Know when it’s okay to start sentences with “And,” “But,” and “Or.”
Some people think that it is always wrong to start a sentence with the words “And,” “But,” and “Or.” However, that’s not true. There is nothing technically wrong with using these words to start a sentence, and sometimes they make your writing stronger. Consider these examples:
Billy thought he could ride the horse, but before he knew it, he had been thrown from the saddle.
Billy thought he could ride the horse. But before he knew it, he had been thrown from the saddle.
Read the words out loud. The second example sounds much stronger, doesn’t it? Ending the first sentence, pausing, and then moving on to the word “But.” adds emphasis to the idea that is being communicated.
There is a down side, however. Although using “And,” “But,” and “Or” to start sentences can be effective, it is also an easy device to overuse. For this reason, many teachers prefer that students avoid this practice altogether. Ask your teacher how he or she feels, then follow that preference.
