GRAMMAR PROBLEMS

DOES THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE HAVE A GRAMMATICAL PROBLEM?

An appeals court ordered the money returned, however, the IRS didn't comply.

=

Not that I can see. What problem do you discern?

The comma before 'however' needs to be changed to a semi-colon.

Edit: or a period/full stop.

I don't agree, IHNN. Why is a colon mandatory? If anything there is one too many commas.

An appeals court ordered the money returned, however the IRS didn't comply.

I would insert a semi-colon after 'returned'. JTT's 2nd clause has a different meaning from the original: it has become 'in whatever way the IRS didn't comply'.

MrP

Dear JTT,

I don't agree, IHNN. Why is a colon mandatory? If anything there is one too many commas.

An appeals court ordered the money returned, however the IRS didn't comply.

While you can discuss wether, the comma before "however" is to weak, and therefore should be replaced by a semicolon or even a period, there is no doubt, however, that a comma comes be

A friendly FYI:

I think you accidentally used German punctuation rules in "I am sure, that it will not happen". In English we don't use a comma there.

Dear CJ, you are right. In English there is quite often no comma, where you are required to put one in German. So, this is an error quite common for us. Then again, my punctuation is often not good at all, neither in English nor in German. Thnx anyway, I hope I will remember it next time. cu