ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Comma usage after however

Clive — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:40:32 GMT

Hi,
THE SENTENCE IS - I CAN'T RELATE TO WORDS OF RACIAL SLURS HOWEVER I CAN RELATE TO HURTFUL WORDS THAT HAVE STUCK WITH ME.

Write it this way.
I CAN'T RELATE TO RACIAL SLURS. HOWEVER, I CAN RELATE TO HURTFUL WORDS THAT HAVE STUCK WITH ME.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Comma usage after however

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:05:49 GMT

THE SENTENCE IS - I CAN'T RELATE TO WORDS OF RACIAL SLURS HOWEVER I CAN RELATE TO HURTFUL WORDS THAT HAVE STUCK WITH ME.

Re: Comma usage after however

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:48:29 GMT

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.

Re: Comma usage after however

Grammar Geek — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:54:26 GMT

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.

Re: Comma usage after however

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:46:45 GMT

But where does the comma go? (before or after the however)

eg. x and y (,)however(,) ...

Re: Comma usage after however

Mister Micawber — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 11:00:25 GMT

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.

Re: Comma usage after however

Guest — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 10:16:42 GMT

I have got these points from a website:

Using However
âHoweverâ can be used in a number of different ways and each usage requires
particular punctuation.
using âhoweverâ as a conjunctive adverb
âHoweverâ can be used to join two simple sentences to make a compound sentence.
âHoweverâ 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 âhoweverâ to begin a sentence
If âhoweverâ 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 âhoweverâ to a minimum. Overuse makes
âhoweverâ look more important than the content of the sentence. It may also result in
sentence fragments.
FRAGMENT â However, life in Ancient Egypt three thousand years
ago.
REVISED â However, life in Ancient Egypt three thousand years ago
was much more sophisticated.
A sentence beginning with âhowever,â is usually closely related to the sentence which
precedes it. In most cases, it is more appropriate to use âhoweverâ to form a
compound sentence.

Using âhoweverâ as an aside
âHoweverâ can be used to interrupt a sentence. Use a comma (,) before and a comma
(,) after âhoweverâ when you use it in this way.
It is, however, extremely difficult to identify all the relevant variables.
Using âhoweverâ to mean âin whatever mannerâ, âby whatever meansâ or
âto whatever extentâ
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 âhoweverâ 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.

Re: Comma usage after however

Mister Micawber — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 22:50:45 GMT

'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.

Comma usage after however

Guest — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:26:05 GMT

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.