[fishtank]

And.

I'm getting tired of seeing sentences that begin with the word "AND".

Read the WSJ sometimes. I think they have a rule to start at least two sentences per article with the word "and".

[Petronski]

I hate the blurring of the distinction between 'bring' and 'take.'

Take is used if the speaker is at the starting point, bring is used if the speaker is at the destination.

The parent should say "take your homework to school with you" but the teacher should say "bring your homework to school with you."

Too often, I hear people say something like "I'm going to bring it back where I got it." That just sounds ignorant.

[TheMom]

That is one of the few grammar things I know. And, it really drives me nuts to see writers using it.

[rwfromkansas]

Well, that rule is rarely taught these days.

Grammar evolves, and much like the split infinitive, it is becoming acceptable, even to teachers, to use an article at the beginning of some sentences.

I do not use it often, but I do sometimes when I want to emphasize a point. Contrary to what some say, a strong "and" at the beginning of a sentence actually strengthens it by tying the sentences together more effectively.

One should not use "and" at the beginning sentence often, but if you write a column, I see nothing lazy about using it once or twice. Such usage actually can strengthen your writing, not weaken it. But, the word must be used carefully and sparingly to introduce sentences.