If the word starts with a vowel sound, you should use “an.” If it starts with a consonant sound, you should use “a.” For example: Buy a house in an hour. (Although “house” and “hour” start with the same three letters (“hou”), one attracts “a” and the other “an.”)

It’s perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with “And,” as well as the other words that we are often taught to avoid such as “but” or “or.” Writing samples tracing back to the 9th century, including Bible translations, break these “sacred” rules, which stem from attempts to curb school children from stringing too …

sole, single, one, one and only, solitary, lone, unique, only possible, individual, exclusive. loathly. adjective.

The culprit: just. There are two ways that the word just is commonly used. One is acceptable. An acceptable use is when the word is an adjective to describe a recent action or occurrence.

Unlike other powerful four-letter words it doesn’t pop out at you. It should. “Just” is very strong language. “Just” is a command to ignore all other possibilities.

Just can mean ‘recently’ or ‘a very short time before or after speaking’: We often use the present perfect or past perfect with this meaning of just when we refer to a short time before the moment of speaking: I’ve just decided to sell my apartment.

While is a word in the English language that functions both as a noun and as a subordinating conjunction. As a conjunction, it is synonymous with the word whilst, a form often considered archaic in American English, as well as in some style guides on both sides of the Atlantic.

1 : kind and forgiving treatment of someone (as a wrongdoer or an opponent) The prisoners were shown mercy. 2 : kindness or help given to an unfortunate person an act of mercy.

not biased or prejudiced; fair; impartial.

Princeton’s WordNet. sensationaladjective. causing intense interest, curiosity, or emotion.