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In English, conjunctions are a part of speech that connect words and group words/clauses together. For example: “My phone got wet but it still works.”
The word but is coordinating conjunction and one of the most commonly used conjunctions in the English language. Here are 75 example sentences with but conjunction.
Read also: Types of Conjunctions with Examples
- I walked to the beach but it was foggy, so I didn’t swim.
- I bought her flowers but she forgot to come to work.
- I took her out for dinner, but she didn’t eat it.
- She listened to me, but she didn’t understand it.
- I stayed at home but my wife went to the party.
- We went out for dinner, but the kids were noisy so we came home early.
- A new article came out slamming the popular diet program, but I believe it is more of a writing style choice.
- I was looking forward to it all day long, but when I got home my wife told me we could not go to dinner after all.
- He did not want to try it at first but after seeing everyone eat he had to give in.
- The beginning of the movie is slow but then picks up speed after that.
- The weather was nice but hot.
- The bear attacked us but we ran away.
- I think you should do something but I’m not sure what exactly.
- That was the best game I saw yesterday but it wasn’t very good.
- He said he couldn’t come but my mother told me he just wanted to stay home and watch tv all day.
- It’s a good hotel but my room is too small!
- I wanted to go out but I was too tired.
- I have been studying Chinese for months but still have problems with pronunciation.
- We can help you with your resume but we charge a fee for this service.
- I like dancing, singing and playing the piano but not at the same time.
- You can do it by yourself but it will be difficult and messy to clean up later.
- Life is hard but love is harder.
- We are busy but happy.
- He was old but he was also really sweet.
- The defendant was charged with assault and his lawyer claimed he acted in self defence but he was found guilty.
- ECT is dangerous but the side effects can be worse than the disease.
- In this case I don’t think that it is acceptable that a man without a criminal record isn’t allowed to work as a taxi driver because of this but I think that the law needs to be changed to make it more logical.
- I’ve been here a lot in the past but this time felt really uncomfortable.
- My sister is a doctor but she will never leave her little girl.
- Play it safe, but be as creative as you like as well!
- You can find clothes at great prices but they don’t always look good with other things in your wardrobe.
- Some people like to go on holiday and never come back, but you need to carry on working and paying the bills and everything else.
- Studies suggest that students who study more tend to get better grades, but this does not imply that those who study more will also get better grades.
- You can’t be fearless, but it is good to be brave, which is the opposite of being scared.
- He has a big mouth, but everything he says cannot be true.
- It was better than I thought but I was still disappointed.
- They are good at marketing but not good at production.
- What you see isn’t always what you get but it can be!
- Never try to look for perfection in others, because you will find flaws in everyone but yourself.
- I love my new dress but it’s too expensive.
- I don’t think he likes me, but I will talk with him.
- He is a good boy but he is lazy.
- The book is good but I don’t like the end.
- I like football, but not basketball.
- She was enjoying her meal, but it took too long to arrive.
- I didn’t buy it, but will look for it online.
- You can go home now, but you must be back by midnight.
- She is poor but she is happy.
- He looks smart but he is really bad.
- Tom loves his country but he doesn’t like politics.
- The train was early but I could not catch it.
- They didn’t like it but they bought it anyway.
- She worked hard for the exam but she failed anyway.
- I liked that restaurant, but it was crowded.
- I didn’t like that restaurant, but I did like the desserts.
- I’m not hungry, but he is very hungry .
- I didn’t go to the movies last night, but John did.
- You can go to school today, but you have to work hard.
- She didn’t want to go out tonight, but she doesn’t need to get up early tomorrow.
- The dress was expensive but it had to be replaced.
- The computer is cheap but good value for money.
- It was cheap but it had to be replaced at once.
- The shoes are comfortable but they need new heels.
- I like the furniture but I am not sure if I should keep them.
- The printer is complicated but so efficient.
- The students are studying hard but they are not doing well.
- Jonathan is smart but shy.
- I went with Lee but he didn’t come with me.
- I will go with him but where will you go?
- I am happy because my family came on time, but my friend is late.
- Some university students but not all like to socialize with other students.
- Jeremy Clarkson is married but not happy.
- All of our staff are paid fairly but it’s still difficult to survive on your wage.
- Mark Zuckerberg is an American billionaire but was raised in White Plains, New York.
- The average person should eat meat but I am a vegetarian.
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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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The word but is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions in English (the others are and, or, so, for, nor, and yet). It’s used to connect two statements that contrast or contradict each other in some way.
For example, learning English is difficult but fun! But getting into the specifics of such commonly used words can be tricky. This article will answer some questions you may have about how to use but.
When do I use a comma?
According to standard grammar, a comma is used before a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses.
An independent clause is a clause with both a subject and a verb so that it can stand on its own. If the second clause does not contain a subject, then no comma is needed.
- He liked the meal, but not the dessert. (No comma)
- He liked the meal, but didn’t like the dessert. (No comma)
- He liked the meal, but he didn’t like the dessert. (Here, the subject is listed both times, making both clauses independent. A comma is appropriate.)
However, this is a rule that not many native speakers are aware of. Most people will place commas according to where they would naturally make a small pause while speaking.
When do I use “but rather”?
While but can be used to contrast two statements, it can also be used in the construction “not this but that.” For example:
- It wasn’t a drought but more of a dry spell.
This sentence is saying that whatever happened wasn’t a drought. Instead, it was a dry spell. To convey this idea, we use the conjunction but. We could also replace this with the phrase but rather.
- It wasn’t a drought but rather more of a dry spell.
The phrase but rather could also just be a combination of but and rather in their separate usages.
- You’d think he would break up with her face-to-face. But rather than doing that, he decided to do it over the phone. (Here, but is used as a contrast to the previous sentence, not in combination with rather.)
What’s the difference between “but” or “yet”?
But and yet are conjunctions with very similar meanings, and usually, when you can use the word yet, you can replace it with but.
The difference is that yet means something more like “despite that” or “regardless of that.” Grammatically speaking, it has a concessive meaning.
- He’s given her so many red flags, yet she still wants to be with him. (In other words, He’s given her so many red flags. Despite that, she still wants to be with him.)
- I attended every lecture in the class, and yet I still don’t understand anything. (It’s possible to use yet with and, making it more of an adverb than a conjunction.)
- Apparently, she keeps a calendar, yet she always forgets about the plans she makes.
In all these examples, you could probably replace yet with but and still have it make sense.
- He’s given her so many red flags, but she still wants to be with him.
- I attended every lecture in the class, but I still don’t understand anything.
- Apparently, she keeps a calendar, but she always forgets about the plans she makes.
The difference is that but only creates a simple contrast. If you really want to say, “This is true, but none of it really matters because…”, then yet is a much better way to convey that nuance.
When can I use “but” at the beginning of a sentence?
While you may have formally been taught that a sentence can’t begin with a conjunction, the reality is that you can begin any sentence with a conjunction. The two following examples basically mean the same thing:
- I’ll come with you and keep you company if you want. But I’m not going to enjoy it.
- I’ll come with you and keep you company if you want, but I’m not going to enjoy it.
Why make a clause with a conjunction its own separate sentence? It depends on how you like to break up your sentences.
Periods usually convey more of a break between ideas than commas do. You might also want to avoid run-on sentences that use too many commas.
When do I use “but also”?
The phrase but also is similar to but rather, but instead of meaning “not this but that,” it means “not just this but also that.” It’s used to add even more additional information than might be expected.
- They not only spilled beer all over the floor but also broke one of the lamps.
- You’re not just a mother but also a friend.
When using this phrase, be sure to create parallel constructions if you want to be grammatically correct. This means linking phrases of the same kind together.
In the following sentence, the placement of the word only makes it so that it connects nouns together, therefore making it a parallel construction.
- He doesn’t know only Spanish but also Portuguese and Italian.
This next sentence is incorrect because it connects a verb (“to know”) with nouns (“Portuguese and Italian”).
- He not only knows Spanish but also Portuguese and Italian.
When I can I use “but not limited to”?
You can use the phrase including but not limited to when you want to list some items in a category, but you also want to indicate there are many more besides that.
It basically means the same thing as the word including by itself but emphasizes the high amount of things in a given category. Usually, this phrase is found in legal contexts, maybe because the wording is more precise.
- The job involves many tasks, including but not limited to serving customers, checking inventory, cleaning the workspace, and taking phone calls.
- Natural language processing has a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to chatbots, language translation, sentiment analysis, and spell check.
- The book covers many topics, including but not limited to the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era, and Jim Crow laws.
What’s the difference between “but” and “although”?
This question is tricky because although can have two different usages.
The first is to mean “despite the fact that” or “even though,” which is like saying, “What I’m about to say doesn’t really matter.” In this case, the clause that although introduces will usually come before the main clause.
- Although it was scorching outside, we still decided risk sunburns and go hiking.
- Although I had a test the next morning, I decided to go out with my friends and ended up coming home late.
Then there is the second usage of although, which is to mean the same thing as but, except it tends to indicate more of an afterthought rather than a firm contrast.
This is usually when although comes after the main clause, which is how you’ll be able to tell the difference between the two meanings.
- I really didn’t want to go to the show, although it did end up being somewhat interesting. (This can be like saying, Now that I think about it, it was sort of interesting.)
- Mark’s thinking about transferring schools, although I’m not sure why. I thought he liked it here. (Using although instead of but indicates that the main topic is about Mark, not what the speaker thinks.)
If you want to create a contrast or transition between what you were just talking about and a topic that’s just as important, it might be better to use but instead of although, such as in this sentence:
- Mental illness can be difficult or awkward to talk about, but there are many ways we can be supportive.
The main point is not that mental illness is a difficult subject. Instead, the speaker is trying to transition into a topic they want to talk about. This makes but a much more appropriate choice than although.
What’s the difference between “but” and “except”?
Except (that) is another conjunction that means something similar to but, except it indicates more of an exception than a contrast (I just used it now!).
Maybe you want to state something that’s true except for one detail. In that case, except will help you convey that better than but.
- He and I are on good terms, except he still needs to pay me the money he owes.
- We have everything we need for dinner, except that I still need to buy oil.
- A: Everything’s fine, except…
B: Except what?
Don’t confuse this with the phrase except for, which is used as a preposition, not a conjunction. You can only follow it with noun phrases.
- Everyone submitted their entries on time except for him.
- He and I are on good terms, except for the fact that he still needs to pay me the money he owes.
Practice
Time for some practice! The following sentences each have an error in them. Try to spot them and see if you can correct them.
- It’s not the concerts themselves rather the social experience that I enjoy.
- I can teach you how to play many genres, including and not limited to jazz, rock, country, and the blues.
- He drives not only poorly but also can’t park properly.
- A lot of times, we follow rules, but don’t really understand why.
- He spent hours and hours more on the painting, but it still looks bad. (What could you replace but with to show that his work was useless?)
- Overall, the movie was great, but the ending could have been better. (What could you replace but with to indicate more of an exception?)
- Overall, the movie was great, but the ending could have been better. (What could you replace but with to indicate more of an afterthought?)
Answers:
- It’s not the concerts themselves but rather the social experience that I enjoy. (You need the whole phrase but rather, not just rather.)
- I can teach you how to play many genres, including but not limited to jazz, rock, country, and the blues. (“Including and not limited to” is not a standard expression.)
- He not only drives poorly but also can’t park properly. OR Not only does he drive poorly, but he also can’t park properly. (Either of these makes the sentence a parallel construction.)
- A lot of times, we follow the rules but don’t really understand why. (The second clause is not an independent clause, so you don’t need to use a comma.)
- He spent hours and hours more on the painting, yet it still looks bad. (Now, you can tell more how useless his effort was.)
- Overall, the movie was great, except the ending could have been better. (Now, it’s specified that the ending was really the one thing wrong with the movie.)
- Overall, the movie was great, although the ending could have been better. (Now, it sounds more like the speaker doesn’t care as much about the ending.)
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun. The whole phrase functions as either an adjective or an adverb.
Learn more with these awesome sentence diagramming exercises. 
The answers are at the bottom of the page. Don’t peek until you’ve tried them!
3.0 Diagramming Prepositional Phrases (Adjectives)
When these function as adjectives, they modify nouns or pronouns. Do you remember the adjective questions? Knowing them will help you!
Directions: Put the preposition on a slanted line under the noun that it modifies (in this case, the subject). Put the object of the preposition on a horizontal line after it. All of these prepositional phrases modify the subject of the sentence.
1. The flowers in the garden are growing.
2. The rock on the cliff fell.
3. That dog across the street has been barking again.
4. Did the green box with the blue lid fall?
5. The lovely, scented candle on the table burned continually.
The blue birds in the trees were chirping.
3.1 Diagramming Prepositional Phrases (Adverbs)
When these function as adverbs, they modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. See the adverb questions for some help.
Directions: Put the preposition on a slanted line under the word
that it modifies. These all modify the verbs. Put the object of the
preposition on a horizontal line after it.
1. Has Lucy been reading at the library?
2. I ran around the absolutely beautiful city.
3. Those blue birds chirped endlessly into the night.
4. The plane flew above the puffy, white clouds.
5. Who has been sleeping in my bed?
The rabbit hopped through the pretty garden.
3.2 Adjectives Part 2
It’s time for one more round of prepositional phrases acting as adjectives! Adjectives can modify any noun or pronoun.
In section 3.0, they all modified the subjects. In this section, they will also modify the object of the preposition of another prepositional phrase. Cool!
Directions: You already know how to diagram these! Just make sure to put the phrase under the word that it modifies!
1. The hairy dog sat in the corner of the room.
2. The cookie dough is in the back of the fridge.
3. I shop at the grocery store on Main Street.
4. Which of the pages in this book ripped?
5. Can you fit between the roots of this tree?
The blue birds in the trees above my house were chirping.
In the trees is modifying the noun birds.
Above my house is modifying the noun trees.
3.3 Diagramming: Putting It All Together
Directions: Diagram these sentences using everything that you have learned so far!
1. The rusty shovel with the blue handle sat in my garage.
2. These three puppies in the basket on the wood floor have been whimpering since this morning.
3. Every candle in the little house on Main Street burned brightly throughout the night.
4. In April, the cool rain falls on the soil.
5. In May, the plants in Cathy’s garden grow very quickly.
3.0 Answers
3.1 Answers
3.2 Adjective Phrases II
3.3 Putting It All Together
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>> Move On To Chapter 4: Diagramming Coordinating Conjunctions
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.”