In our business writing classes, people often want an answer to this burning question:
Is it acceptable to begin a sentence with the word and or but?
The answer is yes. It is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with the conjunctions and and but. However, it is slightly informal. If formality is your goal, choose more formal language.
Informal:
But we hope to write an agreement today.
(no comma needed after but)
Formal:
However, we look forward to writing an agreement today.
Nevertheless, we look forward to completing the agreement today.
Informal:
And Clare knows how to write a good report.
(no comma needed after and)
Formal:
In addition, Clare is skilled in writing reports.
Furthermore, Clare is a skillful report writer.
There's one rule you do have to follow: Meet your reader's needs. For example, if your supervisor (or your supervisor's supervisor) doesn't approve of beginning a sentence with a conjunction, avoid it. After all, he or she is one of your most influential readers.
But here's an alternative: Why not bring out an excellent reference manual and try to do some supervisor development?
And if you need help, email me!
Can you start a sentence with the word "however"?
Posted by: A. Douglas | July 27, 2006 at 06:54 AM
Yes, it is fine to start a sentence with "however." (See above.) It's more formal than "but."
Posted by: Lynn | July 27, 2006 at 08:04 AM
Is It acceptable to start a sentence with "but?"
Posted by: clinton e mercer | December 27, 2006 at 03:10 PM
Clinton, please see the discussion above.
Posted by: Lynn | December 27, 2006 at 06:03 PM
Great article, used it when writing an essay.
Thanks!
Posted by: Elad Nava | January 14, 2007 at 07:21 PM
thanks this really helped...i appreciate it
Posted by: dru | February 18, 2007 at 12:07 PM
hey, i'm in the re-reading my essay, there's a few "but"s at the start of a few sentances. but also a fair few "however"s and "nevertheless"s. do you think not using "but" overides not varying your vocab?
Posted by: Dan | March 13, 2007 at 03:11 PM
Dan, I don't understand your question yet. I'm having difficulty with "not using" overriding "not varying." Can you state it another way?
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | March 13, 2007 at 04:19 PM
Thanks, you article was useful.
But I also found the quoted URL very helpful.
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003723.html
Posted by: But Head | May 27, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Thank you for the link. Trying to read that post, I was reminded why I am a business writer--not an academic. I could not get through more than a few sentences without longing for the Cliff's Notes version.
Posted by: Lynn | May 28, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Nice article, one question though;
Is it possible to begin a sentence with "With"
Thanks,
~Tapan21
Posted by: Tapan21 | August 29, 2007 at 06:34 AM
You can start a sentence with any word you choose.
Posted by: Lynn | August 29, 2007 at 06:50 AM
It's bad style to start a sentence with "however". You're better off just using "but". But if you really want to use "however", say "we look forward, however, to writing an agreement today".
Posted by: lol | September 20, 2007 at 06:30 AM
can you start a sentence with "which", or does that make the sentence a fragment?
ex: "which leads us back to the central issue..."
Posted by: Dixie | September 27, 2007 at 03:50 PM
Dixie, starting a sentence with "which" usually makes it a fragment if you use it the way you did. However, many questions begin with "which," as in "Which one do you prefer?"
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | October 07, 2007 at 06:44 PM