"And"

Paragraph three starts with a conjunction, "and." You should never start a sentence with a conjunction.

- Sure you can.

- No, It's a firm rule.

No. It was a firm rule. Sometimes using a conjunction at the start of a sentence makes it stand out. And that may be what the writer's trying to do.

And what is the risk?

Doing it too much. It's a distraction and could give your piece a run-on feeling.

But the rule on using "and" or "but" at the start of a sentence is pretty shaky. Even though it's still taught by too many professors.

Some of the best writers have ignored that rule for years, including you.

Well, you've taken something which was mine...
...and made it yours. Quite an accomplishment.

Thank you.

-- Sean Connery/Rob Brown in the movie "Finding Forrester"

";"

I have grown fond of semicolons in these recent months. The semicolon tells you that there is still some question about the preceding full sentence; something needs to be added. It is almost always a greater pleasure to come across a semicolon than a period. The period tells you that that is that; if you didn't get all the meaning you wanted or expected, anyway you got all the writer intended to parcel out and now you have move along, period. But with a semicolon there you get a pleasant little feeling of expectancy; there is more to come; read on; it will get clearer.

-- Letters to the Editor, Forbes Magazine