You might have heard it whispered in grammar class, or perhaps seen it in a sternly worded style guide: "Don't start a sentence with 'also.'" It's one of those little rules that seems to stick with us, a persistent nudge that we're doing something wrong. But what if I told you that this particular piece of advice is, well, a bit of a myth?
Let's be honest, the word 'also' is incredibly useful. It's our go-to adverb for adding information, for showing how one idea connects to another, essentially for building bridges between thoughts. It means 'in addition,' and in the grand scheme of clear communication, that's a pretty vital function.
And here's the thing: adverbs are perfectly legitimate ways to kick off a sentence. In fact, 'also' is quite commonly used to begin sentences, especially when you're trying to smoothly transition from one point to the next. Think about it – how often do we naturally say something like, "I enjoyed the first part of the movie. Also, the soundtrack was fantastic!" It just flows, doesn't it?
This whole idea of words you 'can't' start a sentence with often stems from a desire for a certain kind of formality, or perhaps a well-intentioned but ultimately misguided attempt to prevent rambling. We see this with words like 'and,' 'but,' and 'or' too. For centuries, writers have been starting sentences with these coordinating conjunctions, and guess what? The sky hasn't fallen. Many beloved texts, even those considered authoritative, happily employ these sentence starters.
It's interesting to look back at the history of these 'rules.' Some prohibitions against starting sentences with words like 'also' or 'likewise' date back to the early 20th century, and even earlier for conjunctions. The reasoning sometimes seems to be about preventing children from stringing together endless lists, which is a valid concern for clarity, but it's a bit like trying to stop a river by building a tiny dam. Language naturally evolves, and our usage often reflects that.
Ultimately, the goal of writing is communication. Clarity is king. While there's no substitute for well-crafted prose, understanding how language actually works, rather than adhering to outdated or overly rigid rules, can make our writing more natural and, dare I say, more human. So, the next time you find yourself wanting to start a sentence with 'also' to add that extra layer of information, go ahead. Your readers will likely appreciate the smooth connection more than they'll notice the 'rule' you've broken.
