It's not proper grammer. I do, however, find his hair ridiculous. “Never start a sentence with and or but!” = It is a sentence. If formality is your goal, choose more formal language. You are physically able to start a sentence with and or but, but teachers will mark down points. You can start sentences with and. The only reason it’s there is to emphasize the obviousness of the statement. Otherwise, you don’t need a comma after but. It is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with the conjunctions and and but. “Only after / when / if” adverbials can also be used to start sentences that contain only when it is used as an adverb alongside the main verb, too, if you can find the rest of the adverbial later in the sentence (such as after, when, if). That rules out starting sentences with either \'and\' or \'but\' when writing. I am sure you must recall your high school English teacher told you that beginning a sentence with a conjunction was wrong. It was one of the grammar diktats that my teachers drummed into my young head. ‘However’ can be used mid-sentence, separated by commas. Farrukh Afzal on June 17, 2010 8:06 am. They say that if you become a writer, you can start sentences the way you want to, but until then, i advise not. Having said this, the term ‘however’ can also appear mid-sentence or after a semicolon: It was terrible. Other adverbials that can be used to replace ‘but’ include: Here, again, the ‘however’ sentence contrasts with the preceding one. I certainly was. In this case, you also need a second comma at the end of that clause – as above: But, now that doing that is second nature, you can feel free to intersperse your writing with sentences beginning this way. Even then, though, you should separate the sentence in which it appears from the one with which it is being contrasted. Today, I am here to set you free from one of the shibboleths of grammar. you can, but it is no correct English. They are conjunctions, to glue the sentence together. I still, however, want to go back. Although I am still awaiting his reply. At school, we were taught you should never, ever, under any circumstances start a sentence with a conjunction. However, it is slightly informal. In the sentence above, of course is an interrupter. You will be liberated! You could take it out of the sentence without losing any meaning. For instance: I like Brian May’s guitar solos. I faithfully learned the rule. However is correct English to start a sentence. But,And ,Because English grammer teachers said dont use them,i found it ok on net and learned to write from my father who is an expert. Indeed either word can give unimprovably early warning of the sort of thing that is to follow.’ Kingsley Amis, The King’s English (1997) ‘Contrary to what your high school English teacher told you, there’s no reason not to begin a sentence with but or and; in fact, these Do remember, though, that you put a comma after the and or but only if it marks the start of a clause that could be removed. If your sentence happens to place an interrupter directly after but, then go ahead and use a comma. (no comma needed after but) Formal: Subject = I, verb = am still awaiting. As you can see, this can be handy when you want to begin a new sentence with a contrast. It was terrible; however, I still want to go back. Informal: But we hope to write an agreement today. Can you start a sentence with but? I, verb = am still awaiting directly after but, then go ahead and use a after! ’ t need a comma after but to begin a new sentence a... 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