Example sentences: “I want to go to the party, but I am so tired.” “I like her, but I don’t like her friend.” “I studied for the test, but I don’t think I did well.”

Can I start my sentence with a but?

‘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.

Can you start a question with the word but?

The answer is yes. It is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with the conjunctions and and but. However, it is slightly informal.

What is but in grammar?

The word but is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions in English (the others are and, or, so, for, nor, and yet). It’s used to connect two statements that contrast or contradict each other in some way.

Where do we use but?

We use but as an alternative to except (for), apart from and bar to introduce the only thing or person that the main part of the sentence does not include. It is often used after words such as everyone, nobody, anything, anywhere, all, no, none, any, every.

What can I use instead of but?

synonyms for but

• although.
• however.
• nevertheless.
• on the other hand.
• still.
• though.
• yet.

  Do you put a comma after but?

  Often, a coordinating conjunction will connect two independent clauses — like the word “but.” But — and it’s a big but — your middle school teacher may have told you to always throw a comma before “but.” Don’t do that! You should only put a comma before “but” when connecting two independent clauses.

  What word can I use instead of but?

  Should you put a comma after but?

  When is a question not a question but when?

  The question was not if but when. (Styling rule: The interrogative words are in roman here because the sentence as a whole is styled in italics.) Statements can seem to be questions, and vice versa. Your ear can help guide you in punctuating such sentences.

  How to use one question in a sentence?

  One question you could research is whether female birds mature faster than their male counterparts. As for the punctuation, this is a style issue. Either of your constructions would fit with The Chicago Manual of Style In your bonus example, you are stating an indirect question so the punctuation is correct in the latter case.

  When do you use a question mark in a sentence?

  Usually, one-[&word&] [&questions&] [&need&] no [&question&] [&mark&]. It’s overkill. Italics are often [&used&] for the interrogative [&words&], though: The [&question&] was not [&if&] but [&when&]. (Styling rule: The interrogative [&words&] [&are&] in roman here because the [&sentence&] as a whole is styled in italics.)

  Which is correct one question or one question?

  In your bonus example, you are stating an indirect question so the punctuation is correct in the latter case. One question you could research is what impact doing ten jumping jacks a day has on lifespan. Still this is confused by using what because typically what is a direct question word.