2. Adverb
however
(conjunctive) Nevertheless, nonetheless, even so,
that said, in spite of this. He told me not to do it;
however, I did it.
(degree) To whatever degree. However clear you
think you've been, many questions will remain.
(chiefly UK, as an intensified form in interrogatives)
In what way; how. However did you do that?
3. However, he is a good sort and is on
our side.
When however begins a sentence it is usually
followed by a comma.
A sentence beginning with however, is usually
closely related to the sentence which
precedes it.
However , in this case, means nevertheless.
In most cases, it is more appropriate to use
‘however’ to form a compound sentence.
4. On the other hand, the esteemed grammarians
Strunk and White [argued] in their book, The
Elements of Style, that you shouldn't start a
sentence with however when you mean
“nevertheless.” Grammar Girl
5. However false he may be in the
morning he speaks the truth at night.
If you use however at the beginning of a sentence
and don't insert a comma, however means “in
whatever manner” or “to whatever extent.”
6. Examine the punctuation:
In 1860 Ivan Turgenev wrote, “However much you
knock at nature's door, she will never answer you
in comprehensible words.”
7. In1674 Nicolas Boileau wrote, “However big the
fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him,”
8. Most students, however, will get all the
answers right.
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.
9. He rose each day however cold it
might be outside.
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.
10. He lied to me; however, he did it to
protect the crops.
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.
11. For example, Dickens buried the however in this
sentence from Nicholas Nickelby: “Love, however,
is very materially assisted by a warm and active
imagination.”
12. He blinded me, however.
In this case however is used as an aside.
When however is used this way, it takes a comma
before , however.
13. However Squiggly tried, he couldn’t get his mind
off chocolate.
However loud the maracas, they couldn’t drown
out the sound of the gathering peeves.
Read more at Suite101: Grammatical Use of
However: How to Punctuate Sentences with this
Conjunctive Adverb
http://www.suite101.com/content/grammatical-
use-of-however-a56723#ixzz16mtBV6IL
14. Friendship, however, is a complicated dance.
A gift of chocolate, however, has the power to
salve minor missteps.
Read more at Suite101: Grammatical Use of
However: How to Punctuate Sentences with this
Conjunctive Adverb
http://www.suite101.com/content/grammatical-
use-of-however-a56723#ixzz16mtVLPvE
15. Squiggly couldn’t forget about chocolate.
However, he wasn’t trying very hard.
Squiggly was Aardvark’s best friend; however,
sometimes Aardvark found him exasperating.
Read more at Suite101: Grammatical Use of
However: How to Punctuate Sentences with this
Conjunctive Adverb
http://www.suite101.com/content/grammatical-
use-of-however-a56723#ixzz16mtLAxRR
16. Examples of Correct Use
I would like to finish my thesis. However, there is hockey on
TV.
I would like to finish my thesis. There is, however, hockey on
TV.
I would like to finish my thesis. There is hockey on TV,
however.
I would like to finish my thesis; however, there is hockey on
TV.
I would like to finish my thesis, but there is hockey on TV.
17. However Is in Contention
with But
NIC-no initial coordinating conjunction rule is a
zombie rule—not actually a standardized rule.
Use however for formal writing and but for less
formal writing.
