I am writing a cover letter and I would like to know if I can begin a paragraph with either Also or furthermore . Why I am asking is because someone told me starting a sentence with "Also" is frowned upon but I want to get a second opinion on this .
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1Please share the paragraph you're considering (and the one that immediately precedes it). – Dan Bron Aug 9 '14 at 11:19
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Beginning a paragraph with Also may give some editors heartburn because it indicates the context of the first sentence of that paragraph is tightly bound to the material it follows. Consider moving that sentence to the preceding paragraph.
answered Aug 9 '14 at 11:22
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1However, if there are (say) mulit-sentence paragraphs B and C both supporting multi-sentence paragraph A, then one might reasonably start B and C with "Also" and "Furthermore". – Andrew Leach♦ Aug 9 '14 at 11:28
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@AndrewLeach I personally agree with you. I only wanted to indicate why some might not. – Gary's Student Aug 9 '14 at 11:50
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It depends on the context where also and furthermore are being used. When used to support statements being made in preceding paragraph, the use of also and furthermore are perfectly valid English constructs. However, if the first paragraph makes a positive point about something, with subsequent paragraphs bringing out the negatives of it, usage of also and furthermore would be wrong then. A correct recommendation can therefore be made when OP provides the context. – Manish Giri Aug 9 '14 at 14:47
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1Dr Gerard Sharpling at Warwick University gives a reasoned discussion of discourse markers / sentence connectors, including a section on the linking of paragraphs. Gary and Andrew both wisely point out that discourse context governs what connectors (if any) it is advisable to use to bridge paragraphs. – Edwin Ashworth Aug 10 '14 at 23:23
