Should You Start Sentences with Conjunctions?

Through high school and college, if I had started a sentence with a conjunction like “but” or “and” on a paper that I submitted, my teacher or professor would have dinged me. In fact, it probably would have been the difference between an A or a B or a B or a C.

Granted, that was a few years ago and since then writing has become much more casual across social media and other mediums in general. However, when you are writing professionally, you may still find moments where you ask yourself if it is okay to start a sentence with a conjunction.

My advice is you can do it very rarely. But think long and hard before you do.

I only begin a sentence with a conjunction in two instances. The first and most common is when I am quoting someone, and I am faced with the dilemma of using a conjunction or going with an 85-word run-on sentence. On rare occasions, I will do it if I am writing a piece with a punchy cadence and starting a sentence traditionally will disrupt the flow.

That being said, I always feel uncomfortable every time I do it because people have strong feelings about this. And as with the serial comma, the people who are against starting sentences with conjunctions are the most adamant about their view. So, while I may do it and not receive negative feedback, I know someone somewhere is judging me.

This brings me to my final point. You may find yourself in a situation where you have a supervisor or person in leadership who is militantly against beginning sentences with conjunctions. And you may think this is your opportunity to take a stand and bring your organization fully into the 21st Century by starting a sentence with “but”. As you consider it, I just want you to know that I admire your courage and forward thinking.

But don’t do it.

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