Danyoo  +  194845 Fri, 10 Feb 06 12:22 AM I remember being told, when writing an essay, not to start a sentence with 'and' a while ago.  Is this still the case?  Or is it acceptable practice these days? Danyoo Joined on Fri, Nov 11 2005 Chicago, USA Regular Member 558 To err is human, to forgive divine. 잘못을 저지르는 것은 인간이지만 용서할수있는 것은 하늘과 같은것. Essays

	Clive  +  194850 Fri, 10 Feb 06 12:48 AM Hi, I think it is perfectly acceptable as a method of writing stylishly and effectively. However, I would suggest that you don't start with 'and' unless you feel you have a good grasp of English style. In addition, I wouldn't do it very often, or it will lose its impact and even become rather irritating to the reader. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,663 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	MrPedantic  +  194858 Fri, 10 Feb 06 01:04 AM I would agree with Clive; and I'd say the same of "but". As for whether it's old or new: every other sentence in the King James translation of the Bible starts with "and". So the over-use of initial "and" can sound even a little deliberately archaic, in some contexts. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... Translation

	Monseul  +  194863 Fri, 10 Feb 06 01:22 AM When I was teaching a writing class, my book advised never to start a sentence in a formal essay/document with: and, but, or, because. Monseul Joined on Thu, Oct 20 2005 Junior Member 53 Essays

	CalifJim  +  194882 Fri, 10 Feb 06 02:15 AM I think that, when writing an essay, starting a sentence with "and" is fine, as long as it's not the first sentence of the essay! CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,454 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Essays