Comma usage after however

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Guest  #50549  Fri, 15 Oct 04 04:26 PM
Can you please explain me when and when not to use commas after "However" at the start and at the middle of sentences. Can you give some examples.
  
Mister Micawber  #50584  Fri, 15 Oct 04 11:50 PM

'However' as a conjunction will not take a comma after it, as in 'I will despise you however old I grow'; a sentence is usually more clear, however, with the adverbial 'however' offset with commas.

  
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Guest  #50646  Sat, 16 Oct 04 11:16 AM
I have got these points from a website:

Using However
‘However’ can be used in a number of different ways and each usage requires
particular punctuation.
using ‘however’ as a conjunctive adverb
‘However’ can be used to join two simple sentences to make a compound sentence.
‘However’ indicates that the relationship between the two independent clauses is one
of contrast or opposition.
The engineers claimed that the bridge was safe; however, they were still
not prepared to risk crossing.
Use a semi-colon (;) before and a comma (,) after however when you are using it to
write a compound sentence.
using ‘however’ to begin a sentence
If ‘however’ is used to begin a sentence, it must be followed by a comma, and what
appears after the comma must be a complete sentence.
However, there was no need to repeat the data entry.
Keep the use of sentences beginning with ‘however’ to a minimum. Overuse makes
‘however’ look more important than the content of the sentence. It may also result in
sentence fragments.
FRAGMENT — However, life in Ancient Egypt three thousand years
ago.
REVISED — However, life in Ancient Egypt three thousand years ago
was much more sophisticated.
A sentence beginning with ‘however,’ is usually closely related to the sentence which
precedes it. In most cases, it is more appropriate to use ‘however’ to form a
compound sentence.


Using ‘however’ as an aside
‘However’ can be used to interrupt a sentence. Use a comma (,) before and a comma
(,) after ‘however’ when you use it in this way.
It is, however, extremely difficult to identify all the relevant variables.
Using ‘however’ to mean ‘in whatever manner’, ‘by whatever means’ or
‘to whatever extent’
However the data were analysed, the results remained consistent.
OR
The results remained consistent however the data were analysed.
Note the comma in the first example. Be careful when using ‘however’ in this way as
the result may be ambiguous.
Compare the following:
The results remained consistent however the data were analysed.
The results remained consistent; however, the data were analysed.
If punctuation is not a strong point, your marker may find it difficult to decide what
you mean.



Iam not sure about this sentence, why can't we use a comma for this sentence

The results remained consistent however the data were analysed.

Here in this sentence it is an adverb. Kindly advise.
  
Mister Micawber  #50652  Sat, 16 Oct 04 12:00 PM

Congratulations on your website discovery, Guest. It isn't as simple as I intimated. As for:

'The results remained consistent however the data were analysed.'-- here 'however' is the conjunctive adverb meaning 'no matter how' the data were analysed; hence, no comma.

Perhaps we can forget the grammatical use and rely on the meaning instead: if 'however' means 'no matter how', 'in whatever manner or way', then there is no comma; if 'however' means 'on the other hand', 'in spite of', then it requires the comma.

Let's experiment with that approach for awhile.

  
Anonymous  #450724  Fri, 07 Dec 07 05:46 PM
But where does the comma go? (before or after the however)

eg. x and y (,)however(,) ...
  
Grammar Geek  #450727  Fri, 07 Dec 07 05:54 PM

I think we need to see the full sentence to give you the correct answer. However, my guess is that you are going to have comma splice if you use it before the "however" to try to join two independent clauses.

On the other hand: I really support the nomination of Lisa and Ann, however fond you are of Jim, as the superior candidates.

Note: e.g., is the usgae I'm familiar with.

  
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Anonymous  #489961  Mon, 17 Mar 08 04:48 PM
 However is really a comparative and shouldn't be used in place of "though" or "although."  For example, the sentences "She was very bright.  However, she wasn't as bright as she thought she was" should be constructed "She was very bright although she wasn't as bright as she thought she was."

   When however is used as a comparative, you get this construction, "However much credit she gave herself for being bright, she wasn't as bright as she thought she was" or similarly, "However well dressed she was, she was unprepared for that cold blast."

   Fortunately, most professional writers (42% by survey) revealed that they ignore the distinction and regularly start sentences with "however," making certain they always use a comma for separation. 

 

  
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