Job Discussion Forums

[Stephen Jones]

[Henry_Cowell]

[Justin Trullinger]

Erm, your "but" has been cut off?


Has anybody ever read "Candide," by Voltaire?


If you have, that sentence sounded really funny. But I may be laughing alone...and in any case, it's time to go home...

Justin

[Henry_Cowell]

No, Justin...

SJ said that my but had been cut-off by from .....

You need to include all the prepositions before the sentence can really shine!

[Gajeman]

Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma chameleon... it comes and goes. It comes and go-oh-oh-oes.

[Stephen Jones]

The typo has been duly edited. Now, perhaps HC could let us know whether he really thinks you can begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.

[Henry_Cowell]

Of course you can. Your third-grade teacher probably warned you not to begin sentences with coordinating conjunctions. But you've learned some linguistics since then, haven't you? Coordinating conjuctions frequently join sentences across "full stops" in the best writing by the best authors.

http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/g49.html

Can I use and (or but, etc.) at the start of a sentence?
Yes. The old "rule" that you cannot begin a sentence with a conjunction has actually gone by the wayside. In casual writing or speech, a sentence can start with and or but. Though these words are mainly used to join elements within a sentence, they have been used to start sentences since the 10th century. Many style guides even say that but is more effective than however at the beginning of a sentence. But, in any case, do use variety in the way you start sentences and try to start consecutive sentences with different words. The groundless suggestion that it is incorrect to begin a sentence with but or and is as silly as saying it is incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition.

By the way, Stephen, but, and, and or are coordinating conjunctions. They can begin sentences. But they are NOT to be confused with (or used as) conjunctive adverbs. The word but can indeed be an adverb -- but not a conjunctive adverb. Check your dictionary, kind sir.

but (adv.) 'merely' 'only' "He is but a child."
but (adv.) 'to the contrary' "Who knows but that she may succeed."
but (adv.) used as an intensive "Get there but fast."

Conjunctive adverbs (note absence of but)
accordingly
also
anyhow
besides
consequently
for example
furthermore
hence
henceforth
however
in addition
indeed
in fact
instead
likewise
meanwhile
moreover
namely
nevertheless
notwithstanding
otherwise
similarly
so
still
then
thereby
therefore
thus
yet

[Henry_Cowell]

And the following goes directly to my original point about SJ's original sentence. His incorrectly punctuated sentence was the following: