The following examples show the different ways we might use and to begin sentences.

Sentence fragment: The circus has a dozen clowns.

Sentence: The woods were dark and spooky.

So, unless you have a good reason, you should usually try to ensure your sentence that begins with and is, in fact, a sentence and not a sentence fragment. While formal writing does allow for a very limited use of sentence fragments, these are often considered to be outright grammatical errors. A collection of words that lacks one of these is not a sentence but a sentence fragment.

A complete sentence has a subject and a predicate. There is one caveat to keep in mind, though, which doesn’t just apply to sentences starting with and. That being said, some people consider this to be improper, so don’t be surprised if you have a teacher or boss that takes you to task over this “mistake.” Still, you probably don’t want to overdo it and start all of your sentences with and. There are a variety of reasons that we might start a sentence with and, such as for rhetorical effect, style, clarity, or flow. We used every trick, strategy, and gimmick we had at the competition.

For example, we can use and for dramatic effect like so: Can you start a sentence with the word and? Despite what some supposed grammar gatekeepers might tell you, the answer is yes! In fact, most style guides encourage starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction if you are trying to make a point or using it for stylistic emphasis. Now, it is time to answer the million dollar question. Normally, we use a comma when we join independent clauses together with coordinating conjunctions. The word and is one of the most commonly used words in English, and it is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions used to form complex sentences like this one. So, are we going to debunk this pesky rule (that isn’t really a rule) stating that conjunctions can’t be sentence leaders? Yes, we are. This supposed “rule” has no basis in actual writing, and even formal writing features plenty of sentences that start with and and other conjunctions. There is a commonly stated “rule” of grammar that beginning a sentence with and, or any other conjunction, is a mistake.

What does fragmented mean in a sentence