14 grammar myths you should stop believing

Myth 1 — Never start a sentence with ‘and,’ ‘but’ or ‘so’

According to the grammar experts at the ‘Chicago Manuel of Style,’ you don’t have to do mental gymnastics to avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction. “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,” they write. “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.”

Myth 2 — Never start a sentence with ‘because’

When you’re just learning to write, starting a sentence with the word “because” can often lead to a sentence fragment. That’s why you probably learned to avoid doing so at all costs. As long as your sentence has at least one independent clause, you’re good to go.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Elon Musk explains the one thing that went wrong with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy flight

See Also:

• 10 subtle signs you’re smarter than you think you are
• 7 CEOs share the books that transformed their lives
• There’s a year each decade of your life where you’re more likely to make a big change — here’s how to take advantage

SEE ALSO: There’s a year each decade of your life where you’re more likely to make a big change — here’s how to take advantage