Quite Random

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

BUT should NEVER be used to start a sentence!

If you have the following two sentences;

It was raining. I went out.

The two ideas can be combined thusly (is that a word?)

It was raining, but I went out.
It was raining. However, I went out.
Although it was raining, I went out.

It was raining. But I went out. IS WRONG!

I'll bet Sir Pterry doesn't use "but" to start a sentence (not including dialogue because that's a whole different kettle of marine-living quadropeds )

If someone can supply me with a TP sentence beginning with "but", I'll donate 5 pounds to Alzheimer's.

You are Quite correct Poohbcarrot. The word But is a Negative conjunction which negates the former part of a sentence. However, in my Haha brilliance in trying to avoid runon sentences, I am quite guilty of occasionally doing just that. Damn these Mortal Coils... quite snakey to get out of long enough to be the Shining Star that I am Sure I was meant to be << at self!!

[Tonyblack]

If someone can supply me with a TP sentence beginning with "but", I'll donate 5 pounds to Alzheimer's.

Men At Arms UK hardback, page 162:

'But ... fourteen dollars ... that's nearly half his pay!'

Same book, page 198:

But they followed Carrot into the sombre buildings and along the gloomy corridors to Dr Whiteface's office.

Same book, page 252:

There's big clouds up there. But I'm noticing them.

Same book (it happened to be on the desk here ) page 253:

But a pack doesn't act like that, Angua had said.

Page 254:

But Big Fido's furious yapping broke the spell.

But the dogs were following them.

It seems to me that Sir Terry doesn't have a problem with starting a sentence with "but".

[Tonyblack]

Just one 5 pound donation will be ok - I'll also donate 5 pounds.

[Who's Wee Dug]

And or but page 11 Interesting Times: But this is Discworld,which not only...

[Trish]

What if the trousers of time have turn ups? Will time double back on itself?
Another thought is: what if the trousers are flared? Will you be able to fill more words in the sentence before you run out of material?

Oh the Possibilities...and if the Trousers of Grammar are "High Water" trousers, will they be short thoughts?

Grammatical Trousers, A User's Guide:
Cuffed trousers lead to dashes, flared ones give rise to ellipses, while "flood pants" explain abbreviations.

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

What if the trousers of time have turn ups? Will time double back on itself?
Another thought is: what if the trousers are flared? Will you be able to fill more words in the sentence before you run out of material?

Oh the Possibilities...and if the Trousers of Grammar are "High Water" trousers, will they be short thoughts?

Grammatical Trousers, A User's Guide:
Cuffed trousers lead to dashes, flared ones give rise to ellipses, while "flood pants" explain abbreviations.

Give That Woman a Fave Beverage of Choice!! Well Done Trish! :hug:

[poohbcarrot]

If someone can supply me with a TP sentence beginning with "but", I'll donate 5 pounds to Alzheimer's.

Men At Arms UK hardback, page 162:

'But ... fourteen dollars ... that's nearly half his pay!'

Same book, page 198:

But they followed Carrot into the sombre buildings and along the gloomy corridors to Dr Whiteface's office.

Same book, page 252:

There's big clouds up there. But I'm noticing them.

Same book (it happened to be on the desk here ) page 253:

But a pack doesn't act like that, Angua had said.

Page 254:

But Big Fido's furious yapping broke the spell.

But the dogs were following them.

It seems to me that Sir Terry doesn't have a problem with starting a sentence with "but".

As I don't have the hardback, I can't check. Some of your examples are in dialogue, so don't count, but I'll assume the others are correct.

The moral of the story is;

"Don't try and be a smarty-pants when p*ssed on sho chu

I will send 5 pounds to Alzheimer's!

[chris.ph]

that could have been expensive

[Trish]

Give That Woman a Fave Beverage of Choice!! Well Done Trish! :hug:

Thankee, I'll take a coffee.
But (yeah, that's gonna cost me 5 pounds), I'm having an icky day, put some bourbon in it.
Or put some coffee in a glass of bourbon.


"Or" will probably cost me, too...

[Calon]

Wow! And you're all marvellous. But that's only my opinion Three pages from the word And. Great stuff. Hehe.

[Tonyblack]

Wow! And you're all marvellous. But that's only my opinion Three pages from the word And. Great stuff. Hehe.

No, I think we're marvellous as well.

[Calon]

At last we agree on something

[poohbcarrot]

No we don't!

[Calon]

How right you are