To keep your writing interesting to readers, using a variety of ways to start sentences in an article is advantageous.
Some writers are unsure of the rules regarding how to kickstart a sentence, and are curious if you can begin with the word “because”.
Growing up, students are often schooled that “because” isn’t an appropriate sentence starter – but this isn’t strictly true.
In the following passages, we’ll explore some situations where you can and can’t begin sentences with “because”. Read on to update your understanding.
How “because” is used in sentences
The word “because” is defined as a subordinating conjunction. It is employed to introduce a cause or reason in a sentence. For example, “Harry is full because he ate all the pie”.
You can also start a sentence with “because” if you use it properly. As beginning a sentence with the word “because” requires employing a dependent clause, it’s essential to ensure you use correct punctuation.
Unlike other grammatical elements, a dependent clause alone doesn’t constitute a full sentence. As a result, it must offer further information and be directly connected to an independent clause, so it forms a complete thought.
If a sentence starts with a dependent clause like “because”, you should use a comma that separates it from the following independent clause. For example: “Because Harry ate all the pie, he couldn’t eat anything else”.
Using “because” to start sentences that answer questions
It is also possible to begin a sentence with “because” when you are answering a question that starts with “why”, providing that “because” is followed by both a subject and predicate. An example is “Why did Harry eat all the pie?” “Because he wanted to”.
It’s worth noting that while this usage is more widely accepted and more common in informal writing and written dialogue, it remains controversial among rigid language enthusiasts and is not considered appropriate in formal writing.
Benefits of beginning with “because”
Finally, it’s important to consider why you would wish to start your sentence with the word “because”. Many writers choose to begin with “because” with the aim of emphasising a cause or reason.
To sum up, you can start a sentence with “because” providing you use the appropriate punctuation required.