Learning about conjunctions can really improve your game when learning English. The word “however” is an important conjunction to understand (and perhaps one of the most common). We use it at the start of a sentence or in the middle, so let’s see how we do so! Show
How To Use However In The Middle Of A SentenceWe use “however” in the middle of a sentence when it is linking two clauses together. If the two clauses are closely related, “however” is used as a coordinating conjunction and often separated by commas or semi-colons to fit in the flow of the sentence. Watch the video: Only 1 percent of ... Please enable JavaScript Watch the video: Only 1 percent of our visitors get these 3 grammar questions right...PunctuationWhen we use “however” in the middle of a sentence, it’s important to understand the punctuation rules. You’re always going to need to include some punctuation when writing “however.” If you leave it without anything, then your sentence will feel wordy and difficult to read. There is one main option for punctuating “however.” You can use a semi-colon before it and a comma after. The semi-colon breaks up the flow from the first clause, allowing the reader a second to gather their thoughts. The comma starts the new clause.
All of these sentences are the same (to help you understand the differences). The first one uses no punctuation, and you can see how wordy and difficult it is to understand. The second sentence uses one comma before “however.” The idea is to break up the two clauses, which on paper is smart, but it isn’t executed correctly here. Finally, the correct sentence comes with a semi-colon before “however” and a comma after. The semi-colon breaks up the two connected clauses to help with understanding. “However” stands alone as a coordinating conjunction, meaning a comma needs to come directly after it before the new clause makes sense.
This is what the sentences look like without “however” in the middle. They still make perfect sense; they just need a bit more of a connection between them. Examples Of Using However In The Middle Of A SentenceWe’ve shown off one example (as well as some incorrect punctuation variations); now it’s time to show you a few more. We’ll try and include as many as we can think of that gives you a good variety of when the word works best in the middle of a sentence.
See how we use the semi-colon in each of these cases to break up the flow of the two sentences. Every one of these examples can remove “however” from the middle of the sentence and be left as two standalone sentences. We include “however” in the middle to help with the sentence structure and flow. It makes it easier to read, and we introduce “however” when two contrasting clauses are close together. Step-By-Step Guide: How To Break A Sentence With HoweverNow that we’ve seen “however” in action in the middle of a sentence, it’s time to look at a breakdown of how you might want to do it yourself. Remember, you can’t just throw “however” between any two sentences for it to make sense. To use “however” appropriately, it must come between two contrasting yet closely related ideas in two sentences. Any sentences that can’t connect in that way will use “however” incorrectly. Using “however” to break a sentence works like this:
What Alternatives Do I Have To Using However In The Middle Of A Sentence?If you don’t want to use “however” in the middle of a sentence, you have other options. If you’re struggling with the language rules around it, though, you might find that you have a tricky time with these alternatives too. Since each of these is used as a coordinating conjunction, you’ll still need to punctuate your sentences correctly. Still, it’s a good idea to have a range of conjunctions ready, so you don’t always use “however” to introduce contrasting points.
The simplest of the conjunctions that can replace “however.” It works to introduce a contrasting point in the same way.
Rather than connecting two clauses, you can start the second sentence with “however.” You still need to follow it with a comma, though.
Another good conjunction that replaces the meaning of “however.” It’s on par with “but,” and the two work well with each other. How do you punctuate However in the middle of a sentence?Use a semicolon and comma with however, moreover, therefore and furthermore to introduce a new independent clause in a sentence. (An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.) We plan to stay for another year; however, Peter is leaving now.
Does however need 2 commas?When you use however, furthermore, moreover or therefore as intensifiers or for emphasis, we usually put commas around both sides of them. We, however, do not agree with the verdict.
How do you use however in sentence?To use "however," use it at the beginning of a contrasting statement, followed by a comma. For example, you could say, "I liked my lunch. However, it was too expensive." You can also use "however" in the middle of a sentence to contrast two things. For example, you could say, "I can't make it.
How do you use however in the middle of a semicolon?However in the Middle of a Sentence
Put a semicolon before and a comma after however if you're using it to join two complete sentences. I went to the beach; however, I did not go in the water.
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