When can "AND" be used to begin a sentence?

The short answer to this question is never.

Consider the following sentence examples:

* And the girl followed the stranger without thinking twice.
* And he died at the age of 96.
* And then I took a well-deserved rest.
* And the aliens were never heard from again.

In each of these cases, the choice to begin the sentence with "and" is incorrect.

Two other options exist:

* If it is a continuation of the same idea/event description, adjoin the sentence you have begun with "and" to the previous sentence.

eg. After I returned from the supermarket, I unpacked the groceries and then I took a well-earned rest.

* If it is a separate point on a the same subject, delete the "and" and begin the sentence with the next word.

eg. Harvey Shapiro was one of the greatest cellists of our time and lived a long and fulfilling life. He died at the age of 96.

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