You can start a sentence with ‘And’ and ‘But’, despite what your second grade teacher told you.

But do it sparingly. Using these conjunctions can add energy, rhythm and vibrancy to your writing. They can also help inject a conversational tone. And using them can be a good way to break up long sentences.

Little rules like these learnt in our early school days were likely helpful advice at the time, as we learn to put our thoughts down in writing. But they are not rules for life.

As you mature as a writer you gain the freedom to bend and reshape those old guidelines to suit your voice and purpose, and to increase the clarity of your message.