Quote:
Originally Posted by scottyboy  Pretty sure you have that the wrong way round; perhaps Robert Lowth might have thought it was wrong, but no one here bar you seems to agree. |
Most people on here aren't responsible for teaching people English either, are they?
I very much doubt most people on here (without resorting to Google) can tell you when and when not to use because - and given that the rule is so arcane, it's simply better to avoid using it to start a sentence.
If you can use it correctly, great - but when it is taught as a rule in English speaking schools, combined with obscure rules as to when it is actually allowed - I'd argue any day that it's simply easier to avoid using it. Given that there's no central authority for English - if it's being taught in schools as 'wrong' and is being taught in the ESL world as something to avoid using (unless you're teaching CPE!) - isn't it really wrong?
Anyway, I stand by my point - it's exceptionally ugly to start a sentence with because.