No "So" at Start of Sentence

This rule prevents writers from starting sentences with the word "So," a common but informal writing habit that can weaken professional documentation. Starting sentences with "So" is often a conversational tic that has crept into written communication, making the text feel less authoritative and more casual. While this construction might be appropriate in dialogue or informal writing, it's generally best avoided in technical or professional documentation.

Examples:

✗ Incorrect:

• So, let's begin with the installation.
• So this is how the system works.
• ; So we can see the results here.
• • So this leads us to our next point.

✓ Correct:

• Let's begin with the installation.
• The system works in the following way.
• We can see the results here.
• This leads us to our next point.

The rule will flag any sentence that begins with "So" or follows certain punctuation (semicolons or hyphens) with "so", regardless of whether it's followed by a comma or space.