How would you punctuate this sentence?

Question

Variation 1:"Yesterday, I obtained salary for August, but it seemed to me that there is more money than I expected, because this month I was in work only until [date]."Variation 2:"Yesterday, I obtained salary for August., but it seemed to me that there is more money than I expected because this month I was in work only until [date]."* I've left out the comma here because " because this month I was in work only until [date]." is a dependent clause.Variation 3:In this example, I will begin the sentence from "But" presuming the was separated by a full stop."But it seemed to me that there is more money than I expected because this month I was in work only until [date]."*I am uncertain of the relationship here. Clearly the second clause is dependent  as subordinating conjunction is being used, however, the fact that the 1st independent clause begins with a coordinating conjunction; does it make the 1st clause also dependent or it remains independent?Thanks

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Yesterday, I received my salary for August, but there was more money than I expected, because this month I worked only until [date].

Daithy · Answer

Why is there a comma in front of 'because'? You see, I don't really need to write the sentence; I only want to debunk it.

Also I am still interested in variation no. 3. Are both clauses dependent? In other words, does "but" make the clause dependent, or does it still remain independent?

Thank you

Grammarfreak · Answer

DaithyVariation 3:
In this example, I will begin the sentence from "But" presuming the was separated by a full stop.
"But it seemed to me that there is more money than I expected because this month I was in work only until [date]."

It is my understanding that starting a sentence or paragraph with a "But" not only is grammatically correct, but it is not recommended. It is important that we don't get mixed up with "subordinate conjunction" with conjunctions like and, or, & but, which will make a compound (or complex ) sentence. i.e. I like pizza but my wife hates it. They are not dependent on each other because each is a complete thought. I am sure you alreday know that.

On the other hand, subordinate conjunctions ( http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/conjunctions-subordinating.htm)
like "before", " after", "because", "unless" and etc. signify dependency generally speaking. For instance: I let Maria go ths morning because she has been habitually late for work.

In your sentence:"But it seemed to me that there is more money than I expected because this month I was in work only until [date]."

I see no reason to use a "but" as it serve no syntactic purpose. That the way I see it.

Grammarfreak · Answer

Correction: It is my understanding that starting a sentence or paragraph with a "But" not only is grammatically incorrect, but it is also not recommended.

Daithy · Answer

I truly appreciate your answer, but I think you may be wrong in your last answer.

Mister Micawber · Answer

DaithyAlso I am still interested in variation no. 3. Are both clauses dependent?

No. 'But' is a coordinating conjunction, but 'because' is a subordinating conjunction.

Beginning a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is reasonably common and acceptable in literary and informal writing, but learners are advised against it because they inevitably use it wrongly.

Daithy · Answer

'But' is a coordinating conjunction, but 'because' is a subordinating conjunction.

Beginning a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is reasonably common and acceptable in literary and informal writing, but learners are advised against it because they inevitably use it wrongly.

Yes, I know. Subordinating conjunction turns an independent clause into dependent. My question is do coordinating conjunctions do the same, or does the clause still remain independent when coordinating conjunction is applied to it?

Thanks

Grammarfreak · Answer

DaithyI truly appreciate your answer, but I think you may be wrong in your last answer.

My opinion remains the same. I see no syntactic purpose, nor reasons to start your sentence with "but", and as it was written, it is incorrect.
Mr. MM hit it right on the head of the nail. In common English, I would venture to say no one begins with a "but". Truly, I can't remember the last time I saw writing by someone which began with "but". Perhaps, the materials I read was not at the literal level. I am certainly not.

Mister Micawber · Answer

DaithyMy question is do coordinating conjunctions do the same, or does the clause still remain independent when coordinating conjunction is applied to it?

It remains independent: the coordinating conjunction defines it as such. Compare:

There was more money than I expected, because this month I worked only until [date].
There was more money than I expected, but this month I worked only until [date].

Fivejedjon · Answer

grammarfreak It is my understanding that starting a sentence or paragraph with a "But" not only is grammatically incorrect ...,

There are thousands of examples in COCA of sentences beginning with 'but' Are these all 'grammatically incorrect"?

How would you punctuate this sentence?

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