Myths and taboos

Not starting sentences with "and" is a myth. It's never been a rule of grammar and never will be. In fact, starting sentences with "and" (or another conjunction, such as “but” or “or”) is considered a good thing because it helps to keep your sentences short and smooths the flow. It’s also a great way to add emphasis to a concluding statement. Here are a few examples:

• But such schoolmarmish rigidity was well-and-truly debunked decades ago.

• And if they still don’t like it, you can refer them to the OED website.

• “And to use ‘and’ in this position may be a useful way of indicating that what you are about to say will reinforce what you have just said.” Sir Ernest Gowers, The Complete Plain Words (1954)

And the same goes for ending sentences with prepositions: another myth perpetuated by schools and the media. But don’t take my word for it: every recognised authority, including the Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries, agree that there are no taboos when it comes to the words you can start and end your sentences with.

So, whenever you connect clauses with "and", "or", or "but", consider breaking the sentence into two and replacing the comma with a full stop. Your writing will become much more concise and easier for the reader to digest.

[Did you notice the sentences in this article that started with “and” or “but” or ended with a proposition?]