Checking for Sentences Beginning with Conjunctions

The grammar checker included with Word is quite powerful when it comes to checking matters of style in your writing. One of the things you can have Word check for is whether any of your sentences begin with certain conjunctions, such as "and," "but," or "hopefully." If you want Word to flag sentences that begin this way, follow these steps if you are using Word 2007:

1. Click the Office button and then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
2. Click the Proofing option at the left side of the dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Click the Settings button. Word displays the Grammar Settings dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. Scroll through the options list until you find the Sentences Beginning with And, But, and Hopefully option. (It is in the Style section of the list.) Make sure it is checked.
5. Click on OK to close the Grammar Settings dialog box.
6. Click on OK to close the Word Options dialog box.

If you are using an older version of Word, follow these steps instead:

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the Spelling & Grammar tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Click on the Settings button. Word displays the Grammar Settings dialog box.
4. Scroll through the Grammar and Style Options list until you find the Sentences Beginning with And, But, and Hopefully option. Make sure it is checked.
5. Click on OK to close the Grammar Settings dialog box.
6. Click on OK to close the Options dialog box.

If you enable this grammar-checking option, Word will also flag sentences that use the word "plus" as a conjunction between independent clauses in a sentence.