Geoff,
Now I'm confused. Here's what I replied to:
TJ - Not to quibble, but I think the emphasis was on "awkward," not
"incorrect," and starting a sentence with because can be considered
awkward depending on the useage.
Geoff Layton
I thought you were saying that "because" might be discouraged
because it is awkward to begin sentences that way. Now you are asking
US for examples to back up your point. Or am I missing something?
I have a friend who says it's a miracle that we ever understand each
other, the possibilities for misunderstanding being as great as they
are. Here we are as living proof.
Any grammatical construction, including sentences starting with
"because" as the head of a subordinate clause, will be awkward if they
don't fit the discourse purposes.
I would be interested to see examples. My earlier ones were an
attempt to ADD the fact that starting with these clauses is often well
motivated.
Craig
On 4/13/2011 1:31 PM, Geoffrey Layton wrote:
> Craig,
>
> All I'm asking for is to "give awkwardness a chance"! When is it
> awkward to start a sentence with because?
>
> Geoff
>
> */Starting a sentence with because can be awkward. Agreed/*.
>
> On 4/13/2011 12:32 PM, Geoffrey Layton wrote:
>
> Craig -
>
> The reverse of what is equally true? What are you arguing here -
> that the rhetorical meaning of a sentence can change depending on
> whether "because" starts the sentence? That is totally off the
> point. Re-read my post - nowhere did I argue against starting a
> sentence with "because" - I know the rhetorical choices involved.
> But you merely buttress this well-established point. That wasn't
> the point. Instead, go back in your treasure trove and come up
> with examples of what Edmonds was suggesting - namely, that there
> are awkward examples of starting sentences with "because" - you
> have many more resources than I do! Instead of flaying a dead
> horse, let's advance the conversation!
>
> You point out that "awkwardness depends on context" - this is what
> I was trying to point out, and perhaps what Edmonds was trying to
> point out - let's address that point! When is it awkward to start
> a sentence with "because"?
>
> Geoff Layton
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:14:35 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Punctuation Question
> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Geoff, and all,
> The reverse is equally true. Consider "Because you were late,
> we lost everything" as opposed to "We lost everything because you
> were late." Since losing everything seems a more important piece
> of information, the first seems smoother (more congruent with
> meaning) to my ear. It also allows for two pints of emphasis.
> Introductory word groups of all kinds (anything other than the
> main clause grammatical subject) are recognized as *marked theme*
> in systemic functional grammar. They are intonationally marked in
> speech. They function as a stepping off point for the mesage
> structure of the sentence. It is not a trivial choice. Awkwardness
> would depend on context, not on some arbitrary formal rule.
> Unfortunately, English teachers tend to rely on hearing as an
> alternative to grammar. Saying you should put commas where you
> hear the pause is about as useful as "a sentence is a complete
> thought," dangerous because it oversimplifies. Intonation is a
> grammatical system, and paying attention to it leads us into the
> heart of syntax--more appropriately, into the heart of the
> grammar-meaning connection.
> We don't just punctuate sentences--we construct them. The
> punctuation should work in harmony with those choices. Most
> students don't get very far on hearing alone. It is also one thing
> to know how you would say it, another to anticipate how a reader
> would hear it on the basis of what you have provided (or failed to
> provide) as clues.
>
> Craig
>
>
> On 4/13/2011 11:49 AM, Geoffrey Layton wrote:
>
> TJ - Not to quibble, but I think the emphasis was on
> "awkward," not "incorrect," and starting a sentence with
> because can be considered awkward depending on the useage.
>
> Geoff Layton
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:38:37 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Punctuation Question
> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Crystal,
> Your encouragement of your students is a matter of choice, but
> I don't see that beginning a
> sentence with "Because" is incorrect.
>
> tj
>
>
> On Wednesday 04/13/2011 at 10:01 am, Crystal Edmonds wrote:
>
> The subordinating conjunction "because" is used to link
> the dependent clause to the independent clause. I
> encourage my students to place such subordinate clauses at
> the end of the sentence so that there are no errors in
> comma usage. However, many students want to begin a
> sentence with "because". While it is not incorrect, the
> sentence structure does appear awkward.
> Using "for" illustrates students' sentence variety. That
> is important for me.
> C. Edmonds, Chair
> Associate in Arts
> English and Humanities
> Robeson Community College
> PO Box 1420
> Lumberton, NC 28359
> (910) 272-3700 ext. 3362
> (910) 272-3328 (fax)
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> *RCC 4 R.E.A.L.*/Reading Engages Active Learning/
>
> A Quality Enhancement Plan at Robeson Community College
>
> >>> On 4/13/2011 at 8:52 AM, in message
> <[log in to unmask]>
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>,
> "Katz, Seth" <[log in to unmask]>
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Traditional lists of coordinating conjunctions included
> "for" (hence the "F" in the acronym "FANBOYS" for
> remembering the list of coordinating conjunctions); but it
> seems to me that the use of "for" as a coordinating
> conjunction in English has largely been succeeded by the
> use of "because."
>
> I find I'm not sure here what the distinction is between a
> coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction.
> Help?
>
> Dr. Seth Katz
> Assistant Professor
> Department of English
> Bradley University
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on
> behalf of T. J. Ray
> Sent: Wed 4/13/2011 6:16 AM
> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Punctuation Question
>
>
> I believe you're right in thinking he feels this is a
> coordinate conjunction. My understanding is that
> "because" clauses are dependent and hence should not be
> preceded with a comma. I just
> wanted a number of opinions before I bring it to the
> committee's attention, folks who evidently
> don't see a problem with it as no one had marked any of
> these before I saw the MSS.
>
> Thanks for your time.
>
>
>
> On Wednesday 04/13/2011 at 5:43 am, "Dixon, Jack" wrote:
>
> Focusing on the obvious, I suspect the writer believes
> that "because" functions as a coordinating conjunction
> rather than a subordinating. Does the student punctuate
> most subordinating clauses that follow the independent
> clause this way, or do he make this mistake with "because"
> only?
>
> I seem to remember that Martha Kolln in _Rhetorical
> Grammar_ addresses the few instances when terminal subord.
> clauses are set off with commas.
>
> ________________________________________
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