As I reviewed my latest manuscript, I noticed a terrible habit. I frequently began sentences with the word "but". I've always done this in fiction writing, but until now, I thought I was just blatantly breaking the hard and fast rules of coordinating conjunctions.

I'm relieved to say that's not the case. No wonder my editors never took them out. Apparently, despite the diligence of our grammar school teachers warning against starting sentences with the word "but", it is, in fact, perfectly acceptable.

The following web sites confirm this fact more eloquently than I ever could:

Get it Write

On Beginning Sentences with But

However