co-ordinating conjunctions but they must not be overused in
this way or they lose their effect. They can be used for
emphasis or to suggest what is to follow later. But they must
notbe used as the continuation of the previous sentence.
They should start a new idea but be used sparingly.
Examples using ‘and’
He walked to the bus stop. And waited half an hour for a
bus.This is incorrect as the second sentence follows on from the
first. No full stop is needed between the two clauses.
He walked to the bus stop and waited half an hour for a
bus.It was too cold and wet to go out. He was bored. And he
had finished his library book.The ‘and’ at the beginning of the last sentence adds momen-
tum to the idea of the boredom. If the last two sentences
were joined, it would not be as effective.
Examples using ‘but’
‘But’ can be used in the same way. Remember not to use it
at the beginning of a sentence if it is a continuation of the
previous one.
She waited all day but her son did not come.
She waited all day. But her son did not come.62 / IMPROVE YOUR PUNCTUATION & GRAMMAR