Question for those disturbed by bad grammar

[DelawareValleyDem]

Does it annoy you when a conjunction is used as the first word of a sentence? I was taught that this should be avoided, but I'm seeing it more and more.

[name not needed]

1. aint that the truth there dammit am i right

[Left Is Write]

2. Not if the use is sparing.

It bugs me more when *I* actually do it!

[tjwmason]

7. And I'm the same

:evilgrin:

It just slips out by accident (though I admit that the instance above was not an accident), and then I writhe in agony and mental anguish for a few hours - though not quite as much as when I split an infinitive or end a sentence with a preposition.

[Left Is Write]

10. Split infinitives are the worst.

I always want to viciously flog myself when I split an infinitive.

:rofl:

[redqueen]

3. No, that doesn't bother me.

Where'd you hear it? :D

[DelawareValleyDem]

9. My HS English teacher

The reason given was that conjunctions are used to join phrases, so if you used it at the very first word there would be nothing with which to join what followed. I've never actually looked the rule up in a style/usage handbook

[babylonsister]

4. Doesn't bother me. I never heard that rule,

which could just mean I wasn't payin' 'tention! :evilgrin:

[CO Liberal]

5. It's Not Proper in Formal Usage

But in informal usage, it's OK.

What bothers me is people ending sentences with prepositions. A preposition is a word you should never end a sentence with.

:-)

[Pithlet]

6. I don't think that's the case anymore

Most modern grammar books I've read say it is acceptable.

[youthere]

8. But I wonder if people

even realize they do it? :think:

[Abelman]

11. But there isn't anything wrong with it.

And all of the teachers I've had say so. But I've never bothered to look it up.

It is a-okay, there is nothing wrong with it. I find, however, that you can generally do without it. My three sentences above are proof. I wonder if there are any sentences where it is actually needed.

[Debi]

12. Huh?

Conjunction junction what's your function?