W. Jordan's picture
W. Jordan from somewhere in Texas is reading The Shining by Stephen King September 18, 2012 - 2:47pm

I'm finicky....

Brandon's picture
Brandon from KCMO is reading Made to Break September 18, 2012 - 3:18pm

It's a stylistic choice.  And no one is choosing the style you write in.  Do what you want.

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On September 18, 2012 - 3:43pm

Just don't end them with those words...

Wildman666's picture
Wildman666 from Kentucky is reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds September 18, 2012 - 3:51pm

Semi-finicky.

My personal philosophy is "who gives a fuck if it sounds cool?" I used to be kind of reserved about until I realized I wasn't in high school english class anymore. I only recently got comfortable with using "And ..." but I try not to do it a lot.

I don't use the last three a lot because I got really self-conscious about empty words after reading The Elements Of Style. Also the book had this to say about the word "however" which I think is pretty sound reasoning.

 

Avoid starting a sentence with however when the meaning is "nevertheless." The word usually serves better when not in first position.
The roads were almost impassable. However, we at last succeeded in reaching camp.
The roads were almost impassable. At last, however, we succeeded in reaching camp.


When however comes first, it means "in whatever way" or "to whatever extent."
However you advise him, he will probably do as he thinks best.
However discouraging the prospect, they never lost heart.

Ultimately, I agree with Brandon and think you should just do whatever sounds right to you.

W. Jordan's picture
W. Jordan from somewhere in Texas is reading The Shining by Stephen King September 18, 2012 - 4:14pm

The Elements Of Style sounds like something I should pick up.

Bradley Sands's picture
Bradley Sands from Boston is reading Greil Marcus's The History of Rock 'N' Roll in Ten Songs September 18, 2012 - 6:18pm

It's a good idea to try to use them sparingly, but they are better to use than the formal words unless you're writing in a formal style. Sometimes sentence fragments work well and sometimes they don't.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated September 19, 2012 - 5:20am

Unless it's dialog, I try to avoid all those words. They just clutter up the page.

Wildman666's picture
Wildman666 from Kentucky is reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds September 19, 2012 - 2:44pm

W. Jordan, you should definitely read through it. It makes a huge difference. The guy is basically like "This is how you write. Period. Do this. Don't do this." etc.

Obviously, you don't have to adopt everything he says, but it is monumentally helpful and makes you aware of a lot of things you may not have noticed.

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. September 21, 2012 - 9:13am

Did you know that & was considered the 27th letter of the alphabet at one point?  Link

Bradley Sands's picture
Bradley Sands from Boston is reading Greil Marcus's The History of Rock 'N' Roll in Ten Songs September 21, 2012 - 6:41pm

I remember a book that used the ampersand instead of "and." Forget what it was.

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life September 22, 2012 - 10:40pm

Stop saying 'finicky'.

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. September 23, 2012 - 8:53am

Barr is finicky about the use of finicky.

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life September 23, 2012 - 11:40am

Finicky you, man!

Fritz's picture
Fritz September 23, 2012 - 3:46pm

JGB is proud of his beard - just saying

as for 'finicky' toss it out the window.

Read my lips...

'There is a time and place for everything - literary speaking - saying no only limits your ability to be awesome.

Fritz's picture
Fritz September 23, 2012 - 3:47pm

in writing rules are more like guidelines for the unready.

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life September 23, 2012 - 9:19pm

I am proud of my elegantly proportioned cranium and delicate featurees; I'll thank you to remember that. I say to you; good day, sir. Good day.

What's wrong with starting a sentence with 'because'? Seems legit to me. I mean, you still have to wirte a proper sentence (unless it's dialogue), but 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters September 24, 2012 - 6:22am

"'There is a time and place for everything - literary speaking - saying no only limits your ability to be awesome."

100% agree with that.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated September 24, 2012 - 6:28am

That explains a lot.

Fritz's picture
Fritz September 24, 2012 - 6:33am

JGB - im jealous of said beard, in case that undertone didnt carry through. :)

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life September 24, 2012 - 5:26pm

I'm always amazed at what kind of stuff I wirte on here when I'm drunk. I didn't even finish (or proofread, apparently) my thought. Because, as we all know, I am an expert on