Can I Start a Sentence with a Conjunction?

Today’s topic is whether it’s OK to begin a sentence with "and," "but," or "or." The short answer is yes, and just about all modern grammar books and style guides agree! So who is it that keeps saying it’s wrong to do it? 

It’s Fine to Start a Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction

"And," "but," and "or" are the three most common members of a group of words known as coordinating conjunctions. The question about whether it’s grammatical to begin a sentence with "and," "but," or "or" is actually the question of whether it’s grammatical to begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Here’s what some of the big usage guides say on the matter. The one that seems to get quoted the most is the Chicago Manual of Style, which says:

There is a widespread belief—one with no historical or grammatical foundation—that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction such as "and," "but," or "so." In fact, a substantial percentage (often as many as 10 percent) of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions. It has been so for centuries, and even the most conservative grammarians have followed this practice.

Both Garner’s Modern English Usage, and Fowler’s Modern English Usage call this belief a superstition. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage (MWDEU) says, “Everybody agrees that it’s all right to begin a sentence with 'and,'” and notes that you can find examples of it all the way back to Old English. 

Many People Have Been Taught That It’s Wrong

However, MWDEU also observes that “nearly everybody admits to having been taught at some past time that the practice was wrong.” So where did this idea come from? In The Story of English in 100 Words, David Crystal writes:

During the 19^th century, some schoolteachers took against the practice of beginning a sentence with a word like "but" or ...

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