse the sentence to begin with the dependent adverbial clause: Because birds eat the seeds, weeds are important too.
What is a better word for my?
In this page you can discover 16 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for my, like: myself, yer, his, our, myo, someones, ur, anyhow, her, thy and hers.
What can I say instead of for example?
- «For instance …» «For example» and «for instance» can be used interchangeably. …
- «To give you an idea …» Use this phrase to introduce a use case or example. …
- «As proof …» …
- «Suppose that …» …
- «To illustrate …» …
- «Imagine …» …
- «Pretend that …» …
- «To show you what I mean …»
What should I say instead of good?
synonyms for good
- acceptable.
- exceptional.
- great.
- positive.
- satisfactory.
- satisfying.
- superb.
- valuable.
What can I say instead of however?
Synonyms of however
- even so,
- howbeit,
- nevertheless,
- nonetheless,
- notwithstanding,
- still,
- still and all,
- though,
How do you avoid But in a sentence?
Most people avoid using ‘but’ as an attempt to avoid being negative… or to soften the delivery of a message.
…
Using Positive, Benefit Driven Language AND The Word ‘but’:
- ‘Remove the word all together – skip it’
- Except.
- Besides.
- However.
- Nonetheless.
- Otherwise.
- Unfortunately.
- Instead.
Can you start a sentence off with another?
Although many people were taught to avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction, all major style guides say that doing so is fine. … Today’s topic is whether it’s OK to begin a sentence with «and,» «but,» or «or.» The short answer is yes, and just about all modern grammar books and style guides agree!
What can I say instead of start?
- begin,
- commence,
- embark (on or upon),
- enter (into or upon),
- fall (to),
- get off,
- kick off,
- launch,
Where is a simple sentence?
«I visited my old neighborhood where I have the best memories.» «I went back to the store where I bought my sweater.» «I went to the library where I studied until 8 o’clock.»
What are the 6 sentence openers?
There are six sentence openers:
- #1: Subject.
- #2: Prepositional.
- #3: -ly Adverb.
- #4: -ing , (participial phrase opener)
- #5: clausal , (www.asia.b)
- #6: VSS (2-5 words) Very Short Sentence.
What is a good introduction starter?
Begin your introduction with a «hook» that grabs your reader’s attention and introduces the general topic. Here are some suggestions on how to create a “hook”: State an interesting fact or statistic about your topic. Ask a rhetorical question.
What are some good sentences?
Good sentence example
- It felt so good to be home. 738. …
- You have a good family. 406. …
- She is such a good seamstress. 457. …
- It was a good thing they were going home tomorrow. …
- It was all just good clean fun. …
- It meant a good deal to him to secure a home like this. …
- It would do no good to ask him why. …
- He had done one good deed.
Can sentence start with it?
Beginning a Sentence With «It»
Starting a sentence with «it» is acceptable in APA, but doing so may make sentences needlessly wordy and take the emphasis off of the subject. … (Smith & Taylor, 2016)” is a grammatically acceptable way to begin a sentence.
Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with the word so?
In fact, starting a sentence with a conjunction such as so, for, but can actually be totally acceptable. Most people don’t care, but those who do, care a whole lot. So, why do many people hate seeing it? Well, the main reason is that it can result in fragmented sentences, which impede flow and readability.
Can a sentence start with however?
A sentence beginning with ‘however,’ is usually closely related to the sentence which precedes it. In most cases, it is more appropriate to use ‘however’ to form a compound sentence. ‘However’ can be used to interrupt a sentence. Use a comma (,) before and a comma (,) after ‘however’ when you use it in this way.