Why You Can Start Sentences With Conjunctions

Khan Academy

This video debunks the common grammatical myth that starting sentences with conjunctions is incorrect. The narrator, David, explains that while many students are taught this "superstition," professional writers and grammarians agree that starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction like "and" or "but" is grammatically sound. He illustrates how this technique can add dramatic tension and improve the flow of writing, citing style manuals and historical usage to support the argument. The video distinguishes between coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) and subordinating conjunctions (like "because"), identifying where the confusion often lies. Through a visual analogy of a tree and a ladder, the narrator explains the difference between independent and dependent clauses. He clarifies that while starting with "because" often leads to sentence fragments in student writing, it is permissible as long as the dependent clause is attached to an independent one. For educators, this resource is excellent for upper elementary and middle school writing instruction. It helps move students beyond rigid beginner rules toward more sophisticated sentence variation. Teachers can use this video to address sentence fragments, teach the function of different types of clauses, and encourage students to use sentence-initial conjunctions intentionally for rhetorical effect rather than avoiding them out of fear.