Can You Start a Sentence With Because?
  • 2-minute read
  • 14th September 2023

Can You Start a Sentence With Because?

Have you ever wondered whether you can start a sentence with because? You may have been taught in school that you can’t – but that’s not entirely true. In this post, we’ll discuss situations in which you can – and can’t – start a sentence with because, demonstrating with examples.

Can You Start a Sentence With Because?

Because is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a reason or cause in a sentence:

I won the race because I trained.

You were late because you overslept.

But can you start a sentence with because? The answer is yes – as long as you do so correctly. Since starting a sentence with because involves using a dependent clause, you need to ensure correct punctuation.

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Instead, it provides additional information and is connected to an independent clause to form a complete thought. When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, use a comma to separate it from the independent clause that follows. You need to do this when the dependent clause starts with because. For example:

Because I was late to the airport, I missed the flight.

Because the cat was tired, she decided to take a nap.

Because I studied, I did well on the exam.

You can also start a sentence with because if you’re answering a “why” question – as long as because is followed by a subject and predicate. For example:

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“Why did you stay out so late?” “Because I wanted to.”

“Why are you visiting your brother?” “Because he asked me to.”

Keep in mind that this usage can be somewhat controversial, as strict language enthusiasts consider these clauses to be sentence fragments. However, it’s becoming more common and widely accepted, especially in informal writing or dialogue.

In Summary

In conclusion, you can start a sentence with because as long as your sentence contains an independent clause:

Because of the bad weather.
Because of the bad weather, we decided to stay home.
Because of traffic.
Because of traffic, I missed the concert.

Ensure that your writing is always grammatically correct by having our expert editors proofread it. Our team has experience with a wide range of writing – from poetry to dissertations. Send in your free sample to get started today!

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