Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with but

Can I Start a Sentence "And" or "But"?

Despite what you may have been told at school, you can start a sentence with "and" or "but." ("And" and "but" are known as coordinating conjunction. "Or" is another common one.)

It is worth noting, however, that starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction still looks nonconformist to many people, so you are advised to reserve this practice for impact.

Starting a Sentence with a Conjunction (e.g., "And," "But")

In the past, schools were rigid in their ruling that sentences could not start with coordinating conjunctions, such as "and" or "but." However, this ruling is now considered outdated, meaning it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.

Examples of Starting Sentences with Conjunctions

Here are some examples of starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions:

The two most common conjunctions used in this way are "and" (meaning "in addition") and "but" (meaning "however").

Use "And" and "But" for Impact

All modern style guides support using words like "and," "but," and "or" at the start of sentences. However, for most people, a sentence that starts with such a conjunction still looks a little nonconformist. This is because coordinating conjunctions are typically used to join like terms. For example:

• Mark and Dawn
(Here, "and" joins two nouns.)
• Rich but sad
(Here, "but" joins two adjectives.)
• Quickly or slowly
(Here, "or" joins two adverbs.)

When a coordinating conjunction starts a sentence, it is not being used to join like terms but as a link between two sentences (i.e., like a conjunctive adverb). In effect, they are being used as follows:

• And = In addition
• But = However
• Or = Put another way

So, the real question is not whether you can use a coordinating conjunction to start a sentence but whether "and," "but," and "or" are conjunctive adverbs as well as coordinating conjunctions. And it seems they are. Read more about coordinating conjunctions.

Comma after "And" or "But"

As we've covered, when a coordinating conjunction starts a sentence, it is being used like a conjunctive adverb such as "however," "consequently," and "therefore." This raises another question. Do we need a comma after "and" or "but" (like with "however," "consequently," etc.)?

Here's the guidance: If you want a pause, use a comma. If you don't, don't. (In other words, you are safe to use your discretion to get the desired flow of text.)

• It is better to be beautiful than to be good. But, it is better to be good than to be ugly. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
(The comma after "but" provides a pause. This comma is not essential. The most common style is not to use a comma with a coordinating conjunction acting like a conjunctive adverb. Bear in mind though that with a genuine conjunctive adverb, you should use a comma.)

Read more about conjunctive adverbs.

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One of our subscribers wrote to ask about starting sentences with and or but. She wondered whether it is considered grammatically correct to do so. The answer is yes.

The operative word here, though, is sentences.

Notice the difference between these two examples:

Two sentences:

Mary ran errands all day in the sweltering heat to ensure that she could leave town the next morning for her vacation. But that night she lay in bed remembering all the tasks she had not yet completed.

One sentence and one sentence fragment: 

Mary ran errands all day in the sweltering heat to ensure that she could leave town the next morning for her vacation. But that night lay in bed remembering all the tasks she had not yet completed.

It’s fine to use a coordinating conjunction to launch an independent clause (a group of words with a subject and a verb that could stand alone as a sentence), such as the one we have in the first example. But the sentence fragment in the second example  (a fragment because it is missing a subject), is not OK.

Coordinating Conjunctions

And and but are two of the seven coordinating conjunctions:

• and
• but
• or
• nor
• for
• so
• yet

Although our subscriber asked specifically about starting sentences with and or but, any of the seven coordinating conjunctions may start a sentence.

Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses that are balanced as logical equals:

• Mary and I went to the meeting. [joins two subjects]
• We were tired yet exhilarated by the end of our first day hiking up Mt. Everest. [joins two adjectives]
• We swam all morning but fished in the afternoon. [joins two verbs]

Often these conjunctions are used to coordinate two independent clauses (groups of words that can stand alone as sentences). Here are two examples, with the independent clauses in brackets:

• [We started to go home], but [we had run out of gas].
• [She was a good leader], for [she could delegate well].

When both of the independent clauses are as short as the ones in these two examples, the comma and coordinating conjunction works well.  But when one or both of the independent clauses are long, we may opt to use a period between them instead of a comma, starting the second sentence with the coordinating conjunction. A period, much more so than a comma, allows the reader to come up for air.

Before Starting Sentences with And or But, Consider Your Audience and Tone

While such a construction is certainly considered professional, sentences that begin with a coordinating conjunction sound less formal than those that begin with conjunctive adverbs, such as however, nevertheless, moreover, thus, and furthermore.

Compare these two constructions:

• She wanted to leave the office, drive home, and spend the evening alone in front of a fire. But she knew that duty called her to finish the project and to put her best effort into making it superb.

• She wanted to leave the office, drive home, and spend the evening alone in front of a fire. However, she knew that duty called her to finish the project and to put her best effort into making it superb.

In some contexts, we sound too formal (perhaps even stuffy) when we use however instead of but or when we use moreover or furthermore instead of and. But certain situations sometimes call for a less casual tone, and business writing is often one of them.

So don’t worry about starting sentences with and or but or any of the other coordinating conjunctions; just be sure that the tone is appropriate for the situation and that what follows the coordinating conjunction is an independent clause, capable of standing alone as a sentence—unless, of course, you are using a sentence fragment intentionally and for effect, as skilled writers sometimes do.

For those who like video explanations and real-life examples, here is a mini-lesson on this topic, including five examples followed by discussion and explanation to sharpen your understanding:

P.S. It’s OK to start sentences with because, too, but that’s a subject for another article!

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Copyright 2001 Get It Write; revised 2020