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Is video game culture really that toxic to women?

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Answer (1 of 8): Nope, ive been a gamer all my life, im a girl, and ive never met an ass hole i couldnt handel, there are very very rare occasions when ill get called out on being a girl(80% of the time im mistaken for a young boy cause i dont have a high voice) 18% of the time its someone messin...

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Something that is of interest to me, that I do and watch in my free time, is gaming. The gaming industry and stereotype around video games is that it’s mainly male-dominated. This connects to language & gender that we learned in class since there is a distinct way that people talk to you once they find out what gender you are. From my personal experience, there are many instances where females are negatively talked to and treated while playing video games. Especially since it is online, it makes it easier for them to talk harshly without any consequences. While the option of reporting them is still available, that is not enough to stop the community of people who still stereotypically view women as less than them.

One way that this occurs is because males tend to speak more confidently, which demonstrates their dominance in this field.

Such as it states in our class slide “Men are more direct; women are more polite”, this allows men to more easily talk over women.

Funny enough, due to this there are also many moments where when females realize that they are teammates with only other females, they feel more comfortable and light-hearted.

Lastly, I feel like this also connects to language & interaction: politeness, especially towards interactions between different genders. I noticed a trend, along with personal experiences and experiences from my friends, that when people of the same gender interact within a game they use positive face politeness, while interactions between the two genders end up with negative face politeness.

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Ever since the addition of emojis, it has vastly improved the texting scene in my opinion. Emojis are a great way to express expressions and feelings, that could otherwise be harder to show through text messages. While sometimes messages may mean a certain way, sometimes the receiver of the text message may not understand the tone that was meant to be applied and can cause confusion. An example is a word “ok”. Some people may take that as a simple okay and move on, while other people may interpret that as a sassy response and read that in a negative light. Emojis are a great solution to these misunderstandings since a little emoticon of facial expressions is universal.

My first example of a real-world instance where an emoji is used is in my past text messages with my friend Violet. Prior to receiving this text message, she was messaging me a couple of days before nervous about a law exam that she has coming up. Then in this text message, she starts off the conversation with red exclamation mark emoji‘s (‼️). The function of language that this emoji is being used for is phatic since it was used to start a conversation and set the mood of our conversation. Through the use of those emojis, I knew that she was very excited to tell me something and that it was very urgent for me to know. I found the usage of this emoji very successful since it was a good way to not only greet me but show that she had some exciting news to share. Seeing such an excited greeting made me feel anticipation about what she was going to say.

My next example is the use of referential emojis used in a conversation between me and my other friend Adel. A brief context before these text messages is that Adel and I usually text each other while she is on break in the middle of her class, which is economics. Since I transferred and we no longer go to the same college, we often text each other throughout the day to keep in contact with each other, and emojis are often used. In this specific instance, she used the sleeping emoji (😴) to reference the other students in her class during the break. To me, this reference is that other people in her class are tired and sleeping during their break time. Then the usage of the z’s emoji (💤) referenced her also feeling sleepy and wanting to take a nap during the break. I found the usage of this emoji very successful since I could picture her in a classroom surrounded by sleeping students. These emojis are referential since she is referencing the state of herself and her classmates. Overall, the usage of emojis is a great way to visualize and interpret text messages further.

The last example is the use of expressive emojis used in the same conversation between me and my friend Adel. The emoji used as the expressive emoji is the laughing one (😂). In my opinion, I think that this is one of the most, if not the most, used emojis out of all of the other emojis. It is a great expressive emoji because there is so much expression being shown in one small emoticon face. By using this emoji, I am trying to express to Adele that I am laughing and that I find her situation to be funny. I chose to use this emoji this way because I feel like it sets a better tone in the conversation. Normally, in funny situations, people just send the abbreviations “lol” or “lmao”. However to some people, since it is such an overused term used in text conversations, it can sound like a fake filler response. I like to personally include emojis after using such abbreviations to show that my feelings are true and that I actually find the situation funny.

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Why Saying 'Like' a Lot Is Like, Actually a Good Thing

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The word "like" has multiple helpful uses, argues Amanda Montell. So go ahead and like, say it.

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Do you find yourself saying "I'm sorry" all the time? You forget to text your friend back. I'm sorry. You accidentally bump into someone at the grocery store. I'm sorry. You sneeze in the middle of a meeting. That's right-I'm sorry. It's a seemingly endless cycle. Over-apologizing can undermine your authority and negatively impact your career. It's not just a hypothesis-studies show that women do apologize more than men. A University of Waterloo, Canada study found that women tend to apologize more often because they have a lower threshold than men for what they consider offensive. Tara Swart, neuroscientist, Forbes contributor and author of the book, The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life says serial apologists mostly do so out of habit, perhaps stemming from a childhood where they were made to feel wrong or fearful of punishment. According to Swart, "Apologizing when we have done something wrong is a real strength, but compulsive apologizing presents as a weakness at work and in personal relationships." It's time for women to kick the apology habit and take their power back using these simple strategies.
Practice self-awareness
The first step is to become more self-aware. Notice how many times throughout your day you apologize. Start a log for a week and write down each time you say the word, "sorry." You may be surprised at how many times you use the word without even realizing it. See if you can identify triggers like certain people or situations that may cause you to over-apologize. Begin checking your emails to see how often you use the word "sorry." There is even a handy Gmail plug-in called Just Not Sorry that warns you when you write emails using words which undermine your message.
Change your vocabulary
Is your work project four weeks overdue? That sounds like an excellent opportunity to apologize to your boss. However, there are times when an apology isn't necessary. Some examples could include instances where you use phrases like: "Sorry, could you send me that report?" "Sorry, I won't be able to make it that day." "Sorry, could you repeat that?" or "Sorry I was late." As you become more self-aware, replace the word "sorry" with more appropriate words and phrases like:

Could you please send me that report?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it that day.

Excuse me, could you repeat that?

Thank you for waiting for me.

Be confident and intentional
Over-apologizing doesn't send a message of strength. Instead, it minimizes yourself, your presence and your contribution. Try to be more direct in your work communications. Being more intentional in how you express yourself will help you be seen as a leader and trusted authority. By speaking more straightforwardly and clearly, you can showcase your skills and feel more confident in the process. One technique that can help is mind priming, an approach developed by Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School. The basic idea is to write about an occasion when you felt especially powerful, happy, or proud. The research shows that by doing this immediately before a meeting or presentation, you will perform-and be perceived as performing-far more effectively than you otherwise would. In one experiment conducted by Galinsky, 60% of those using mind priming techniques were described by at least one teammate as the "leader of the group"-nearly double the rate expected by chance.

Having enough compassion and humility to apologize is an invaluable trait. It's not a matter of eliminating the phrase, "I'm sorry" from your vocabulary but to only use it when it's warranted. Don't apologize for things that are out of your control. Whether or not it's your intention, apologizing excessively can project a poor image to customers, co-workers and superiors. Curbing the constant need to apologize requires the same strategy as kicking any other habit. With time and effort, you'll be able to say goodbye to over-apologizing and hello to reclaiming your power.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

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How Women Can Stop Apologizing And Take Their Power Back

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Do you find yourself saying "I'm sorry" all the time? You forget to text your friend back. I'm sorry. You accidentally bump into someone at the grocery store. I'm sorry. You sneeze in the middle of a meeting. That's right-I'm sorry. It's a seemingly endless cycle.

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One habit that I’ve always been critiqued on, that I still notice that I do till today, is excessive apologizing. I’m not sure why, but ever since I was little I would always say “I’m sorry” for every little thing, even when it would not be necessary. I never thought about how it could impact my career in the future, which is why for my first article I decided to read “How Women Can Stop Apologizing And Take Their Power Back” by Forbes. The overall idea of this article is how studies show that women apologize more than men, and how this can affect their social relationships and power. A quote that stuck out to me it was “apologizing when we have done something wrong is a real strength, but compulsive apologizing presents as a weakness at work and in personal relationships”. This quote is especially related to the topics we learned in class: Tannen’s difference model and Lakoffz’s dominance model. Compulsive apologizing from women reflects Tannen’s difference model since women can be negatively impacted and receive negative treatment due to this difference in language. Constant apologies, especially for something that didn’t need an apology, can become annoying and repetitive, making people want to avoid having social relationships with them. This is also related to Lakoffz’s dominance model since constant apologies can result in less power in a workplace. In our society, men are already seen and stereotyped as more dominant in the work field. The addition of women constantly being more apologetic can make them seem submissive and more like a pushover. Yes, it can be okay to apologize in a workplace since everyone makes mistakes, but saying sorry too many times can show a lack of professionalism, which can result in less power at work. This article was specifically about how women apologize more than men, and there was no quantitative evidence used, only stating that they based their statements on past studies. While I find it convincing, I may be biased since I too am a woman who over apologizes and I see parallels in my life and the things stated in this article. I also think this article may possibly be biased because it was written by a woman who is also a life coach. Her statements could’ve been influenced based off of her own and other women’s experiences that she may have coached in her job.

The second article I decided to use is called “Why Saying “Like” A Lot Is Like, Actually A Good Thing” by Times. I chose to do another article that was based on women’s speech since it would be easier for me to relate to what I’m reading, and I also use the word “like” a lot in my day-to-day speech. In my high school math research class, while preparing to present to college professors our teacher was imminent about us restricting our usage of the word “like” during our presentation. And since it is a word that is said without even thinking about it, for the whole school year she trained us to stop using the word. Every time she hears someone say “like” she would point them out. Today I still think about that and try to limit the amount of “likes” I use in a conversation, but sometimes it just comes out. The overall summary of this article is how girls are criticized for always saying the word “like”, but that there are also benefits to using that word. This connects to Tannen’s difference model that we learned in class since society openly taunts females who say “like” a lot. Often times when one is heard saying “like”, others would start to excessively say “like” as a way to taunt back at them. This linguistic difference reflects women’s negative treatment by society. While this article also did not use quantitative evidence, I still find it convincing. Although my opinion may be biased, I feel like it’s convincing since it documents both the good and bad implements that come with saying the word “like”. Lastly, although I do find this article convincing, it may be biased because the author is a female.

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As of now, I have collected 102 tokens, which is a little lower than the targeted amount of tokens I should have. This is due to my busier schedule and having less time to go out to places where I could collect data. However since I have more time now, I will be able to collect the rest of my tokens in 1-2 more outings. In response to your comment on my past pallet, I have also been documenting their age and gender.

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For this research project, I have decided to choose ordering as my topic. I’ve been collecting my data using rapid anonymous studies by sitting near the cashier register and overhearing how the customers order their food and drinks. So far I have collected 42 tokens collectively in two locations, the first one being a McDonald’s, and the second one being a newly opened local café near my house.

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In high school, I distinctly remember one of my teachers who spoke with nonstandard variants. Often times he would say words like “imma” and “gotta”. He spoke in a very casual language and dressed very casually, compared to other teachers that I had at the time. I decided to write about him since out of all of my high school teachers, he is always the first one I think of because of how fun yet productive his classroom was. What I noticed was that his speech would appeal to his audience, which would high schoolers, better than a very formal speech from other teachers. His speech was more engaging and kept the student’s attention, unlike the students dozing off which I noticed in my other more formal teacher’s class.

I think that this exemplifies covert prestige because there were positive attributes associated with the nonstandard variants in his speech. Based on his word choices, it made him appear friendlier to the high schoolers, which made them more engaged and awake in class. I also noticed that more students participated in his class compared to the classes where the teacher used standard variants in his speech. I believe that this is the case because the atmosphere felt more like a friendly conversation instead of a one-sided “right or wrong” conversation.

To reiterate, some of the positive attributes of this are that students were more engaged, participated more, and felt more comfortable being in the class where the teacher spoke with nonstandard variants. However, some negative attributes to this are that fellow teachers or students may deem that teacher as not professional, and may treat him differently. Other teachers could be wary of his teaching style while students may feel like they’re able to not pay attention and get away with it since they think he’s a more lenient laid back teacher.

By using nonstandard variants in his speech, I think that my teacher was trying to communicate that his classroom is a place that’s safe and where students feel comfortable enough to participate. Especially in high school where teenagers may feel like “nobody understands them”, using language that better appeals to that type of generation, can my teacher seem more approachable. This connects to what we learned in class too when Dunkin Donuts and Mcdonald's were used as examples. The -in ending in their name and catchphrases is inviting to the people and catches their attention, which makes it a very good markable strategy.

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Source for image: https://www.google.com/amp/s/brokelyn.com/great-dr-zizmor-retiring-will-subway-mascot-now/amp/

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Source for image: https://musings.metriccollective.com/why-all-nyc-subway-ads-basically-look-the-same-b62ff88e3293

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Thousands of New Yorkers, myself included, depend on the subway to commute to our destinations. Whether it be plastered on the station wall or placed in the subway cart, these ads are in a place where many people will encounter them. For this portfolio entry, I chose to look into subway ads because even though I know I would never really use any of the products advertised, I realized that somehow I always end up reading all of it. Whether it be because I have an hour to spend waiting in the subway cart, or because of the strategic linguistic advertising.

This first ad is one that I saw in the subway for a long period, and it caught my attention. What drew my eyes in ways that they used to picture and word puzzles to convey a message. This type of ad proved to be very effective because I took it upon myself to discover what each panel was saying. Because of its vibrant colors and imaging, I think this ad targeted a younger generation such as millennials. I think that the advertiser also knew that New Yorkers are people who are always “on the go” so they used short and easy-to-understand statements such as “sleep is the answer”. Based on the place being the subway, where people quickly get on and leave, they tailored the language where it would catch the reader’s attention and leave them with a strong statement.

This second subway ad is one made to advertise the chocolate candy snickers. What drew my attention to this ad was that similarly to the other ad mentioned, they did not use long sentences to try and inform the public. Instead, they used word puns by merging two words. For example, “snacklish” is the combination of snack and English. Due to this type of language, I also think that it is targeting the younger generation. I think the advertiser chose to use this type of language because they knew that subway goers would more likely look at that than an ad that consists of long sentences. Its effect was to interest the reader enough to think about what is being said. It is also unique because it never actually says that it’s Snickers and that people should purchase it. However, it’s relying on its popularity and how well-known this product is that the public will know what it is.

I think that short statements, puns, and ads that include images work best in the subway compared to long sentence-filled ads. That is because the people in the subways are probably commuting to work/school/etc. The advertisers probably realized that they wouldn’t want to read that much before going to their destination. I think that because of its word plays and puns it’s targeting the younger generation, but I may be wrong, and the older generation may also enjoy such word plays. Overall, I think that based on its place and the type of language they decided to use, it proved to be very effective. Especially for New Yorkers who are like “busy bees” and constantly on the move, this type of ad can catch their attention before they lose interest. This type of ad may be proven less effective in other regions, such as the south, where it is more suburban and slower-paced.

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Do you know what the difference is between Hi, Hey, and Hello?

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In this article, we will increase our observation skills by digging deep into the meaning behind the greeting. What is someone saying when they use different word choice like Hi, Hey, or Hello? L…

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Time Stamps:
0:16 - "hello"
1:03 - "hey", "hi"

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Time Stamps:
0:56 - "hey"
1:50 - "hello"

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One of the most important and first things we learn to say when we are younger is greetings. Common phrases that people now greet others with are “hello”, “hi”, and “hey”. At face value, it may seem like they are all interchangeable words, however, what differentiates them from each other is their formality. What got me interested in this was when I was learning French, I noticed how much importance lies in formal versus informal grammar. Along with that in my Asian culture, it’s important to address our elders formally, unlike what I’ve experienced here in the United States where it is not as important. For my portfolio entry #2, the variable I will be looking into is formal versus informal greetings with the variants “hello”, “hi”, and “hey”. I used three websites, which were two YouTube videos and one article, that each explains/shows when it is the proper time to use each variant.

In the first YouTube video from Basic Knowledge, they go more in-depth about two of the variants, “hey” and “hello”. They mentioned at 1:50 how the word “hello” is formal and should be used more in a work-type environment where it is professional. Then at 0:56, they mention how the word “hey” is informal and is typically used around family and friends where it’s okay to be more casual. I enjoyed this video since not only did it provide information behind the formality of the variants, but it also showed how it could be applied in real-life conversations.

The second YouTube video that I watched was by Joy Blake, and in his video, he acted out scenarios in which it would be appropriate to use each variant. At 0:16 he acted out a job interview scenario where the actor introduced herself by saying “hello”. This showed how that variant is used for more formal situations. Then at 1:03, they acted out a scene of two friends meeting each other and they greeted each other by saying “hey” and then “hi”. This portrays a more informal meeting where it is okay to be more casual.

The last link I used was from the website attemptedliving where they explained the difference between the three variants “hello”, “hey”, and “hi”. Unlike the two YouTube videos before, this one goes a little more detailed about each word, such as the psychology behind when someone would use each one. For example, they said how “hey” can be “more aggressive” and how “you can treat your friends worse than strangers”. This kind of thought process can be a reason behind people using the word “hey” in more informal situations. Then with the word “hi” they state how the shortness of the word can be interpreted as respect or disrespect, which makes this word less formal than “hello”, but more formal than “hey”. Lastly, they said how the word “hello” takes more syllables, which can give off a stronger tone, hence a more formal environment.

These three websites, all share the same opinion that the variant “hello” is more socially valued as formal, while “hi” and “hey” are more socially valued as informal. While it is not uncommon for some workplaces to use informal language, it is safer to go into professional conversations with formal grammar to show respect and professionalism. I usually select which variant to use based on the situation I’m in. For example, at school, while talking to faculty of my professors I would more likely greet them with “hello”. It would set a better example and first impression since it’s a sign of respect. Then after class when I meet my friends, I would greet them with “hi” or “hey” since I am already casual with them.

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https://www.writing-skills.com/hit-or-myth-you-cant-start-a-sentence-with-and-or-but

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Can you start a sentence with 'and' or 'but'? | Emphasis

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It's a rule beloved by schoolteachers: you can't start a sentence with 'and' or 'but'. But is it a rule we could have abandoned on the last day of school?

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https://prowritingaid.com/art/1228/starting-a-sentence-with-and-or-but-should-you-do-it.aspx

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You should never start a sentence with the words "and" or "but"- never.

If that was drilled into your head at some point during your elementary school English lessons, then you're not alone. Most of us were taught this rule in school-and we followed it with every writing assessment, research paper, and book report we ever wrote.

So, if it's improper to start a sentence with the words "and" or "but" then why do so many prolific, notable writers do it? As do bloggers, journalists, and copywriters. It might seem like a rebellious move-but the truth is, it's not really "against the rules" at all.

Telling It Straight

The truth is, it's okay to start a sentence with the words "and" or "but"-if you do it correctly. After all, there is a time and place for everything, right?

First, let's take a quick jump down memory lane to those Schoolhouse Rock! tapes you watched when the substitute teacher didn't know the subject. Ever had the tune to "Conjunction Junction" stuck in your head for no apparent reason? You're not alone.

However, after so many years, do you remember what the function of a conjunction really is? It might seem obvious-a conjunction connects two thoughts or ideas. "And" and "but" are called coordinating conjunctions and are a part of a much longer list of words.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions:

However, the ones we were specifically taught to avoid starting a sentence with are "and" and "but." The good news is, you can rest easy knowing that there is no true grammar rule that says you can't ever start a sentence with one of these conjunctions.

"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 words often make a sentence more forceful and graceful. They are almost always better than beginning with however or additionally." - Professor Jack Lynch, Associate Professor of English, Rutgers University, New Jersey

Why Were We All Taught a Rule that Doesn't Exist?

Realizing now, ten, twenty, or even thirty years or more later that you were lied to might be frustrating-but your teachers really did have your best interests in mind. While there is no definitive answer as to why we were taught this "rule," the explanation that makes the most sense was that it was meant to prevent kids from writing the way they talk.

Think about it-have you listened to a child or teenager talk for any extended amount of time? If you have, then you can understand exactly what these teachers were trying to avoid.

If you haven't-well, these two examples will help provide some insight...

"We wanted to go to get burgers and they weren't open. But we still got burgers. But we had to go somewhere else to get them. But they weren't as good as the ones we were going to get."
"My friend and I went to the beach yesterday. And while we were on the beach, we saw lots of seagulls and other birds. And this one seagull stole some guys fries while he was trying to eat them! And it scared the guy so much, he jumped nearly ten feet in the air!"
It's one thing to verbally hear a story told in this fashion. But reading it is an entirely different experience. No matter what the word is, you never want to start too many consecutive sentences with the same word. The overuse of "and" and "but" in spoken English is likely the main reason our teachers forbid us from starting a sentence with them in our writing!

When Is It Okay to Start a Sentence with "And" or "But"?

So, if there is a time and place for everything-where is the proper time and place to use "and" or "but" at the beginning of your sentence?

The first thing you want to remember is that you're using this word to connect two thoughts-so your phrase should be able to stand on its own. This means it has a clearly defined subject and verb.

If you remove your conjunction and you suddenly have a sentence fragment that doesn't seem to make sense, then you need to rework your wording. Perhaps this means making your two sentences one-using "and" or "but" with a comma, rather than a period.

You should also take into consideration what you are writing. Different types of writing call for different approaches. The use of "and" or "but" at the start of a sentence sometimes brings a sense of informality. It might be right for your blog posts, whereas more formal coordinating conjunctions like "additionally" or "however" might read better in a white paper.

The bottom line is though, it's never truly off limits. Sometimes it's more impactful to be so precise and direct.

When Should You Follow the Old "English Class Rule"?

In most business writing-especially digital marketing copy like blog posts, emails, and social media posts-you shouldn't stress using "and" or "but" to start your sentence. No one is going to point it out. No one is going to laugh at you. In fact, someone else who doesn't already know the truth might think you're the rebel for being so daring in the first place!

But there are times when you'll want to follow this mock rule. Data-driven content-case studies, statistic focused white papers, text book content, these are places where you might not only see less opportunity to start a sentence with a conjunction, but also where it could be beneficial to avoid doing so.

If you've already got years of practice avoiding starting your sentence with one of these words, then it might take some retraining to find yourself starting a sentence this way. On the other hand, following this rule helps you to expand your vocabulary and use other words and phrases to get your points across. (I could have used "but" to start that last sentence; "on the other hand" adds variety while also giving a stronger sense of weighing up options.)

Breathe Easy Knowing You're Not the Only Misled Student

It's been years now since teachers started drumming into students that they should never-ever-start their sentence with the words "and" or "but." If you're one of likely millions who was taught this lie during your schooldays, don't feel bad. This is just another case of a few people creating a problem for the rest of us.

Since teachers didn't think they could trust some students to be more creative in telling their stories, they restricted everyone. Sure, it worked-you'll hardly come across something written on the internet with repetitive starts, especially not "and" or "but"-but at what cost? Many of us were following a grammar rule that doesn't exist-and probably got irrationally mad that editors missed such a common mistake again and again.

Can you already feel the weight lifted? If you're one of many who has been avoiding using "and" or "but" to start a sentence, don't hold back! It's the freedom that comes with finding out a constraint you've worked around for years is no longer an issue.

Try using this new technique in your writing to create more direct and powerful statements.

Take your writing to the next level:

Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas.

This guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers.

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Starting a Sentence with "And" or "But" - Should You Do It?

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You should never start a sentence with the words "and" or "but"- never. If that was drilled into your head at some point during your elementary school English lessons, then you're not alone. Most of us were taught this rule in school-and we followed it with every writing assessment, research paper, and book report we ever wrote.

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Whether or not one should avoid using certain words at the very beginning of a sentence is one of those tidbits of grammatical information that nestles in some corner of our brains, dimly but persistently reminding us that we are probably doing something wrong. (The truly painstaking nitpicker will point out that the opening line of this piece begins with one of those words, , that has been declared unfit to begin a sentence.)

Many people content themselves with the trusted maxim "do not begin sentences with or ." If you are interested in learning whether or not this is a sensible rule, well, it is not. And if you don't much care whether the rule is sensible or not, and just want to keep telling people that they are wrong when they use certain words to begin their sentences, well, you are in luck, since there have been many more prohibitions against sentence-initial words than just and and but.

Firstly, has it ever been wrong to begin a sentence with and or but? No, it has not. We have been breaking this rule all the way from the 9th century Old English Chronicle through the current day. Many translations of the Bible are filled with sentence-initial ands and buts, and they even may be found in some of our more beloved-and prescriptive-usage guides. The 1959 edition of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style begins two sentences in a row with these prohibited words, and does so with nary a trace of self-consciousness.

But since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue. And although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest to being one.
-William Strunk Jr. & E. B. White, The Elements of Style, 1959

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage begins its entry on and with this statement: "Everybody agrees that it's all right to begin a sentence with and, and nearly everybody admits to having been taught at some past time that the practice was wrong." The entry notes that there has been speculation that sentence-initial ands were discouraged to prevent children from stringing together interminable lists of clauses or sentences. While it makes sense to avoid an enormous pile of independent clauses in one's writing, it seems unlikely that trying to change the way people naturally use the language will solve this problem. There are times when it would be ill-advised to begin a sentence with and or but, and there are times when it works just fine.

If you are one of those people who prefers to avoid people who begin their sentences with these words, and if you would like to further curtail your sentence-initial word choices, there have been a large number of other words that we have previously been told not to use in that position. Here is a smattering:

Do not begin a sentence with however or a similar unimportant word.
-Jacob Cloyd Tressler, English in Action, 1929

Do not begin a sentence with "also" or "likewise."
-George Hitchcock, Sermon Composition, 1908

Or never begins a sentence, paragraph, or chapter.
-James Brown, The American System of English Grammar, 1826

Never begin a sentence-or a clause-with also.
-J. M. D. Meiklejohn, The Art of Writing English, 1899

Teach the elimination of but, so, and, because, at the beginning of a sentence.
- Documents of the School Committee of the City of Boston, 1916

A sentence should not commence with the conjunctions and, for, or however....
-George Payn Quackenbos, An Advanced Course of Composition and Rhetoric, 1854

Some people may remember learning the mnemonic FANBOYS when studying the coordinating conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. And some instructors also still use this as means of explaining which words should not be given the chance to lead the parade. But it's slightly ridiculous to insist that these words should never be used to begin a sentence, when a thousand years of English writing has shown this to be a fine way to start off.

If you're going to create a silly-sounding acronym to list these words, then go whole-hog and list all of the words that schoolchildren have been told not to put at the beginnings of sentences over the past 200 years. We crafted one for you that helpfully looks like a web address: WWWFLASHYBONNBAN, which stands, obviously, for whether, well, why, for, likewise, and, so, however, yet, but, or, nor, now, because, also, nevertheless.

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Is it Ever Okay to Start a Sentence With 'And'?

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Whether or not one should avoid using certain words at the very beginning of a sentence is one of those tidbits of grammatical information that nestles in some corner of our brains, dimly but persistently reminding us that we are probably doing something wrong.

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Growing up, one thing that all of my English teachers have engraved into my brain is to never start a sentence with “and”. Since points were deducted whenever I did it, I naturally learned to avoid using that word as my sentence starter. However as I’ve read more writing pieces, I started to notice that some would start their sentences with the word “and”. For this portfolio entry, I would like to find out once and for all if what my past teachers said was true, or if it was a myth. After looking around on Google, I have found 3 websites that provide their perspectives on the appropriateness of using the word “and” as a sentence starter. The websites that I looked into are Merriam-Webster, writing-skills, and prowritingaid.

The link for Merriam-Webster explains their perspective on how “everyone agrees it’s all right” to begin a sentence with “and”, and how at one point everyone has been taught that it was wrong. They provided the reasoning behind this, saying that the teacher’s true intentions may have been to avoid having student string together lists of sentences and not them just being knit picky.

The article from prowritingaid emphasizes how it is overall okay to start sentences with the word “and”, but it’s important to do so correctly. Similarly, this article talks about how we were all taught by teachers about this supposed rule, however, their reasoning behind the teacher’s intention was to avoid having students write the way they speak.

The link for writing-skills also states how the rule to not start sentences with “and” is false. They specifically mentioned how this sentence structure was included in the Bible, and if “God can do it” then you can do it too.

Overall, these three websites all share the idea that it is okay to start sentences with the word “and”. They also all mentioned the importance of knowing how to accurately use this sentence starter to not make your writing piece sound too repetitive. Although this seems to associate with many people, typically this rule is taught during our early childhood to adolescence. The reason behind this rule is not because teachers are picky, but because they are trying to get us away from writing the way that we speak. I don’t see people advocating for its use since I feel like it’s a rule that everyone unconsciously follows, even if they know it’s okay to use it.